A Zhejiang University-led team used ribosome profiling, RNA sequencing, and 16S rRNA sequencing to study immune translation in healthy and weaning piglets. Weaning triggered widespread translational reprogramming of immune genes and a shift toward GC-ending codons. Gut microbiota from weaned piglets also showed GC-enriched codon profiles and was linked to host immune gene translation. The findings suggest a previously unrecognized association between microbiota composition and codon-usage-linked translational control during early-life stress.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking electrocatalytic system that purifies contaminated water by generating its own oxygen supply internally. By spatially decoupling oxygen capture and electron donation sites on the catalyst, the design overcomes critical bottlenecks in conventional water treatment. This "self-aeration" system achieves near-100% selectivity in producing highly reactive singlet oxygen to destroy pollutants. The innovation eliminates the need for energy-intensive external aeration, cutting electricity costs by 95% and offering a robust, eco-friendly solution for tackling global water pollution.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients disproportionately suffer from depression and anxiety, which exacerbate clinical outcomes yet remain inadequately addressed by current anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics. To bridge this therapeutic gap, we engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (eEcN) as a clinically translatable living microbial therapeutics platform for dual-targeted intervention. eEcN is designed to autonomously secrete immunomodulatory outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) bearing TNFα-neutralizing nanobodies (TNFαnb). These bioengineered nanovesicles specifically target inflamed colon tissue, enabling localized TNFα blockade, mucosal healing, and immune regulation. Concurrently, the eEcN remodels the gut microbiota, increasing symbiotic Lactobacillus abundance to elevate intestinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, addressing a core neurotransmitter deficit in IBD-associated depression. In murine colitis models, this integrated strategy surpassed conventional anti-TNF therapy, simultaneously ameliorating intestinal pathology and depression-like behaviors. Mechanistically, eEcN attenuated neuroinflammation and restored hippocampal GABAergic neurotransmission via the gut-brain axis. This engineered living biomaterial platform, synergizing targeted OMVs-mediated nanobody delivery with microbiota-driven neurometabolite production, represents a promising approach for the complex pathophysiology of IBD and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities.

Researchers have developed a germanium photodetector (Ge PD) that combines 110 GHz bandwidth, 95.3% quantum efficiency, 1.01 A/W responsivity and sub-10 nA dark current on a 300-mm CMOS silicon photonics platform. The device produced open eye diagrams at 320 Gbit/s with PAM-4 and 413 Gbit/s with PAM-6, supporting its potential for future 400-Gbps-per-wavelength optical interconnects.

Researchers developed a revised water footprint that distinguishes total water consumption from water appropriated through human land-use change. Applied to agriculture and forestry in south-central Chile, it produced an estimate 2.7 times lower than the conventional method. Irrigation dominated agricultural water appropriation, while forest plantations were the main source of rainwater appropriation. Nearly 45% of the region’s appropriated water was linked to exported products. The approach could support more targeted water management, land-use planning and evaluation of trade-related water pressures.

A review of more than 70 years of soil conservation in China documents a shift from individual measures such as terracing and afforestation to integrated watershed management, ecological restoration and digital monitoring. Between 1985 and 2023, China’s soil erosion area fell by about 28%, while annual erosion volume declined by roughly 47%. The review finds that meaningful improvements often require 10–20 years of sustained effort. China’s experience highlights the importance of coordinated policy, stable funding, technological innovation, public participation and locally adapted strategies for long-term soil recovery.

A new study introduces the concept of war brownfields to describe landscapes shaped by the long-term environmental and spatial legacies of warfare. The study identifies five main types: military fortifications, craters, ammunition contamination land, radioactive contamination land, and military storage and toxic contamination land. The study also proposes a decision-making framework that considers safety, environmental consequences, heritage, emotional impact, and regeneration potential when planning their future.