Rethink on UK pharma investment projects
The UK Government’s recently announced industrial strategy (C&I, 2025, 89, (9), 8) to boost the domestic life science sector has suffered a major blow with three pharma majors terminating or cancelling large UK investments.
US specialty and fine chemicals see mixed demand
US market volumes of specialty and fine chemicals continue the rebound following a rolling recession after the Covi pandemic, according to analysis by consultant Swift Economics. Volumes recovered in February 2025 and continued to improve during March but fell back in April and May. June saw volumes rebounding but dropping back again in July, growing in August to 3.39m t, a higher level than before the pandemic.
Gene therapy shows promise as treatment for rare disease
A gene therapy may help children who have a devastating rare disease called Canavan disease, researchers in the US report. This progressive condition is due to mutations in a gene that encodes an enzyme, causing degeneration of white matter in the brain. Problems usually emerge within the first few months of life. Children may show poor head control, listlessness, be lethargic and go on to develop feeding difficulties, seizure and blindness and have a short life expectancy.
Cool data: The hunt for new ways to deal with data centre heat
Data centres are energy guzzlers – and they’re growing hungrier due to the rise in internet traffic, demand for cloud-based computing and AI. Researchers are trying to find solutions, fast. XiaoZhi Lim reports
Upcycled PET captures flue CO2
Researchers in Denmark have taken waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and upcycled it to a material that can snag CO2 from flue gases. PET is a ubiquitous plastic, with around 70m t produced annually, yet 85 to 90% of it is either incinerated or dumped into landfills.
More power to AI: How the energy sector is adopting artificial intelligence
Ever since ChatGPT exploded onto the scene at the end of 2022, generative AI has become the ultimate cutting-edge technology in search of a use. However, beyond using it for emails, its adoption by many industrial sectors has been slow. Jon Evans reports on the energy sector – a case in point.
Warning over new synthetic opioids
An emerging class of synthetic opioids that is even more potent than fentanyl is causing increasing concern in the US. Nitazenes often go undetected on routine drug tests, making overdoses harder to diagnose and reverse, warn US researchers, stressing that that this is a public health emergency, not just a drug issue.
Protecting research integrity
Principal Investigators (PIs) are crucial to maintaining research integrity. The path to becoming a PI usually takes over a decade, beginning with undergraduate studies and culminating in the acquisition of independent research funding. Becoming a PI is also incredibly competitive with many PhD graduates and postdoctoral researchers not making the eventual transition to a PI role.
How silver nanoparticles could protect chilli plants from disease
Anthracnose is a fungal disease affecting chilli plants, and Colletotrichum capsici is the major species responsible.