Researchers from Chongqing Medical University discovered that excessive fibrin deposition drives chronic gum inflammation in diabetes by disrupting immune-epithelial crosstalk. By utilizing an engineered peptide (377P) to block fibrin-macrophage interactions, the team successfully suppressed inflammation, restored the mucosal barrier, and promoted alveolar bone healing in diabetic mice. This study identifies fibrin as a druggable target for diabetic periodontitis and potentially other systemic diabetic complications.

Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a lower-cost and more resource-abundant alternative to lithium-ion systems, but their practical performance is often weakened before they truly begin working. A major obstacle is the loss of active sodium ions during the first charge-discharge cycle, especially when hard carbon anodes are used. A new study reports a residue-free electrolyte additive, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO₂CF₃), designed to release sodium ions at the right stage of battery formation while avoiding harmful solid leftovers. By combining molecular design, electrochemical testing, and pouch-cell validation, the work offers a practical route to improving initial efficiency, cycle life, and manufacturability in sodium-ion batteries.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are widely viewed as a safer and more powerful alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, but their promise is often limited by unstable interfaces inside the cell. A new study shows that carefully introducing oxygen into a sulfide-based solid electrolyte (SE) can stabilize this vulnerable interface while keeping lithium ions moving rapidly. Using lithium sulfate (Li₂SO₄) as an oxygen source, the researchers reshaped the internal lithium pathways of an argyrodite electrolyte and activated cage-to-cage ion conduction. The result is a solid electrolyte that supports high capacity, fast charging and discharging, and long cycling stability, offering a practical strategy for next-generation batteries.

Clean hydrogen production depends on catalysts that can split water efficiently while using precious metals more wisely. A new catalyst design addresses one of the long-standing barriers in alkaline water electrolysis: the slow breakdown of water molecules on platinum (Pt) surfaces. By placing Pt clusters on a symbiotic oxide support made from titanium dioxide quantum dots and cobalt oxide (TiO₂ QDs/Co₃O₄), the study reshapes the electronic state of Pt and creates paired active sites. These sites separately accelerate water dissociation and hydrogen adsorption, enabling faster hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, stronger stability, and a clearer path toward more efficient alkaline electrolyzers.

Researchers have developed a super-hydrated supramolecular hydrogel that combines high mechanical strength with persistent low friction. Inspired by natural articular cartilage, the material leverages zwitterionic units to form a stable hydration layer and microphase-separated structure, achieving a friction coefficient as low as 0.057 and maintaining lubrication over 100,000 sliding cycles.

Natural biomass hydrogels are emerging as promising building blocks for intelligent sensors because they combine softness, water-rich structures, tunable networks, and abundant functional groups. A new review brings together recent progress in turning materials such as cellulose, chitosan, sodium alginate, gelatin, starch, hemicellulose, proteins, and lignin into responsive sensing platforms. By focusing on the correlation between crosslinking networks and sensor behavior, the review connects material design with practical performance, including sensitivity, response speed, durability, and environmental stability. The work offers a clearer roadmap for developing sustainable sensors for wearable electronics, healthcare monitoring, environmental sensing, and smart human–machine interfaces.

Researchers from Zhejiang Normal University and collaborating institutions in China have revealed how crown architecture mediate neighborhood interactions and growth strategies across a shade tolerance gradient. By analyzing nearly 3,600 trees in a subtropical forest, they show that light-demanding species compete mainly through crown trait dissimilarity among neighbors, while shade-tolerant species are more influenced by neighbor density, offering new insights for forest dynamics models.