ScienceDaily
After 200 years scientists finally crack the “dolomite problem”
For 200 years, scientists couldn't explain why dolomite — a mineral abundant in ancient rock formations — was virtually impossible to recreate in the lab. The answer turned out to be microscopic surface defects that halt crystal growth, a problem nature solves slowly through dissolution over geological time. By replicating that process artificially, researchers achieved record crystal growth speeds with implications that stretch well beyond geology into advanced materials manufacturing.
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Heat-loving enzyme reveals how plastic recycling could work near 70 °C
Microbial cutinases — enzymes naturally evolved to break down the waxy coating on plant surfaces — are emerging as a viable tool for recycling plastics at temperatures near 70°C. Researchers studying a heat-loving variant have gained new insight into how these enzymes attack polymer chains under conditions that accelerate the breakdown process. The findings bring biological plastic recycling a step closer to industrial feasibility, where thermal stability is a critical requirement for scalable deployment.
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A cheaper way to fight 'forever chemicals': How pH-controlled traps could clean drinking water
Scientists at Florida International University have developed a pH-controlled system capable of trapping and releasing PFAS "forever chemicals" from drinking water on demand — a significant step forward in tackling one of public health's most persistent contaminants. The method, created by chemistry professor Kevin O'Shea and PhD candidate Rodrigo Restrepo Osorio, leverages changes in water acidity to capture and concentrate the chemicals without expensive or hazardous materials. Its reusability sets it apart from conventional filtration approaches, potentially making large-scale PFAS remediation far more economically viable.
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Plastic texturing kills viruses when they land
Researchers have engineered a plastic film that physically destroys viruses on contact by tearing apart their structures the moment they land on the surface. The material represents a significant leap from previous antiviral surface technologies, which relied on harder-to-scale metals and silicon. The development could have major implications for reducing disease transmission on high-touch surfaces in hospitals and everyday settings.
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