The slow kinetics and high energy consumption of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limit the large-scale development of electrocatalytic water splitting. Replacing OER with the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) and coupling it with the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can optimize the electrocatalytic water splitting system. Now, a research team at Wuhan University has accelerated the hydrogen transfer in the glycerol oxidation process by regulating the d-p hybridization of MnO₂, providing new insights for balancing the adsorption and activation of biomass molecules. These findings are published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry.

Flower development in cannabis is key to its therapeutic and industrial potential, but how this complex process is regulated has remained unclear.

Sweetness is central to the appeal of citrus fruit, but the molecular story behind that flavor has long remained untold. 

A research team developed a novel method using bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) spectra combined with the PROSPECT-PRO model and modified ratio indices to estimate nitrogen content nondestructively.

In semiarid farmlands, microbes are quietly shaping the planet's carbon cycle.

Advancements in social media and communications technology has made underaged individuals increasingly vulnerable to online sexual exploitation. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) initiates a research project that seeks to incorporate the perspectives of children and adolescents in understanding the issue of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). This project has received funding support from the Research Grants Council (RGC) Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) 2025/26, with total grant of HK$503,000.

As power systems evolve to accommodate rising levels of renewable energy, traditional grid-following converters (GFLs) are no longer sufficient to ensure grid stability. Researchers from Imperial College London and Tsinghua University, led by Dr. Fei Teng and Mr. Guoxuan Cui, conduct a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of how to determine the optimal penetration of grid-forming converters (GFMs) required for future power networks. Their findings highlight how coordinated planning and dynamic operational control strategies can enable cost-effective and stable operation of “new-type power systems”.

Wild polyploid strawberries hold clues to how plants evolve and adapt to harsh environments.