Archived Intelligence

3 December 2025

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Lead StoryChemistry & Material Science
Brewing Ammonia: A Cooler Route to Fertiliser

Brewing Ammonia: A Cooler Route to Fertiliser

Researchers have developed a method to synthesise ammonia directly from nitrogen and water at mild temperatures, bypassing the energy-intensive need for pure hydrogen. By utilising carbon monoxide as an oxygen scavenger over a specialised gold-molybdenum catalyst, the process overcomes significant thermodynamic hurdles.

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Image for Beyond the Scales: The Fight to Halt Cachexia
Medicine & Health

Beyond the Scales: The Fight to Halt Cachexia

Affecting up to 80% of cancer patients, cachexia remains a stubborn adversary with limited treatment options. A recent summit in Washington signalled a regulatory pivot: success is no longer measured by muscle mass alone, but by the restoration of daily function and independence.

Image for Cleaning Up the Spill: An Antibiotic’s Surprising Role in Alzheimer’s Defence
Neuroscience

Cleaning Up the Spill: An Antibiotic’s Surprising Role in Alzheimer’s Defence

Researchers have discovered that ceftriaxone, a common antibiotic, restores cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. By reinforcing the brain’s glutamate transport system, the drug prevents toxic calcium overload from destroying the energy-producing mitochondria within neurons.

Image for Genetic Guardians: Mapping the Epigenetic Brakes on Lung Cancer
Genetics & Molecular Biology

Genetic Guardians: Mapping the Epigenetic Brakes on Lung Cancer

Researchers have identified two molecular complexes, HBO1 and MLL1, that work in tandem to suppress lung adenocarcinoma. Their dysfunction leads to a loss of cell identity and is linked to poorer clinical outcomes in patients.

Image for Gut Feelings: Probiotics Prove Potent Allies Against Depression
Medicine & Health

Gut Feelings: Probiotics Prove Potent Allies Against Depression

A comprehensive new analysis suggests the route to mental well-being may pass through the digestive tract. By reviewing seven randomised control trials, researchers have confirmed that probiotics effectively reduce depressive symptoms and alleviate the cognitive fog that conventional treatments often miss.

Image for More Than Just Olive Oil: When Trial Participants Take the Reins
Medicine & Health

More Than Just Olive Oil: When Trial Participants Take the Reins

A qualitative analysis from the University of Granada reveals that participants in Mediterranean diet trials crave more than just health benefits; they desire active partnership. Older adults expressed a keen interest in co-designing research protocols and disseminating findings, signaling a shift from passive subjects to active collaborators.

Image for Pinning Down the Evidence: Acupuncture for Depression
Medicine & Health

Pinning Down the Evidence: Acupuncture for Depression

A comprehensive review of over 370 studies suggests acupuncture may alleviate major depression, particularly when paired with medication. However, despite positive reports, the data is plagued by methodological flaws, keeping the practice firmly as a supplementary option rather than a primary cure.

Image for Renal Rescue: Fat-Derived Cells Offer New Hope for Failing Kidneys
Medicine & Health

Renal Rescue: Fat-Derived Cells Offer New Hope for Failing Kidneys

A recent study indicates that stem cells derived from adipose tissue may stabilise renal function in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. By utilising real-world data to create a matched control group, researchers demonstrated that this therapy significantly reduces the risk of rapid deterioration.

Image for Shifting Signals: The Autistic Brain’s Developmental U-Turn
Neuroscience

Shifting Signals: The Autistic Brain’s Developmental U-Turn

A large-scale analysis reveals that neural connectivity in autism is not static, flipping from a state of over-connection in childhood to under-connection in adulthood. This age-dependent trajectory suggests that the biological markers of the disorder evolve significantly across the lifespan.

Image for The Digital Detective: AI Fusion Outsmarts Financial Fraudsters
Computer Science & AI

The Digital Detective: AI Fusion Outsmarts Financial Fraudsters

A novel framework combines reinforcement learning with graph neural networks to identify fraudulent transactions with unprecedented accuracy. By analysing the structural relationships between accounts, the system slashes false alarms by a third while operating at near real-time speeds.

Image for Zincing the Ship: A Catalyst for Self-Destructing Bioplastics
Chemistry & Material Science

Zincing the Ship: A Catalyst for Self-Destructing Bioplastics

Researchers have successfully utilised a highly active zinc catalyst to accelerate the depolymerisation of common bioplastics. By embedding the catalyst directly into the material, the study paves the way for polymers that are primed for efficient chemical recycling.

Image for Nicotine’s Split Personality: A Biphasic Effect on Brain Energy
Neuroscience

Nicotine’s Split Personality: A Biphasic Effect on Brain Energy

New research indicates nicotine exerts a dual effect on the brain, acting as a metabolic stimulant at low doses whilst suppressing neural activity at higher concentrations. This biphasic response significantly alters the excitation-inhibition balance within the prefrontal cortex.

Image for Seeing the Light: A Cool Route to Blue Perovskites
Chemistry & Material Science

Seeing the Light: A Cool Route to Blue Perovskites

Researchers have unveiled a method using UV light to control the crystallisation of perovskites at room temperature. This low-energy technique unlocks difficult-to-make blue-emitting materials with remarkable stability.

Image for Silicon Seers: Algorithms Predict Epilepsy Treatment Success
Medicine & Health

Silicon Seers: Algorithms Predict Epilepsy Treatment Success

A systematic review indicates that machine learning can accurately forecast responses to neuromodulation in drug-resistant epilepsy. However, small sample sizes and a lack of external validation suggest cautious optimism is required.

Image for Microwaving the Future: A Robust Recipe for Green Fuel
Chemistry & Material Science

Microwaving the Future: A Robust Recipe for Green Fuel

Researchers have engineered a recyclable polymer catalyst that achieves nearly 97% biodiesel conversion using microwave energy. This eco-friendly approach slashes reaction times and lowers energy barriers, marking a significant step forward for sustainable fuel synthesis.

Image for Reading Between the Lines: AI and Human Insight Decode Opioid Risks
Computer Science & AI

Reading Between the Lines: AI and Human Insight Decode Opioid Risks

Researchers have developed a hybrid AI framework that identifies social determinants of mental health in patients with opioid use disorder. By combining advanced algorithms with human oversight to analyse unstructured clinical notes, the system achieves over 96% accuracy. This approach significantly outperforms standard automated models, offering a powerful tool for early intervention.

Image for The Hidden Cognitive Toll of CAR T Therapy
Computer Science & AI

The Hidden Cognitive Toll of CAR T Therapy

While CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionised cancer treatment, a new review reveals a steep neurological price. Up to 44% of patients suffer cognitive impairments, with severe neurotoxicity linked to lasting memory and attention deficits.

Image for A Molecular Stitch for the Plastic Divide
Chemistry & Material Science

A Molecular Stitch for the Plastic Divide

Researchers have developed a segmented multiblock copolymer that successfully blends the two most common plastics, LLDPE and Polypropylene. By utilising a non-living shuffling polymerisation, this additive toughens recycled mixtures through advanced molecular entanglement.

Image for Branching Out: The Organic Future of Sodium-Ion Batteries
Chemistry & Material Science

Branching Out: The Organic Future of Sodium-Ion Batteries

As the demand for sustainable energy storage grows, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a vital alternative to lithium-based technology. New research highlights cellulose—Earth's most abundant biopolymer—as a game-changing material capable of boosting battery performance, stability, and eco-friendliness.

Image for The Limbic Legacy: COVID-19’s Subtle Etchings on Brain Architecture
Neuroscience

The Limbic Legacy: COVID-19’s Subtle Etchings on Brain Architecture

While COVID-19 survivors do not exhibit global brain shrinkage, a new multimodal MRI study reveals specific focal atrophy in the basal ganglia and limbic system. These structural and functional alterations are significantly more pronounced in patients who required hospitalisation, suggesting a severity-dependent impact on neural circuitry.

Daily Briefing: 3 December 2025 | The Synaptic Report