Focusing on the engineering challenge of achieving stable, high-strength welding between rough metals surfaces and transparent materials, this work provides an in-depth elucidation of the femtosecond laser welding mechanism for dissimilar materials under non-optical-contact conditions. Through high-speed in situ imaging techniques, it reveals the dynamic coupling between linear absorption in the metal and nonlinear absorption in sapphire during ultrafast laser irradiation. The study further identifies an active interfacial gap filling effect of molten metal, which proactively regulates the free space region at the interface. It clarifies that the welding strength is primarily limited by cracks induced by thermal stress in sapphire, and demonstrates welding performance exceeding 10 MPa between rough Invar alloy and sapphire. These findings offer theoretical guidance and technical support for high-strength, highly stable welding of dissimilar materials.

Electrochromic smart windows (ESWs) can significantly reduce building energy consumption, but the high cost hinders large-scale production. The in situ growth of tungsten oxide (WO₃) films is only by a simple immersion process, the silver nanowires (AgNWs) undergo oxidation to Ag⁺ ions through electron loss, and the liberated electrons provide driving force for the deposition of WO₄²⁻. Enabled the fabrication of large-area WO₃ films and ESWs were fabricated under minimal laboratory conditions, demonstrating the economic feasibility, efficient and reliable nature of industrial production. Structural characterization and density functional theory calculations were combined to confirm that AgNWs effectively regulate oxygen vacancies of WO₃ films and promote the in situ growth process. The optimized WO₃ exhibits a maximum transmittance modulation of 90.8% and excellent cycling stability of 20,000 cycles. The large-scale WO₃-based ESWs can save building energy up to 140.0 MJ m⁻² compared to traditional windows in tropical regions, as verified by simulations more than 40 global cities. This research provides a new approach for improving the performance and industrial production of ESW, providing the full understanding and development direction to short the distance of the ESW commercial production.

Scientists in China have developed a neural illumination framework that advances photorealistic illumination handling for light field displays. By using only one single view, the method estimates environmental lighting and supports relighting under varying illumination conditions. This breakthrough addresses a well-recognized challenge of static, "baked-in" lighting in virtual content, enabling generated assets to achieve photometric coherence with the real world. The technique provides a practical pathway toward immersive interaction and photorealistic holographic displays.

In a new breakthrough, researchers from Hokkaido University have developed a superacid-resistant BODIPY dye. 

A new study reveals that biochar, a carbon-rich material increasingly promoted for sustainable agriculture, can significantly reduce methane emissions from rice paddies. However, its climate benefits depend strongly on how much nitrogen fertilizer is applied.

Researchers have demonstrated a compact optical wireless transmitter that delivers very high data rates while consuming significantly less energy than conventional WiFi systems. The chip-scale platform integrates a 5 × 5 array of tiny semiconductor lasers with custom beam-shaping optics, enabling parallel data transmission and controlled light distribution for multiuser indoor environments. In experiments, the system achieved an aggregate data rate of more than 360 gigabits per second over a two-meter free-space link, with energy consumption per bit roughly half that of state-of-the-art WiFi. The results highlight the potential of optical wireless communication as an energy-efficient complement to radio-based networks for future high-capacity indoor connectivity.

In an ongoing effort to bring quantum science out of the tightly controlled lab environment and into the field, researchers from UC Santa Barbara and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have, for the first time, demonstrated a chip-scale, stabilized, visible light laser that drives a trapped ion atomic optical clock and quantum qubit, paving the way toward compact, portable and scalable trapped-ion quantum information systems. 

Algae blooms make a pond’s surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. So, a team reporting in ACS ES&T Water has designed a “set it and forget it” system for distributing algaecide using specialized buoys tethered at the site of a bloom. In tests, the buoys removed nearly all cyanobacteria without the need for frequent reapplication.