A large-scale metagenomic study of 2,561 gut samples from 14 mammal species on the Tibetan Plateau reconstructed 112,313 metagenome-assembled genomes representing 21,902 microbial species (86% unclassified) and identified 8,598 nonredundant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spanning 28 types. The authors report 334 high-risk ARGs and seven cross-species horizontal gene transfer events involving high-risk ARGs, including three transfers between humans and nonhuman mammals. Additionally, the abundance of ARGs in human gut microbiomes on the Tibetan Plateau was greater than that in those from eastern China, Europe, and the United States, whereas the abundance of ARGs in livestock gut microbiomes from the Tibetan Plateau was lower than that in livestock gut microbiomes from those regions. This study reveals that the gut microbiota of Tibetan Plateau mammals is a largely unexplored resource and a significant reservoir of ARGs, offering crucial insights into microbiome research and demonstrating potential public health implications.

A collaborative team from Peking University and Tsinghua University has advanced quantum annealing for solving the maximum independent set problem. Building on their previously proposed non-Abelian annealing algorithm, the researchers proved its equivalence to the heuristic adiabatic approach experimentally realized on Rydberg atom platforms, while demonstrating clear performance advantages. Numerical simulations showed that the non-Abelian paths boost success probabilities by over 50% compared with conventional methods, and remain more robust against qubit-flip errors. Analytical results further revealed that this advantage stems from the unique structure of the non-Abelian adiabatic path, which provides a tighter bound in the adiabatic condition. The work, published in National Science Review (2025), establishes a powerful framework for quantum Hamiltonian algorithms and highlights the importance of global path design for achieving genuine quantum advantage.

Recently, a research team in the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed that one-time nitrogen (N) application, a labor-saving practice favored by many farmers, increases both soil and canopy ammonia (NH₃) emissions in maize fields, while reducing grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency.

A team led by Prof. LIU Fanglin from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel method based on generative models for ecological soundscape analysis.

Recently, the research groups led by Prof. ZHANG Qingli and Prof. JIANG Haihe from Hefei institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have jointly developed a high-symmetry gradient-doped Nd:YAG laser crystal designed for dual-end pumping configurations. This innovation significantly mitigates thermal effects and enhances laser performance.

A team led by Prof. YIN Huajie from the Hefei Institute of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a solar-powered system that produces green hydrogen directly from atmospheric moisture without relying on external water or energy sources. 

A research team from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (AIOFM), the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with the Hefei Cancer Hospital of CAS, has developed a new method to accurately measure hemoglobin levels in blood using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). 

A research team led by Prof. CHU Yannan at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered a new way to detect cancer early—by analyzing the invisible chemical "scents" that the body gives off. 

Researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the Shenzhen International Graduate School of Tsinghua University and Suzhou University of Technology, have successfully developed a natural electron donor–assisted healing and targeted surface reconstruction strategy that enables the direct regeneration of degraded lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) cathode materials from retired power batteries. 

In a paper published on aBIOTECH, the authors used a symplastic tracing approach and ultrastructural observations to elucidate the role of uninfected cells (UCs) in nutrient storage and transport within root nodules. The authors discovered an extensive network of plasmodesmata connecting infected cells (ICs) and UCs that dynamically regulates nutrient allocation. These finding provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and underscore the crucial role of UCs in optimizing nitrogen fixation efficiency.