It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, September 08, 2025
Scientists in Saudi Arabia repurpose greenhouse gas into valuable chemical product
KAUST innovation sustainably converts captured CO₂ into industrial-grade ethylene
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) have unveiled a breakthrough system that could change the way we think about carbon emissions. Published in Nature Catalysis, the researchers outline a system for converting captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) into industrial-grade ethylene, a commodity chemical essential to plastics, textiles, and construction. The work shows a direct path to transforming greenhouse gas emissions into valuable chemical products.
In addition to the environmental benefits, lead researcher Assistant Professor Xu Lu said key efficiencies in the system create an opportunity to turn the otherwise costly process of capturing CO2 into a profit.
“We designed and tested the system under realistic industrial conditions using captured, high-pressure CO₂,” he said. “Our results show captured carbon can be valorized into a valuable product with real economic potential.”
Captured CO₂ can be processed in many ways. However, to produce ethylene, whose global market exceeds $200 billion per year, electrolysis is particularly promising, as it can be powered by renewable electricity and operate in milder conditions than other capture techniques.
Lu led a research team that designed a high-pressure electrolyzer to convert O₂ with water into ethylene. High-pressure CO₂ is the output of commercial carbon capture systems, but little research has been done on the role of pressure when electrochemically converting CO₂ into a valuable commodity. The KAUST breakthrough, Lu said, is the first to show that using industrial CO₂ pressures can dramatically improve electrolysis performance and stability.
In contrast, many prior systems require depressurizing or repressurizing steps, which demands high amounts of energy, and costly purification of the ethylene due to the output of a mixed product. Lu added that the KAUST system reduces the energy cost of producing ethylene by 0.8 gigajoules per metric ton compared with existing electrolysis systems, which is enough energy to power an average home for a week.
An economic analysis shows the KAUST process can make ethylene at $1,240 per ton, which is about the same as today’s market price. However, unlike standard ethylene production methods, which are energy- and carbon-intensive, the KAUST process uses CO₂ and could operate on renewable electricity. With system optimization, costs may fall further and turn carbon capture from a cost burden into a profit opportunity.
The spread of species beyond their native habitat is a human-made environmental change on a global scale. Among vascular plants, over 16,000 species have now permanently settled in foreign countries. The majority of these "naturalizations" has taken place since the 1950s and predominantly in regions with considerable human influence.
Naturalized alien plants, also known as neophytes, can have major impacts on the affected regions' ecosystems. This is particularly evident in the case of invasive plants, which are spreading rapidly in new regions and outcompete the native flora. But what makes these plants so successful? Is it because they are exploiting an "ecological gap" in the foreign ecosystem, allowing them to thrive so easily? Or are they simply "naturally" good at expanding their range? In other words: Do plant species that are on the rise in their native habitats also become globally widespread as naturalized aliens?
Led by the University of Konstanz, an international research team found clear evidence supporting this theory. Their study compared the spread of 3,920 native plant species in ten European countries with how widely these species are naturalized globally. Europe is one of the world's "main exporters" of naturalized plants. "Our results show that many of the European plant species that successfully naturalize in foreign ecosystems are species that have expanded rapidly in their European home regions as well", explains Konstanz biologist Mark van Kleunen, who led the study. "Plants that are declining in their natural range, on the other hand, rarely succeed in settling in foreign areas".
The results of the study indicate that it could be the same characteristics that make plants successful both in their homelands and in foreign regions. The researchers identified common characteristics of these species: "In general, they are tall, ecologically versatile generalists that are highly competitive and prefer nutrient-rich habitats," summarizes Rashmi Paudel, first author of the study.
"If the plant species that are widespread and on the rise within their native habitats are essentially the same as those that spread successfully – and sometimes become invasive – in other regions of the world, then it stands to reason that both processes are at least based on similar biological mechanisms", concludes Paudel. "This could reflect that the selective pressures that have made certain species common in their native regions also have preadapted them for success as invaders. This could also reflect that such common species were more likely to be picked up, transported and introduced elsewhere." Observing the dynamics of the spread of native plants at home can thus provide valuable indications for assessing the likelihood of their establishment in new territories.
Study of 3,920 plant species in ten European countries, conducted jointly by universities and research institutions from Germany, Puerto Rico, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Austria, China, Italy, Great Britain and South Africa.
The University of Plymouth's USV Cetus is one of a number of vessels developed by the University that are unlocking innovation in dual-use capabilities, marine science, and critical national infrastructure support
The University of Plymouth’s expertise in advanced marine technologies will be critical to a major investment programme set to transform Plymouth and its economy.
The UK Government has announced the city is to receive a share of £250million through its UK Defence Growth Deals scheme.
Building on the city’s recent designation as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal will be used to forge long-term partnerships between government, business and research institutions in the city and to harness local expertise and resources in support of the UK Armed Forces.
A significant part of that will see the University driving innovation through a new Advanced Marine Technology Hub, uniting and expanding the city’s expertise in dual-use capabilities, marine science, and critical national infrastructure support.
Its aim will be to reaffirm Plymouth’s place as a centre of excellence and rapidly grow the UK’s marine autonomy capability, supply chain expertise and export capabilities across a range of sectors.
That will enhance the University’s world-leading expertise in autonomous marine systems, maritime cyber security, offshore renewable energy and environmental intelligence, as well as reaffirming its long-standing partnerships with – and commitment to – the city’s defence and security sectors.
The Plymouth Defence Growth Deal will also strengthen local skills initiatives with a particular focus on STEM outreach, and in fields including electrical engineering, renewable energy systems, nuclear operations, and autonomy.
Professor Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, said: “This investment will create unprecedented opportunities for the University and everyone living and working in our city. It shows those in charge of our nation’s defence have confidence that Plymouth – thanks to our expertise and facilities, our location and heritage – is perfectly placed to tackle the complex threats the UK is currently facing, and to inspire and train those who will be critical to its future security. Our University is already home to expertise and facilities that have for many years been recognised at a regional, national and international level. The creation of the Advanced Marine Technology Hub places us even closer to the heart of the UK’s national resilience, and we – and our partners – are ready to seize all the opportunities that brings.”
The Plymouth Defence Growth Deal will be driven by a consortium working together as Team Plymouth, a strategic partnership positioning Plymouth to lead in defence, marine autonomy, and advanced manufacturing, securing its place at the forefront of national resilience and regional renewal.
Building on work carried out through Growth Alliance Plymouth, the new identity also reflects a strengthened partnership with government, industry, and local stakeholders and signals a collective ambition to seize this moment and transform the city’s future.
New poll: Most women don’t know that diet change can reduce hot flashes
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As Menopause Awareness Month approaches in October, a new poll finds that just 43% of women believe that diet influences the number and intensity of hot flashes for women experiencing menopause, despite research showing that a low-fat, plant-based diet that includes soy can significantly reduce hot flashes.
19% thought that women experiencing menopause should avoid soy products, while 21% thought that they didn’t need to avoid soy products.
11% thought consumption of ultra-processed plant foods (such as plant-based meat and dairy alternatives) reduces hot flashes, while 22% thought it increases hot flashes.
13% thought consumption of ultra-processed plant foods led to weight loss for women experiencing menopause, while 26% thought it increased weight.
“Our research has found that a low-fat plant-based diet that includes soybeans can significantly reduce hot flashes and weight in postmenopausal women,” says Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee. “Women can even experience these health benefits when their diet includes plant-based foods that are considered ultra-processed—like soy milk and plant-based meat alternatives.”
Dr. Kahleova and Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee, led the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms (WAVS) trial, which was published in the journal Menopause in 2023. The study found that a plant-based diet rich in soy reduced moderate to severe hot flashes by 88% and helped women lose 8 pounds, on average, in 12 weeks. A secondary analysis of the study found that women experienced a reduction in hot flashes and weight regardless of the level of processing—from unprocessed to ultra-processed—of the plant-based foods.
The study included 84 postmenopausal women reporting two or more hot flashes per day. They were randomly assigned either to an intervention group—consisting of a low-fat, vegan diet, including half a cup of cooked soybeans daily—or to a control group that made no diet changes for 12 weeks. The study was the second phase of a two-part trial, the first of which was published in Menopause in 2021.
Approximately 75% of women experience hot flashes as they go through menopause, but these symptoms receive inadequate attention in primary care settings, according to a study published by the Menopause Society last year.
“This Menopause Awareness Month—and all year long—I urge physicians and other clinicians to encourage their patients who are in any phase of menopause to try a plant-based diet to help fight hot flashes, reduce their weight if needed, and improve other health conditions,” says Vanita Rahman, MD, clinic director of the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., who recently presented on menopause at the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in education and research.
Non-hormonal biomaterial could help combat vaginal changes associated with menopause
Samples of vaginal tissues removed after 14 days of treatment, showing, clockwise, healthy tissues, then menopausal tissues treated with saline, the vECM hydrogel, and collagen. In menopausal vaginal tissues treated with the hydrogel, stem cells (magenta) match the appearance of those in healthy tissues.
A new hydrogel applied directly to vaginal tissues may help alleviate the negative impacts of menopause, according to a new study from scientists at the University of California San Diego. The results, published in Advanced Materials, could pave the way for a hormone-free treatment that alleviates vaginal dryness and pain caused by genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which negatively impacts quality of life for millions of women.
“We have developed a new material, which was designed specifically for the vagina,” said Karen Christman, a professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering and the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at UC San Diego and one of the senior authors on the paper.
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM, affects up to 85% of women over 40 years of age, with 30% to 60% suffering from vaginal dryness and pain. Women suffering from the condition report that it interferes with their sleep, sex life and ability to travel, work out and socialize. Importantly, 65% of women suffering from GSM report that they are not satisfied with the currently available prescription and over-the-counter treatments.
The hormonal changes after menopause have a wide range of impacts on women’s health, including vaginal and lower urinary tract tissues. Vaginal tissues thin out. Blood vessels shrink, as do the connective tissue and smooth muscle layers that help the vagina expand during sexual activity and provide support for pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus and rectum. In addition, immune cells in the female reproductive tract change and start producing inflammatory proteins.
The current gold-standard treatment for GSM is low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy, which has been shown to be highly effective at thickening the lining of the vagina, which will thin in menopause. But this treatment doesn’t affect the deeper smooth muscle tissue in the vaginal wall that is responsible for the organ’s structure and function. In addition, a number of patients and even some clinicians still reject this treatment because of concerns that it might increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers–a concern that studies have shown is not warranted. The treatment is also costly and not always covered by insurance.
Bioengineers in Christman’s laboratory make hydrogels from the natural scaffolding of tissue, also known as the extracellular matrix. They have shown that these types of biomaterials help heal cardiac muscle tissue after a heart attack, among several other applications. These hydrogels for cardiac applications also have successfully been tested during a Phase 1 FDA-approved clinical trial.
Christman and colleagues partnered with the Alperin research group to see if hydrogels would constitute a good treatment for GSM, running a study in small animal models as a first step.
“We are not looking to replace estrogen treatments,” said Emma Zelus, the first author of the Advanced Materials study, who is currently working as a preclinical research manager at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. “We want to provide an alternative for patients and physicians who either do not want to use hormone-based therapy or for women for whom vaginal estrogen alone is insufficient.”
How the study was conducted
Researchers randomly assigned 24 menopausal rats to receive as a topical intravaginal application a daily dose of a solution containing either hydrogel at two different concentrations–6 or 8 milligrams per milliliter–or collagen or saline. After 14 days of treatment, researchers took samples of vaginal tissues and analyzed them.
They found that in rats that had received the hydrogel treatment, vaginal tissues appeared closer to those of pre-menopausal animals. In addition, treatment with the hydrogel led to an increase in smooth muscle thickness. Researchers also found that the 8 milligram dose seemed to be more effective, likely due to a higher concentration of extracellular matrix proteins.
Researchers sampled tissues from the animals in the first three days of treatment and found that the hydrogel was present not only in the surface layer but also in the muscular layer of the vaginal wall. They found that macrophages, which are part of the immune system, in particular responded to the hydrogel with increases in the kind of macrophage that helps with tissue repair.
Researchers also didn’t find any safety concerns or adverse effects on the rats during the study.
Next steps
Next steps include testing various concentrations of the hydrogel in a larger preclinical study over a longer period of time. The researchers also need to test whether the hydrogel can be administered less frequently–twice or three times a week rather than daily.
“We need a multidisciplinary approach to solving women’s health issues,” said Dr. Alperin, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery specialist at UC San Diego Health.
The research was supported in that part by the NIH National Institute on Aging and the NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Christman is a cofounder of Ventrix Bio. Inc., which is commercializing a similar hydrogel technology for treating heart disease.
Emma I. Zelus and Karen L Christman, Shu-Chien Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine and Sanford Stem Cell Institute
Marianna Alperin, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine and UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Jacqueline Grime, UC San Diego Division of Biological Sciences
Anthony Saviola, Maxwell McCabe and Kirk C. Hansen, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado
Alperin and Christman are co-corresponding authors
Journal
Advanced Materials
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Development of a vaginal extracellular matrix hydrogel for combatting genitourinary syndrome of menopause
New research sheds light on the complex communication occurring in the ovary
Credit: Figure created by Agne Velthut-Meikas using BioRender
Tiny messengers of cells
In living organisms, cells are constantly sending and receiving signals. The most common form of communication is through chemical signals, such as hormones. In many body fluids, cells use extracellular vesicles to exchange information. These nanoscale particles act like courier packages, through which cells send messages to each other, influencing their activity, shape, or behaviour. Vesicles contain various molecules, including short RNAs, which can alter the behaviour of neighbouring cells. It is known that cells release different vesicles depending on their developmental stage and condition, so vesicles reflect what is happening inside the cells.
Vesicles as influencers of egg development
Researchers at TalTech’s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Helsinki and the Tallinn-based company HansaBioMed Life Sciences, investigated how vesicles affect the environment of the developing egg and ovarian function. The egg grows inside a follicle – a fluid-filled sac that provides an optimal environment for its growth together with its supporting granulosa cells. Extracellular vesicles float within this follicular fluid surrounding the egg.
According to TalTech PhD student and co-author of the study Inge Varik extracellular vesicles are known to vary in size, density, surface components, appearance, and content, but they are usually studied as a mixture of these different subtypes. “We wanted to determine whether this approach is sufficient or whether different vesicle subtypes should be analysed separately to better understand the information they carry and their impact on ovarian cells.”
Different messages, different effects
The study compared the effects of small (100 nanometres in diameter) and large (300 nanometres in diameter) vesicles on granulosa cells. Granulosa cells are supporting cells within the follicle that produce steroid hormones and help the oocyte mature, thereby regulating follicle development and fertility. The results revealed distinct effects. Smaller vesicles had a broad impact on gene expression, signal transduction, and the organization of the extracellular environment. Larger vesicles, on the other hand, had a more modest effect on gene expression but significantly increased testosterone production.
Agne Velthut-Meikas, head of the Reproductive Biology research group and co-author of the study, emphasizes: “Our work shows that communication within the follicle is far more complex than previously thought. Each vesicle carries very specific and important information. We found that large vesicles contain significantly more piRNA-type short RNA molecules, the role of which in ovarian steroid-producing granulosa cells is still unclear. However, these molecules are known to be important for egg development.”
Unlocking the secrets of fertility
Communication between cells plays a crucial role in follicle development. When this communication is disrupted – due to aging, environmental factors, or disease – it can affect the female fertility. “This discovery provides a strong foundation for our ongoing research, in which we are examining vesicles from women with fertility issues and their effects on cells,” explains Varik.
The study has another potentially valuable application. Extracellular vesicles could, in the future, serve as biomarkers that provide precise information about the state of cells and the entire organism. A woman’s fertility – specifically the quality of her eggs – could be addressed based on the piRNA profiles detected in vesicles within the follicular fluid. “If we can identify reliable vesicle-based biomarkers that reflect egg quality or the ovarian response to fertility treatment, it would lead to major advances in personalized medicine,” says Velthut-Meikas. The study, „Small and Large Extracellular Vesicles From Human Preovulatory Follicular Fluid Display Distinct ncRNA Cargo Profiles and Differential Effects on KGN Granulosa Cells“, was published in the prestigious Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
Small and Large Extracellular Vesicles From Human Preovulatory Follicular Fluid Display Distinct ncRNA Cargo Profiles and Differential Effects on KGN Granulosa Cells
Article Publication Date
7-Jul-2025
COI Statement
Paolo Guazzi is the Chief Operating Officer at HansaBioMed Life Sciences. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
