Niobium/tantalum–tellurium (Nb/Ta–Te) charge density wave materials have been developed for infrared detection. Devices based on these materials enable efficient mid- and long-wave infrared sensing at room temperature under zero-bias conditions, eliminating the need for an external power supply, and achieve a detectivity of up to 10⁸ Jones. Furthermore, by integrating the detector with artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted image enhancement, the quality of single-pixel infrared imaging is significantly improved, offering a promising route toward next-generation low-power, intelligent infrared optoelectronic systems.

The stability of zinc metal anodes is a critical bottleneck hindering the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. The team of Zhaoling Ma and Hongqiang Wang from Guangxi Normal University has developed a ZnV₂O₄ ion-sieve interface layer featuring a three-dimensional tunnel structure. By leveraging the synergistic effect of moderate oxygen vacancies and tunnel geometry, the material achieves ultra-fast and selective Zn²⁺ transport. This design enables symmetric cells to deliver stable cycling for over 3,700 hours at 4 mA cm⁻², and full cells to maintain a capacity retention of 52.5% after 1,000 cycles, offering a promising strategy for long-life aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites have a wartime secret: they can suddenly boost their signal power to punch through jamming. 

An engineered triphasic biomaterial scaffold successfully recreated the cranial suture stem cell niche lost in craniosynostosis, a condition that causes premature fusion of skull bones. Using a pore-size-guided “bone-suture-bone” design, the scaffold maintained skeletal stem cells while supporting surrounding bone formation. In mouse models, the construct prevented re-fusion, restored craniofacial growth, and improved skull morphology. The findings may advance regenerative therapies that directly address the underlying causes of pediatric craniofacial disorders.

As artificial intelligence drives demand for faster and more energy-efficient hardware, ferroelectric memristors are attracting growing attention. A new review outlines how these devices combine memory, computation, and learning capabilities in a single platform, offering new opportunities for intelligent computing beyond the traditional von Neumann architecture.

In a comprehensive review published in Earth and Planetary Physics, researchers from Wuhan University synthesize recent advances in the climatological variations and complex driving mechanisms of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ). The study highlights how the daytime EEJ responds to E-region conductivity, atmospheric tides, and intense mid- and high-latitude electrodynamic disturbances.

A research team led by Profs. CHEN Xingqiu and SUN Yan from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Prof. NIU Haiyang from Northwestern Polytechnical University, has uncovered a previously unknown phase transformation mechanism in monolayer molybdenum telluride (MoTe₂).

A new study published in Nature suggests that the types of fat we eat may influence how well our immune cells survive and function.

The study focuses on T cells, a key group of immune cells that help fight infections, support antibody responses, attack tumours, and power CAR-T cell therapy. For T cells to work well, they need to stay alive and remain functionally fit.

A new study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts presents an environmentally friendly strategy for producing high-quality dissolving pulp from sugarcane bagasse. By integrating carbonate-based oxygen-alkali pulping with an enzymatic totally chlorine-free bleaching sequence, the researchers achieved selective lignin removal while preserving cellulose, significantly reducing chemical consumption and bleaching demand. The work also clarifies the underlying reaction mechanisms governing active oxygen species and enzyme-assisted bleaching, providing a promising route for converting agricultural residues into high-value cellulose products with improved environmental performance.