Looking back at the first quarter of 2025, we’re spotlighting some of the most engaging and insightful posts from across our Mathematics, Physical and Applied Sciences Communities. 

Fast Radio Bursts: Cracking the Cosmic Code 

 @Kenzie Nimmo  and @Ryan Mckinven 

Discover how polarization swings and extragalactic scintillation unravelled the mystery of Fast Radio Bursts 20221022A! Fast Radio Bursts, or FRBs, are millisecond-long bursts of radio waves that pack an astonishing amount of energy, and scientists are only just beginning to understand where they come from. A Behind the Paper post reveals how this fast radio burst emerged from a magnetar’s intense magnetic environment.  

Where Thermo-Responsive Windows Really Shine 

@Yuan Gao 

Have you ever wondered how something as simple as a window could help us save energy?  After running millions of simulations worldwide, researchers found that smart windows can actually save the most energy in places with both heating and cooling needs. They turn dark when it’s hot to block out heat, and become clear when it’s cold to let sunlight in. This dynamic adjustment helps reduce the need for indoor heating and cooling, making buildings more energy efficient. They also showed that the best temperature for the windows to change color isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It depends on the local climate and the window materials. The authors shared more insights and untold stories in their latest post. 

To Connect or Not to Connect? 

 @Hiroki Sayama 

Is more connection always better? By simulating social networks on a custom-built platform, researchers discovered that teams with fewer, carefully structured communication points often produced more creative, high-quality ideas. Find out more about the research in their Behind the Paper post. 

Rethinking Growth: Is It Time to Put Well-being First in City Planning? 

@Juan Pablo Ríos Ocampo  and @Michael Shayne Gary 

Is “growth at all costs” hurting our cities? New research reveals that a decades-long focus on economic and infrastructure expansion has led to traffic, sprawl, housing stress, and environmental strain. Researchers used systems thinking to map how planning decisions shaped today’s urban challenges and why it’s time for a shift toward well-being-driven development. Explore the full story and visual maps in their Behind the Paper post. 

Opportunities of note 

Plant Methods: Call for Submissions! 

@Katy Saunders 

Plant Methods is calling for submissions to its new Collection on ‘Deep Learning & Transfer Learning: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for Plant Disease Detection, Classification, and Technological Innovation’. This Collection will spotlight innovative research that harnesses AI for more accurate, automated, and scalable plant disease detection. Topics include novel CNN architectures, transfer learning strategies, multi-modal data integration, and the role of generative AI in advancing agricultural sustainability. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a rapidly evolving and impactful field! Read the full post for more details. 

Explore more posts you might have missed: 

• Pathways to Achieve Ambient Pressure High-Temperature Superconductivity in Nickelates  @Ningning Wang 

• Atomically resolved imaging of radiation-sensitive metal-organic frameworks via electron ptychography  @Guanxing Li 

• The decreasing housing utilization efficiency in China’s cities   @Lifeng Shi 

• Urban growth strategy in Greater Sydney leads to unintended social and environmental challenges  @Juan Pablo Ríos Ocampo and @Michael Shayne Gary 

• Salt-In-Presalt Electrolyte Design for High-energy Sodium Batteries  @Ai-Min Li  and @Chunsheng Wang
  

Looking for more content? Check out the monthly round-ups and quarterly highlights from other disciplines: 

• Exploring World Water Day: Key Findings, Events and Insights 

• Highlights from Mathematics, Physical and Applied Sciences Communities 

• Quarterly Highlights from the Medicine and Life Sciences Research Communities 

• Quarterly Highlights from the Humanities and Social Sciences Communities

Did you have a favourite post that didn’t make the list? Or maybe you’re inspired to write your own? Don’t forget you can always share your work, thoughts, and experiences of Life in Research channel with the Research Communities.

😊 We’d love to hear from you!