Superradiant terahertz free-electron laser driven by electron microbunch trains - Nature

A smart recycling design integrates terahertz identification with container geometry to improve post-consumer PET and PS sorting while maintaining usability and transport efficiency. Credit: Mr. Juniya Yoshihara from SIT, Japan; and Dr. Kazuaki Okubo from Tohoku University, Japan. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2026.112028 Plastic packaging is designed around appearance, convenience and function, but what happens after disposal is often considered separately—yet managing this waste is key to building a circular economy, since good recycling requires sorting plastics correctly by type. Transparent polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene, for example, can be difficult to distinguish visually, making accurate separation challenging.

Submicron IR microscopy is opening new opportunities in biological sciences with the development of a new technique: optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. Developments in life sciences research are playing an increasingly important role in global health, and advancements in technology have the potential to offer new and improved approaches to support the health and wellbeing of people worldwide.