Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, have developed a groundbreaking biodegradable plastic that offers a dual benefit: it dissolves in seawater and enriches soil.

This innovation was led by Dr. Takashi Nishikawa and his team in Japan, and it represents a major step forward in addressing plastic pollution while also supporting agricultural sustainability.

The plastic is made using a novel combination of sodium hexametaphosphate, a food-safe additive, and guanidinium-based monomers.

These components create salt bridges that hold the plastic’s structure together until exposed to seawater.

Once submerged, the material begins dissolving within hours, leaving behind no microplastic residue. In soil, it breaks down completely in about ten days and releases nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which are key to promoting plant growth and boosting soil fertility.

What makes this material particularly promising is its non-toxic, non-flammable, and carbon-neutral decomposition process. Unlike conventional plastics, it contributes positively to the environment rather than causing harm.

In tests, up to 91% of the additive compounds and 82% of the monomers could be recovered and reused, aligning with the principles of a circular economy.

The plastic’s versatility opens the door to a wide range of applications. In agriculture, it can be used for biodegradable mulch films and seed coatings.

In marine environments, it offers a sustainable alternative for fishing nets and ropes that would otherwise contribute to “ghost gear” pollution.

It also holds promise for consumer products such as food containers, disposable cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging.

This innovation by Japanese scientists could significantly reduce global plastic waste and usher in a new era of biodegradable, recyclable, and nutrient-rich materials, with real potential to transform both environmental cleanup efforts and sustainable farming practices.

Rei, the Ice-Cold Race Queen


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Could Our Universe Be Inside a Black Hole?

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unveiled a cosmic twist that’s challenging our understanding of the universe — suggesting our cosmos may have emerged from a black hole.

The Strange Spin Mystery
Astronomers studying data from JWST’s Advanced Extragalactic Survey (JADES) found a surprising pattern — galaxies aren’t spinning randomly. Out of 263 ancient galaxies, 66% rotate clockwise, while only 34% spin counterclockwise. In a balanced universe, those numbers should be nearly equal.

So what’s causing this imbalance? Some scientists believe it’s a clue from the universe’s birth — possibly linked to the spin of a black hole in a “parent” universe.

The Black Hole Universe Theory
This aligns with a concept known as Schwarzschild cosmology, which proposes:

Our Universe Inside a Black Hole: We may exist within the event horizon of a black hole in a larger universe.
Black Holes Create Universes: According to physicist Nikodem Poplawski’s torsion theory, black holes don’t just collapse — their spinning, twisting spacetime could spawn new universes.
The Big Bang as a “Bounce”: Instead of a singular explosion, our Big Bang might have been a bounce — the result of matter collapsing into a black hole and then expanding outward. The black hole’s spin may have influenced the rotational pattern of galaxies we see today.

Alternative Explanations
Some experts suggest the rotation imbalance may simply be an observational error, possibly distorted by the Milky Way’s own motion. If true, this anomaly could still reveal insights into:

Better ways to measure cosmic distances
Solving puzzles like the Hubble constant debate or the appearance of ancient galaxies.

If confirmed, this discovery could reshape our view of the cosmos — showing that black holes may not just destroy worlds, but create them.

Research Paper: Lior Shamir, The Distribution of Galaxy Rotation in JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey, MNRAS (2025)

Filipino scientists discovered a unique plant species on Luzon Island in the Philippines called Rinorea niccolifera, which is classified as a nickel hyperaccumulator.

This plant can absorb and store up to 18,000 parts per million (ppm) of nickel in its tissues — approximately 1.8% of its dry weight — without suffering damage. This makes it part of a rare and scientifically valuable group of plants.

The discovery was formally documented in the journal Phytotaxa by researchers from the University of the Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Its capability is crucial for the field of phytoremediation, an eco-friendly method that uses plants to remove heavy metals from polluted soils, especially in regions affected by mining activities.

Moreover, Rinorea niccolifera opens opportunities for agromining, or the harvesting of commercially valuable metals directly from plants.

This method is seen as a cleaner alternative to traditional mining, potentially allowing for both soil restoration and economic gain.

Germany has taken a significant step toward sustainable transportation by launching a fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains for regional service.

In August 2022, the German state of Lower Saxony introduced the world’s first network of hydrogen-fueled trains, replacing 15 diesel trains on a 100-kilometer (62-mile) route.

These new trains, built by French manufacturer Alstom, are called Coradia iLint and run on hydrogen fuel cells that produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

The only byproducts of this process are water vapor and heat, making these trains a zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered ones.

This transition is part of Germany's broader plan to decarbonize its transport sector and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

While a substantial portion of Germany’s rail network is already electrified, many regional and rural routes still depend on diesel.

Hydrogen trains offer a cleaner option for routes that are not easily or economically electrified. Each hydrogen train in this fleet can travel up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) on a single tank of hydrogen and reach speeds up to 140 km/h (87 mph), making them a viable replacement without sacrificing performance.