Infected wounds can lead to delayed healing, suppuration, and potentially life-threatening complications, making their management critically important. An ideal wound dressing should possess key characteristics such as high protective function, comfortable user experience, and effective antibacterial efficiency. However, a single dressing that integrates all these functions is rarely achieved. Herein, we developed a “bionic cooling skin” for infected wound management based on hierarchical nanofiber construction. This was achieved by integrating solvent welding technology with single-sided metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that generate visible light-responsive reactive oxygen species (ROS, band gap = 2.56 eV). The designed bionic skin promotes rapid healing of infected wounds, and the healing mechanism has been confirmed by gene analysis. This advanced dressing closely mimics natural skin, exhibiting similar mechanical properties (σ_max = 21.6 MPa; ε_max = 54%), and high air and moisture permeability (> 1.8 mL s⁻¹ and > 12.5 kg m⁻² d⁻¹), respectively. Furthermore, the bionic cooling skin reduces the local temperatures of wounds exposed to sunlight by 4 °C, mitigating heat gain through high mid-infrared emissivity. This innovative bionic wound dressing not only enhances comfort and healing efficacy but also advances our understanding of wound repair mechanisms, holding significant promise for future wound care and biomedical material design.

A research team led by Professor ZHANG Na from the High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has determined the first atomic-resolution structure of an RNA–DNA hybrid G-quadruplex (RDQ) formed between human telomeric DNA and a TERRA RNA fragment.

A research team led by Prof. WANG Zhongzhen from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China and Anhui University, has developed a new membrane-based approach for high-salinity brine treatment.

Researchers led by Prof. JIANG Changlong from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a simple fluorescent sensing system that can quickly and visually detect phoxim, an organophosphorus pesticide of concern in food safety and environmental monitoring.

A research team led by Assoc. Prof. CAO Liang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Anhui University and other research institutions, has developed a new approach based on controlled interlayer sliding to regulate quantum states in layered materials. By precisely tuning the movement of atomic layers, the approach enables the design of superlattices and the regulation of electronic properties through structural engineering.

Rice straw is often returned directly to fields to improve soil health, but in highly saline-sodic soils, where salt, alkalinity, and poor structure slow decomposition, that strategy may not work fast enough. A new study published in Biochar reports that converting rice straw into biochar before returning it to the field can offer a more effective route for sustainable rice production in salt-affected regions.

Antibiotic residues in water are an increasing environmental concern, especially as widely used medicines can pass through human, livestock, and aquaculture systems and enter rivers, groundwater, and soils. Tetracycline, a common broad-spectrum antibiotic, is one such pollutant. Although effective for treating bacterial infections, it can persist in the environment and contribute to ecological risks.

A new study published in Biochar shows that combining green manure with biochar can help farmers reduce nitrogen fertilizer use while improving soil health, water retention, carbon storage, nutrient supply, and microbial activity.

A review team led by researchers at Tsinghua University has established a unified kinetic framework for electrochemiluminescence (ECL). By deconstructing the ECL cascade into electron transfer, chemical reaction, and exciton emission modules, the study offers a roadmap for overcoming intrinsic efficiency bottlenecks. This approach enables next-generation applications ranging from super-resolution imaging to dynamic information encryption.

Klebsiella pneumoniae can cause severe infections, and its protective capsule is a key marker for tracking virulence, drug-resistance risks, and transmission. Yet capsule typing remains slow or limited when it relies on antisera, PCR panels, or genome sequencing. Researchers developed a modular bioluminescent reporter phage platform that converts capsule recognition into a rapid light signal. By inserting NanoLuc into a K2-specific phage and swapping receptor-binding proteins, the team generated reporter phages for clinically important K1, K2, K47, K57, and K64 capsular types. The system rapidly detected target strains in culture, synthetic urine, and polymicrobial urine-like samples, while directed evolution further improved phage adsorption and detection sensitivity. In synthetic urine, the assay produced signals at clinically relevant bacterial loads, and it retained specificity in mixtures containing other common uropathogens. The platform could support faster surveillance and help guide more precise antimicrobial or phage-based interventions.