Lignin is a sustainable "gold mine" for green chemicals, yet its complex structure remains difficult to crack. Researchers have now developed an ultra-efficient Ru nanocluster catalyst supported on CeO₂ to convert lignin-derived compounds into high-value 1,4-cyclohexanediol in pure water. By leveraging the Strong Metal-Support Interaction (SMSI) to create active interfaces, this green process achieves a record 96.7% yield, paving the way for sustainable plastic and resin production.

Conventional vision systems suffer from severe power and latency bottlenecks due to the physical separation of sensing and processing, which are challenges that in sensor computing seeks to resolve. However, existing neuromorphic hardware remains hindered by high programming energy and unidirectional photocurrent polarity. This work presents an energy efficient reconfigurable photodiode based on ferroelectric Hf_xZr_1-xO₂ (HZO) and ambipolar semiconductor WSe₂, achieving energy-efficient in-sensor computing.

Researchers from Xinjiang University and East China University of Science and Technology have developed a novel iron-based single-atom catalyst (ZnS@Fe-NSC) that overcomes the long-standing trade-off between high activity and long-term stability in electrochemical CO₂ reduction. By integrating sulfur doping and zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles within the catalyst architecture, the team achieved exceptional CO production efficiency with over 98% selectivity and maintained stable operation for 30 hours, paving the way for more durable and efficient energy conversion technologies.

This review highlights Anoectochilus roxburghii as a promising natural skincare ingredient with strong translational potential. Traditionally known as the “King of Medicine” and “Golden Herb,” A. roxburghii contains polysaccharides, flavonoids, and kinsenosides that may support antioxidant defense, anti-inflammatory regulation, skin barrier repair, and brightening effects. The article connects traditional medicinal value with modern cosmetic science, emphasizing topical, skin-relevant mechanisms rather than systemic pharmacological effects. It also discusses product development opportunities, including serums, masks, creams, and soothing formulations, while identifying key challenges such as extract standardization, clinical validation, safety assessment, and scalable industrial application.

Some of the most useful clues for breeding medicinal plants may be visible long before roots are harvested. 

As spirometry requires coordinated deep breathing and can be challenging for children to perform, researchers from the USA, as part of the TRANSPIRE study investigating lung complications in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), explored the potential of oscillometry, a simple and child-friendly lung function test. Oscillometry detected subtle lung abnormalities before HSCT that conventional lung function testing may miss, suggesting that these children may be more vulnerable to future pulmonary complications.

Porous materials are the preferred choice for high-power laser coating applications. Scientists in China developed a method for preparing porous SiO₂ materials by combining electron beam co-evaporation with selective chemical etching. Based on this method, all-silica ultraviolet laser high-reflection and antireflection coatings were fabricated, both of which exhibited excellent laser-induced damage resistance. This technique is of great significance for the development of large-scale laser facilities.