Researchers led by Prof. ZHAO Yan from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported high-resolution cryo-EM structures of GlyT2 in three major conformational states. These structures illuminate the transporter's molecular mechanisms and provide critical insights into how analgesic compounds are recognized.

Embodied learning for object-centric robotic manipulation is a rapidly developing and challenging area in embodied AI. It is crucial for advancing next-generation intelligent robots and has garnered significant interest recently. Unlike data-driven machine learning methods, embodied learning focuses on robot learning through physical interaction with the environment and perceptual feedback, making it especially suitable for robotic manipulation. In this paper, researchers provide a comprehensive survey of the latest advancements in this field and categorize the existing work into three main branches: 1) Embodied perceptual learning, which aims to predict object pose and affordance through various data representations; 2) Embodied policy learning, which focuses on generating optimal robotic decisions using methods such as reinforcement learning and imitation learning; 3) Embodied task-oriented learning, designed to optimize the robot′s performance based on the characteristics of different tasks in object grasping and manipulation. In addition, researchers offer an overview and discussion of public datasets, evaluation metrics, representative applications, current challenges, and potential future research directions. A project associated with this survey has been established at https://github.com/RayYoh/OCRM_survey.

A collaborated research team from the Institute of Solid State Physics, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered a high-energy-density barocaloric effect in the plastic superionic conductor Ag₂Te₁₋ₓSₓ. 

This study examines the impact of corporate digital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on the development of New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF). Using a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) methodology with data from Chinese listed firms (2011-2021), we demonstrate that digital M&As significantly enhance NQPF. We identify two key mechanisms driving this effect: enhanced firm innovation capability and accelerated data asset accumulation. Furthermore, our findings reveal that external factors including advanced industrial structure, higher urban human capital, and lower economic policy uncertainty positively moderate this relationship. This research introduces a novel NQPF measurement index and provides actionable insights for firms and policymakers seeking to leverage digital transformation for high-quality economic development.

Researchers from Zhejiang Lab have proposed a novel spatiotemporal mode multiplexing technology, coupling pulsed orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams with diffractive deep neural networks (D²NN) and optical fiber delay-line arrays to realize a “space-time” projection mechanism. This enables high-speed, all-optical multidimensional multiplexing with potential scalability to the GHz level, offering a breakthrough solution for large-capacity optical communications in challenging environments such as free space and underwater.

A groundbreaking study from New Zealand demonstrates that central bank "forward guidance" significantly strengthens the transmission of monetary policy. Analyzing New Zealand's banking data, the research finds that providing clear communication about the future path of interest rates enhances the pass-through from the official policy rate to bank deposit and lending rates. The results show improved long-term pass-through, especially for time deposits and fixed mortgages, alongside a slight acceleration in short-term adjustments. These findings offer critical evidence for central banks worldwide on the power of communication as a policy tool.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are emerging as a promising option for next-generation energy storage due to their abundant resources, affordability, eco-friendliness, and high safety levels. Manganese-based cathode materials, in particular, have garnered significant attention because of their high theoretical capacity and cost-effectiveness. However, they still face substantial challenges related to rate performance and cycling stability. To address these issues, researchers have developed various strategies. This review focuses on the key advancements in manganese-based cathode materials for AZIBs in recent years. It begins with a detailed analysis of the energy storage mechanisms in manganese-based cathodes. Next, it introduces a variety of manganese-based oxides, highlighting their distinct crystal structures and morphologies. It also outlines optimization strategies, such as ion doping (both monovalent ions and multivalent ions), the preparation of Mn-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbon materials coatings, and electrolyte optimization. These strategies have significantly improved the electrochemical performance of manganese-based oxide cathodes. By systematically analyzing these advancements, it aims to provide guidance for the development of high-performance manganese-based cathodes. Finally, it discusses prospective research directions for manganese-based cathodes in AZIBs.

To mitigate the adverse effects of high concentrations of Cl− ions in seawater on electrolysis efficiency, it is essential to develop efficient and stable electrocatalysts. Based on this need, CuCo-ZIF NCs were used as a precursor to synthesize a CuCo-TA@FeOOH heterojunction composites, specifically designed for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline seawater, through a combination of acid etching and a self-growth method. The resulting material exhibits an OER overpotential of 234 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in alkaline freshwater and 256 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in seawater electrolyte. This performance is attributed to synergistic interactions at the heterojunction interfaces, which enhances the specific surface area, offers abundant active sites, and improves mass transfer efficiency, thereby increasing catalytic activity. Moreover, at a current density of 100 mA/cm2, it maintains stable performance for up to 300 h without deactivation. This remarkable stability and corrosion resistance stems from the synergistic effect at the CoOOH and FeOOH interface formed during reconstruction, which facilitates electron transfer, optimizes the electronic structure during the reaction process, and effectively suppresses the chlorine evolution reaction (CER). This study offers a valuable reference for the rational design of high-performance electrocatalysts for alkaline seawater oxidation.

Tellurene, a chiral chain semiconductor with a narrow bandgap and exceptional strain sensitivity, emerges as a pivotal material for tailoring electronic and optoelectronic properties via strain engineering. This study elucidates the fundamental mechanisms of ultrafast laser shock imprinting (LSI) in two-dimensional tellurium (Te), establishing a direct relationship between strain field orientation, mold topology, and anisotropic structural evolution. This is the first demonstration of ultrafast LSI on chiral chain Te unveiling orientation-sensitive dislocation networks. By applying controlled strain fields parallel or transverse to Te’s helical chains, we uncover two distinct deformation regimes. Strain aligned parallel to the chain’s direction induces gliding and rotation governed by weak interchain interactions, preserving covalent intrachain bonds and vibrational modes. In contrast, transverse strain drives shear-mediated multimodal deformations—tensile stretching, compression, and bending—resulting in significant lattice distortions and electronic property modulation. We discovered the critical role of mold topology on deformation: sharp-edged gratings generate localized shear forces surpassing those from homogeneous strain fields via smooth CD molds, triggering dislocation tangle formation, lattice reorientation, and inhomogeneous plastic deformation. Asymmetrical strain configurations enable localized structural transformations while retaining single-crystal integrity in adjacent regions—a balance essential for functional device integration. These insights position LSI as a precision tool for nanoscale strain engineering, capable of sculpting 2D material morphologies without compromising crystallinity. By bridging ultrafast mechanics with chiral chain material science, this work advances the design of strain-tunable devices for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics, while establishing a universal framework for manipulating anisotropic 2D systems under extreme strain rates. This work discovered crystallographic orientation-dependent deformation mechanisms in 2D Te, linking parallel strain to chain gliding and transverse strain to shear-driven multimodal distortion. It demonstrates mold geometry as a critical lever for strain localization and dislocation dynamics, with sharp-edged gratings enabling unprecedented control over lattice reorientation. Crucially, the identification of strain field conditions that reconcile severe plastic deformation with single-crystal retention offers a pathway to functional nanostructure fabrication, redefining LSI’s potential in ultrafast strain engineering of chiral chain materials.