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Source: Amnesty International

Responding to reports that Chinese authorities have barred the mothers of protesters killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown from visiting their loved ones’ graves on this week’s anniversary of the atrocity, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said:

“Banning the relatives of people killed in the Tiananmen crackdown from visiting their loved ones’ graves is a heartless act by the Chinese authorities.

“The Tiananmen Mothers were not previously blocked from cemetery visits on the 4 June anniversary, and it is deeply troubling that this year the suppression of Tiananmen commemoration appears to be escalating – reflecting the government’s deep-seated insecurity about people’s demands for accountability.

“For years the Chinese authorities have sought to erase the public’s collective memory of the bloody events of 4 June 1989, but this latest prohibition is an attempt to stamp out even the personal memories of the victims’ families.

“This suggests an approach that is increasingly hardline and devoid of compassion. To continually deny the truth about the Tiananmen crackdown is abhorrent; but to deny relatives the ability to mourn their dead shows another level of cruelty.

“The Chinese authorities must be held accountable for the grave human rights violations perpetrated on 4 June 1989, and families must be allowed to commemorate those killed 37 years ago simply for exercising their right to protest.”

Background

The Tiananmen Mothers group said on 2 June that they had received notice from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau that they will not be permitted to travel to Beijing’s Wan’an Cemetery to mourn their loved ones or hold their customary commemorative activities on 4 June this year, the 37^th anniversary of the atrocity. The group said it was the first time authorities had barred them from visiting their loved ones’ graves in more than 30 years. 

On 4 June 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had been peacefully protesting for political reforms in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of people were killed. Tens of thousands more were arrested across China in the suppression that followed.

In the 36 years since the crackdown, all discussion of the incident has been heavily censored in China, as authorities have effectively attempted to erase it from history. Public commemoration or mere mention of the Tiananmen crackdown is banned. 

The Tiananmen Mothers group is comprised of relatives of protesters killed during the 1989 crackdown. Every 4 June for more than three decades, the group has travelled to Wan’an Cemetery under police escort to mourn and to read memorial texts and eulogies in remembrance of their loved ones.

The group has repeatedly called on the Chinese government to reveal the truth about the Tiananmen crackdown and demanded that those responsible are held accountable. Members have frequently been subjected to surveillance and other restrictions, particularly ahead of the 4 June anniversary date.

Hong Kong’s mobile services market is entering a new phase of data-driven growth, underpinned by widespread 5G adoption, rising mobile internet usage, and strong demand for high-speed connectivity. As consumers and businesses increasingly embrace data-intensive applications, operators are accelerating investments in network capacity and premium digital services, positioning the market for steady revenue expansion through 2030, reveals GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s Hong Kong Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q4-2025)  reveals that Hong Kong’s mobile services market is set to increase at a moderate compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2% from $2.9 billion in 2025 to $3.2 billion in 2030.

Mobile voice service revenue will decline at 7.6% CAGR over the forecast period, in line with the steady drop in mobile voice ARPU levels as users increasingly shift to OTT-based communication platforms, and operators bundle free voice minutes to service plans.

Mobile data service revenue, on the other hand, will increase at a CAGR of 3.5% between 2025 and 2030, thanks to the continued rise in mobile internet subscriptions, especially with growing adoption of higher ARPU-yielding 5G services. Strong demand from cross-border travellers, business users, and high data consumption in a dense urban environment is reinforcing the market’s shift toward data-led monetization.

Neha Mishra, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The average monthly data usage over mobile networks is forecast to increase from 9.7 GB in 2025 to 32.6 GB in 2030, driven by an increase in the consumption of bandwidth heavy online video and social media content on the back of 5G service expansion and data-centric plans promoted by MNOs.”

5G will remain the leading mobile technology in terms of subscriptions through 2030, supported by extensive network coverage, growing adoption of 5G-enabled smartphones, and increasing availability of premium data-centric mobile plans for bandwidth-intensive applications.

In addition, OFCA’s auction of 50 MHz spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band and its subsidy scheme for rural and remote areas are expected to enhance network capacity and service quality, supporting further 5G adoption over the forecast period.

China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) led the mobile services market in Hong Kong in terms of mobile subscriptions in 2025, followed by 3 Hong Kong. CMHK will retain its leadership through to 2030, supported by strong position in the prepaid segment, and focus on 5G mobile network expansion and modernization initiatives and new service launches.

Mishra concludes: “Competition in Hong Kong’s mobile market will increasingly be shaped by high-value data services and 5G-led differentiation. With near-ubiquitous 5G coverage and a highly urban, data-intensive user base, operators will focus on premium plans, seamless indoor coverage, and enterprise solutions to sustain ARPU. Strategic emphasis on network quality, ultra-fast speeds, and value-added digital and roaming services will be key to maintaining competitive positioning.”

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new, entirely bio-based material from a somewhat unexpected ingredient: yeast. The material is 3D printed and customised for use in architectural and interior design elements that are currently made from non-renewable or fossil-based materials, such as plaster, plastic or synthetic textiles. These may be daylight modulating and sunlight protecting screens, room partitions or wall systems.

The construction sector accounts for a large proportion of global emissions and resource consumption, which means there is a great need for renewable, resource-efficient alternatives. In a new study, a research team from Chalmers investigate how industrial residual products can be used to create new materials that can contribute to greater circularity in architecture and the built environment.

The newly developed material consists of baker’s yeast, cellulose fibres from wood, alginate from algae, glycerol from plants, and water. Together, the ingredients form a kind of hydrogel – a soft, jelly-like, malleable material – that can be 3D printed.

“I’ve always been interested in the combination of architecture and living materials, and essentially this research is about creating an architectural material made entirely from organic, renewable ingredients. By combining biomaterials with digital manufacturing, we can take a novel approach to both the design and production of architectural components,” says Malgorzata Zboinska, Professor at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers, and leader of the recently published study.

Zero-waste design through 3D printing

The project combines design, materials innovation and advanced manufacturing technology. The first part of the process is similar to baking, but in slightly reverse order. First, the yeast is heated to deactivate it, and then the various ingredients are mixed together to form a smooth mass. The architectural elements can then be manufactured using pressure-based 3D printing, which is carried out at room temperature. This requires neither energy-intensive heating nor additional support structures.

“3D printing makes it possible to create complex shapes without producing waste. We can design and manufacture the material directly – with a high degree of control over its shape, texture and material distribution,” says Yagmur Bektas, a doctoral student at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers, and co-author of the study.

With minor adjustments to the formula, the material’s transparency, colour and surface texture can be altered, making it well suited for interior applications such as daylight modulating and sunlight protecting screens, wall panels or room partitions. In the long term, the yeast material could also become an environmentally friendly alternative to plastics and other petroleum-based products, such as synthetic textiles. Depending on the composition of the formula, the material takes on a natural hue that ranges from yellow to brown tones. The colour can be altered using natural pigments or pigment-producing, colourful yeast strains. It is also possible to design different patterns, vary the transparency of the material and how it feels.

From baking and brewing to building

The use of yeast as a material component is something that has not yet been explored in architecture.

“Yeast grows exponentially. It does not require strictly controlled environments and is not particularly sensitive to contamination. Because it consists of single-celled organisms, we can produce a more homogeneous, predictable material,” explains Malgorzata Zboinska.

What makes the researchers’ new formula unique is that the yeast is not used in the usual way for fermentation, but acts as biomass. It then becomes a robust component that gives the material its volume, stability and strength. Malgorzata Zboinska also highlights the potential of using by-products from industries such as brewing and agriculture, as some of these products are often discarded. Residue that cannot be used as food or animal feed could therefore be used in architecture.

Designing with nature

Unlike traditional building materials, which are designed to last as long as possible, bio-based materials offer new ways of thinking about sustainability and material cycles. The yeast-based material is biodegradable and can return to nature after use – a key aspect of circular design.

“This challenges the traditional notion that materials must last forever, or at least have as long a physical life cycle as possible. Instead, we can think in terms of shorter life cycles and even view the ageing or degradation of the material as part of the design,” says Malgorzata Zboinska.

Self-healing or purifying materials on the horizon

Although the results show great potential, further research is needed before the material can be used widely in buildings. Future studies will assess key properties such as strength, fire safety and moisture performance, as well as scaling up digital manufacturing and developing stronger and more robust structures.

“The future of architectural ELMs, or Engineered Living Materials, is very exciting, with great potential to customise them to perform a variety of functions. This could, for example, involve self-healing materials or materials that purify the air by neutralising harmful substances and pollutants. What we have achieved so far is an important first step towards establishing a completely new type of architectural material. You could say that we are laying the foundations for future developments that combine sustainability, functionality and design in entirely new ways,” says Malgorzata Zboinska.

More about the material and how it is made:

The material consists of baker’s yeast (dry yeast), cellulose fibres (from wood), alginate (from brown seaweed), glycerol (from plants) and water. Each component contributes a specific function to the final material. Glycerol acts as a plasticiser and provides flexibility, whilst alginate contributes to the dimensional stability required for 3D printing. Cellulose further contributes to dimensional stability and acts as a structural component that provides tensile strength when the material is under load. The yeast acts as a binding agent for all the ingredients and gives the mixture its viscosity. Before mixing the ingredients to form a hydrogel, the researchers deactivate the yeast, which is necessary to stabilise the material. The hydrogel is 3D printed using air pressure and left to dry at room temperature until it achieves its final shape.

 More about the study:

The scientific article ‘Novel 3D printable yeast-based materials for architectural applications’ has been published in Frontiers of Architectural Research.
The authors are Yagmur Bektas, Malgorzata A. Zboinska, Cecilia Geijer, Tiina Nypelö and Zeinab Hefny. At the time of the study the researchers were based at three different departments at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and at Aalto University in Finland.

The research has been funded by the Swedish Energy Agency (grant numbers P2022-00865, P2024-02409).

Malgorzata Zboinska, Professor, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

3 June 2026 – PNG FAMILY RETURNING HOME AFTER COMPLEX CARE JOURNEY AT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD

Six-month-old Sawong Kevin from Papua New Guinea is finally heading home after spending the first months of his life at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Sawong was born joined to his twin brother Tom, with their bodies connected across the chest and abdomen. Their condition was rare and very serious, and the care they needed was not available in Papua New Guinea.

As their condition became more critical, an urgent effort was made to bring the boys to Sydney, where specialist teams could help.

From the moment they arrived, staff at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead supported the twins and their family through an incredibly difficult time. Teams worked together to carefully plan and carry out the complex surgery needed to separate them.

Sadly, Tom did not survive. His condition was very severe, and despite every effort, the surgery could not save him.

Sawong has now spent six months recovering in hospital. Over that time, he has grown stronger each day and is now smiling, playing and reaching important milestones for his age, giving real hope for his future.

Chief Executive of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Cathryn Cox, said the journey had been both challenging and deeply moving for everyone involved.

“This has been an extraordinary and emotional journey for Sawong and his family.

“Our teams felt privileged to care and support them through such a difficult time. Our thoughts remain with the family as they continue to grieve the loss of Tom, while also preparing to take Sawong home,” said Ms Cox.

Head of Transplant Surgery, Dr Gordon Thomas, is internationally recognised for his experience in complex paediatric surgery and conjoined twin separation. This is his third separation. He said seeing Sawong recover had meant a great deal to the team.

“One of the highlights of our day is visiting him.

“When we see him smiling and playing, it reminds us why this work matters so much.

“To know he now has the chance to grow up and live a full and happy life is incredibly special for everyone involved,” said Dr Thomas.

Medical Director and Co-Head of the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, Professor Nadia Badawi AM, said Sawong’s journey reflects what can be achieved when people come together to support a child and family in need.

“To see a child who has been through so much, now getting ready to go home is something that stays with you.

“This is about more than survival, it’s about giving children the best possible start in life, no matter where they come from,” said Professor Badawi.

Sawong’s return to Papua New Guinea today marks a significant and hopeful next step for him and his family after many months of care, courage and resilience.

3 June 2026: MSF condemns the airstrike carried out by the Israeli army on the evening of 1 June in the vicinity of Jabal Amel Hospital, which we support, in Sour (Tyre). According to the Ministry of Public Health, the attack has so far resulted in four deaths and 127 injuries, including 39 hospital staff. Among the injured staff, four are in critical condition and remain under treatment in intensive care. Bodies are still being recovered from the rubble, and the total number of dead and injured could still rise.  

The strike caused severe damage to Jabal Amel Hospital itself, including its inpatient department, radiology department and intensive care unit. One wall of an operating room has been severely damaged, leaving a large hole, and the medical team had to urgently transfer half of the remaining patients in the intensive care unit to another ward to ensure their safety.  

The previous day, nearby Hiram Hospital – another MSF-supported facility – was also struck by an Israeli airstrike and according to the Lebanese Health Ministry 13 healthcare workers were injured. These incidents come amid a sharp escalation of violence in the last days, with Beirut’s southern suburbs once again placed under Israeli displacement orders on Monday, following a blanket displacement order issued on Sunday for the entire South up to the Zahrani River.  

“These repeated attacks reflect a grave failure to protect the medical mission and underscore the urgent need to safeguard civilians, medical staff, health facilities, and continuous access to life-saving care,” said Omar Ebeid, MSF Project Coordinator in Southern Lebanon.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Australian farmers are increasingly turning to new practices and innovation as they respond to rising costs, volatile weather and global uncertainty, according to a national survey by Harvard University and CommBank.

3 June 2026 – Key points:

• Rising input costs and extreme weather are farmers’ main immediate and long-term concerns, contributing to cautious profit expectations over the next five years. 
• Productivity and cost management are the primary drivers of changing farming practices, as farmers seek to strengthen long-term business resilience.
• Around two-thirds of farmers who have adopted, or plan to adopt, new practices expect those changes to deliver a positive return on investment.
• Almost half of farmers who have not adopted new practices cite complexity and insufficient support as major barriers, alongside paperwork, uncertainty around returns, and access to finance. 
• Adoption or intent to adopt new approaches sits between 40 and 50 per cent, with strong uptake already evident in livestock systems and a significant pipeline of future adoption in cropping.

Changing farming practices and introducing more innovation will help lift productivity and reduce pressure from rising costs, volatile weather conditions and global uncertainty, Australian farmers say.

Research conducted by Harvard University and the Commonwealth Bank reveals that farmers are increasingly turning to new land and business practices as they seek to improve the long-term financial resilience of their farms.

Commercial returns and profitability are seen as stronger drivers for change than regulatory requirements or consumer pressure; however, farmers are still being held back by complexity, lack of time, paperwork and access to finance, all of which are slowing the pace of adopting innovation.

These challenges sit alongside a backdrop of persistent cost pressures, weather volatility and heightened geopolitical risks. Rising input costs were the most cited immediate concern, with 47 per cent of farmers listing it as their biggest worry, followed by extreme weather and natural disasters at 41 per cent.

Profit expectations remain cautious. Around half of farmers expect profitability to remain stable over the next five years, while around one in four expect profits to fall, outnumbering those who expect an increase.

The findings have emerged from the inaugural Farms in Focus survey, developed by Harvard University in collaboration with CommBank and supported by the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Farm Institute. The study engaged farmers across all states and territories to understand the challenges facing Australian agriculture and how farmers are responding.

“Australian farmers are facing major challenges associated with input costs, energy prices, access to export markets, and growing risks from climate change and extreme weather,” said Harvard research leader, Professor Michael Hiscox.

“What stands out is how strongly farmers are responding by adopting new approaches and technologies – some of which can also deliver environmental benefits. Rates of adoption are already quite high, and many farmers are planning to do more over the next couple of years. They are making deliberate, commercial decisions to protect productivity and manage risk.”

Adoption already strong, with more to come

In a strong counterpoint to the pressures they are currently facing, farmers are increasingly open to change, especially in the areas of crop and livestock management, land management, energy and water use.

Almost half of graziers surveyed (46 per cent) have fully or partially adopted rotational grazing, with a further 47 per cent planning to adopt it. Further, 43 per cent of the surveyed croppers have made a start on using variable rate spraying, and 31 per cent are incorporating biofertilisers at some level.

Smaller farms are often leading in adoption, with higher implementation of rotational grazing (47 per cent) and renewable energy (48 per cent).

Nonetheless, the findings reflect an increasingly complex environment that farmers are navigating, said CommBank Executive General Manager for Regional and Agribusiness Banking Kylie Allen.

“The margin for contingency has narrowed considerably for many farmers,” Allen said. “We’ve seen ongoing conflict in the Middle East significantly impact diesel and fertiliser costs, compounding pressure on input prices at a time when cash flows are already tight.”

While intent is strong, the research highlights barriers standing between plans and implementation. Nearly half (49 per cent) of farmers cited administrative complexity as a major challenge, pointing to opportunities for simpler processes and paperwork.

Additionally, 43 per cent cited obtaining financing for the transition as a barrier alongside access to expertise.

More than 30 per cent of the farmers said they needed clearer information on which practices to adopt and the returns they could expect.

“Farmers are already thinking carefully about how to improve resilience and productivity, but many are operating with limited cash flow buffers and rising costs,” Allen said.

“Research like this helps the sector better understand where farmers are feeling the strain, how they are responding, and where targeted support – particularly around finance and extension – can make the biggest difference.

“Despite the current challenges, the results clearly show practice change is now a business decision, with many of these innovations having positive environmental co-benefits. Farmers need added support for tailored implementation and clearer line-of-sight on business returns – including more insights, trusted advice, and more flexible funding. Building that confidence is critical to helping accelerate adoption across the sector.”

About the report

More than 500 farmers engaged in the survey, with 348 providing complete responses used in the analysis. The survey was conducted between 16 November 2025 and 16 March 2026, and included farmers engaged in all types of farming, across all Australian states and territories. The research was led by Harvard University, in collaboration with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Farm Institute.

Report Review 2025: Two-thirds of companies had not yet adequately prepared for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), even though the first CRA requirements will take effect in September 2026

Düsseldorf, June 2, 2026 — The Düsseldorf-based cybersecurity company ONEKEY has reported strong demand for its latest “IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2025.” The report examines how well manufacturers of digital devices, machines, and systems are prepared for the EU's Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The CRA is the first EU regulation requiring manufacturers to comply with binding cybersecurity requirements throughout the entire product lifecycle and to systematically manage vulnerabilities.

A key finding of the IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2025 is that approximately two-thirds of companies are not yet adequately prepared for the CRA — despite the first provisions of the EU regulation for connected products taking effect later this year. It is estimated that hundreds of millions, potentially even billions, of digital products within the EU will be affected. The report is available to download here.

“The consistently high demand shows just how urgent this issue has become for affected manufacturers,” said Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY.

ONEKEY Strengthens Cyber Resilience: IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2026 and CRA Fast Start

To continue monitoring the current state of cybersecurity readiness, ONEKEY has launched a new survey focused on the Cyber Resilience Act. Companies in the target group, namely manufacturers of internet-connected digital products, can request the survey link by emailing info@onekey.com with “CRA Survey” in the subject line. Participants will receive early access to the latest findings.

In addition, ONEKEY now offers affected manufacturers a program called CRA Fast Start, designed to help companies review their products for Cyber Resilience Act compliance in a structured and efficient manner without lengthy preparation phases.

The package includes a CRA Readiness Assessment, as well as platform features for SBOM generation, vulnerability management, and firmware monitoring. This package helps companies efficiently implement CRA requirements and establish a sustainable compliance strategy.

First, ONEKEY analyzes a company's current level of maturity regarding CRA requirements and identifies existing compliance gaps. An introductory workshop highlights the impact of the new regulation on the product portfolio. As part of a comprehensive review of existing processes, key areas such as software development and vulnerability management are evaluated. A gap analysis then identifies existing compliance gaps and highlights areas requiring action. Based on these findings, ONEKEY develops a practical roadmap to help companies efficiently and systematically implement CRA requirements.

The ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform enables organizations to continuously identify and monitor vulnerabilities and ensures ongoing transparency in the software supply chain through SBOM generation and vulnerability management. New vulnerabilities, affected libraries, and potential risks are identified and documented continuously. These features provide companies with ongoing transparency regarding the security status of their digital products and lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable compliance with CRA requirements.

Initial CRA Obligations Take Effect September 11, 2026

Starting September 11, 2026, the EU Cyber Resilience Act will require manufacturers to report actively exploited vulnerabilities and significant security incidents within strict timeframes while also meeting initial compliance obligations. By 2027, the full requirements will become mandatory, including comprehensive security and documentation obligations throughout the entire product lifecycle. Once the transition periods have expired, networked devices, machines, and systems may only be placed on the market if manufacturers can demonstrate continuous vulnerability management, documented security processes, and ongoing monitoring of their software and firmware components throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Companies that violate the Cyber Resilience Act risk fines of up to 15 million euros or 2.5 percent of their global annual turnover.

ONEKEY is the leading European specialist in Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Management and part of the investment portfolio of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany (PwC). The unique combination of the automated ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) with expert knowledge and consulting services provides fast and comprehensive analysis, support, and management to improve product cybersecurity and compliance from product purchasing, design, development, production to end-of-life.

Critical vulnerabilities and compliance violations in device firmware are automatically identified in binary code by AI-based technology in minutes – without source code, device, or network access. Proactively audit software supply chains with integrated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) generation. “Digital Cyber Twins” enable automated 24/7 post-release cybersecurity monitoring throughout the product lifecycle.

The patent-pending, integrated ONEKEY Compliance Wizard already covers the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and requirements according to IEC 62443-4-2, ETSI EN 303 645, UNECE R 155 and many others.

The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is effectively supported by the integrated automatic prioritisation of vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the time to remediation.

Leading international companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas already benefit from the ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) and ONEKEY Cybersecurity Experts.

The BAG Klöch team together with Lennart Stecher and Manuel Hüther from ARJES
(PresseBox) (Krayenberggemeinde, 02.06.2026) Since the beginning of the year, BAG Klöch has been responsible for the sales and service of the entire ARJES GmbH product portfolio in Austria, bringing not only extensive industry experience but also a high level of technical expertise in processing and recycling technology.

Singapore, 2 June 2026 – Researchers from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore) and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) research enterprise in Singapore – in collaboration with clinicians from the National University Hospital (NUH) and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have developed a novel fluorescent nanosensor capable of rapidly detecting indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), an emerging biomarker linked to gut health and disease.

IPA is a metabolite produced by gut bacteria during the breakdown of dietary tryptophan, an amino acid essential for protein synthesis. It plays an important role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress, and has been associated with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. However, current detection methods rely on traditional mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques, which are costly and time-consuming, making it impractical for routine screening or point-of-care use.

Schematic of the fluorescent nanosensor platform showing rapid detection of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) and differentiation between healthy and diseased samples. (Photo: NIE/NTU)

First Real-Time Sensor for an Indole-based Metabolite Gut Biomarker
The newly developed platform, the first reported optical nanosensor specifically designed to detect IPA, addresses a long-standing gap in gut metabolite sensing. Using a fluorescence-based approach, the sensor produces a rapid optical readout within minutes, offering a significantly faster and more accessible alternative to conventional analytical techniques. It demonstrates high selectivity, distinguishing IPA from closely related metabolites commonly found in the gut, which enables accurate detection even in complex biological environments such as blood serum.

“This is the first time we are able to directly and rapidly measure IPA levels in biological samples using an optical nanosensor,” said Assistant Professor Mervin Ang, NIE, and co-first author, who was also Associate Scientific Director at SMART DiSTAP when the research was initiated. “This novel approach, which moves away from traditional mass spectrometry, can pave the way towards faster and more accessible ways of monitoring gut health in real-world settings.”

This latest breakthrough is described in the research team’s paper, Fluorescent Nanosensor for Indole-3-Propionic Acid Detection in Gut Health Monitoring, published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials. The new nanosensor builds on SMART’s Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group’s (IRG) research into nano and optical sensor technologies. Originally developed to monitor plant health – including plant growth signals and stress responses –  the technology has now been adapted for human health applications by redesigning the nano- and optical-sensing platform to detect IPA.

“This work builds on technology at SMART DiSTAP on molecular recognition. We have used techniques like this to measure hormones and metabolites in living plants for agriculture, and have now applied it to the human gastrointestinal system. We were able to apply it to this long-standing challenge in gut health,” said Professor Michael Strano, SMART DiSTAP Lead Principal Investigator, Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, and corresponding author. “By focusing our molecular recognition on this important gut health biomarker, we’ve demonstrated a powerful new tool that could one day enable proactive, personalised healthcare. The tool promises near-instant insights into gut wellness or the status of chronic diseases like IBD.”

A Dual-Mode Platform for Rapid Testing and Future Monitoring
A key innovation of the technology is its dual-mode sensing capability. The nanosensor operates in both:

a visible fluorescence mode, enabling rapid, low-cost, high-throughput screening of biological samples; and
a near-infrared mode, with wavelengths that can penetrate deeper into tissues. The near-infrared capability allows the technology to be adapted for in vivo applications and integration into wearable devices that could be used for home-based testing or continuous monitoring. This could, for example, help patients with chronic conditions like IBD detect flare-ups earlier and manage their health with greater autonomy.

This flexibility allows the platform to be utilised in various environments, from laboratory tests to hospital bedside use, and wearable devices for real-time health monitoring.

Validated in Patient Samples
To evaluate its clinical relevance, the research team partnered with NUH clinicians to test the nanosensor on 125 human plasma samples across multiple patient groups, including healthy individuals and those with gastrointestinal diseases.

The study revealed significant differences in IPA levels between healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients with active gut inflammation showed lower IPA levels — consistent with established clinical findings.

“From a clinical perspective, having a rapid and minimally complex way to assess metabolite levels like IPA could be very valuable,” said Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Lee, Senior Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, NUH and NUS Medicine, and co-first author. “It has the potential to complement existing diagnostic tools and provide additional insights into patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.”

Assistant Professor Mervin Ang conducting sensor measurements using the fluorescence spectrometer. (Photo: NIE/NTU)

Faster, More Accessible Gut Health Testing
Beyond the laboratory, this research could pave the way for faster and more accessible gut health testing. Instead of relying on complex and time-intensive laboratory methods, the new nanosensor could enable rapid screening in clinics, or even portable or home-based testing, helping to detect gut diseases earlier and monitor treatment progress more easily.

Unlike conventional microbiome tests that focus on identifying which bacteria are present, this nanosensor measures what those microbes are actively producing, offering a more direct and functional snapshot of gut health. Directly measuring metabolite output, rather than bacterial composition alone, could provide more meaningful insights into overall health and support more personalised approaches to healthcare.
Beyond clinical diagnostics, the technology can be used to track the immediate efficacy of dietary interventions. Users can see rapidly if specific foods or probiotics are successfully fueling their gut bacteria to produce anti-inflammatory molecules like IPA. The sensor also demonstrated reliable performance in complex biological fluids such as serum and plasma, an important step toward real-world clinical deployment and further translational applications.

For pharmaceutical and therapeutic research, the nanosensor could be used to conduct rapid functional tests to determine the efficacy of new therapeutics or probiotics. By providing an instant readout of IPA levels, the platform could enable them to demonstrate in real-time that their therapeutics are biologically active and effective, significantly accelerating drug screening and dosage optimisation processes.

Towards Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Beyond
“The transition from laboratory discovery to a point-of-care clinical tool is already underway,” said Assistant Professor Ang. With further development, the platform has the potential to be translated into clinical applications, and in the long term, adapted into portable platforms for routine health monitoring.”

Looking ahead, the research team has been awarded an Innovation to Startup (I2Start) Innovation Grant to incubate a Singapore proto-startup to advance validation and development. The focus would be to translate the sensor into a point-of-care clinical diagnostic tool, and aim to expand the platform to detect multiple gut metabolites simultaneously and AI-driven signal deconvolution, enabling more accurate, comprehensive and personalised gut health monitoring. Future developments may also explore integration into wearable devices, microneedle systems, or microfluidic platforms for continuous, real-time sensing.

The research was supported by the Intra-CREATE Seed Collaboration Grant, and research conducted at SMART was supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

2 June 2026 – Food waste is a nagging problem that weighs heavily on global food growing, production, distribution and sales industries – but an emerging generation of AI sensors is providing a raft of fresh solutions.

The embrace of AI in food industries has been swift, which is why Flinders University researchers have worked with an international research team to build the first comprehensive overview of AI technologies involved in the food industry.

“Many examples of AI-integrated sensors are being used in the food industry for product safety, quality maintenance and optimised production efficiency,” explains Flinders University ARC Future Fellow Associate Professor Vi-Khanh Truong.

“The review highlights the strong potential of AI-integrated sensing systems to reduce energy consumption, fuel usage and food waste across the supply chain.”

As an example, AI-assisted precision drying systems can identify optimal processing conditions in real time, significantly reducing excess energy consumption during food dehydration processes. Similarly, smart spoilage prediction systems can prevent premature disposal of food products, reducing both economic losses and greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste.

“The global food supply chain faces an escalating need for monitoring systems that are not only accurate but also rapid, non-destructive and scalable. This is because traditional laboratory methods for assessing food quality and safety, such as gas chromatography, microbial plating and sensory panels, are often destructive, time-consuming, create bottlenecks that hinder real-time quality control, and require specialised personnel.”

The researchers identified a broad range of intelligent sensing systems being integrated into the food industry, including AI-enabled optical sensors, hyperspectral imaging systems, electronic noses (e-noses), electronic tongues (e-tongues), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, microwave sensing platforms, IoT-integrated low-power sensors, graphene chemo-sensors, plasmonic sensors, and ML-assisted multisensory arrays.

“By enabling real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, these intelligent systems can optimise food processing conditions, reduce unnecessary transportation and storage losses, minimise refrigeration energy demand, and improve logistics efficiency,” says Associate Professor Truong.

The review covered major AI frameworks. Notable examples highlighted in the review include Raman spectroscopy combined with SVM achieving up to 99.6% accuracy for detecting milk adulteration, FT-IR spectroscopy integrated with AI models achieving 100% classification accuracy for edible oil authentication, and hyperspectral imaging with CNN models enabling early disease detection in peppers before visible symptoms appear.

“Collectively, these technologies support a more sustainable and resource-efficient food industry by reducing waste generation, lowering fuel and electricity consumption, and improving overall supply-chain sustainability.”

The review also discussed AI-assisted electronic nose systems capable of identifying coffee bean geographical origin with 97.5% accuracy, and machine-learning assisted spoilage prediction systems for meat, fish, fruits and dairy products.