Forty American Chemistry Council members and other industry stakeholders have expressed strong concerns over the proposed merger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific, citing fears that such a large consolidation could compromise rail safety and disrupt service. Several unions are pushing for federal legislation to establish national safety standards, and groups like the ACC and competitor BNSF warn that the merger could lead to widespread supply chain disruptions.

ExxonMobil-backed Carbon Measures has outlined its goals to develop a product-level carbon accounting system, aiming to avoid double counting associated with Scope 3 emissions. CEO Darren Woods emphasizes the need for direct emissions accounting, likening current methods to holding McDonald's responsible for customers' weight. The initiative, which includes BASF and Banco Santander, plans to establish an independent panel of experts to create a ledger-based framework.

A global treaty on plastic waste will affect both durable goods and single-use plastics, which is why it's essential for the treaty to support a circular economy by including recycled-content targets and policies for chemical recycling, Ralph Schneider, Covestro's senior manager of global product stewardship, says. Covestro is working to develop chemical recycling solutions that meet these industry needs, but hopes that policy conditions promote the development of these new technologies, Schneider says.

Plastic pollution is an enormous problem globally, but detecting the smallest plastic particles represents a challenge. A new method developed by researchers at the University of Stuttgart exploits the optical properties of these particles and could lead to cheap and portable detection systems. This method uses a new dielectric, high-refractive-index material with tiny voids that can trap nanoparticles and undergo a color shift to indicate the presence of nanoplastics.

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed electrostatic defrosting, an energy-efficient method that uses ice's electrical properties to remove frost without heat or chemicals. The technique involves applying voltage to manipulate ionic defects in frost, making it jump off surfaces. Early tests have achieved up to 75% frost removal, with potential applications for cars, planes and industrial equipment.

A polymer film developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could protect solar panels from corrosion by being nearly impermeable to gases. The nanometer-thick coating exhibits exceptional resistance to gas penetration, distinguishing it from traditional protective materials. Its application could significantly extend the operational lifespan of solar panels by shielding sensitive components from environmental exposure.

InBrain Neuroelectronics and Microsoft are collaborating to use AI to advance real-time precision neurology and brain-computer interface therapeutics. InBrain's graphene-based neural platform, which has received FDA breakthrough device designation, aims to treat Parkinson's disease by decoding and modulating brain activity in real time.

Researchers are exploring innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases, focusing on reprogramming the immune system to offer more effective and precise therapies. This includes CAR-T therapy, T cell engagers and the use of regulatory T cells. The new approaches are designed to target the root causes of immune dysfunction rather than just suppressing symptoms, offering hope for more sustainable disease management.

Organoid intelligence is a developing concept introduced by researchers Lena Smirnova and Thomas Hartung from Johns Hopkins University, which involves using lab-grown brain organoids for biocomputing. The approach aims to harness the cognitive efficiencies of the human brain to create biocomputers with the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional data centers.

Trade tensions between the US and China have eased following a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, resulting in reduced tariffs and the removal of proposed rare earth mineral export restrictions. However, skepticism remains about the longevity of this truce. Meanwhile, the EU-US trade deal faces criticism in Europe for favoring US imports, which could harm European industries, particularly chemicals and polyolefins.

Stakeholders have nominated 165 individuals to join the Science Advisory Board and the Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of reviewing them, although it remains unclear when Administrator Lee Zeldin will name new members. The board has been vacant for more than nine months.