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. Every day, millions of people use thermal paper without thinking about it. Receipts, shipping labels, tickets, and medical records all rely on heat‑sensitive coatings to make text appear. More specifically, heat triggers a reaction between a colorless dye and a "developer," producing dark text where the paper is warmed. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-wood-derived-chemicals-safer-alternative.html Materials Science Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:00:01 EST news686207557 Lignin is the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer in nature. Its conversion into high value-added chemicals or materials is essential for biomass valorization and sustainable development. Nanozymes, which combine the catalytic efficiency of natural enzymes with the stability of nanomaterials, offer a highly promising green approach for lignin degradation. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-copper-nanozyme-enables-efficient-lignin.html Nanophysics Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:36:21 EST news686216159 Researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a "top-down" synthetic microbiome strategy to enrich microbial consortia capable of efficient lignin degradation from straw compost and straw-returning soils, providing new insight into how microbial communities work together to break down lignin. Their findings are published in Frontiers in Microbiology. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-scientists-uncover-microbial-consortia-lignin.html Ecology Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:51:32 EST news685205461 An international research team from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) has developed a novel, environmentally friendly process for producing high-quality amides from the plant substance lignin—important building blocks for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and modern materials. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-chips-pharmaceuticals-lignin-upcycled-amides.html Biochemistry Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:20:04 EST news683817016 A recent study has shown that a fraction obtained from lignin, an organic polymer responsible for the rigidity of plant cell walls, was able to improve the performance of nanoparticles with herbicide. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-lignin-stability-effectiveness-herbicide-nanoparticles.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:39:03 EDT news680974741 Photoluminescent materials are essential for numerous modern technologies—displays, solar cells, optoelectronic devices and sensors among them. However, most photoluminescent materials in use today rely on toxic metals and non-renewable resources. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-qa-trees-sustainable-photoluminescence.html Biochemistry Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:21:18 EDT news680433674 Lignin is one of the most abundant aromatic polymers on Earth and has long been recognized as a promising biomass resource. However, due to its complex and heterogeneous structure and resistance to degradation, its utilization has largely been limited to combustion for energy. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-luminescent-biomaterials-wood.html Polymers Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:03:02 EDT news680342581 Lignins—the complex molecules that make plants sturdy and allow them to grow tall—are not as random as once thought. A new international study led by Prof. Edouard Pesquet at Stockholm University uncovers how lignins' chemistry and structure vary between cell types to meet plants' physiological needs. The paper, published in the journal New Phytologist, highlights how this molecular diversity has been key to plants' success on land. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-lignins-complex-molecules-random.html Plants & Animals Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:45:03 EDT news680269501 Dyes like Congo red and methyl orange create brightly hued shirts, sweaters and dresses. But these commonly used azo dyes can be toxic, carcinogenic and are hard to remove from wastewater. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-pulp-mill-green-solution-toxic.html Biochemistry Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:04:35 EDT news678096272 For years, scientists have marveled at bacteria's ability to digest the seemingly indigestible, including carbon from lignin, the tough, woody material that gives plants their rigidity. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-common-soil-bacterium-metabolism-power.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:11:15 EDT news676048272 A new study, led by researchers at the University of Missouri, has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment. This discovery—the result of a collaboration with scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Georgia—could help create better biofuels and other sustainable products. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-poplar-tree-discovery-future-energy.html Biotechnology Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:19:17 EDT news674817548 Ho Yong Chung, an associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has demonstrated for the first time the possibility of using lignin, a material found in plant cell walls, and carbon dioxide to create a new kind of polyurethane, a polymer used in various applications for its ability to regulate heat, flexibility during processing and strength as a finished product. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-plastic-cell-walls-yield-versatile.html Biochemistry Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:22:03 EDT news674468521 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 Lignin, a by-product of the forest industry, can be used to produce sustainable materials that can replace traditional plastics. This has been revealed in a research project at the University of Borås in Sweden. Matilda Johansson, holder of a Ph.D. in Polymer Technology, has investigated how lignin can be chemically modified and used in fiber-reinforced biocomposites. The goal was to create materials that can not only replace oil-based products, but also reduce the weight of structures without compromising mechanical properties. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-forest-byproduct-lignin-play-key.html Polymers Fri, 09 May 2025 10:28:25 EDT news666005297 Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden, in collaboration with scientists from Finland, Vietnam, India, and Italy, have developed a catalytic system to convert lignin structures into highly valuable chemicals. This innovative technology offers promising solutions to pressing environmental and energy challenges. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-catalytic-biomass-renewable-chemical-stock.html Biochemistry Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:53:11 EDT news662827984 About 98% of lignin created as a forestry by-product from plants is discarded, but a new enzyme could be the key to extracting high-value molecules from this waste using a green chemistry approach. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-enzyme-valuable-compounds-green-chemistry.html Biochemistry Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:36:04 EDT news662290562 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical drivers of aquatic biogeochemical processes, with dissolved organic matter (DOM) serving as a primary photosensitive source of ROS in natural waters. Despite their importance, the specific characteristics of DOM in shallow lakes across varying trophic states, as well as their net ROS photogeneration potential, remain poorly understood. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-dissolved-composition-linked-reactive-oxygen.html Ecology Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:00:03 EDT news661521602 Researchers at Stockholm University have developed a fully biobased hair conditioner using lignin gel emulsions, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional haircare products. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-biobased-lignin-gels-sustainable-alternative.html Biochemistry Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:48:03 EST news659620081 Carbon fiber is a critical material for industries such as aerospace and automotive, prized for its strength and lightweight properties. However, traditional carbon fiber production relies on costly, petroleum-based materials, driving up costs and environmental impact. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-scaling-sustainable-carbon-fiber-production.html Biochemistry Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:05:10 EST news659009108 An environmentally-friendly preparation of plant material from pine could serve as a substitute for petroleum-based chemicals in polyurethane foams. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-based-substitute-fossil-fuels-plastic.html Polymers Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:03:04 EST news657277382 Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth's land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing industrial chemicals from petroleum. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-lignin-molecular-property-discovery-trees.html Biochemistry Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:00:01 EDT news648462070 In an advancement for sustainable skincare, researchers at Guizhou University have reported a novel method to molecularly engineer lignin into a high-performance sunscreen ingredient. Lignin, a byproduct of paper-making and biorefining industries, has been traditionally underutilized, often discarded or burned due to its complex molecular structure. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-sunscreen-lignin-green-strategy-valuable.html Biochemistry Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:47:03 EDT news647524022 Lignin is one of the most plentiful organic polymers on Earth, making up about 20% to 30% of the dry mass of wood and other plants. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-mechanocatalytic-method-efficient-approach-biomass.html Biochemistry Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:19:03 EDT news647252341 In a significant breakthrough for the cosmetics industry, researchers have developed a new type of sunscreen using lignin, a naturally abundant polymer, and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The study, led by Yarong Li and Zhiguang Tang, was published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts and details the innovative use of a dual-modified lignin sub-microsphere to enhance the SPF and improve the color of sunscreens. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-lignin-based-sunscreen-natural-high.html Polymers Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:09:39 EDT news646585773 A new, biomass-based material developed by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers can be used to repeatedly capture and release carbon dioxide. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-biomass-based-polymer-capture-co8322.html Polymers Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:01:03 EDT news643906861 Lignocellulosic biomass, such as paper mulberry, holds promise for sustainable material production due to its cost-effectiveness and renewability. However, optimizing lignin composition remains challenging due to its complex structure and varied composition, impacting the efficiency and quality of resulting porous carbon materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-carbon-potential-crispr-boosts-lignocellulose.html Plants & Animals Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:20:01 EDT news641462487 Soil organic carbon (SOC) can be divided into plant-derived and microbial-derived carbon. Studying the latitudinal variation of these two sources and their controlling factors is critical to understanding SOC persistence and stabilization. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-reveals-latitude-patterns-factors-microbial.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:40:01 EDT news639304996 Tea, one of the oldest and most popular beverages, is cherished for its economic, medicinal, and cultural value. The quality of tea largely depends on the tenderness of young tea shoots, which are high in bioactive compounds. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-harvesting-strength-tea-disease-staying.html Plants & Animals Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:00:01 EDT news639050462 Lignin, the glue that holds fibers together in trees and plants, is one of the most common yet one of the most complex biocomposites, because there are so many variants and qualities. Its heterogeneous chemical structure makes it difficult to investigate its exact composition. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-green-solvent-boost-lignin-applications.html Biochemistry Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:07:33 EDT news638694451 There is an old saying in the biorefining industry that "You can make anything from lignin, except money." This bio-based compound is abundant and full of potential, but commercializing it remains a challenge. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-strategy-leverages-lignin-condensation-biomass.html Biochemistry Wed, 29 May 2024 12:23:02 EDT news636204181