Monthly Archives: July 2025

Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) provides July 31, 2025 update on upcoming virtual panels and submissions for CSPC’s Special Editorial Series

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Here are some of the high points from the Canadian Science Policy Centre’s (CSPC) July 31, 2025 update (received via email),

Register Now for Upcoming Virtual Panels

[Nature-based Solutions in Canada – policies, frameworks and multi-sector cooperation to reach Canada’s 2030 climate and biodiversity goals]

Organized by Future Earth, this panel will explore how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be effectively designed, measured, and aligned with community and Indigenous priorities in Canada. NbS uses natural ecosystems to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss while benefiting communities. They are key to meeting Canada’s 30×30 conservation goals and reducing carbon emissions. However, clear frameworks to monitor their impact are still lacking.
 
To read more about the panel, click here.

Register (for free) Here

[Navigating Geopolitical Shifts: Canada’s Innovation Strategy for the Life Sciences Sector]

The Canadian life sciences sector is undergoing rapid and profound transformation, shaped by shifting geopolitical dynamics, evolving international partnerships, emerging health threats, and the accelerating pace of scientific and digital innovation. These forces are redefining how health technologies are developed, regulated, and distributed across borders—creating both complex challenges and promising opportunities for industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers.

This panel is the next in CSPC’s ongoing series exploring Canada’s Innovation Strategy in key sectors. We will have more sessions coming this fall so stay tuned for the details in the coming weeks.

To read more about the panel, click here.

Register (for free) Here

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I have more details (e.g., date and time) for both panels. First, from the “Nature-based Solutions in Canada – policies, frameworks and multi-sector cooperation to reach Canada’s 2030 climate and biodiversity goals” event page, Note: I have edited the speaker list, please see the event page to access the speakers’ biography pages,

Date: Aug 19 [2025]

Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm EDT

Event Category: Virtual Session

Website: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kQQEnUr1QmCQDDMgBNLPxQ

Venue

Zoom

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, manage and restore ecosystems for the benefit of people and nature. NbS are a promising avenue to meet Canada’s commitments to protect at least 30% of land and oceans by 2030 (30×30) under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to address up to 35% of Canada’s 2030 carbon reduction commitment. But few frameworks exist to adequately monitor NbS implementation. To achieve sustained impact NbS must be co-created by multiple interest holders and align with social well-being, including priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. This panel will dive into the topic with the questions below. Join us for a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion on the future of Nature-based Solutions in Canada.

The panelists will address the following questions:

  1. What exactly do we mean by Nature-based solutions (NbS) and how to incentivize multiple sectors (academia, government, financial, civil) to move forward on solutions that are equitable for all?
  2. What is Canada doing to achieve its 30×30 targets, and why is that important in the lead-up to the next UN Climate Conference in November [2025] (COP30)?
  3. What are some examples in practice of sustainable finance investments for biodiversity or climate action?
  4. What are the economic pathways that can support equitable, Indigenous-led, and scalable NBS across Canada?

Register Here

Moderated by: Damon Matthews

Professor, Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University
Interim Executive Director, Future Earth Canada Hub and Sustainability in the Digital Age

Émilie Le Beuze

Senior Advisor, Engagement for Sustainable Finance & Biodiversity, Finance Montréal

Jason Taylor

Co-Founder and CEO, Climate Finance Advisors

Stephanie Poirier

Senior Policy Analyst, Climate Change and Sustainability, Standards Council of Canada

Zahra Jandaghian

Research Officer – Nature-based Solutions Lead, National Research Council of Canada

Kirsten Zickfeld

Distinguished SFU Professor of Climate Science, Simon Fraser University

Michael Twigg

Director, Nature Economies, Smart Prosperity Institute

A strong financier/financial services presence in the first panel, eh? The second panel has a speaker list dominated by the professional class that bounces from government to for-profit enterprises to non-profit enterprises while they rove from one business sector to another.. From the “Navigating Geopolitical Shifts: Canada’s Innovation Strategy for the Life Sciences Sector” event page, Note: I have edited the speaker list, please see the event page to access the speakers’ biography pages,

Date: Sep 11 [2025]

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EDT

Event Categories: Innovation Virtual Series, Virtual Session

Website: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BeuZjs4XTuqE54CL6aeiMg

Venue

Zoom

This panel aims to explore how Canada’s life sciences sector can navigate the evolving geopolitical and economic landscape to foster sustained innovation and competitiveness. Panelists will discuss the key challenges that are currently limiting innovation. The conversation will delve into how both government and industry can respond strategically, with a focus on improving policy alignment, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and enhancing private sector R&D investment. The panel will also identify emerging global and domestic opportunities that Canada is uniquely positioned to leverage in this period of transformation.

The panelists will address the following questions:

  1. Considering the geopolitical shift, tariffs and a new dimension into the Canadian economy, what are the top three challenges currently hindering innovation in your sector?
  2. How should the government and industry respond to these challenges to enable long-term innovation and competitiveness?
  3. How can Canada enhance private sector R&D investment and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this sector?
  4. What new opportunities or advantages should Canada exploit in this sector despite (or because of) the changing global landscape?

Register Here

Moderated by: Dr. Jason Field

President & CEO Life Sciences Ontario

Karimah Es Sabar

Canadian Life Sciences Leader/Corporate Director/Strategic Advisor

Wendy Zatylny

President & CEO, BIOTEC [s.b. BIOTECanada; BIOTEC is a company in Thailand]

Stephanie Michaud

President & CEO, BioCanRx

Alexandre Le Bouthillier

Founding Partner & CEO, Linearis

Bethany Moir

VP Partnerships, AdMare [also known as, adMare BioInnovations]

Wendy Hurlburt

President & CEO, BC Life Sciences [also known as, Life Sciences British Columbia or Life Sciences BC]

Anne Stevens

VP of Business Development, AbCellera

Now for the call for editorial submissions. From the Canadian Science Policy Centre’s (CSPC) July 31, 2025 update, *ETA August 11, 2025: The deadline for submissions has been extended to September 5, 2025,*

Only Three Weeks Left Until 
Deadline for Editorial Submissions 

Only three weeks left to submit your editorials for CSPC’s Special Editorial Series. Canada’s defence spending is set to rise significantly—reaching NATO’s 2% target by 2025–2026 and projected to hit 5% by 2035. This historic shift presents a unique opportunity to strategically align defence investments with research, innovation, and economic development goals.
 
CSPC invites editorials on how this investment can strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem, research capacity, and economic growth. Contributions from researchers, policymakers, and industry experts are welcome. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 22 [2025]. *ETA August 11, 2025: Thedeadline for submissions has been extended to September 5, 2025*

For more information on editorial guidelines and to submit an editorial, click the button below!

Submit an Editorial

From the “2025 Special Editorial Series” webpage, Note: Submissions are accepted in either English or French,

Defence spending as a catalyst for R&D, innovation, and economic growth in Canada

The Canadian government has committed to increasing defence spending, reaching NATO’s 2% GDP target ahead of schedule by 2025–2026, with spending projected to rise to 5% by 2035. Given the research-intensive nature of the defence sector and its heavy reliance on new technologies and scientific innovation, this marks a historic shift in Canada’s defence framework and opens up new opportunities for strategic investments in research and development (R&D). Many technologies in everyday public use today were originally developed through defence-related funding, highlighting the sector’s broader impact on technological advancement.

The CSPC invites editorials on how this increase could be strategically aligned with investments in R&D, drawing from international examples where defence spending has driven innovation. How can this shift bolster Canada’s innovation ecosystem, strengthen our research capacity, and contribute to long-term economic growth? What policies and practices from other countries could Canada adopt to make the most of this historic opportunity for innovation and economic development?

We welcome analyses from researchers, policymakers, and industry experts on how to leverage defence funding to advance science, innovation, and national prosperity.

Editorial Guidelines

Editorial Format & Requirements

  1. Word Count: Editorials should be 600–1000 words (some may range up to 1200 if needed).
  2. Original Work: Submissions must be the original work of the author(s) and should not have been published in any other media outlet.
  3. If any AI tools are used during preparation, please see below for more details.
  4. Submission Platform: Editorials must be submitted through the designated online form.
  5. Figures: You may include up to 3 high-quality figures to support your editorial. Submit figures as separate files (in addition to embedding them in the text) to ensure high-resolution publishing.
  6. Please provide artist credit where applicable.
  7. CSPC will not be accepting articles, which are promotional in nature (E.g., promoting a product, innovation, or service) or which include profanity of any form.

AI Usage Policy for CSPC Editorials

CSPC editorials must reflect the original thought and voice of the author(s). However, we recognize the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in content creation, research, and productivity.

Authors may use AI tools (e.g., for idea generation, drafting assistance, editing, summarization, or image generation) to support their writing process. All final editorial content must be written, reviewed, verified, and approved by the author(s) to ensure accuracy, clarity, and integrity.

If AI tools are used in any part of the editorial process, authors must include an acknowledgment indicating the use of AI.

CSPC does not permit editorials to be entirely generated by AI without human authorship, accountability, and oversight. Our goal is to promote transparency while supporting responsible and ethical use of technology in science policy dialogue. We are looking forward to presenting and highlighting your thoughts and perspectives on various topics for readership by a Canada-wide audience.

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Where to Submit

We thank you for your submission. Please add editorial@sciencepolicy.ca to your contacts so that we can make sure any follow-up messages reach you.

If you have any questions about writing an editorial for CSPC, please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Committee at editorial@sciencepolicy.ca.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSION FORM (ENG)

EDITORIAL SUBMISSION FORM (FR)

With the extraordinary emphasis on economic benefits, it sometimes seems like it’s the Canadian Science Moneymaking Policy Centre rather than the Canadian Science Policy Centre.

*ETA August 11, 2025: The deadline for submissions has been extended to September 5, 2025.*

Nanocellulose: a cow dung story

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Canadian nanocellulose efforts are usually focused on its extraction from wood. Other countries have often focused on extraction from various fruits and vegetables. Cow dung or cow manure as a source is a first for this blog.

A May 7, 2025 news item on ScienceDaily announces nanocellulose extraction from cow manure,

A new technique to extract tiny cellulose strands from cow dung and turn them into manufacturing-grade cellulose, currently used to make everything from surgical masks to food packaging, has been developed by researchers from UCL [University College London] and Edinburgh Napier University.

The study, published in The Journal of Cleaner Production, describes the new ‘pressurised spinning’ innovation and its potential to create cellulose materials more cheaply and cleanly than some current manufacturing methods, using a waste product from the dairy farming industry, cow dung, as the raw material.

…

A May 7, 2025 University College London (UCL) press release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, provides more information and a pun in the headline,

Feat of ‘dung-gineering’ turns cow manure into one of world’s most used materials

…

The advance is the first time that manufacturing-grade cellulose has been derived from animal waste and is a prime example of circular economy, which aims to minimise waste and pollution by reusing and repurposing resources wherever possible.

The researchers say that implementing the technology would be a win-win situation for manufacturers, dairy farmers and the environment.

Cellulose is one of the world’s most commonly used manufacturing materials. Found naturally in the cell walls of plants, it was first used to create synthetic materials in the mid-19th century, including the original material used in photographic film, celluloid.

Today it can be found in everything from cling film to surgical masks, paper products, textiles, foods and pharmaceuticals. Though it can be extracted organically, it is also often produced synthetically using toxic chemicals.

Pressurised spinning (or pressurised gyration) is a manufacturing technology that uses the forces of pressure and rotation simultaneously to spin fibres, beads, ribbons, meshes and films from a liquid jet of soft matter. The multiple award-winning technology was invented in 2013 by a team from UCL Mechanical Engineering led by Professor Mohan Edirisinghe.

Professor Edirisinghe, the senior author of the study, said: “Our initial question was whether it could be possible to extract the tiny fragments of cellulose present in cow manure, which is left over from the plants the animals have eaten, and fashion it into manufacturing-grade cellulose materials.

“Extracting the fragments from dung was relatively straightforward using mild chemical reactions and homogenisation, which we then turned into a liquid solution. But when we tried to turn the fragments into fibres using pressurised spinning technology, it didn’t work.

“By a process of trial and error, we figured out that using a horizontal rather than a vertical vessel containing surface nozzles and injecting the jet of liquid into still or flowing water caused cellulose fibres to form. We were then able to change the consistency of the liquid to create other forms, such as meshes, films and ribbons, each of which have different manufacturing applications.

“We’re still not quite sure why the process works, but the important thing is that it does. It will also be fairly easy to scale up using existing pressurised spinning technology, the vessels for which were designed and built in the UCL Mechanical Engineering workshop.”

The new technique, called horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning, is an energy efficient process that doesn’t require the high voltages of other fibre production techniques such as electrospinning.

The team say that adapting existing pressurised spinning machines to the new process should be relatively straightforward. The greater challenge is likely to be the logistics of sourcing and transporting the raw material, cow dung, but that the environmental and commercial benefits of doing so would be significant.

Ms Yanqi Dai, first author of the study from UCL Mechanical Engineering, said: “Dairy farm waste such as cow manure is a threat to the environment and humans, especially through waterway pollution, the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when it decomposes, and the spread of pathogens. It is also often a burden on farmers to dispose of properly.

“Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry, by putting this problematic waste product to good use and perhaps creating a new source of income.”

The research team is currently seeking opportunities to work with dairy farmers to take advantage of the technology and scale it up.

Animal waste is a growing problem globally. Research in 2019 estimated that the amount of animal waste is due to increase by 40% between 2003 and 2030 to at least five billion tons, with many farms producing more manure than they can legitimately use as fertiliser. This waste often finds its way into water, where it can have a devastating effect on ecosystems and even lead to disease in humans.

Core pressurised spinning research at UCL was made possible by grants awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

I have two links to the paper and a citation for it,

Harnessing cow manure waste for nanocellulose extraction and sustainable small-structure manufacturing (PDF) or journal by Yanqi Dai Dongyang Sun, Dominic O’Rourke, Sasireka Velusamy, Senthilarasu Sundaram, Mohan Edirisinghe. Journal of Cleaner Production Volume 509, 1 June 2025, 145530 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145530 Creative Commons Licence: CC BY 4.0

This paper is open access.

Turning raindrops into usable electricity

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Harvesting energy from raindrops is of great interest to a lot of researchers on the hunt for new sources of energy. My last posting on the topic was a November 8, 2024 piece highlighting work from Korea. This latest work is from Singapore. From an April 16, 2025 news item on ScienceDaily,

When two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge. This is how rubbing a balloon on the skin creates static electricity. Likewise, water flowing over some surfaces can gain or lose charge. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have harnessed the phenomenon to generate electricity from rain-like droplets moving through a tube. They demonstrate a new kind of flow that makes enough power to light 12 LEDs.

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An April 16, 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) news release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, delves further into the topic,

“Water that falls through a vertical tube generates a substantial amount of electricity by using a specific pattern of water flow: plug flow,” says Siowling Soh, the study’s corresponding author. “This plug flow pattern could allow rain energy to be harvested for generating clean and renewable electricity.”

When running water moves a turbine, it generates electricity. However, hydroelectricity is constrained to locations with large volumes of water, like rivers. For smaller and slower volumes of water, an alternative is to harness charge separation, a phenomenon that produces electrical charges as water moves through a channel with an electrically conductive inner surface. But charge separation is extremely inefficient because it is restricted to the surface that the water moves over. Previously, scientists have tried to improve its efficiency by making more surface area available through micro- or nanoscale channels for a continuous stream of water. However, water doesn’t naturally pass through such tiny channels, and if pumped, it requires more energy than gets generated. So, Soh, Chi Kit Ao and colleagues wanted to produce electricity using larger channels that rainwater could pass through.

The team designed a simple setup whereby water flowed out the bottom of a tower through a metallic needle and spurted rain-sized droplets into the opening of a 12-inch-tall (32-centimeter-tall) and 2-millimeter-wide vertical polymer tube. The head-on collision of the droplets at the top of the tube caused a plug flow: short columns of water interspersed with pockets of air. As water flowed down the inside of the tube, electrical charges separated. The water was then collected in a cup below the tube. Wires placed at the top of the tube and in the cup harvested the electricity.

The plug flow system converted more than 10% of the energy of the water falling through the tubes into electricity. And compared to water flowing in a continuous stream, plug flow produced 5 orders of magnitude more electricity. Because the droplet speeds tested were much slower than rain, the researchers suggest the system could be used to harvest electricity from falling raindrops.

In another experiment, the researchers observed that moving water through two tubes, either simultaneously or sequentially, generated double the energy. Using this information, they channeled water through four tubes, and the setup powered 12 LEDs continuously for 20 seconds. The researchers say that plug flow energy could be simpler to set up and maintain than hydroelectric power plants, and it could be convenient for urban spaces like rooftops.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Ministry of Education, Singapore; the Agency for Science, Technology and Research [A*STAR]; and the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology at the National University of Singapore.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Plug Flow: Generating Renewable Electricity with Water from Nature by Breaking the Limit of Debye Length by Chi Kit Ao, Yajuan Sun, Yan Jie Neriah Tan, Yan Jiang, Zhenxing Zhang, Chengyu Zhang, and Siowling Soh. ACS Central Science 2025, 11, 5, 719–733 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.4c02110 Published April 16, 2025 Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. Creative Commons Licence: CC-BY 4.0 .

This paper is open access.

Firing up for nanoparticles

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This May 1, 2025 essay for The Conversation (also here on the Carleton University website) by Keroles Riad (postdoctoral nanotechnology fellow, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada) brings to mind the myth of Prometheus (the Titan who defied the ancient Greek gods of Olympus and gave fire to humanity), Note: Links have been removed,

Fire is arguably humanity’s earliest discovery. It was pivotal in advancing society — underpinning many of humanity’s most transformative inventions, from cooking and forging weapons to generating energy and enabling car combustion engines.

Today, fire continues to be the gateway to some of the most cutting-edge nanotechnologies currently being developed for use in cancer treatments and as breath sensors for early detection of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Nanotechnologies can be found in almost every aspect of our daily lives. For instance, I have previously written about the nanotechnology used in the mRNA vaccines that helped us through the pandemic, and have facilitated conversations discussing how nanotechnology affects our wine, gut and climate.

For example, gas sensors incorporating nanoparticles made via fire can be used to verify that there’s no methanol in alcoholic beverages. Methanol is a highly poisonous alcohol contaminant, and has caused numerous poisonings worldwide.

Fire is how most widely used nanoparticles — and by extension, nanotechnologies — are made. For example, a third of a car tire’s weight is comprised of carbon black nanoparticles, which are made using fire. These nanoparticles help to reinforce the tire. The white paint we use on our walls and the coatings on some pills contain fire-made titania nanoparticles. Similarly, fumed silica — which is used in the optical fibres needed for internet and communication systems — are also forged in fire.

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Riad’s May 1, 2025 essay goes on to provide a definition for nanotechnology and describe some of his own work, Note: Links have been removed,

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So how do nanoparticles, which are 80 to 100 thousand times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, form inside a fire?

I specialize in making nanoparticles in fire — specifically using a technology called flame spray pyrolysis.

In my research, I burn flammable chemicals that contain the target metal elements to form my nanoparticles. Everything gets oxidized during combustion: carbon becomes CO2, hydrogen becomes water vapor and metal elements become metal oxides.

During the milliseconds that these metal oxide particulates spend inside the fire, they collide and grow into nano- or micro-particles. I collect these particles on a filter on top of the fire. Important properties such as the size and crystal structure of the nanoparticles that are produced depend on how much time these particles spend inside the fire.

The more time the particles have to collide inside the forging fire, the larger they grow. We can also make complicated particles consisting of multiple elements by burning a mixture of different chemicals. This process is both versatile and scalable — allowing millions of tonnes of nanoparticles to be produced each year.

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If you have time, Riad’s May 1, 2025 essay is a good introduction to nanotechnology both its possibilities and some of its limitations.

A Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic (brainlike) Computing in the UK

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A May 6, 2025 Aston University press release (also on EurekAlert but published May 7, 2025) announces a UK ‘neuromorphic initiative’, Note: Links have been removed,

  • Aston University to lead the UK’s new centre to pioneer brain-inspired, energy-efficient computing technologies 
  • The initiative will receive £5.6 million over four years from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EPSRC]
  • The aim of the centre is to become a focal point for networking and collaboration on fundamental research and technology.

The UK will be getting a new centre to pioneer brain-inspired, energy-efficient computing technologies.

The UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing is led by Aston University and will receive £5.6 million over four years from the UKRI [UK Research and Innovation] Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The aim of the centre is to become a focal point for networking and collaboration on fundamental research and technology of neuromorphic computing to address the sustainability challenges facing today’s digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence systems.

The centre will be led by the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT) and will include the world-leading researchers from Aston University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University of Southampton, Queen Mary University of London, Loughborough University and the University of Strathclyde. 

Neuromorphic computing seeks to replicate the brain’s structural and functional principles, however scientists currently lack a deep, system-level understanding of how the human brain computes at cellular and network scales. The researchers aim to tackle that challenge directly, blending stem-cell-derived human neuron experiments with advanced computational models, low-power algorithms and novel photonic hardware.

The centre team includes world-leading researchers with broad and complementary expertise in neuroscience, non-conventional computing algorithms, photonics, opto- and nano-electronics and materials science. In collaboration with policymakers and industrial partners the scientists and engineers aim to demonstrate the capabilities of neuromorphic computing across a range of sectors and applications. The centre will be supported by a broad network of industry partners including Microsoft Research, Thales, BT, QinetiQ, Nokia Bell Labs, Hewlett Packard Labs, Leonardo, Northrop Grumman and a number of small to medium enterprises. Their contribution will focus on enhancing the centre’s impact on society.

Professor Rhein Parri, co-director and neurophysiologist at Aston University said: “For the first time, we can combine the study of living human neurons with that of advanced computing platforms to co-develop the future of computing. 

“This project is an exciting leap forward, learning from biology and technology in ways that were not previously possible.”

The experts aim to co-design brain-inspired neuromorphic systems by studying human neuronal function using the latest human induced pluripotent stem cell – or hiPSC technologies – and developing new computational paradigms and low-power AI algorithms. They also plan to create devices and hardware that are inspired by biological systems, like the human brain. These devices will use light – or photonic hardware – to process information. This approach will be the next big step in making computing more energy-efficient and capable of handling many tasks at the same time. They also aim to create a sustainable UK research ecosystem through training, road mapping, and international collaboration.

Professor Sergei K. Turitsyn, director of the centre and AIPT, said: “The project’s ambition is not only to develop future technologies, but also to create a new internationally known UK research brand in neuromorphic computing that will unite the UK’s best minds across disciplines and will lead to sustainable operation and a long-term impact. It’s a proud moment for AIPT and Aston University to lead this national effort.”

Professor Natalia Berloff, co-director of the centre who is based at the University of Cambridge said: “One of the most exciting aspects of neuromorphic computing is the potential of photonic hardware to deliver truly brain-like efficiency. 

“Light-based processors can exploit massive parallelism and ultrafast signal propagation to outperform conventional electronics on demanding AI workloads, while consuming far less power. By combining these photonic architectures with insights from living human neurons, we aim to co-design neuromorphic systems that move beyond incremental improvements and toward a genuinely transformative computing paradigm.”

In addition, the researchers aim to tackle the increasing global energy footprint of information and communication technologies which is developing at an unsustainable pace, driven partly by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. Today’s AI systems are built on traditional computing hardware with increasingly high-power consumption (kW), posing a barrier to scalability and sustainability. In contrast, the human brain performs complex computation and communication tasks using just 20 watts.

Professor Dimitra Georgiadou, co-director of the centre who is based at the University of Southampton added: “To address the challenge of substantially lowering the power consumption in electronics, novel materials and device architectures are needed that can effectively emulate computation in the brain and cellular responses to certain stimuli.”

The centre’s ambition goes beyond technology development as it aims to serve as a foundation for a long-term, interdisciplinary research ecosystem – actively expanding its membership and reach over time. It aims to establish a sustainable centre that continues to be a focal point for the community and will thrive beyond the initial funding period, reinforcing innovation, partnership, and impact in the field of neuromorphic computing.

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Good luck to this effort to lower power consumption.

Fungus-produced silver nanoparticles could be used to prevent and treat COVID-19

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This May 6, 2025 news item on phys.org presents an intriguing possibility for COVID-19 prevention,

Silver nanoparticles produced by the fungus Trichoderma reesei could become important allies in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Tests carried out on hamsters showed that they not only inhibited the infection but also reduced the viral load in the lungs, easing inflammation in the rodents.

The study paves the way for the development of nasal sprays and other products to combat several viral diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, shingles and influenza.

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A May 7, 2025 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) press release by Maria Fernanda Ziegler (also on EurekAlert but published May 6, 2025) provides more detail about the work,

Silver nanoparticles have been of interest to the pharmaceutical industry due to their high affinity for proteins. Depending on their shape and size, they attract and adhere to these molecules, inhibiting the progression of disease.

“Using computer analysis, we found that the silver nanoparticles produced in our laboratory bind to the spike protein, a kind of key that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to enter the host cells and replicate. In this way, they inhibit the entry of the virus into the cell by 50%,” says Roberto do Nascimento Silva, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Immunology at the Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP) in Brazil and author of the study published in the journal Current Research in Biotechnology. 

Tests in hamsters have shown that the effects of the product may go beyond preventing COVID-19. “The most interesting thing is that the nanoparticles not only prevented the virus from entering the cells but were also able to improve acute lung inflammation, one of the worst complications of COVID-19, proving to be a viable treatment for the disease,” he says.

The researchers found that the silver nanoparticles prevented the activation of the inflammasome – a protein complex in cells responsible for the excessive immune response (cytokine storm) in severe COVID-19 – and the production of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), a protein involved in the inflammatory response.

“We still need to deepen our understanding of which mechanism is involved in inhibiting the inflammatory response, but given the highly inflammatory nature of COVID-19, it can be inferred that silver nanoparticles reduce this process of cell damage that’s usually associated with disease exacerbation and fatalities,” says Silva.

The work was carried out in collaboration with researchers from FMRP-USP, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz, affiliated with the Ministry of Health), the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL) and the University of Brasília (UnB). The group obtained the silver nanoparticles from T. reesei, known for its industrial application in the conversion of cellulose – an important component of plant biomass – into glucose.

In the laboratory, the fungus begins to multiply in a low-oxygen environment, producing a series of reducing enzymes like a biofactory. These molecules transform the silver into spherical nanoparticles. It is worth noting that the enzymes and proteins present in the T. reesei culture medium act as reducing and stabilizing agents, facilitating the formation of silver nanoparticles with controllable sizes and shapes.

“The biological production of silver nanoparticles is a sustainable biotechnological solution because it avoids the use of toxic chemicals. These nanoparticles can be used in nasal spray formulations, disinfectants, antimicrobial coatings and in medical devices to prevent the spread of the virus,” he says.

Silva also points out that the study, conducted with the aim of stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2, could serve as a basis for treating other viral diseases. “This strategy has proven to be very interesting, generating products for agriculture and the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Originally, my laboratory investigated the use of silver nanoparticles to fight breast tumor cells. With the pandemic, we focused our work on fighting SARS-CoV-2. The application is broad, and there’s already work in animal studies for HIV and the herpes virus, for example,” he says. 

Although silver is expensive, says the researcher, the production of nanoparticles can be scaled up to produce low-cost products. Another important issue is dosage. “Silver is toxic. That’s why we use a very low dosage, ten times less than what’s considered toxic to the body. And after eight weeks, the body is able to eliminate the metal from the body. So the cost-benefit is worth it,” he says. “The next step in this work is to patent a pharmaceutical formulation and start clinical trials.”

About FAPESP

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Biogenic silver nanoparticles produced by Trichoderma reesei inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, reduce lung viral load and ameliorate acute pulmonary inflammation by Marcus V.M.V. Amaral, Cláudia B. Carraro, Amanda C.C. Antoniêto, Mariana N. Costa, Thais F.C. Fraga-Silva, Ualter G. Cipriano, Rodrigo P.F. Abuná, Tamara S. Rodrigues, Ronaldo B. Martins, Andreia M. Luzenti, Glaucia R. Caruso, Priscyla D. Marcato, Vania L.D. Bonato, Dario S. Zamboni, Bergman M. Ribeiro, Sônia N. Báo, Joao S. da Silva, Flávio P. Veras, Roberto N. Silva. Current Research in Biotechnology Volume 9, 2025, 100277 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100277

This paper is open access.

Memristors could help AIs overcome ‘catastrophic forgetting’

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A March 20,205 news item on SciencDaily describes a ‘novel’ memristor,

They consume extremely little power and behave similarly to brain cells: so-called memristors. Researchers from Jülich [Forschungszentrum Juelich; Germany], led by Ilia Valov, have now introduced novel memristive components in Nature Communications that offer significant advantages over previous versions: they are more robust, function across a wider voltage range, and can operate in both analog and digital modes. These properties could help address the problem of “catastrophic forgetting,” where artificial neural networks abruptly forget previously learned information.

The problem of “catastrophic forgetting” occurs when deep neural networks are trained for a new task. This is because a new optimization simply overwrites a previous one. The brain does not have this problem because it can apparently adjust the degree of synaptic change; experts are now also talking about a so-called “metaplasticity”. They suspect that it is only through these different degrees of plasticity that our brain can permanently learn new tasks without forgetting old content. The new memristor accomplishes something similar.

“Its unique properties allow the use of different switching modes to control the modulation of the memristor in such a way that stored information is not lost,” says Ilia Valov from the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich.

…

A March 20, 2025 Forschungszentrum Juelich press release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, provides context for the work along with more technical details,

Ideal candidates for neuro-inspired devices

Modern computer chips are evolving rapidly. Their development could receive a further boost from memristors—a term derived from memory and resistor. These components are essentially resistors with memory: their electrical resistance changes depending on the applied voltage, and unlike conventional switching elements, their resistance value remains even after the voltage is turned off. This is because memristors can undergo structural changes—for example, due to atoms depositing on the electrodes.

“Memristive elements are considered ideal candidates for learning-capable, neuro-inspired computer components modeled on the brain,” says Ilia Valov.

Despite considerable progress and efforts, the commercialization of the components is progressing slower than expected. This is due in particular to an often high failure rate in production and a short lifespan of the products. In addition, they are sensitive to heat generation or mechanical influences, which can lead to frequent malfunctions during operation. “Basic research is therefore essential to better control nanoscale processes,” says Valov, who has been working in this field of memristors for many years. ”We need new materials and switching mechanisms to reduce the complexity of the systems and increase the range of functionalities.”

It is precisely in this regard that the chemist and materials scientist, together with German and Chinese colleagues, has now been able to report an important success: “We have discovered a fundamentally new electrochemical memristive mechanism that is chemically and electrically more stable,” explains Valov. The development has now been presented in the journal Nature Communications.

A New Mechanism for Memristors

“So far, two main mechanisms have been identified for the functioning of so-called bipolar memristors: ECM and VCM,” explains Valov. ECM stands for ‘Electrochemical Metallization’ and VCM for ‘Valence Change Mechanism’.

  • ECM memristors form a metallic filament between the two electrodes—a tiny “conductive bridge” that alters electrical resistance and dissolves again when the voltage is reversed. The critical parameter here is the energy barrier (resistance) of the electrochemical reaction. This design allows for low switching voltages and fast switching times, but the generated states are variable and relatively short-lived.
     
  • VCM memristors, on the other hand, do not change resistance through the movement of metal ions but rather through the movement of oxygen ions at the interface between the electrode and electrolyte—by modifying the so-called Schottky barrier. This process is comparatively stable but requires high switching voltages.

Each type of memristor has its own advantages and disadvantages. “We therefore considered designing a memristor that combines the benefits of both types,” explains Ilia Valov. Among experts, this was previously thought to be impossible. “Our new memristor is based on a completely different principle: it utilizes a filament made of metal oxides rather than a purely metallic one like ECM,” Valov explains. This filament is formed by the movement of oxygen and tantalum ions and is highly stable—it never fully dissolves. “You can think of it as a filament that always exists to some extent and is only chemically modified,” says Valov.

The novel switching mechanism is therefore very robust. The scientists also refer to it as a filament conductivity modification mechanism (FCM). Components based on this mechanism have several advantages: they are chemically and electrically more stable, more resistant to high temperatures, have a wider voltage window and require lower voltages to produce. As a result, fewer components burn out during the manufacturing process, the reject rate is lower and their lifespan is longer.

Perspective solution for “catastrophic forgetting”

On top of that, the different oxidation states allow the memristor to be operated in a binary and/or analog mode. While binary signals are digital and can only output two states, analog signals are continuous and can take on any intermediate value. This combination of analog and digital behavior is particularly interesting for neuromorphic chips because it can help to overcome the problem of “catastrophic forgetting”: deep neural networks delete what they have learned when they are trained for a new task. This is because a new optimization simply overwrites a previous one.

The brain does not have this problem because it can apparently adjust the degree of synaptic change; experts are now also talking about a so-called “metaplasticity”. They suspect that it is only through these different degrees of plasticity that our brain can permanently learn new tasks without forgetting old content. The new ohmic memristor accomplishes something similar. “Its unique properties allow the use of different switching modes to control the modulation of the memristor in such a way that stored information is not lost,” says Valov.

The researchers have already implemented the new memristive component in a model of an artificial neural network in a simulation. In several image data sets, the system achieved a high level of accuracy in pattern recognition. In the future, the team wants to look for other materials for memristors that might work even better and more stably than the version presented here. “Our results will further advance the development of electronics for ‘computation-in-memory’ applications,” Valov is certain.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Electrochemical ohmic memristors for continual learning by Shaochuan Chen, Zhen Yang, Heinrich Hartmann, Astrid Besmehn, Yuchao Yang & Ilia Valov. Nature Communications volume 16, Article number: 2348 (2025) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57543-w Published: 08 March 2025

This paper is open access.

What? You’ve got a synchrotron in your closet?

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Here’s what makes a small synchrotron ‘big’ news. Synchrotrons (also called synchrotorn light sources) are very expensive and very large. Most countries have one only; if they have any synchrotrons at at all. (I believe there are approximately 40 worldwide.) For anyone who doesn’t know what a synchrotron is, there’s an explanation from the Canadian Light Source’s What is a synchrotron? webpage,

Overview

A synchrotron produces different kinds of light in order to study the structural and chemical properties of materials at the molecular level. This is possible by looking at the ways light interacts with the individual molecules of a material.

The CLS synchrotron produces light by accelerating electrons to nearly the speed of light and directing the electrons around a ring. The electrons are directed around the ring by a combination of radio frequency waves and powerful electromagnets. When the electrons go around the bends, they give off energy in the form of incredibly bright and highly focused light. Different types of light, primarily infrared and X-ray, are directed down to the end of beamlines, where researchers use the light for their experiments at endstations. Each beamline and endstation at the CLS is designed for a specific type of experiment.

…

This April 30, 2025 news item on ScienceDaily announced a much smaller scale synchrotron,

For the first time, researchers can study the microstructures inside metals, ceramics and rocks with X-rays in a standard laboratory without needing to travel to a particle accelerator, according to a study led by University of Michigan engineers.

The new technique makes 3D X-ray diffraction — known as 3DXRD — more readily accessible, potentially enabling quick analysis of samples and prototypes in academia and industry, as well as providing more opportunities for students.

….

Once only possible in specialized shared-use facilities, the newly developed laboratory scale three-dimensional x-ray diffraction (Lab-3DXRD) opens up more opportunities for student use. Yuefeng Jin, a doctoral student of mechanical engineering at U-M, carefully positions a metal sample for measurement. Image credit: Marcin Szczepanski, Michigan Engineering

An April 29, 2025 University of Michigan news release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, offers more details, Note: Links have been removed,

Synchrotron in a closet: Bringing powerful 3D X-ray microscopy to smaller labs

…

3DXRD reconstructs 3D images using X-rays taken at multiple angles, similar to a CT scan. Instead of the imaging device rotating about a patient, a few-millimeters-wide material sample rotates on a stand in front of a powerful beam with about a million times more X-rays than a medical X-ray. 

The huge X-ray concentration produces a micro-cale image of the tiny fused crystals that make up most metals, ceramics and rocks—known as polycrystalline materials. 

Results help researchers understand how materials react to mechanical stresses by measuring thousands of individual crystals’ volume, position, orientation and strain. For example, imaging a sample from a steel beam under compression can show how crystals respond to bearing the weight of a building, helping researchers understand large-scale wear.

Synchrotrons were once the only facilities able to produce enough X-rays for 3DXRD as electrons spit off scads of X-rays as they travel through circular particle accelerators, which can then be directed into a sample.

While synchrotron X-ray beams produce state-of-the-art detail, there are only about 70 facilities world-wide. Research teams must put together project proposals for “beam time.” Accepted projects often must wait six months to up to two years to run their experiments, which are limited to a maximum of six days. 

In an effort to make this technique more widely available, the research team worked with PROTO Manufacturing to custom build the first laboratory-scale 3DXRD. As a whole, the instrument is about the size of a residential bathroom, but could be scaled down to the size of a broom closet.

“This technique gives us such interesting data that I wanted to create the opportunity to try new things that are high risk, high reward and allow teachable moments for students without the wait-time and pressure of synchrotron beam time,” said Ashley Bucsek, U-M assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering and co-corresponding author of the study published in Nature Communications.

Previously, small-scale devices could not produce enough X-rays for 3DXRD because at a certain point, the electron beam pumps so much power into the anode—the solid metal surface that the electrons strike to make X-rays—that it would melt. Lab-3DXRD leverages a liquid-metal-jet anode that is already liquid at room temperature, allowing it to take in more power and produce more X-rays than once possible at this scale. 

The researchers put the design to the test by scanning the same titanium alloy sample using three methods: lab-3DXRD, synchrotron-3DXRD and laboratory diffraction contrast tomography or LabDCT—a technique used to map out crystal structures in 3D without strain information. 

Lab-3DXRD was highly accurate, with 96% of the crystals it picked up overlapping with the other two methods. It did particularly well with larger crystals over 60 micrometers, but missed some of the smaller crystals. The researchers note that adding a more sensitive photon-counting detector, which detects the X-rays that are used to build the images, could help catch the finest-grained crystals.

With this technique available in-house, Bucsek’s research team can try new experiments, honing parameters to prepare for a larger experiment at a synchrotron.

“Lab-3DXRD is like a nice backyard telescope while synchrotron-3DXRD is the Hubble Telescope. There are still certain situations where you need the Hubble, but we are now well prepared for those big experiments because we can try everything out beforehand,” Bucsek said.  

Beyond enabling more accessible experiments, lab-3DXRD allows researchers to extend projects past the synchrotron six day limit, which is particularly helpful when studying cyclic loading—how a material responds to repeated stresses over thousands of cycles.

First author and co-corresponding author Seunghee Oh, a research fellow in mechanical engineering at the time of the study, now works in the X-ray Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory.

The research is funded by the National Science Foundation (CMMI-2142302; DMR-1829070) and the U.S. Department of Energy (Award DE-SC0008637). 

Researchers from PROTO Manufacturing also contributed to the study.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Taking three-dimensional x-ray diffraction (3DXRD) from the synchrotron to the laboratory scale by Seunghee Oh, Yuefeng Jin, Sangwon Lee, Wenxi Li, Ken Geauvreau, Matthew Williams, Robert Drake & Ashley Bucsek. Nature Communications volume 16, Article number: 3964 (2025) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58255-x Published: 29 April 2025

This paper is open access.

You can find PROTO Manufacturing here.

“The Universe in a Box” hybrid event: Perimeter Institute (PI) free tickets available on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 9 am ET

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This Perimeter Institute (PI) for Theoretical Physics event, *”The Universe in a Box” won’t take place until Wednesday, July 30, 2025, if you can attend in person. here are the details for getting a ticket or two this Monday morning, from a July 18, 2025 PI announcement (received via email),

The Universe in a Box with Andrew Pontzen

Wednesday, July 30 [2025] at 7:00 pm ET

You’re invited to an exclusive public lecture with Professor Andrew Pontzen, one of today’s leading voices in the study of cosmology.

Merging black holes, collapsing dark matter, giant supernova explosions: a tapestry of cosmic events stretching over the past 13.8 billion years have shaped our existence in a vast universe. Faced with this complexity, humanity has increasingly turned to computers to help extract a clear understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. This lecture will explore the history of how these tools have developed, in parallel with more down-to-earth computational pursuits like weather forecasting. We will see how the resulting codes have unlocked our understanding of the universe, from galaxies and black holes to the essence of matter. And the lecture will conclude with a look at a contentious idea put forward by some philosophers and scientists – that we may already be living inside a simulation. 

Andrew Pontzen is a professor of cosmology, and from January 2026 will direct Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology [UK]. His research concerns how structure formed in our universe, from its opening moments to the present day. He has written for the New Scientist, BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] Sky at Night and BBC Science Focus; lectured at the Royal Institution; appeared on BBC, Amazon Prime and Discovery Channel documentaries; and contributed to BBC Radio 4 programmes including Inside Science and The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry. He is also the author of The Universe in a Box which dives into the role of simulations in cosmology and beyond, recently published to critical acclaim.

Don’t miss out! Free tickets to attend this event in person will become available on Monday, July 21, [2025] at 9 am ET. 

In-Person Tickets

If you didn’t get tickets for the lecture, not to worry – you can always catch the livestream on our website or watch it on YouTube after the fact.

Watch Online

Here’s more from the event registration page,

Date and time

Starts on Wednesday, July 30 · 6:45pm EDT

Location

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics 31 Caroline Street North Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5

Agenda

6:00 p.m.

Doors Open

Perimeter’s main floor Atrium will be open for ticket holders, with researchers available to answer science questions until the talk begins.

6:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Doors Close

Theater doors close to ensure all guests have enough time to enter and be seated by our ushers.

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Public Talk

The talk will begin at 7:00 PM, offering a live stream for virtual attendees. This will include a full presentation in the Theatre as well as a Q&A session.

8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Atrium (Optional)

After the talk, head to the Atrium to mingle with other attendees and meet the speaker.

About this event

Please Note: Your ticket will be valid until 6:45 PM. This ensures all guests have enough time to enter the Theatre and be seated by our ushers.

Live-stream of the event will start at 7 p.m. EDT on our YouTube channel.

Our ushers seat guests beginning from the front rows of the Theatre toward the back.

Good luck getting a ticket! If you want one.

One last thing, Andrew Pontzen’s eponymous website can be found here.

*Title for a previous PI event removed on August 15, 2025 and other minor corrections (removing a space and ‘but’ from the same sentence) were made.

Help maintain cognitive and memory functions with virtual reality (VR) game which integrates smell

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I always enjoy a research story involving the sense of smell (olfaction); the most recent ones here being an April 22, 2025 posting (also from the Institute of Science Tokyo) “Fragrance design using deep neural networks (DNNs)” and an April 17, 2025 posting “Olfactory ethics.” There’s also this ‘golden oldie’ from May 22, 2017 “Preserving heritage smells (scents).” Now, the sense of smell enters virtual reality.

Caption: Olfactory VR offers the potential for cognitive rehabilitation and dementia preventation [sic] in aging populations Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo

An April 30, 2025 Institute of Science Tokyo press release (also on EurekAlerrt) describes some of the latest investigation into the sense of smell, Note: A link has been removed,

As the global population ages, supporting older adults in maintaining their cognitive and memory functions has become a pressing concern. The United Nations estimates that by the 2070s, there will be over 2.2 billion people aged 65 or older, surpassing the global number of children under 18. This demographic shift is especially pronounced in Japan, the fastest-aging country, where 28.7% of the population is 65 or older.

One promising strategy to counter cognitive decline is through olfactory stimulation—engaging the sense of smell. Smell signals travel directly to brain regions involved in memory and emotion. Building on this knowledge, a joint research team from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), University of the Arts London, Bunkyo Gakuin University, and Hosei University, Japan, has developed the world’s first cognitive training method for older adults by combining olfactory stimulation with virtual reality (VR). The study was published in Volume 15 of the journal Scientific Reports on March 28, 2025.

“VR provides a promising platform to simulate sensory conditions in a controlled yet engaging manner. By combining goal-oriented tasks with real-time feedback, our VR-based olfactory training approach can increase cognitive engagement and maximize its therapeutic impact,” says Professor Takamichi Nakamoto from Science Tokyo.

The method involves an olfactory display that emits specific scents during immersive VR gameplay, activating memory- and emotion-related brain regions. In the activity, participants are asked to memorize and later match scents within a virtual environment. The experience begins in a virtual landscape. Using a VR controller, participants interact with a scent source represented by a stone statue. When touched, the statue releases a specific scent, accompanied by a white vapor cloud as a visual cue to reinforce memory.

Participants then explore the virtual landscape to locate a scent source. As they move through the landscape, the olfactory display emits subtle traces of the scent to guide them to the location. Upon reaching the odor source, shown as a stone lantern, they encounter three colored vapor clouds, each emitting a different scent. Their task is to compare the smells and identify the one that matches the original scent they memorized.

“The smell memory phase strengthens odor recognition and memory encoding by linking the olfactory stimulus with a visual cue. The navigation phase challenges players to integrate spatial navigation with odor recognition while retaining memory of the initial scent. The final odor comparison phase engages olfactory discrimination and working memory retrieval, reinforcing cognitive function,” explains Nakamoto.

The activity led to noticeable cognitive improvements in 30 older adults aged 63 to 90. After just 20 minutes of playing the VR game, participants showed improvements in visuospatial rotation and memory. Visuospatial processing and cognitive function were assessed through different tasks. In the Hiragana Rotation Task, where they had to decide if rotated Japanese characters matched the original, scores improved from 19–82 to 29–85. In a word-based spatial memory recall task, where participants memorized word positions in a grid, scores rose from 0­–15 to 3–15. These improvements were validated through statistical analysis.

With continued research and development toward more affordable olfactory displays or alternate scent delivery methods, olfactory-based VR activities could become an accessible and engaging tool for supporting mental health in older adults.

About Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo)

Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) was established on October 1, 2024, following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), with the mission of “Advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society.”

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Exploring the effects of olfactory VR on visuospatial memory and cognitive processing in older adults by Ryota Sunami, Takamichi Nakamoto, Nathan Cohen, Takefumi Kobayashi & Kohsuke Yamamoto . Scientific Reports volume 15, Article number: 10805 (2025) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94693-9 Published: 28 March 2025

This paper is open access.