Browse Articles

Atmospheric microplastic emissions from land and ocean

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are global pollutants 1 , yet their atmospheric distribution is poorly understood 2 . Although atmospheric MP measurements have become more abundant, estimates of emissions into the atmosphere vary by orders of magnitude 3,4 . Here we compile a global atmospheric MPs dataset and compare it with size-aligned MP model simulations. Our model simulations show two to four orders of magnitude overestimation of the measured global median atmospheric MP concentrations. Measured median concentrations over the ocean are 27 times lower than over the land (0.003 and 0.08 particles m −3 , respectively). Applying a simple scaling method, we estimate that oceanic emissions are lower in number than land-based emissions. The total global land-based and oceanic emissions are 6.1 × 10 17 (1.3 × 10 17 to 1.1 × 10 18 ) particles year −1 and 2.6 × 10 16 (2.7 × 10 15 to 5.0 × 10 16 ) particles year −1 , respectively. Our results indicate that fewer MP particles are emitted into the atmosphere than previously thought. Land sources dominate the number but not the mass emissions, indicating that MPs emission size distributions should be investigated further.

Extreme temperature events and their relationship with excess all-cause mortality in Chandigarh, India

Abstract Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme temperature events, adversely impacting human health and mortality. This study examines daily all-cause mortality concerning daily maximum and minimum temperature over a six-year period (2010–2015) in Chandigarh, India. Using an over-dispersed Poisson Generalized Additive Model (GAM), with visibility as a surrogate for other meteorological factors, we found a strong model fit (R 2  = 0.996; P  < 0.05). Our results show a significant increase in all-cause mortality during heatwave conditions. A moderately positive association between temperature and mortality was observed in summer (R 2 0.014 in May; R 2  = 0.133 in June; p  < 0.05), while a negative association was found in winter (r = −0.155 in December; r =  − 0.141 in January; p  < 0.05). A critical temperature threshold of 33.8 °C ( p  = 0.0007) was identified, above which mortality significantly increases, although the effect size remains modest. Mortality risk was found to be elevated during heatwaves, with similar risk levels observed for both males and females. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and adaptation strategies to reduce temperature-related mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations exposed to extreme weather conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein forms complexes with soluble complement regulatory proteins that can bind to the virion

Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein has been detected in the plasma of COVID-19 patients, and its levels in the plasma correlate with the severity of the disease. It is also an immunomodulatory protein, triggering the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Complement system dysregulation in COVID-19 patients led us to hypothesize that either nucleocapsid protein or spike protein might interact with the proteins of the complement system, mainly complement regulatory proteins (CRPs). We demonstrate that the nucleocapsid protein, but not the spike protein, binds to multiple CRPs, including C1-inhibitor, C4-binding protein, factor H, and vitronectin. The nucleocapsid protein binds to both the recombinant spike protein and the SARS-CoV-2 virions. We further demonstrated that the virion-nucleocapsid-CRP complex could be formed. Recruitment of the CRPs on SARS-CoV-2 virion mediated by nucleocapsid protein deserves further investigation to reveal complement modulation strategies of SARS-CoV-2.

Culturally aware mentoring interventions create enduring changes among graduate biomedical faculty

DFT calculation of Ac3+ and Bi3+ complexation with hybrid chelator 3p-C-DEPA for targeted alpha therapy

Abstract The stability constant (logK 1 ) and reactivity are ultimately the most crucial components to consider during the evaluation and selection of chelators to match with a specific radiometal ion for usage in radiopharmaceutical applications. These components evaluate the thermodynamic stability of the radiometal-chelator complex. Additionally, the effectiveness of chelator in binding with radiometal ions with relatively large atomic radii (e.g., 213 Bi 3+ and 225 Ac 3+ ) coupled with charge-diffuse properties result in weaker metal-ligand interactions, and this poses challenges in chelator development. The (2-[(carboxymethyl)]5-(4-nitrophenyl-1-[4,7,10-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tPentan-2-yl) amino] acetic acid (3p- C -DEPA) is a new hybrid chelator designed for potential radio-complexation applications in radio-theranostics and preclinical data has shown great promise for this chelating ligand. Hence, this study investigates the stability constant and chemical reactivity descriptors of the complex generated between 3p- C -DEPA and the α-emitting radioisotopes 213 Bi 3+ and 225 Ac 3+ as well as the β-emitting particle 177 Lu 3+ for the first-time using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The method employs two functional densities, MO6-HF and B3LYP, using the basis set 6-311G(d)/SDD, alongside the continuous solvation models SMD (solvation model density) and COSMO (conductor-like screening model). The interactions of all radiometals with the hybrid chelator 3p- C -DEPA are compared to the benchmark chelator, 1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), yielding comprehensive data on the stability constants and based structural features of radiometal-chelator complexes. DFT analysis has shown that the stability of the 3p- C -DEPA chelator complex formation is influenced by the atomic radius of the radiometal and the number of nitrogen and oxygen donors, proving to be effective for Ac 3+ and Bi 3+ , in contrast to Lu 3+ , which shows lower stability constant values.

PhysEmbedFormer: a physics-guided interpretable architecture for days-ahead forecasting of PV power

Modeling and experimental verification of polycaprolactone nanoparticle precipitation

Abstract A numerical model based on the diffusion equation was developed to predict the size of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles produced via nanoprecipitation. The model requires minimal input data, making it cost-effective and experimentally efficient. It accounts for both diffusion-driven growth and the finite coalescence time of particles, a factor often overlooked in nanoparticle formation. Nanoparticles were synthesized under controlled variation of polymer concentration, surfactant amount, and mixing method, including microfluidics. The model demonstrated strong agreement with experimental data, yielding higher predictive accuracy than prior diffusion-limited models. It also enabled optimization of process parameters, improving control over size distribution and reducing aggregation. The proposed framework enhances nanoprecipitation scalability and reproducibility while lowering resource consumption. Its modular structure allows adaptation to other polymers and formulation conditions. This approach offers a practical and computationally efficient tool for the rational design of polymeric nanoparticles, with broad relevance to biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery and nanomedicine.

Effect of type of farming practices on the soil carbon sequestration and yield of some crops

Abstract Soil carbon sequestration is a long-time storage of carbon in soil which represents 70% of the carbon in land. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the agricultural practice systems on the soil carbon sequestration and properties, productivity, water consumption, soil carbon sequestration, CO 2 emission and cost of some agricultural crops. To achieve that, different farming systems (conventional, organic and biodynamic) and four crops (maize, tomato, faba bean and potato) were used during 5 agricultural years. The obtained results indicated that, the agricultural practices for different farming systems enhanced the soil properties. Biodynamic practice farming causes reduction in bulk density, which it increase the water holding capacity of the soil which in turn decreased the water consumption by plants. Regarding the chemical properties of the soil, biodynamic and organic farming improved the chemical characteristics such as pH, EC, N, P and K compared to the conventional practice farming. Yield values of both biodynamic and organic farming system were higher than that of the traditional farming system. The amount of soil carbon sequestration ranged from 1980.17 to 4782.82, 2505.89 to 6132.38 and 1581.07 to 5986.25 kg ha − 1 for conventional, organic and biodynamic systems, respectively. The amount of CO 2 emission reduction for organic and biodynamic systems was higher than those of conventional system during experimental period. The highest value of carbon profit (13,071.60 Egyptian pound per hectare (EGP ha − 1 ), $=48.48EGP) was found with the biodynamic system. The highest values of total net profit were 25,046.64, 67,463.04, 44175.84 and 94,674.24 EGP ha − 1 for maize, tomato, faba bean and potato crops, respectively, were found with the organic farming system after 5 agricultural years.

I’ve earned my PhD — what now?

The US is quitting 66 global agencies: what does it mean for science?

Can ‘toxic masculinity’ be measured? Scientists try to quantify controversial term

Humanoid robots step up their game: how useful are the latest droids?

Independent mechanisms of inflammation and myeloid bias in VEXAS syndrome

PhD students’ taste for risk mirrors their supervisors’

A ‘time capsule’ for cells stores the secret experiences of their past

Correction: DNAJC5 promotes cisplatin resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer by autophagy induced by the BiP/IRE1α/XBP1 endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway

Thermodynamic Control of Oxygen Vacancies for Li‐Rich Cathode Materials

Abstract Oxygen vacancies (OVs) play a critical role in tuning the properties of oxides, yet their rational control remains challenging. We present a meticulous engineering approach to modulate OVs in lithium‐rich layered oxides (LRLOs), a promising cathode material for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries. Guided by a Mn‐O 2 binary phase diagram, our method achieves accurate and broad tuning of the oxygen partial pressure (PO 2 ) during calcination using a pyrometallurgical CO/CO 2 gas pair. Using an ultra‐high‐Mn LRLO model, we quantify a thermodynamic equilibrium between OV concentration and a wide PO 2 range (10 −0.7 –10 −10.0 atm). Structural characterizations reveal progressive lattice expansion and an unprecedented enhancement of Li@Mn 6 superstructures. An optimized LRLO with 3.8 mol % OVs shows a sixfold improvement in initial discharge capacity (175.9 mAh g −1 ) over a reference sample (28.5 mAh g −1 ) at 0.1C, achieving a maximum capacity of 287.9 mAh g −1 . Theoretical calculations clarify the role of OVs in modifying the electronic structure of LRLOs, which enables ideal conditioning for facile and reversible anion redox. This study provides a generalizable and facile strategy for OV engineering, which accelerates the commercial viability of LRLOs and offers a new framework for the rational design of other modern materials.

Experience the Music of the Mind with <i>Art of Neuroscience</i> 15th Edition

The disciplines of art and science have always deeply influenced each other and continue to do so. With Art of Neuroscience, we attempt to capture this relationship by highlighting the art inspired by neuroscience. After 15 years of hosting this celebration of art and neuroscience, we are thrilled to still have so many incredible, beautiful, and thought-provoking artworks. Artists and scientists from around the globe submitted artworks, which were enjoyed and discussed by our independent team of jurors. Everything from music composition to dance, embroidery to poetry, sculpture to painting was sent in for the competition. Here, we reflect on the submitted artworks of the 15th edition, congratulate the winner and honorable mentions, and share stories that inspired their work. Below, you will find the work and stories as told by the artists. With each artwork, we include commentary from the jury detailing their impressions. We are excited to highlight the winner and honorable mentions from the 15th edition of Art of Neuroscience .

Water recovery of drying waste using a thermoelectric cooler and PV/T assisted

Abstract Energy, food, and water are the most essential demands for the human community. In this study, a novel hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar dryer integrated with a water recovery unit is designed, developed, and experimentally evaluated for drying agricultural products. The system combines a PV/T air collector that simultaneously generates electricity and hot air with a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) unit that condenses water vapor from the drying exhaust. This theoretical research aims to develop a new concept for drying systems based on thermoelectric coolers, using PV/T as a solar collector and an electric supplier. The scientific innovation lies in utilizing the waste heat from the hot side of the TEC units and introducing it into the drying chamber to enhance the evaporation rate. Meanwhile, the water vapor expelled through the cold side of the units is condensed, transforming the drying-to-drinking (D2D) process without energy or mass loss. Furthermore, drying 1 kg of tomato leads to two sources of condensed water (tomato moisture + atmospheric water). While an airflow rate of 0.05 kg/s corresponds to an inlet of atmospheric air at 1440 kg during 8 h, the water recovery unit produced nearly 3.9 L of water during an 8-hour drying cycle. Thus, addressing the dual challenge of food preservation and water scarcity.

Suppressing Non‐Radiative Decay via Cyanation: A Promising Design Strategy for Bright Organic NIR‐II Fluorophores

Abstract Achieving high fluorescence efficiency in organic fluorophores within the second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II, 1000∼1700 nm) remains challenging, as extended π‐conjugation and active intramolecular motions typically funnel excitation energy into non‐radiative decay. Here, we present peripheral cyanation as a molecular design strategy that directly modulates excited‐state dynamics and suppresses non‐radiative relaxation. Incorporation of cyano groups (A') into the D‐A‐D scaffold of BBTCz afforded BBTCzCN with an A’‐D‐A‐D‐A’ architecture, which significantly reduced vibronic coupling compared to the parent dye. Upon encapsulation with DSPE‐ m PEG 5000 , BBTCzCN nanoparticles (NPs) retained a high FLQY of 2.8% with a record‐high brightness of 565 M −1 cm −1 , representing a 10.4‐fold enhancement over BBTCz NPs and placing it among the brightest organic NIR‐II emitters reported to date. Mechanistic studies combining density functional theory and ultrafast spectroscopy revealed that cyanation synergistically suppressed vibrational relaxation and internal conversion, thereby prolonging radiative decay pathways. As a result, BBTCzCN NPs enabled high‐resolution vascular imaging, real‐time lymphatic tracking, and precise intraoperative delineation of tumors and peritoneal metastases. This work establishes peripheral cyanation as a broadly applicable molecular design strategy for tailoring excited‐state decay pathways, advancing the development of next‐generation NIR‐II fluorophores for deep‐tissue imaging and image‐guided surgery.