In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences, a team of researchers analyzed tidal data at 362,370 oceanic locations spotted by the Jason-3 satellite, revealing that the distribution of high and low tides directly contradicts the physical existence of two water bulges—a model that has been widely taught in textbooks. This discovery provides evidence for the recently proposed oceanic basin oscillation-driving mechanism of tides.

Solitons are prototypical localized states in nonlinear physics. Their formation usually relies on a balance between wave-packet spreading and nonlinear self-focusing. In conventional Hermitian lattices, the threshold for soliton formation is often governed by dimensionality and boundary geometry. For instance, in two dimensions, corners are more favorable for soliton formation than edges, and edges are more favorable than the bulk. In non-Hermitian systems with the non-Hermitian skin effect, however, linear eigenmodes can become anomalously concentrated near boundaries or other selected regions, reshaping this familiar picture. Then, the open question is: How does skin-mode localization affect soliton formation? What role does band nonreciprocity play? Moreover, do these two non-Hermitian mechanisms act in the same way or in opposite ways? 

A research team has discovered a superconducting dome with a record maximum T_c of approximately 17.8 K in the rhombohedral-I phase of ReO₃ under high pressures of 12 to 39 GPa. This study reveals how a densified oxygen lattice and strong metal-oxygen covalent hybridization synergistically drive the electron-phonon coupling, offering a new pathway for discovering light-element-dominated superconductors in metal oxides.

New observations made using the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that IRS 3, a star located at the centre of the Milky Way, is losing vast quantities of mass. As a result, its surrounding envelope is continuously expanding / Publication in “Astronomy & Astrophysics”

Researchers at the University of Basel and the Technical University of Munich have developed a new method to reveal the collective motion of electrons in one of the most elusive states of matter: the Wigner crystal. Using light, the physicists were able to uncover previously inaccessible properties of this fragile quantum state.

New research introduces a contactless way to see how mirror-image materials respond differently to circularly polarized light, without first building them into a complete electronic device. The researchers developed a novel method based on light-induced charge separation  that allows to directly probe how the material’s structure acts like a microscopic filter, influencing how electrons separate and move. The advance is important because it gives scientists a faster, cleaner way to test promising materials without metal contacts and other parts of a finished device affecting the results. The approach could ultimately help researchers develop new mirror-image materials for technologies that use circularly polarized light, electrical charge, and electron spin.

Using a dual-modification strategy of in-situ silica and mercaptosilane alongside a covalent co-vulcanization network, the study constructs ultra-durable carbon nanotube strain sensors. This design effectively suppresses filler secondary agglomeration. Benefiting from this robust chemical bonding, the sensor maintains exceptional signal stability without significant drift after 15,000 stretch cycles, achieving industry-leading durability under extreme acidic, alkaline, and saline environments.

A renewable polymer with agricultural potential

Modern agriculture faces a difficult balance: raising productivity while reducing dependence on petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics. In a review published in Carbon Research, authors led by Hongliang Wang of China Agricultural University examine how lignin, the most abundant natural aromatic polymer, could serve as a versatile platform for eco-friendly agricultural inputs. The article positions lignin valorization within a broader push toward low-carbon, circular agriculture.

The review explains that lignin’s appeal comes from a combination of structural and functional traits. Its phenolic and aliphatic hydroxyl groups, aromatic backbone, antioxidant activity, UV-shielding capacity, antimicrobial behavior, and tunable degradability make it suitable for multiple agricultural uses. Rather than treating lignin as a low-value industrial by-product, the authors describe it as a candidate feedstock for materials that can improve nutrient efficiency, crop protection, and soil performance while reducing pollution.

Medical devices for point-of-care diagnosis need to be small and fast. Researchers from TMOS have designed and built a first-of-its-kind optical surface for developing ultracompact devices that can image transparent samples, such as cells. Their new device reduces the need for large supporting components by embedding multiple functions in a single surface and selecting them externally using the wavelength and polarisation of light illuminating a sample. This new approach presents a novel design philosophy in nanophotonics.