Biomedical
An intriguing way to read the literature is to latch on to an interesting observation, then follow what others are doing in parallel in this area. That method was used to case the star of this Biomedical Highlights: a nefarious cell surface receptor called CD73 that is known to be associated with cancer stem cells.
Organic chemistry
DNA is famous for its archetypal double helix, but in fact there are many forms of DNA with different biological roles. Its G-quadruplex (G4) structure has turned out to be an important target for the development of new bioactive compounds with anticancer and antiparasitic properties.
Advanced materials
Desalination involves the removal of NaCl from seawater and presents an attractive but challenging option to tackle water shortages across the world. The most common method for desalination is reverse osmosis, which is, however, a very energy-demanding process and requires specialised membranes. More technological advances are needed.