A recent study has identified microRNA396 (miR396) as a pivotal negative regulator of shoot regeneration in tomatoes, marking a significant advancement in plant genetic engineering.

As a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage, aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) have faced a stubborn hurdle in the form of troublesome side reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface, hindering their widespread application. Now, researchers from Hunan University and Nankai University, reporting in the National Science Review, have overcome this challenge. In their study, they developed self-polymerizable glutamate salts as universal interphase-forming additives to in-situ constructing robust electrode/electrolyte interphase (EEI) layers on both the cathode and anode of AZBs, effectively suppressing interfacial side reactions and Zn dendrite growth. This discovery could revolutionize the approach to construct EEI layers in aqueous electrolytes, opening a novel pathway to boost the stability of aqueous batteries.

In a recent paper published in National Science Review, a scientific research team from China revealed a new structural design strategy—using lone pair electrons as chemical scissors to realize 2D van der Waals structure. With this strategy, the research team successfully obtained a new air-stable 2D van der Waals oxide—InSbMoO₆.

A study study has uncovered the complex role of abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating chlorophyll accumulation in apple plants. 

Megakaryocytes (MKs), which are traditionally known for their role in platelet production, are now emerging as unique immune cells with diverse capabilities. They express immune receptors, participate in pathogen recognition and response, phagocytose pathogens, contribute to antigen presentation, and interact with various immune cell types. When encountering inflammatory challenges, MKs exhibit intricate immune functions that can either promote or inhibit inflammation. These responses are mediated through mechanisms, such as the secretion of either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory cytokines and release of immunomodulatory platelets according to specific conditions. This intricate array of responses necessitates a detailed exploration to determine whether the immune functions of MKs are carried out by the entire MK population or by a specific subpopulation. Breakthroughs in single-cell RNA sequencing have uncovered a unique “immune MK” subpopulation, revealing its distinct characteristics and immunoregulatory functions. This review provides latest insights into MKs’ immune attributes and their roles in physiological and pathological contexts and emphasizes the discovery and functions of “immune MKs”.

The team proposes a performance optimization framework of GVDS including the multitask-oriented data migration method and the request access-aware IO proxy resource allocation strategy.

Researchers from the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, collected acorns from 20 Fagaceae specie. They simulated the effects of animal feeding by carefully removing up to 96% of the acorns' reserves without damaging the embryo, and the leftover seeds were then planted. The researchers found that partial feeding by animals did not significantly affect seed germination.