Scientists have discovered a remarkable “Pac-Man enzyme” that helps bacteria devour certain types of plastic and may offer new hope in the fight against plastic pollution. Researchers found that several biodegradable plastics completely broke down in soil within about a year, while conventional plastic remained largely unchanged.| More info

Scientists have uncovered a surprising secret behind a mushroom disease that has frustrated growers for more than a century: It involves more than 17 species of harmful bacteria, not just one. The discovery could explain why treatments have struggled to stop the disease and open the door to more effective, eco-friendly solutions.| More info

Scientists have discovered that E-cadherin, a protein best known as the “glue” holding cells and tissues together, has a surprising second job: helping epithelial cells swallow nearby dead cells. Using live zebrafish and mouse embryos, researchers found that cells can dramatically reshape their lower surfaces to engulf cellular debris while keeping their upper surfaces stable, allowing protective barriers to remain sealed.| More info

Scientists probing life’s deepest origins have uncovered evidence that the first free-living cells may have emerged not once, but twice. The findings suggest a striking possibility: life may share one ancient genetic code, yet have undergone two separate transitions into free-living existence.| More info

Before seedlings can photosynthesize, they depend on fatty acids—and on peroxisomes to process them. Researchers discovered that the protein PEX11 not only helps these structures divide but also controls their size during early growth. When key genes were altered, peroxisomes grew abnormally large, suggesting internal vesicles normally keep them in balance. Remarkably, a yeast version of the protein fixed the problem, pointing to a deeply conserved mechanism across species.| More info

Chemically modified sugars form carbon materials with tunable nanopores or layered nanostructures, eliminating conventional templates and offering a simpler route to materials for batteries and catalysis.| More info

An electrically driven molecular machine spins in a controllable direction, increasing conductivity up to 100-fold and opening possibilities for future molecular electronics.| More info

Iron films just two nanometers thick show 75% stronger laser-induced demagnetization than thicker layers, revealing how nanoscale interfaces influence magnetism and could advance ultrafast data storage.| More info

Tiny holes in silicon slow down light, enabling a compact optical modulator to transmit data at up to 200 Gb/s while dramatically reducing energy consumption.| More info

A washable, flexible garment integrates thousands of microchips into touch-sensitive fibers, creating a wearable screen that displays videos, responds to touch and connects wirelessly to devices.| More info