Chernobyl's wildlife: The real story isn't the presence of radiation, it's the absence of humans

Researchers from Koç University and international collaborators have developed a new algorithm that enables faster and more equitable distribution of disaster relief supplies. By integrating fairness directly into logistics planning, the model reduces inequality in unmet demand by up to 34% without compromising delivery speed. The approach offers a practical tool for improving decision-making in real-world emergency response operations.

Biodegradable plastics hold potential for reducing marine plastic pollution, but degrade too quickly, limiting their practical use. Researchers from Gunma University now show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown rate of biodegradable plastics in seawater by altering the microbial communities that colonize their surfaces, known as the plastisphere. These findings could help design plastics that stay durable during use and then degrade at an appropriate time once in the ocean.

Until a few years ago, no one had heard of bixonimania. Then, in 2024, a group of scientists posted findings online announcing the condition, which they claimed affected the eyes after computer use. However, the scientists had made it up—not just the work, but the authors' names, affiliations, locations and funding, which was the University of Fellowship of the Ring and the Galactic Triad.