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Turning CO2 into fuel

A team of scientists has brought us one step closer to turning CO2 pollution into clean, high-energy fuel by tweaking nickel.

In a study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore and ETH Zürich, scientists created a new kind of nickel catalyst that’s been “doped” with fluorine.

It’s kind of like giving nickel a little chemical superpower. The doped nickel then helps guide CO2 through a special reaction path — building branched and long-chain hydrocarbon fuel that burns better and works great in engines, especially for planes and cars.

Unlike traditional copper catalysts (which often fizzle out with short chains or alcohols), this improved nickel can grow longer, more complex chains of hydrocarbons by getting carbon-based bits like *CO and *CH₂ to pair up in the right way.

By studying how these reactions happen using tricks like pulsed electricity or adding formaldehyde, the team learned how to nudge the reaction toward making the desired high-quality fuel.

This discovery could help us create greener fuels directly from CO₂, making our energy cleaner and stronger.

More like this: Ask the experts: What’s the future of hydrocarbons in an increasingly green world?

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Mice feel each other’s pain
through sound

The phrase “I feel your pain” takes on new meaning with a study from the Tokyo University of Science that shows when mice hear other mice squeak with pain, they become more sensitive to pain themselves — hurt or not.

These pain squeaks are ultrasonic — way too high-pitched for humans to hear, but perfectly clear to other mice. When researchers played recordings of these cries to healthy mice, the listeners started showing signs of heightened pain sensitivity.

Scientists also found signs of brain inflammation, especially in the thalamus, a region linked to pain processing. Two inflammation genes (Ptgs2 and Cxcl1) lit up, showing that the stress of hearing pain alone can trigger a physical reaction in the brain.

The effect wasn’t just emotional. Mice already suffering from pain took longer to recover and didn’t respond well to painkillers after hearing these sounds. But when researchers used drugs to block those inflammation pathways, the extra pain eased up.

The study is in its infancy, but the results suggest pain might be socially contagious — and that sounds alone can trigger it.

This is a novel way to think about pain, empathy and healing — at least if you’re a mouse.

More like this: Looking to nature for better drugs

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A reforestation gold mine

A study by Chinese researchers published in Seed Biology reveals surprising strength in planted forests — they contain more seeds in their soil than natural forests. This underground gold mine may transform current forest restoration in a warming world.

Analysis of 920 China forest sites, natural and planted, revealed that planted forests have markedly denser soil seed banks. These reserves are critical for regrowth after fires or droughts. While both the forest structure and climate played a role, the biggest impact on seed storage is the soil itself — principally nitrogen and pH levels.

In planted forests, high nitrogen content helped boost seed density. In natural ones, soil pH was the most prominent factor. Temperature and rainfall still contributed — higher values generally lowered seed density — but soil conditions clearly mattered most.

The results suggest that looking below the surface can add value when planning restoration efforts. Enhancing soil nitrogen in planted forests and monitoring pH in natural forests could help them grow back more effectively.

More like this: Balancing flavor and forests

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Frog saunas

The green and golden bell frogs are among many amphibian populations the world over threatened by chytrid fungus. But a new frog sauna in your backyard could save their lives.

The chytrid fungus, or more specifically, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), causes a disease called chytridiomycosis.

“For more than half of the amphibian species currently classified as Critically Endangered, disease is a primary cause. In fact, 80 percent of all amphibian extinctions recorded since the 1980s have been caused by the Bd chytrid fungus pandemic.

Today, Bd is directly threatening 600 species, with an additional 75 species in its path,” says Amphibian Ark.

Frogs seem to be hit the hardest, and the green and golden bell frogs of southwestern Australia are on the brink of extinction with the chytrid fungus spreading rapidly.

The fungus’ zoospores, once shed by an infected frog, can survive for weeks in water with the right temperature, searching for a new host.

After it latches onto a new, unsuspecting amphibian, it impacts the keratin skin layer. Frogs’ skin is imperative to their survival since they depend on its permeability for respiration, water and electrolyte balance.

IMAGE CREDIT: Anthony Waddle

Once the skin is taken over by the fungus, and these vital functions cease, it ultimately leads to heart failure.

So how do we fix the problem?

Well, we can’t get rid of the fungus, so conservation biologist Anthony Waddle is doing some award-winning recon by building the frogs a sauna.

CAPTION: Conservation biologist, Anthony Waddle IMAGE CREDIT: Yorick Lambreghts

The chytrid fungus thrives in cooler temperatures, so even a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius can help.

The theory has existed since 2013, when tree frog researchers in Australia noticed higher populations in areas with rocks or boulders that absorbed heat from the sun during daylight hours and hypothesized the frogs sheltered themselves around the warmth.

Waddle and his team decided to test the theory with a variety of sauna designs. The final design is a simple greenhouse shape with stacked masonry bricks covered in translucent plastic. The bricks have small holes for convenient entry and exit so our froggy friends can sauna with ease.

CAPTION: Frogs saunas in the wild IMAGE: Anthony Waddle

For this work, Waddle was awarded the 2025 Future for Nature Award. He will use the prize money to grow the impact via vaccines and engaging local councils and the public to build frog saunas. “I am so excited that our work is getting attention and that folks are passionate about helping our struggling frog populations,” Waddle tells KUST Review.

In the meantime the team has created simple how-to videos so that anyone can get involved. Though several greenhouse suppliers have posted the videos on their websites, the team hopes to get as many community members as possible to hop on board. The frogs will naturally seek out the sauna as they instinctually understand the benefits.

Ultimately, if you build it, they will come.

More like this: Thirsty? Science hops to it

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Natural peptides might guard
against COVID-19

Two of our body’s natural defensins, HNP2 and HD5, might be a secret weapon against COVID-19, a new study reveals. These tiny peptides (mini-proteins) are produced by the immune system against germs.

Researchers from the University of Missouri used advanced computer simulations to view the interactions between the COVID virus and the defensins. The results indicate that HNP2 and HD5 could attach themselves to the virus’ spike protein, blocking it from locking onto your cells.

The defensins are also found in the lungs and gut, common places COVID attacks, which means they’re already stationed at the front lines.

The research team thinks defensins could be turned into something like a nasal spray or pill to help keep viruses at bay in the future.

This is not a cure — but is an interesting look into how our biology may inspire the next advancement in antiviral treatments. Lab tests are to follow.

The study was published in The Microbe.

More like this: Launching medical research