A team of researchers from Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University has designed a new, affordable sensor to detect toxic perchlorate in water, paving the way for better environmental monitoring and healthier communities. The sensor, inspired by porphyrin molecules and costing less than two US dollars, offers rapid and highly accurate detection of perchlorate, a harmful pollutant that often escapes into rivers and drinking water through fireworks manufacturing and industrial operations.

Third-generation solar cell technology is advancing rapidly. An engineering research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved a breakthrough in the field of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs), focusing on addressing challenges that include improving efficiency, stability and scalability. The team has conducted a comprehensive analysis of TSC performance and provided strategic recommendations, which aim to raise the energy conversion efficiency of this new type of solar cell from the current maximum of approximately 34% to around 40%. The team hopes to accelerate the commercialisation of perovskite/silicon TSCs through industry-academia-research collaboration, while aligning with the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality and promoting the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence through renewable energy.

Do renewables always make power cheaper? In the UK, it depends on how much is on the system. Using causal machine learning on 2018–2024 market data, researchers find wind’s causal effect is U-shaped: at low penetration, +1 GWh can reduce prices by up to £7/MWh, the effect weakens mid-range, then strengthens again at higher penetration. The impacts have grown over time as renewables’ share rose, providing an evidence base for market design and support policy. These findings support adaptive support schemes and capacity planning that reflect changing marginal value rather than one-size-fits-all assumptions.

The interannual variation of summer precipitation in the East China Sea exhibits its own uniqueness

Carotid plaques block the blood supply to the brain. It is often considered a leading cause of stroke. Ethnicity-based characteristics and differences in the plaques are studied to tailor targeted management approaches. In a recently published study in the Chinese Neurosurgical Journal, histological features of carotid plaques from patients of Chinese and North American populations were investigated and compared, reporting distinct histological differences.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) remains a major medical challenge, with high morbidity and no approved drug that directly alters its course. 

Physical inactivity has long been common among children with asthma due to fears of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).

Stroke is a major cause of non-traumatic disability worldwide. In a new IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica breakthrough aimed at aiding patients with motor impairments, researchers demonstrated the development and control of CASIA-EXO upper-limb exoskeleton for motor learning in post-stroke rehabilitation. The proposed technology employs a novel control strategy to steadily individualize the training trajectory and intervention level as per the changing requirements and motor abilities of the patient.