News Chemistry Scientists home in on alternatives to ‘forever chemicals’ These chemicals' link to harmful health problems is fueling a search for other options Some water-resistant fabrics, including those used in umbrellas, contain persistent “forever chemicals,” or PFAS. A new review article outlines principles to design PFAS alternatives without their longest-lasting chemical bonds. Kryssia Campos/Moment/Getty Images Plus By Skyler Ware 3 hours ago Harmful and persistent “forever chemicals” build up in the environment and in the bodies of animals — including humans. But a new review article lays out a blueprint for replacing those chemicals in certain situations. A research team has compiled more than a decade’s worth of work from multiple labs to detail chemical principles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS. PFAS show up in products as varied as firefighting foams, nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics. While none of the proposed substitutes outperform existing PFAS yet, the best alternatives are approaching the same performance in certain water-repelling applications, scientists report in the July 15 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. PFAS usually contain long chains of carbon atoms. Depending on the chemical, most or all of the carbon atoms have strong bonds to one or more fluorine atoms. Mixed with water, some PFAS act as surfactants, which cause water droplets to spread out rather than beading up, even in the presence of oily chemicals where water normally wouldn’t mix. This behavior relies on properties known as surface energy and surface tension. Molecules in a material with low surface energy or surface tension don’t mind being at the surface of a solid or a droplet of liquid, where come in contact with something dissimilar. PFAS surfactants lower the surface tension of water, so they excel in applications like foams that fight gasoline or grease fires. Some fire-fighting foams contain PFAS surfactants, but bulky, tree-branch-like chemicals without fluorine could one day act as surfactants instead. sunara/E+/Getty Images Plus Alternatively, when used as solid coatings, PFAS force liquids on a surface to bead up into droplets rather than spreading out, which gives PFAS-coated materials like nonstick pans their water- and oil-repelling properties. But the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS don’t break down easily, says Julian Eastoe, an interface scientist at the University of Bristol in England. The chemicals steadily accumulate in the environment and in our bodies, a buildup that “can be considered as one of the great ticking time bombs in our civilization,” Eastoe says. PFAS have been linked to a range of health issues, from high cholesterol to cancer. Some researchers are investigating how to break down PFAS in the environment, while others — like Eastoe — are developing fluorine-free alternatives. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

Nature, Published online: 01 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01358-8Scientists deploy self-splicing protein subunits to insert strange new additions into target proteins.

Scientists found a compound that appears to counter common mutations behind POLG-related diseases, rare conditions that harm mitochondrial DNA.

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Archaeologists have unearthed a stunning 4,400-year-old tomb of an unknown Egyptian prince while digging at the old cemetery of Saqqara (roughly 30 km south of Cairo). The tomb is said to belong to Userefre (or Waser-If-Re) and is now recognised as a son of King Userkaf, Egypt's Fifth Dynasty founder (c. 2465–2458 B.C.). The tomb's most impressive element is its colossal pink granite false door—some 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) high and 1.2 meters (3.8 feet) wide—representing a gateway for the soul during and after death. The first of its kind to be discovered at Saqqara, this monumental pink granite false door indicates the prince's elevated rank, excavation director Zahi Hawass told Live Science in an email. The expensive Aswan granite, generally reserved for the elite class, emphasises the prince's exalted rank.Tomb Architecture and InscriptionsAs per a report by LiveScience, Userefre's tomb entrance was lavishly decorated in pink granite, and hieroglyphs on the false door enumerate his high-ranking titles, such as "Hereditary Prince," "Governor of Buto and Nekheb," "Vizier," and "Royal Scribe." The report further highlighted that there was no prior historical trace of Prince Userefre before this discovery. His name probably signifies "Re is powerful," calling on the sun god. A red granite offering table was also found close to the door, evidencing ancient Egyptian mortuary practices of magically accepting food offerings, the report further added.Within the tomb, scholars discovered artifacts dating to the early Fifth Dynasty. Thirteen stone stools were found, each of which once held a pink granite statue thought to represent Userefre's wives, though two of the statues lacked heads. A secondary pink granite doorway featuring the cartouche of King Neferirkare, Userkaf's successor, and a black granite statue, which had been knocked over among the ruins, were discovered.Later Reuse and Historical SignificanceEvidence shows the tomb was later reused during the 26th Dynasty (c. 688–525 B.C.). Archaeologists also uncovered sculptures from King Djoser's Third Dynasty (c. 2630–2611 B.C.), including a sandstone statue showing Djoser seated with his wife and ten daughters—a rare depiction of royal women. A standing black granite figure from the 26th Dynasty was also discovered, verifying the tomb's extended reuse.Work continues on the site, and the prince's real burial chamber remains to be discovered. Egyptologist Lara Weiss told LiveScience in a statement the discovery's significance, saying it "adds to the growing evidence that Saqqara remained a prestigious burial site during the Fifth Dynasty" and sheds light on Egypt's evolution from a centralised monarchy to a more dispersed elite system.

News Hollow Knight: Silksong is Playable on September 18th at ACMI Museum Australia's national museum of screen culture will feature displays and "delve deeply" into the game's "artistic direction and design." Posted By Ravi Sinha | On 01st, May. 2025 Team Cherry’s long-awaited (for some, painfully so) Hollow Knight: Silksong is out this year but still lacks a release date. However, the good news is that it will be playable in September if you visit ACMI, the national museum of screen culture of Australia, located in Fed Square, Melbourne. As reported by IGN, the museum is hosting an exhibition called Game Worlds on September 18th. There will also be displays showcasing “hundreds” of sprites for Hornet and the “logic” behind its “most challenging boss fights.” Co-curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell said, “Since Hollow Knight: Silksong’s initial announcement in 2019, it has been one of the most anticipated indie games on the planet – and we are thrilled to celebrate the design of this South Australian-made game as a centrepiece of Game Worlds in September. “From the hundreds of sprites that animate Hornet’s different movements and attacks to the logic behind the game’s most challenging boss fights – and, of course, having the game playable in-gallery – our Silksong displays delve deeply into the details of the game’s artistic direction and design. We’re so grateful to Team Cherry for trusting us with their work and so excited to share that work with you!” Hollow Knight: Silksong is currently in development for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It was announced in February 2019 and remains one of the most eagerly awaited games ever. As a sequel to the acclaimed Hollow Knight, Silksong follows Hornet, who is captured and taken to a new kingdom. Upon escaping, she seeks to unravel its mysteries. If it’s playable this September, could a release date announcement be far behind? Stay tuned for (hopefully) more details in the coming weeks. Tagged With: Atomfall Publisher:Rebellion Developments Developer:Rebellion Developments Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More Monster Hunter Wilds Publisher:Capcom Developer:Capcom Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PCView More South of Midnight Publisher:Microsoft Developer:Compulsion Games Platforms:Xbox Series X, PCView More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Hollow Knight: Silksong is Playable on September 18th at ACMI Museum Australia's national museum of screen culture will feature displays and "delve deeply" into the game's "artist... Xbox Series X/S Hardware and Accessories Receive Price Increases Worldwide The Xbox Series X costs $600, while the Xbox Series S 512 GB retails at $380. First-party titles will also cos... Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, and Failbetter Games Confirmed for PC Gaming Show 2025 Airing on June 8th, the showcase will feature "world premieres, exclusive announcements, updates," and more fo... Borderlands 4 Lets You Replay Story Missions and Rematch Against Bosses Players no longer have to reload saves to farm for specific loot drops and can revisit the campaign without st... Borderlands 4 Features the “Most Advanced Skill Tree System Yet,” Unique Traits for Vault Hunters Learn more about Vex the Siren and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, two of the four new Vault Hunters in Gearbox's upcomi... Microsoft Was Both Xbox and PlayStation’s Top Q3 FY2025 Publisher by Pre-Orders and Pre-Installs Xbox saw a whopping 500 million-plus monthly active users across all of its games in the fiscal year's third q... View More