In June 2024, southern China experienced record-breaking heavy rainfall, resulting in devastating societal and economic impacts. The underlying cause of this extreme event remained unclear until this study, published in Science Bulletin, provided new insights. Based on analyses from numerical simulations using an Earth System Model (ESM), an international team of scientists identified excessive spring land heating over the Tibetan Plateau as the primary factor driving the catastrophic June 2024 rainfall in southern China.

A research team from the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, China, has developed a novel biocompatible nanoadhesive for corneal transplantation. The nanoadhesive is based on tetrahedral framework nucleic acids combined with functionalized polycationic recombinant proteins. This unique composition minimizes the risks of tissue necrosis and inflammation associated with polymeric adhesives while inhibiting bacterial growth and promoting tissue repair. This work demonstrates an efficient strategy to break through the bottleneck of current ophthalmic adhesives.

A new scoping review examines the impact of respiratory bacteria on the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and long-term health outcomes in children.

A research team from the University of Hong Kong has developed a general computational protocol for phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes via high throughput virtual screening and Δ-learning approaches. By generating a large quantity of candidates, rapid HTVS and accurate predictions of vital photophysical properties, this innovative approach has resulted in 12 promising candidates with exceptional performance. This study paves the way for a faster, more reliable and more prosperous future in OLED technologies.

Recently, a joint research team developed a novel quantum-classical computing scheme for designing photochromic materials — light-sensitive compounds — providing a powerful tool to accelerate the discovery of new materials. This research was published Dec. 20, 2024 in Intelligent Computing, a Science Partner Journal, in an open access article titled “A Quantum-Classical Method Applied to Material Design: Photochromic Materials Optimization for Photopharmacology Applications.”