Y₂MgTiO₆(YMT)-based ceramics have become core candidates for high-frequency electronic devices such as millimeter-wave communications due to their high dielectric constant (ε_r), ultra-high quality factor (Q×f) and low dielectric loss. However, most of the existing studies focus on the ion doping effect at a single scale (such as lattice parameters or macroscopic properties), and the structure-activity relationship between atomic bonding, lattice distortion, phonon behavior and dielectric properties has not yet been fully revealed, especially the regulation law of the coupling mechanism of chemical bonding and lattice vibration on doped ions is still theoretically blank. This limits the design and performance control of high-performance microwave dielectric ceramic materials.

Functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major clinical challenge. Current therapies—including nucleos(t)ide analogs, interferon, siRNA, and therapeutic vaccines—often fail to sustain HBsAg clearance or induce durable seroconversion after treatment cessation. However, a breakthrough study led by Professor Zhu’s team at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrates a promising combinatorial strategy. By pairing an HBV-specific siRNA with their proprietary therapeutic vaccine, the researchers achieved striking long-term efficacy in a CHB mouse model. The combined regimen induced 100% sustained HBsAg loss (lasting ~11 months) and an 80% HBs seroconversion rate, with anti-HBs antibodies persisting stably for the same duration. These findings highlight a potent new approach for CHB functional cure, meriting further clinical evaluation.

Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks. However, accurately tracking the carbon dynamics of forests, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions, remains a challenge. A recent study published in Forest Ecosystems offers new insights into the carbon effects of continuous forest change in China’s Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2000 to 2020, using advanced monitoring techniques.

A pioneering study has demonstrated the remarkable potential of visual feedback technology to assist profoundly deaf individuals in developing oral speech. By translating speech sounds into visual patterns, the technology enables users to "see" their vocal efforts and adjust them to match reference models. Early trials with 72 participants have shown significant progress, with many learning up to 18 phonetic sounds within six months. This groundbreaking approach could revolutionize speech rehabilitation, offering a viable alternative to traditional methods like sign language and cochlear implants, particularly for those without early auditory interventions.

High-entropy materials (HEMs) have emerged as a promising frontier in electrochemical energy storage systems due to their unique compositional versatility and tunable physicochemical properties. By incorporating multiple principal elements with distinct chemical functionalities, HEMs exhibit tailored electronic/ionic configurations, enabling unprecedented structural adaptability and application potential. This review systematically analyzes the fundamental principles underpinning the entropy-driven optimization of electrochemical performance in battery materials, with a focus on the interplay between compositional disorder and functional enhancements. For the first time, recent advances in NASICON-type HEMs spanning cathodes, solid-state electrolytes, and anodes were comprehensively reviewed. Through investigations, the profound impact of high-entropy strategies on critical material parameters were elucidate, including lattice strain modulation, interfacial stability reinforcement, charge-transfer kinetics optimization, and ion transport pathway regulation. Furthermore, the current challenges in high-entropy NASICON-type battery design are evaluated, and actionable strategies for advancing next-generation high-entropy battery systems are proposed, with emphasis placed on rational compositional screening, entropy-stabilized interface design, and machine learning-assisted property prediction.

Developing emitter materials with excellent selective emission performance is the key to improving the energy conversion efficiency of Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic Systems. Rare earth tantalate ceramics have excellent temperature resistance and have the potential to be applied in the field of Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic selective emitters. Although there are many reports on rare earth tantalate ceramics in the field of thermal barrier coatings, they have not yet been studied in the field of selective emitters. It is imperative to fill this research gap, as rare earth tantalates have been neglected in the field of thermoluminescence for decades.

A study published in Forest Ecosystems reveals Douglas-fir introduction have limited biodiversity impacts, showing no significant effect in 78.6% of cases, with only 9.4% negative outcomes. While canopy spiders benefit from its dense structure, arthropod diversity is reduced due to the distinct bark structure. Based on the limited studies retrieved by the review, it is reported that Douglas-fir inclusion has non-significant or neutral effects. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding bat populations and long-term soil impacts. The findings position this North American species as a viable climate-resilient option for European forestry, pending further research to establish safe implementation thresholds.

Prototheca wickerhamii (P. wickerhamii), an opportunistic pathogen affecting both humans and animals, is widely distributed in the environment, including soil, mud, and water sources such as rivers. However, human infections caused by this genus are rare. Unfortunately, due to the nonspecific clinical manifestations and limited awareness among clinicians, protothecosis is often underestimated and misdiagnosed. P. wickerhamii has been shown to exhibit low cytotoxicity to macrophages, potentially allowing it to evade immune clearance. Currently, the high-quality genome offers insights into the evolution and pathogenicity of Prototheca, while also serving as a genomic resource for improved diagnosis. In this study, we combined traditional culturing methods with microbiome sequencing techniques to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the microbial diversity in infected skin.