Researchers have created a new two-dimensional Bose glass
UK researchers have produced a novel two-dimensional Bose glass, a phase of matter where all particles remain fixed in place, enabling intricate patterns to be preserved. It could help advance quantum computing by allowing quantum information to be stored for far longer.
New research centre to scrutinise biotechnological pesticides for crop protection
A new research centre is set to scrutinise biotechnological pesticides for crop protection, a new category of biologicals in which Europe is falling behind.
Fluorine sweetens diagnostics to reduce false positives
Artificial sugars have been created that could lead to better diagnostics and new therapeutics. An international collaboration substituted fluorine atoms for hydroxyl groups in a type of cell surface carbohydrate (glycans).
Green hydrogen plant would be largest in Europe
Plans have been submitted by Statera Energy for a £600m 500MW hydrogen facility close to the river Don in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK. The Kintore Hydrogen facility would come onstream in 2028 but would be capable of being scaled up to 3GW by 2030.
Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology among top university spin-out winners
Investment in UK university spin-out companies is showing signs of recovery in 2024, according to a new report. Investment was £2.73bn in 2021 and £2.38bn in 2022, but it had slipped to £1.75bn in 2023.
Microcins: Small antimicrobial proteins that could tackle big diseases
An antimicrobial that hits cholera bacteria has been discovered by researchers in Texas, US. Called a microcin, this is a type of small antimicrobial protein – less than 10kDa – secreted by Gram-negative bacteria. Only a handful have been described, almost all from gut bacteria.
Precision medicines get funding boost
Innovate UK and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) are investing £4m in six projects in order to advance precision medicines. The OLS funding is part of the Life Sciences Vision Cancer Mission, designed to support the development and commercialisation of a new generation of cancer diagnostics and medicines.
Decline in UK animal research continues
The number of UK scientific procedures involving living animals carried out in 2023 was the lowest since 2001 (2.68m) continuing the downward trend over the past decade, according to the Home Office (Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2023).
The unexpected impacts of noise pollution
Living with traffic noise could increase the risks of infertility, particularly in women, a new Danish study has found. It also found an association between small particulates in air pollution and a higher risk of infertility in men.
Upturn for EU chemicals?
The EU27 chemicals sector started to show a slight upturn after Q2 2023, a trend that has continued in 2024 with a steady but small improvement. According to the latest figures from the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), chemical production in the EU27 increased for the fourth consecutive quarter since Q2 2023, which Cefic believes was the sector’s ‘ultimate low’.