Researchers have confirmed the neutrino signal that they had tentatively announced in 2024 – as Nature covered at the time – is in fact low-energy solar neutrinos scattering off electrons in the XENONnT detector. Read more about what this means for our understanding of dark matter in our 2024 story:

Researchers at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve have found that massive artificial intelligence demand on memory and computer hardware has driven up core inflation as much as the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed early last year. Read more: 📸: Spencer Platt via Getty Images

Researchers engineered specialized yeast to transform discarded plastic into consumable cookies. A group based at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is addressing plastic pollution alongside food shortages through an unusual approach. Employing oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, the scientists apply heat to decompose used plastic bottles together with sweetcorn plant residues into forms that microbes can process. The resulting material is supplied to CRISPR-modified yeast strains that convert it into proteins, lipids, and a vanilla-like sweetness. After additional ingredients are incorporated, the blend is shaped via 3D printing into cookies known as µBites, redefining the idea of sustainable cuisine. Although the scientists are still seeking official clearance to sample the products themselves, the idea has generated both interest and doubt. Observers such as Jason Hallett of Imperial College London contend that producing food from plastic lacks commercial viability and cannot meaningfully address worldwide plastic accumulation, especially amid concerns regarding microplastics and genetic modification. The inventors counter that regardless of whether plastic-based cookies become commonplace, the work represents an essential advance toward reshaping societal responses to plastic refuse. [Jayakody, L. N. (2024). Next-generation 3D-printed nutritious food derived from waste plastic and biomass. Trends in Biotechnology, 42(6), 799–800. DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.04.004]

Researchers analyzed survey data from 7,704 employees at a large healthcare organization and found that workers who were fully remote reported the highest levels of well-being Read more: