A review published in Science China Life Sciences by Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder (PND) Biomarker conortium and Aging Biomarker Consortium synthesizes the panel's insights on brain aging and PND. The article presents the latest clinical evidence across three dimensions: imaging, electroencephalography, and molecular markers. It also explores the relationship between PND and other age-related cognitive impairments. Through a comprehensive review of PND studies, the identification of biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity has established a solid scientific foundation for predicting and diagnosing PND.

In a pioneering study, researchers have successfully realized valley vortex states in water wave crystals, drawing parallels with phenomena observed in photonic crystals. This achievement advances the understanding of valley states in the classical wave domain and opens new avenues for potential applications in ocean energy extraction, marine engineering, and the development of coastal infrastructures.

Li metal batteries harbor the potential to attain the ambitious target of 600 Wh kg^-1, addressing the burgeoning energy requirements of electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and even battery-powered aviation. Its degradation primarily originates from active Li loss, encompassing isolated Li (dead Li), and solid electrolyte interphase. Herein, the authors unveil the existence of an alternative form of dead Li, termed ionically isolated Li (I-iLi), which diverges from the traditionally recognized electronically isolated Li (E-iLi). The term I-iLi denotes a portion of dead Li that becomes disconnected from the Li-ion percolation pathway due to electrolyte de-wetting. This discovery stems from a quantitative assessment of electrolyte-dependent capacity recovery in high-energy pouch cells. By implementing stress modulation, the I-iLi content is reduced from 21% at 0.1 MPa to 1% at 1 MPa. Harnessing these insights, a prototype LiNi_0.95Mn_0.03Co_0.02O₂||Cu pouch cell (1.4 Ah) achieves an extraordinary energy density of 551 Wh kg^-1 and maintains 70% capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 C.

In  a  paper  published  on  aBIOTECH,  the  authors  revealed  the  joint  regulation  of  chromatin structure and gene expression by BMI1s, the core components of Arabidopsis PRC1, and the condensin complexes.

Text-to-image technology has made significant progress in the field of general computing, attracting attention from academia, industry, and the general public. To explore the impact of text-to-image technology on urban and rural planning design, Academician Zhang Xinchang's team has addressed key challenges in this field and proposed corresponding solutions based on text-to-image technology. Through multiple real-world application cases, they have demonstrated the application value and potential of this technology in urban and rural planning design. The journal Geographic Information Science has published an article reporting on these findings.

In a paper published in MedComm, scientists from an international team present the accumulation of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) positive macrophages in the lung due to environmental particle pollution exposure. The persistence of these macrophages contributes to the development of emphysema and serves as a potential preventive target for COPD.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China initiated a major research program to study formation and response mechanism of Air Pollution Complex in China. Through the program’s 76 projects, scientists have achieved tremendous advances in air pollution research. To raise awareness of air pollution complex, the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences recently published a special issue on the topic.

This review summarises the dynamic reconstruction behaviour of Cu-based catalysts in electrochemical CO₂ reduction and provides insights into the atomic-level mechanism of this reconstruction. In addition, new insights into the effects of electrolyte, electrolysis mode, and other factors are provided from the perspective of dynamic surfaces. Finally, the development and potential problems of multidimensional in situ characterisation are discussed with a view to facilitating more in-depth studies of the dynamic surfaces of Cu catalysts.

Professor Kazunari Domen was recognized as “Clarivate Citation Laureate 2024” for his pioneering breakthroughs in photocatalysis, especially photocatalytic water splitting. He spearheaded novel photocatalytic materials, transformative synthesis, modification strategies and advanced characterization techniques. Leveraging his originated materials and technologies, he demonstrated the world’s first scalable 100-square-metre solar hydrogen plant, operable under natural sunlight – a monumental milestone in the field. His groundbreaking contributions, highlighted in this article, would enlighten researchers to shape a more sustainable future.