Eli Lilly has capped off its recent series of US investments by announcing a $3.5 billion manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, marking the fourth plant under its "Lilly in America" initiative. The expansion is part of the company's multi-billion-dollar commitment to bolster US pharmaceutical production in response to increasing demand and evolving policy pressures.

Greater access to Venezuelan heavy crude could increase domestic fuel oil production and reduce imports as complex US refiners opt to run heavier slates and upgrade residual output into gasoline and diesel. Energy Aspects analysts estimate US Gulf Coast refiners could take in as much as 700,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan oil, which is expected to cut US fuel oil import demand and decrease European fuel oil cracking margins. Meanwhile, US officials are reportedly drafting a general license to loosen energy sanctions on Venezuela.

Negotiations between the United Steelworkers union and Marathon Petroleum over a new four-year labor agreement remain unresolved, as the union has neither rejected nor accepted Marathon's latest proposal. The talks, which impact 30,000 workers at American refineries and chemical plants, continue under rolling 24-hour contract extensions while union officials meet with members to review the offer.

Real-world exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may nearly triple infant mortality and dramatically raise the likelihood of babies born very prematurely and at extremely low birth weights, a new study shows. The findings may spur more arguments for cleaning up PFAS in the environment. If extrapolated to the contiguous US, the cost of PFAS exposure in birth outcomes alone equals nearly $8 billion, claims Derek Lemoine, the University of Arizona professor who led the study.

Alpine has partnered with CRP Technology and CRP Meccanica to develop a key intake system for its Alpenglow Hy6 hydrogen concept car using additive manufacturing. The system, made from carbon-fiber-reinforced Windform SP via selective laser sintering, addresses thermal and mechanical challenges, eliminating the need for metallic components. The approach has passed rigorous testing, highlighting the potential of 3D printing as a critical manufacturing technology.

A coalition of plastic industry leaders has formed the Recycling Leadership Council to address a recycling crisis, as facility closures in Europe and the US threaten the supply of secondary raw materials. The council will push for policy reforms to make recycled plastic economically viable, as the cost of recycled materials has risen significantly above that of virgin plastic due to rising operational costs and an oversupply of cheap virgin plastic.

An AI system called Mosaic accelerates chemical synthesis by recommending optimal conditions for creating new compounds. Mosaic was used to generate the structure of 35 compounds with potential for use in pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals or cosmetics, researchers reported in the journal Nature.

Amgen has ended its collaboration with Kyowa Kirin for the eczema drug rocatinlimab, following disappointing Phase 3 results. While the trials met their primary goals, the drug was not seen as competitive with existing treatments such as Dupixent. Kyowa Kirin will seek regulatory approval for rocatinlimab in the US and Japan.

The FDA has lifted its clinical hold on Intellia Therapeutics' late-stage gene therapy trial, allowing the company to continue testing its CRISPR-based therapy for a rare nerve disease. This decision follows the implementation of enhanced safety monitoring measures after a previous pause due to severe liver-related side effects in a patient.

Debate over Department of Homeland Security funding remains the central obstacle to ending the partial government shutdown. The Senate, after a last-minute vote, has separated DHS funding from other agency budgets to allow two weeks for negotiations on Democratic demands for ICE reforms. House Republicans aim to pass the funding package with a simple majority, but internal divisions and Democratic insistence on a full debate complicate the path forward.

The NIH has banned the use of human fetal tissue in federally funded research, citing a shift toward breakthrough technologies. However, some scientists say fetal tissue research has been crucial for understanding diseases such as HIV and Ebola, as well as for developing vaccines and treatments.

Answer: Charles Drew. African-American surgeon and researcher Charles Drew developed improved techniques for blood storage and transportation that greatly benefited the Allied forces during World War II. He invented what would later be known as "bloodmobiles" -- mobile donation stations that could collect and refrigerate blood. His work led to his appointment as director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank in February 1941. Drew objected to the practice of racial segregation in the donation and storage of blood as it lacked scientific foundation; he later resigned his position with the American Red Cross in protest.

Abstract submissions are now open for the 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting, taking place Nov. 8-12 in Minneapolis, Minn. This event will bring together thousands of chemical engineers from industry and academia to share cutting-edge research, emerging technologies and practical innovations. Abstracts are due by Wednesday, April 8 -- submit yours to showcase your work and engage with a global chemical engineering audience. Learn more here.

Pack your bags for Houston and join us at the 2026 AIChE Spring Meeting & 22nd Global Congress on Process Safety (GCPS) from April 12-16. Highlights include four days of in-depth technical programming, peer-to-peer networking and a Tuesday Luncheon keynote by Tanya T. Bryja, Senior Vice President of Energy Products at ExxonMobil. Register by February 16 to secure the best rates and be part of one of the industry's most influential events. Don't miss the early-bird deadline for discounted registration.

A recent study found that more employees trust AI than they do their leaders, something FranklinCovey CEO Paul Walker says should prompt leaders to reflect on seven questions, including if they're showing up with humility, trying to see AI from their team's point of view and offering clarity even amid uncertainty. "I don't pretend we will be able to remove all the fear or the risks. But we might be able to remove the feeling that change is happening to people instead of with them," Walker writes.