Microneedles (MNs) have been extensively investigated for transdermal delivery of large-sized drugs, including proteins, nucleic acids, and even extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, for their sufficient skin penetration, conventional MNs employ long needles (≥ 600 μm), leading to pain and skin irritation. Moreover, it is critical to stably apply MNs against complex skin surfaces for uniform nanoscale drug delivery. Herein, a dually amplified transdermal patch (MN@EV/SC) is developed as the stem cell-derived EV delivery platform by hierarchically integrating an octopus-inspired suction cup (SC) with short MNs (≤ 300 μm). While leveraging the suction effect to induce nanoscale deformation of the stratum corneum, MN@EV/SC minimizes skin damage and enhances the adhesion of MNs, allowing EV to penetrate deeper into the dermis. When MNs of various lengths are applied to mouse skin, the short MNs can elicit comparable corticosterone release to chemical adhesives, whereas long MNs induce a prompt stress response. MN@EV/SC can achieve a remarkable penetration depth (290 µm) for EV, compared to that of MN alone (111 µm). Consequently, MN@EV/SC facilitates the revitalization of fibroblasts and enhances collagen synthesis in middle-aged mice. Overall, MN@EV/SC exhibits the potential for skin regeneration by modulating the dermal microenvironment and ensuring patient comfort.

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have achieved remarkable progress, with laboratory-scale single-junction devices now demonstrating power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 20%. However, these efficiencies are highly dependent on the thickness of the photoactive layer, which is typically around 100 nm. This sensitivity poses a challenge for industrial-scale fabrication. Achieving high PCEs in thick-film OPVs is therefore essential. This review systematically examines recent advancements in thick-film OPVs, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms that lead to efficiency loss and strategies to enhance performance. We provide a comprehensive analysis spanning the complete photovoltaic process chain: from initial exciton generation and diffusion dynamics, through dissociation mechanisms, to subsequent charge-carrier transport, balance optimization, and final collection efficiency. Particular emphasis is placed on cutting-edge solutions in molecular engineering and device architecture optimization. By synthesizing these interdisciplinary approaches and investigating the potential contributions in stability, cost, and machine learning aspects, this work establishes comprehensive guidelines for designing high-performance OPVs devices with minimal thickness dependence, ultimately aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory achievements and industrial manufacturing requirements.

A research team from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed FastTrack, a new machine learning-based framework dedicated  to evaluate ion migration barriers in crystalline solids. By combining machine learning force field (MLFFs) with three-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) sampling and interpolation, FastTrack enables accurate prediction of atomic migration barriers within mere minutes. Unlike traditional methods such as density functional theory (DFT) and nudged elastic band (NEB), which can take hours or days per calculation. FastTrack offers a speedup of over 100 times without sacrificing accuracy, closely matching experimental and quantum-mechanical benchmarks. This powerful tool automatically identifies diffusion pathways, visualizes energy landscapes, and provides detailed microscopic insights into ion migration mechanisms, crucial for designing more efficient batteries, fuel cells, and other energy storage and conversion devices.

In September, 2019, Department of Health and Social Care of UK released UK Physical Activity Guidelines nationwide, which is broken down by age group: under 1, 1-4, 5-18, 19-64  and older adults aged >65 years, respectively. To date, the impact of adherence to physical activity guidelines by older adults on cardiorespiratory fitness and skeletal muscle mass, which are both key parameters of intrinsic capacity, is poorly understood. Therefore, the team from Centre of Metabolism, Ageing & Physiology (COMAP) from University of Nottingham recruited 14 older adults (age: 66-80 years) completed a 4-week intervention in which they adhered to UK Physical Activity Guidelines via a combination of supervised and home-based exercise, aiming to assess the impact upon parameters related to intrinsic capacity in older adults.

Proanthocyanidins, also known as condensed tannins, are a class of flavonoid polymers with multiple health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, and eye-protective effects. Now, researchers have discovered that the TaMYB10 gene controls the presence or absence of condensed tannins in wheat grains. Their findings reveal that TaMYB10 directly activates the expression of core flavonoid pathway genes CHS and DFR, initiating condensed tannin synthesis.

Researchers from Kunming University of Science and Technology have discovered that certain soil minerals can trap dissolved organic matter released from biochar, keeping more carbon in the soil and potentially enhancing its long-term storage. Their study, published in Biochar, reveals that low-intensity rainfall helps retain this dissolved carbon within mineral-rich soils, limiting its downward movement and loss.

De-Wei Gao's research group at ShanghaiTech University has developed a new method for efficient and highly selective boron-heteroatom functional group exchange reactions. Their method overcomes the inherent difficulty of primary radical instability in traditional free radical chemistry and can achieve highly selective conversion of primary carbon-boron bonds to a variety of heteroatom functional groups. This strategy has been successfully applied to a sugar-derived 1,n-diboron compound system, achieving modular modification and efficient synthesis of sugar molecules and has shown to have potential application in the rapid construction of bioactive molecules. These results were published as an open access article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

In a groundbreaking study that explores the complex interactions between cyanobacterial blooms and aquatic ecosystems, researchers are examining the effects of cyanobacterial growth and decline on dissolved organic matter and endogenous nutrient release at the sediment–water interface. The study, titled "Effects of Cyanobacterial Growth and Decline on Dissolved Organic Matter and Endogenous Nutrients Release at the Sediment–Water Interface," is led by Prof. Tao Huang from the School of Resources and Environmental Engineering at Anhui University in Hefei, China, and the Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration. This research offers valuable insights into the ecological and environmental impacts of cyanobacterial blooms.

With the rise of renewable energy and electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles have attracted growing interest. Prof. Molly Mengjung Li, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is dedicated to researching ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and has recently developed a highly efficient, low-cost catalyst, helping to advance the practical adoption of hydrogen vehicles.