Researchers have uncovered the initial adaptive mechanisms of Bacillus velezensis C5 when exposed to polyethylene microplastics. Using comparative transcriptomics, the study revealed a robust, polymer‑specific transcriptional program distinct from general starvation or surface‑contact responses. Exposure to polyethylene triggered massive upregulation of genes involved in biofilm formation and sporulation, while genes associated with canonical degradation were not induced. The bacterium remained viable without growth, formed dense biofilms, and increased surface hydrophilicity but caused only subtle physicochemical changes to the plastic. This survival‑first strategy represents a critical initial phase that must be overcome to enable efficient biodegradation.

Researchers have developed a multi‑objective optimization framework (MO‑DIDC) that handles infeasible solutions in complex distillation process optimization through data‑driven identification and adaptive directed correction. By identifying promising infeasible solutions near Pareto‑optimal designs and correcting their most influential variables, the framework reduces unnecessary exploration of infeasible regions. Demonstrated on a side‑stream double‑column extractive distillation system and a four‑column extractive distillation system, MO‑DIDC achieves optimization time reductions of 35.3 % and 20.8 %, respectively, compared to a widely used genetic algorithm, while delivering superior or comparable process designs.

The generation of high-intensity, ultrashort, coherent terahertz pulses in the 5-15 THz frequency range presents a formidable challenge in ultrafast science. Recently, researchers have introduced a novel scheme for generating intense, broadband THz pulses over a gapless wide spectral range based on collinear phase matched Raman-resonance-enhanced four-wave mixing (R-FWM) in strained diamond, providing a scalable route toward high-field THz sources for driving and interrogating complex dynamics in matter.

To address the long-standing trade-off between high uniformity and system complexity in conventional lithographic illumination, a team led by Academician Shaohua Yu at Peng Cheng Laboratory and Prof. Zizheng Cao at Zhejiang University proposes a fundamentally new solution: a lensless monitoring and uniform lithographic illumination system based on asymmetric diffusion metasurfaces.

Hybrid nanomaterials (HNMs) have become more interesting to researchers for various optoelectronic and biological applications. In response, this investigation focuses on the impact of loading ratios of (0, 1 %, 3 %, and 5 %) of HNMs from graphene oxide (GO) and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄). HNMs are utilized to reinforce blended polymers, including polyethylene oxide (PEO), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and nano-polyaniline (PANI) to fabricate (PEO_100K–CMC–PANI/GO–Si₃N₄) using the developed sol–gel-ultrasonic procedure. X-ray diffraction revealed semi-crystalline behavior among all samples, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed strong physical interfacial interactions among the sample components. Meanwhile, field emission scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies showed a fine dispersion and a homogeneous matrix with significant changes. The optical absorption behavior revealed continuous high absorption peaks at 200–280-nm wavelengths, which strongly impacts (GO–Si₃N₄). Increases in concentration also strongly impact (GO–Si₃N₄), which results in an improved optical energy gap for the allowed and forbidden transitions from 3.5 eV for the blended polymer to 3 and 2.9 eV by increasing the HNM content. The contributions of HNMs notably enhance the ability to reduce the zones of the bacteria, especially Escherichia coli, from 18 to 26 mm. In effect, HNMs with a concentration higher than 5 % assist in inhibiting the growth of lung cancer (A549) cells. As such, these NCs present good optical behavior for multi-applications, such as biosensors and biological and optoelectronic devices.

Researchers have developed a controllable hydrothermal synthesis strategy for spherical cerium oxide (CeO₂) abrasives with tunable particle sizes from 32 to 531 nm while maintaining excellent sphericity and dispersity. Mechanistic studies reveal that CeO₂ formation occurs via nitrateinduced oxidation of Ce³⁺, with subsequent precipitation coupled to acetate decomposition thermodynamically driving the reaction forward. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tests show that 343 nm CeO₂ achieves the highest material removal rate (73.7 nm·min⁻¹) with low surface roughness (Ra = 0.31 nm). The hydrothermally synthesized CeO₂ outperforms commercial abrasives in both short and longterm polishing owing to its uniform morphology.

The development of a highly responsive and selective gas sensor for volatile organic compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide and acetone, is still required. In a recent study carried out by Chen et al., FeWO₄ hollow spheres modified with Pd nanoparticles were synthesized using ammonium phosphotungstate hydrate dodecahedra as sacrificial templates followed by liquid-phase reduction.

 Researchers have uncovered the initial adaptive mechanisms of Bacillus velezensis C5 when exposed to polyethylene microplastics. Using comparative transcriptomics, the study revealed a robust, polymer‑specific transcriptional program distinct from general starvation or surface‑contact responses. Exposure to polyethylene triggered massive upregulation of genes involved in biofilm formation and sporulation, while genes associated with canonical degradation were not induced. The bacterium remained viable without growth, formed dense biofilms, and increased surface hydrophilicity but caused only subtle physicochemical changes to the plastic. This survival‑first strategy represents a critical initial phase that must be overcome to enable efficient biodegradation.

An research article published in Nano Research provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in ADCs, particularly distinguishing different structural subclasses and linking structural types with asymmetric catalytic mechanisms. It discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the high-throughput screening, performance prediction, and elucidation of catalytic mechanisms of ADCs. The review also highlights the intrinsic logical advancements in characterization techniques and the applications of ADCs in key electrocatalytic reactions, such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR).