Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a popular plastic used to manufacture single-use products such as plastic bottles and packaging due to its rigidity, transparency, and hardness. However, PET’s durability also makes it highly persistent in the environment, potentially taking several hundred years to degrade in the ocean. The biodegradation of PET by polyester hydrolases (or PETases)
Linda Yaccarino is a veteran ad executive who has now become the new CEO of Twitter, which is now called X Corp. She has worked in various advertising executive roles for decades. Before joining Twitter, she worked at NBCUniversal, where she oversaw integrating the companies’ ad sales platforms. Her most recent title was Chairman, Advertising
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology have developed new synthetic metabolic pathways that can turn carbon dioxide into a valuable material for the biochemical industry. The process uses formic acid, which is produced through artificial photosynthesis, to create highly reactive formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can then be fed into metabolic pathways to produce other
As the demand for energy continues to rise, renewable energy solutions are necessary to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. One such solution is microbial electrochemical technology, which uses microorganisms to convert organic matter into electricity. This technology is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, making it an attractive option for green energy systems. Cathode materials play
An EPA-certified laboratory has discovered that 18 popular brands of contact lenses contain traces of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyls), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ The organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, ranged from 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700 ppm. Although it is unknown whether PFAS in contact lenses is dangerous to consumer health,
Eli Lilly, a US pharmaceutical company, has announced encouraging clinical trial results for its new Alzheimer’s medication, donanemab. The experimental drug has demonstrated in a late-stage trial that it can slow cognitive decline by 35%, by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain, a common hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Beta-amyloid, a protein that plays an important
A recent study conducted by neuroscientist Frank Scheer, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, suggests that eating earlier in the day can positively impact our biological weight regulation in three significant ways. The three ways are through the number of calories burned, our hunger levels, and the way our bodies store fat. The research
A team of researchers from MIT and other institutions have discovered a way to develop new kinds of devices that can efficiently bridge the gap between matter and light. These innovative devices include computer chips that eliminate inefficiencies and qubits, which are the basic building blocks for quantum computers. The Research The researchers sandwiched tiny
Astronomers have made an accidental discovery of the “largest” cosmic explosion ever observed, which occurred over three years ago. The fireball is 100 times the size of our Solar System and is estimated to be around two trillion times brighter than the Sun. The explosion, named AT2021lwx, was first spotted by the Zwicky Transient Facility
Astronomers have been puzzled by fast radio bursts since they were first discovered in 2007. These intense, milliseconds-long flashes of radio energy from outer space emit as much energy in their brief lifespan as the Sun does in a few days. Most of these short-lived pulses originate outside the Milky Way galaxy, and we don’t
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla who took over as interim CEO of Twitter last fall, has announced that he has found a new CEO for the social media platform, which has been renamed X Corp. Although he did not name the new CEO, multiple media reports have identified her as Linda Yaccarino, an executive
A recent study has found that menthol can improve cognitive abilities in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The study discovered that the chemical compound can help stop some of the damage done to the brain that is usually linked with the disease. Researchers have observed that menthol can reduce the interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) protein, which regulates the
Meeting the world’s energy demands is becoming increasingly difficult. As we continue to power our technological age, we are faced with the global energy crisis. The development of superconductors that can operate at ambient pressure and temperature could go a long way toward solving this problem. Quantum Materials and Fractals Advancements in superconductivity are linked
Traditional medicines and folk remedies have been the source of many modern treatments. These practices are still widely used today and could provide solutions to various health conditions. A recent study published in ACS Omega details how a team of researchers has identified compounds found in the leaves of a specific medicinal Labrador tea plant
Researchers from the US, Germany, and Japan have disproved the existence of the excitonic insulator phase in Ta2NiSe5, according to a study published in PNAS. The excitonic insulator is an electronically driven phase of matter that can occur in solids, leading to superfluid energy transport with no net charge. Scientists have been searching for ways
