Nine trade associations representing oilseed and biofuel producers and the transportation sector are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize 2026 Renewable Fuel Standard requirements by the November deadline -- and to set a standard they view more favorably than last year's. "While our industries will continue to make investments in producing, distributing, and using low-carbon fuels, EPA can and should send a strong signal to the market," the associations said in a letter.

The USDA says that soybeans from Moolec Science that have been genetically engineered to produce animal proteins are unlikely to pose a greater pest risk than unmodified soybeans, and no review from the agency's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is needed. Moolec's pink Piggy Sooy soybeans produce porcine myoglobin.

Omega-5 fatty acids are less well known than their omega-3 cousins and may have similar health benefits, but are far less thoroughly researched, and even the safety of omega-5 supplements has not been well investigated. The only foods that contain the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid known as punicic acid are salmon, coconut oil and pomegranates, and pomegranate oil is the basis of most supplements.

Vegetable oils and other oils that alternate carbon and oxygen atoms can mix with water by changing their configuration in a way that adheres the water and oil droplets to each other, without help from often-toxic surfactants, a study in Science shows. The technique can potentially reduce or eliminate the use of industrial surfactants in industries from cosmetics to food and health and could yield biodegradable plastic that's as much as 90% water by volume.

Nanobiolubricants can improve performance in grinding operations, according to a recent study that emphasizes that the lubricants decrease friction, extend the life of manufacturing tools, lower environmental impact and reduce costs. The technique replaces conventional metal-working fluids with durable film-forming nanoparticles that improve vegetable oil-based fluid characteristics, according to the study published in Advances in Manufacturing.

Research published in Cell Metabolism employs SRS imaging to show how cellular lipid metabolism is altered in mouse brains with characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. "We don't think this is an incidental phenomenon," said coauthor Xu Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and "the evidence suggests that lipid metabolism is a driving mechanism for Alzheimer's disease."

Congratulations to the 30+ scientists and technical professionals who won AOCS Awards this year and were recognized at the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Montréal. Visit the AOCS Awards page to view winners in each category:

• AOCS Member Awards
• Professional Awards
• Student Awards
• Paper Awards
• Travel Grants

The AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo brings together thousands of chemists, engineers, technologists and researchers focused on the science and technology of fats, oils, proteins, surfactants and related materials. Save the date to join us in Portland, Ore., April 27-30, 2025! The Call for Papers will open in the fall of 2024 -- sign up to receive updates here.