### A Call to Reconsider: Global Experts Urge Caution in the Development of Mirror Life The idea of crafting “mirror life”—organisms whose molecular components exhibit opposite chirality, or handedness, compared to all known life on Earth—has ignited both scientific intrigue and ethical apprehension. In a recent policy document published in the journal *Science*, a notable […]

### Texas Attorney General Launches Pioneering PFAS Lawsuit Against Chemical Leaders DuPont and 3M In a significant legal effort, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a landmark lawsuit against major players in the chemical sector, DuPont and 3M, along with Corteva, a spin-off of DowDuPont, and its subsidiary EIDP. The lawsuit focuses on the […]

### Investigating the Impact of Chirality in Disordered Proteins: Potential Consequences for Drug Development and Prebiotic Chemistry The complex three-dimensional configurations and handedness (chirality) of proteins have been essential to the field of molecular biology for years. The majority of naturally occurring proteins are made up of L-amino acids, whose unique chirality is crucial for […]

**Keytruda, GLP-1 Drugs, and the Transforming Pharma Landscape of 2024** As 2024 progressed, the landscape for blockbuster pharmaceuticals underwent a significant change, with Merck’s cancer immunotherapy **Keytruda (pembrolizumab)** establishing itself as the leading drug by revenue. However, a major shift in the market has revolved around GLP-1 receptor agonists, like **Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide** and **Eli […]

**The Chemicals Sector at a Turning Point: Tackling Ongoing Challenges of the 2020s** The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global chemicals sector in 2020, leading to production reductions, diminished demand, and decreased revenues. While the sector witnessed temporary recoveries in the years that followed, persistent issues—including fluctuating markets, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions—have lingered. […]

# Standalone 2D Gold Monolayers: A Milestone in Materials Science The challenge of producing large, standalone two-dimensional (2D) metallic materials has long posed difficulties for materials scientists. However, a groundbreaking bottom-up method has now facilitated the development of nearly freestanding 2D gold monolayers, constructed from nanoscale, triangular-patterned segments. This innovative breakthrough not only addresses the […]

### mRNA Therapy via Lipid Vesicles: A Promising Treatment for Pre-eclampsia Pre-eclampsia, a severe complication during pregnancy affecting 3–5% of all pregnancies globally, continues to be a significant challenge in modern obstetrics. It accounts for nearly half a million infant deaths each year, endangering both the lives of babies and the health of mothers. However, […]