https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. A new cellulose-based material platform developed in Finland responds to tightening regulatory requirements and industry pressure to both replace and reduce plastic in packaging, including emerging thresholds such as limiting plastic content to below 5 wt% in fiber-based materials. The technology enables transparent, high-performance films and coatings that match the functionality of plastics while supporting industrial scalability and enabling simplified recycling or biodegradation across multiple environments. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cellulose-plastic-enabling-recycling-biodegradation.html Materials Science Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:30:03 EDT news700318446 Think of how many surfaces you touch every day, from your kitchen bench to the handrail on the bus or train, your work desk and your phone screen. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-plastic-thousands-tiny-pillars-viruses.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:20:06 EDT news695991181 An iron-based compound encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles completely eliminated tuberculosis in the lungs of mice after 30 days of treatment, according to a study by the Tuberculosis Research Laboratory at the Araraquara School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of São Paulo State University (FCFAr-UNESP) in Brazil. The study was published in the journal ACS Omega. The results suggest a possible new path for shorter, less toxic, and more effective therapies against resistant bacteria, one of the greatest challenges currently facing the fight against the disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-iron-nanoparticle-tuberculosis-mice-pave.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:00:05 EST news691242721 Researchers at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo have developed a new inhalable form of tuberculosis (TB) treatment that could significantly reduce the burden of current therapy. Jessica L. Reynolds, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine in the Jacobs School, is senior author on the paper, titled "Repeated Pulmonary Dosing of β-Glucan-Chitosan-PLGA Nanoparticles Controls Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Mice," published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-inhalable-treatment-tuberculosis-weekly-nanoparticles.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:07:38 EST news689951221 A bacterial cell settles onto a nondescript surface. It is plump, healthy and functioning as it should. Nothing appears amiss. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-piercing-pathogens-anti-biofilm-strategy.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:30:44 EST news688044601 Food quality and safety are crucial. However, conventional food-monitoring methods, including ribotyping and polymerase chain reaction, tend to be destructive and lengthy. These shortcomings limit their potential for broad applications. In this regard, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing, with real-time, non-destructive, and high sensitivity capabilities, is a highly promising alternative. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-sensor-food-wrapper-real-destructive.html Nanomaterials Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:28:26 EST news683389681 Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators have reported early success with a novel mRNA-based therapy designed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-mrna-therapy-curbs-antibiotic-resistant.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:00:01 EST news683297942 Polymers are essential in modern food packaging thanks to their low cost, light weight, flexibility, and chemical stability. They provide a crucial barrier to protect food from moisture, oxygen, sunlight, and microorganisms that cause spoilage and health risks. Among them, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is especially valued for its transparency, stability, and strong mechanical properties. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-pet-plastic-antimicrobial-boost-plasma.html Nanomaterials Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:18:03 EDT news675004681 Research from the Nanoscience Center of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, has revealed that lignin, a polyphenol important for plant structure, has antimicrobial activity against viruses and bacteria. The results highlight that lignin, which is also an important byproduct of the wood industry, has potential as a promising green alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents for coating agents, packaging material, or surface disinfectants. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-wood-industry-byproduct-lignin-effective.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:39:03 EDT news674213941 Mayonnaise, milk, butter, and various sauces are among the products most associated with the term emulsion. While this technique is widely used in the food industry, it also has a vital role beyond the kitchen. Emulsifying involves homogeneously mixing two liquids that do not blend well naturally, such as oil and water. Although this process may appear simple at first glance, it is essential for the manufacture of numerous products such as paints, cosmetics, and certain pharmaceuticals. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-avocado-pruning-residue-biological-additive.html Biochemistry Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:00:06 EDT news670161027 Professor Ying-Chih Liao from the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University has published a study in the Chemical Engineering Journal, presenting fully biodegradable food packaging films developed through novel integration strategies and highlighting how the synergistic effects of each component provide an effective alternative to petroleum-based plastics. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-advancing-cellulose-based-materials-effective.html Biochemistry Fri, 16 May 2025 09:42:03 EDT news666607322 Researchers at Virginia Tech have found a way to make biodegradable packaging stronger while using less energy in the process. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-plastics-biodegradable-cellulose-based-packaging.html Biochemistry Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:14:04 EDT news664114441 Clove essential oil is a promising antibacterial substance. In a recent study, researchers from Dongguk University explore a sustainable way to create carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from clove residue left after extracting essential oil. These CQDs were tested for their ability to form Pickering emulsions, which are more stable and have enhanced antibacterial properties compared to traditional emulsions using Polysorbate 80. Thus, the proposed emulsions are promising for food and cosmetic applications. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-essential-oil-modification-boosts-clove.html Biochemistry Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:56:04 EDT news660844561 With significant improvements in transportation technology, the accessibility of fresh food has considerably increased. However, this progress has been accompanied by escalating concerns about food waste during transportation and storage. Globally, around 17% of food at the retail and consumer levels is wasted, resulting in issues like groundwater contamination, hazardous gas emissions, and the spread of infectious pathogens, all contributing to environmental pollution. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-edible-biofilm-fruit-shelf-life.html Biochemistry Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:26:03 EST news653765161 The average amount of plastic packaging waste generated by a single EU citizen per year is 36 kilograms. Longer-term projections are equally grim, with the amount of plastic waste estimated to triple by 2060 globally. Increasing consumption is driving the search for alternatives—biodegradable and durable materials that would not only replace but also outperform synthetic plastics. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-bioplastics-play-crucial-role-tackling.html Environment Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:39:05 EST news651944342 The oral cavity is home to a rich ecosystem of microorganisms that are found in both healthy and diseased states. In the area of dental restoration, highly specialized materials are used to fulfill specific functions so that the patient recovers their dental structures, masticatory and phonetic functions and even enjoys improved aesthetics. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-silver-nanoparticlebased-hygienic-resin.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:43:15 EDT news647167391 Water contamination by the chemicals used in today's technology is a rapidly growing problem globally. A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 98% of people tested had detectable levels of PFAS, a family of particularly long-lasting compounds, also known as forever chemicals, in their bloodstream. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nature-based-filtration-material-chemicals.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:34:48 EDT news644769285 There's a lot of science news in seven days, so just because a new study isn't cited here on Saturday morning doesn't mean it didn't happen. A lot more has happened. But also, check out these four stories: https://phys.org/news/2024-06-saturday-citations-bacterial-warfare-language.html Other Sat, 15 Jun 2024 09:00:01 EDT news637600172 A recent study has unveiled the potential of biosurfactants—natural compounds produced by microbes—to dramatically improve the preservation of meat products. This innovative approach could replace synthetic chemicals, enhancing food safety and quality. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-natural-biosurfactants-future-eco-friendly.html Biotechnology Fri, 10 May 2024 13:51:02 EDT news634567861 In a study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, a team of scientists led by Peifu Kong has successfully prepared tea tree oil-beta-cyclodextrin (TTO-β-CD) microcapsules with an unprecedented high encapsulation efficiency. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-scientists-microencapsulation-technique-boosts-tea.html Biotechnology Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:56:03 EDT news633628561 RUDN University chemists have improved the effectiveness of antibacterial chitosan films used in medicine and the food industry, by adding iron and a new chitin derivative to chitin nanoparticles. The results were published in the journal BioTech. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-chemists-antibacterial-effective-iron.html Biochemistry Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:57:03 EDT news615736621 They are used as medicines, drug carriers and to combat microbes in hospitals, destroy plant pathogens and reduce the amount of traditional fertilizers used in agriculture—nanoparticles are taking over medicine and the agri-food industry. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-synthesis-nanoparticles-microorganisms-exploring-green.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:24:12 EDT news613394647 Like every industry, modern farming relies heavily on plastics. Think plastic mulch lining vegetable beds, PVC pipes draining water from fields, polyethylene covering high tunnels, and plastic seed, fertilizer, and herbicide packaging, to name a few. In a new review article, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers say these plastics are now widely dispersed in agricultural soils in the form of microplastics and nanoplastics. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-microplastics-soil-drug-resistant-superbugs-food.html Environment Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:05:45 EDT news612072282 Soon, you'll be able to get a box of freshly picked, sweet strawberries from the grocery store or local farm stand. But it's disappointing when you get them home and find that the ones at the bottom have started to rot. To increase the berries' shelf life, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have incorporated cannabidiol—a non-hallucinogenic compound from cannabis known as CBD—and sodium alginate into an edible antimicrobial coating. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-edible-cbd-coating-shelf-life.html Biochemistry Wed, 17 May 2023 11:50:02 EDT news603543001 Research has shown that a thin cellulose film can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus within minutes, inhibit the growth of bacteria including E. coli, and mitigate contact transfer of pathogens. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-invisible-cellulose-coatings-mitigate-surface.html Biochemistry Wed, 17 May 2023 03:30:01 EDT news603464005 Researchers at McMaster University have created a powerful new weapon against bacterial contamination and infection. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-harness-bacteria-eating-viruses-powerful-food.html Biochemistry Mon, 05 Dec 2022 05:00:01 EST news589435978 The high antioxidants and polyphenols content in passion fruit peels show significant potential to preserve fresh fruits and fresh cuts in an edible food coating, shows research from the University of Johannesburg. Such a coating can reduce spoilage and plastic packaging in supply chains. https://phys.org/news/2022-11-passion-fruit-yields-high-antioxidant.html Biochemistry Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:57:03 EST news587638621 Aiming to produce environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic food wrap and containers, a Rutgers scientist has developed a biodegradable, plant-based coating that can be sprayed on foods, guarding against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms and transportation damage. https://phys.org/news/2022-06-scientists-antimicrobial-plant-based-food-plastic.html Materials Science Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:00:08 EDT news574926088 A group of researchers from the University of Alicante Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences has been working, since the end of 2021, on a project on development of natural bioaromas to increase the shelf life of fresh food and reduce food waste. The goal is to achieve new sustainable plastic materials of natural origin that, obtained from pineapple waste, both from the core and the rind, have synergistic natural active systems with dual action. https://phys.org/news/2022-04-bioactive-sustainable-plastic-material-reusing.html Biochemistry Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:07:22 EDT news568904839 A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, has developed a 'smart' food packaging material that is biodegradable, sustainable and kills microbes that are harmful to humans. It could also extend the shelf-life of fresh fruit by two to three days. https://phys.org/news/2021-12-sustainable-food-packaging-microbes-bay.html Materials Science Tue, 28 Dec 2021 10:15:25 EST news559908918