KnE Open Top Picks for September 2025
On October 7, 2025
As we explore ways to improve health, learning, and sustainability, recent research sheds light on innovative solutions and evolving practices. From digital tools that enhance language learning to regenerative therapies in dentistry, these studies highlight the role of technology, knowledge, and resource management in everyday life. Together, they emphasise that meaningful progress comes from innovation and designing systems that are inclusive, effective, and responsive to diverse human and environmental needs.
Can a Little Caffeine Boost Your Mood After a Tough Run?
Caffeine is a part of daily life for millions of people, whether it’s through coffee, tea, or even chocolate. Beyond the morning pick-me-up, research has long shown that caffeine can sharpen focus, improve reaction times, and even make exercise feel a little less painful. While most studies have looked at these effects in lab settings, there’s still a lot to learn about how caffeine impacts the mind and mood during real-world athletic performance, especially after pushing the body to its limits. Focusing on young recreational runners, researchers in a recent study tested whether a low dose of caffeine could improve mood and cognitive function following an all-out endurance run. Their findings suggest that even modest amounts of caffeine may help runners feel better and stay mentally sharp after exhausting exercise, highlighting caffeine’s role as a performance enhancer and post-run recovery aid.
Explore the full findings from this article in the Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise.
Can Waste Be Turned into a Solution for Wastewater?
With populations growing and water resources under strain, wastewater management has become one of today’s biggest challenges. Traditional treatment methods, while effective, often require costly equipment and resources that many developing countries cannot afford. Finding smarter, more sustainable ways to reuse and repurpose materials for water treatment becomes essential. One promising approach involves the use of previously concrete infused with waste byproducts, like iron slag from the steel industry. Instead of discarding this material, researchers are exploring how its porous structure can trap contaminants and improve water quality. Not only does this give a second life to industrial waste, but it also creates a cost-effective way to treat municipal wastewater before it returns to the environment.
This recent study from the Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques explores how iron slag is reshaping wastewater treatment solutions.
How Do Gastrointestinal Diseases Affect Pregnant Women?
Pregnancy brings about remarkable changes in the body: hormonal shifts, metabolic adjustments, and physical pressure. While many of these transformations are natural, they can place extra strain on the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Issues like reflux, constipation, and digestive discomfort are common, but they often go beyond being just “normal pregnancy symptoms.” In some cases, these changes can exacerbate chronic conditions such as gastritis, pancreatitis, or gallbladder disease, while also increasing the likelihood of new GI problems emerging. What makes matters more complex is that the signs of GI disease frequently overlap with typical pregnancy complaints, making diagnosis and timely care more difficult.
A recent study from the Journal of Infertility and Reproductive Biology analysed the clinical course of GI diseases in pregnant women, shedding light on their progression across different stages of gestation.
Can Digital Games Make Learning Arabic More Fun and Effective?
Learning Arabic as a foreign language can feel intimidating for many students. Its unique script, grammar, and pronunciation often make it harder to grasp compared to other languages, and when paired with repetitive drills and memorisation, motivation can quickly fade. That’s where creativity in teaching methods becomes essential. Game-based learning is gaining traction as an engaging way to boost interest and improve retention, offering students immediate feedback, varied practice, and fun while they learn. In the case of Arabic, digital games could help students pick up vocabulary more naturally, while also reinforcing pronunciation and spelling.
A recent study from KnE Social Sciences explores this potential by developing a digital Hangman-style game to support Arabic learning.
Could Stem Cells Revolutionise Pulp Necrosis Treatment?
Dental pulp necrosis, or the death of the soft tissue inside the tooth, is a common condition often caused by decay, trauma, or repeated dental procedures. Traditionally, root canal therapy has been the go-to solution, effectively removing damaged tissue and preventing reinfection. While successful in many cases, this approach cannot regenerate lost pulp or fully restore the tooth’s natural functions, leaving room for complications over time. In recent years, regenerative medicine has opened new doors, and stem cell therapy is at the forefront of this shift. Stem cells’ unique ability to repair and regenerate tissue makes them a promising alternative, with the potential to restore vitality, improve long-term outcomes, and redefine how we treat pulp necrosis.
A recent minireview from the West Kazakhstan Medical Journal highlights how stem cell therapy could move endodontics beyond symptom management toward true biological restoration of dental pulp.