A suite of recent studies in American Chemical Society journals describes two‑year‑old brain organoids with measurable activity, a wearable electrospinning glove for on‑site wound patches, an edible coating from the Brazilian “wolf apple” that kept baby carrots fresh for up to 15 days at room temperature, and microplastics detected in post‑mortem human retinas.
Scientists are translating unconventional ideas into practical tools, according to new work highlighted by the American Chemical Society and the underlying journal papers. The research spans brain models, wound care, food preservation and environmental health.
Mini-brains grown for two years show electrical activity: In ACS Sensors, researchers recorded electrophysiological signals from cortical organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. The organoids—about 24 months old—enabled in‑vitro studies of neural networks and could help reduce reliance on animal testing in certain experiments.
Wearable glove spins fibers for wound patches: A study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces details a battery-powered, needleless electrospinning glove with a ring-shaped spinneret that produces drug‑loaded microfibers. In lab and ex vivo tests on porcine skin models, the device fabricated patches capable of rapid release, suggesting potential for point‑of‑care wound treatment in hospitals, athletic settings and military field operations.
Wolf apple starch preserves produce: Work reported in ACS Food Science & Technology extracted starch from Solanum lycocarpum—known as the “wolf apple,” a fruit commonly eaten by maned wolves—and used it as an edible coating. When applied to baby carrots, the coating maintained color and quality for up to 15 days at room temperature in the study, indicating a natural option for extending shelf life.
Microplastics found in human retinas: Researchers writing in Environmental Science & Technology Letters analyzed 12 post‑mortem human retinas and detected microplastic particles of varying types and concentrations in every sample. The authors say the findings provide a foundation for future work on how plastics might affect vision and eye health.
Together, these studies pair eerie themes with practical applications, underscoring how novel materials and measurement tools can advance medicine, food systems and environmental research.