In the realm of battery innovation, traditional metals have long been employed as active materials for negative electrodes. However, a notable shift is underway, focusing on the utilization of redox-active organic molecules like quinone- and amine-based compounds as negative electrodes in rechargeable metal-air batteries. These batteries, featuring oxygen-reducing positive electrodes, harness the participation of protons and hydroxide ions in redox reactions. Notably, they exhibit remarkable performance nearing the theoretical maximum capacity. Importantly, this departure from metals addresses issues such as dendrite formation, which compromises battery efficiency and has adverse environmental effects. Yet, these advanced batteries still employ liquid electrolytes akin to metal-based counterparts, posing significant safety challenges due to electrical resistance, leaching risks, and flammability.

Recent strides in battery research have yielded promising results. A group of Japanese researchers, led by Professor Kenji Miyatake from Waseda University and the University of Yamanashi, has unveiled an all-solid-state rechargeable air battery (SSAB) and examined its capacity and endurance. Their study, featured in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, introduces the use of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ) and its polymer poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone-3,6-methylene) (PDBM) as active materials for the negative electrode due to their stable and reversible redox reactions under acidic conditions. Additionally, they adopted a proton-conductive polymer called Nafion as the solid electrolyte, replacing conventional liquid counterparts.

For the majority of humans, soil is often dismissed as mere dirt beneath our feet. However, groundbreaking research has unveiled that soil constitutes a crucial habitat for more than half of Earth’s species—a habitat that is currently under grave threat.

Mark Anthony, a fungal ecologist at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and co-author of the study, emphasizes the emerging significance of soil: “I think soil’s having a moment. We’re starting to realize that we’ve really messed up our soils at a global scale.”

A recent comprehensive study involving 9,430 adults aged 50 and above has illuminated a significant correlation between loneliness and symptoms of insomnia. The research sheds light on the intricate interplay between emotional well-being and sleep quality, emphasizing the potential impact of addressing loneliness in promoting healthier aging.

Published in the journal Psychiatry Research, the study delves into the intricate relationship between loneliness and insomnia symptoms, which encompass difficulties falling and remaining asleep, early morning awakenings, and nonrestorative sleep.