In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the traditional education system, with its rigid curriculum and prescribed learning paths, is increasingly seen as inadequate for preparing students to embrace the complexities of the modern world. Researchers have identified the tension between prescribed curriculum and student autonomy as the core issue of the educational system. This study analyzes how changes to the prescribed curriculum, pedagogy, and assessments can enhance student autonomy and learning.

Guangzhou, China — A pioneering study published in Science Bulletin introduces an innovative data management framework that integrates AI and blockchain technology to address critical challenges in multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs). An international collaboration led by Professor Haotian Lin from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University and Professor Tien Yin Wong from Tsinghua University, alongside researchers from other leading institutions, has developed a framework, which aims to improve data integrity, objectivity, and operational efficiency in clinical trials.

Cement production, responsible for 7.5% of global CO₂ emissions, faces decarbonization challenges. A novel strategy uses methane to co-produce syngas and clinker via a steel waste-derived iron-based catalyst, mimicking cement's inherent components. This approach slashes emissions by about 80% versus conventional methods and eliminates catalyst separation. Future integration with green power promises further reductions, positioning industrial waste as a potential player in sustainable cement manufacturing.

A metasurface-based approach is proposed for single-shot optical imaging that simultaneously captures all the three parameters of optical fields with arbitrary intensity, phase, and polarization distributions.

A pioneering study uncovers crucial immune dynamics in hepatitis B, offering new insights into how immune responses evolve throughout the different clinical phases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Researchers analyzed liver and blood samples from patients in various clinical phases—acute hepatitis B (AHB), immune tolerant (IT), immune active (IA), and inactive chronic infection (ICI)—using single-cell RNA and TCR/BCR sequencing. The findings highlight critical immune cell subsets and potential molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression, providing valuable targets for the development of future immunomodulatory therapies.