The Eifel Laminated Sediment Archive (ELSA) was launched in 1999. Today it provides an internationally valuable geoarchive providing us with insights into climate, environment, volcanism, and human behavior in the distant past.

Back in the early days of his college career, Chad Parish realized his curiosity and interests were drawing him to the type of work he performs today in the Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis, or LAMDA, laboratory at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Using microscopy and microstructural characterization, he reveals the intricate atomic structures of materials essential for developing safer and more economical nuclear reactors. His talents and expertise place him at the center of many collaborations that pertain to materials for extreme environments and national security.

Each year, 160 U.S. homes experience Christmas tree fires. They are hot, fast, dangerous — and preventable. In this video, the ACS Reactions team tests different Christmas tree watering conditions, including an internet recipe that supposedly fireproofs your Christmas tree with borax, to investigate the science behind preventing these fires. With some help from the University of Maryland, they light some Christmas trees on fire and conclude that just plain water is one of the best things you can give your tree to keep your home safe.

Research often draws inspiration from life itself. Individuals with diverse backgrounds enrich innovation. Dr Zhang Caicai, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, interwines her neurolinguistic expertise with her experiences as a mother, delving into the intricate world of child language development and disorders.

Tufts is marshalling interdisciplinary strengths in computer science to shape the future of cybersecurity with the launch of the Cybersecurity Center for the Public Good. Providing services to both the general public and non-profit organizations, the Center will help others achieve up-to-date security and privacy in communications and handling data

Researchers at Tohoku University's AIMR have developed a new Li-O₂ battery cathode using free-standing graphene mesosponge (GMS) sheets, which eliminates the need for vulnerable binders. This design improves oxygen and Li-ion flow, enhancing stability and performance. The team demonstrated significant capacity and stable cycling, with plans to focus on Li metal anodes for further improvements.

Thanks to the GITEWS early warning system developed under the leadership of the GFZ from 2005 to 2008, it is now not only the Indian Ocean that is better prepared for such natural hazards. The Indonesian system has been operated and further developed independently by the Indonesian partners as InaTEWS since 2011. This is also a success story in terms of knowledge and technology transfer. In the meantime, new research approaches promise further improvements.

Dr. Filippo Gavelli from Blue Engineering and Consulting Company (BLUE) and Dr. Qingsheng Wang, a professor with the Department of Chemical Engineering, have led a large-scale experiment testing different coatings on steel beams and examining how they hold up in a fire.