For the first time, scientists have observed a three-dimensional woven structure forming naturally inside a crystal, revealing a previously unknown way in which matter can organize itself.

Narrow jets of luminous matter may be emitted towards Earth from the nuclei of active galaxies, billions of light-years away. The galaxy then appears as a point source and is called a blazar. A Polish-German team of scientists has, for the first time, analysed the activity of one such blazar over a long period of time and instead of finding answers, they have been faced with an ever-increasing number of intriguing questions.

Researchers have elucidated the bactericidal mechanisms of microwave ultrahigh temperature treatment against Geobacillus stearothermophilus, a thermophilic bacterium used as an indicator for sterilization validation. A nonlinear relationship between power density and inactivation efficacy was observed: optimal reductions of approximately 5 log CFU·mL⁻¹ were achieved at 150 W·mL⁻¹ for 40 s and 300 W·mL⁻¹ for 20 s, while intermediate powers yielded inferior outcomes despite identical terminal temperature (136±1 °C). Mechanistic analyses revealed that microwave treatment induced significant membrane damage, suppressed metabolic activity, and dramatically elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels, with oxidative stressmediated lipid peroxidation identified as a primary inactivation mechanism.

 Researchers have established a cross‑scale framework combining in situ visualization and multiphase flow simulations to elucidate droplet transport on fibrous membranes with asymmetric wettability. The study reveals that fiber diameter and curvature govern droplet nucleation, adhesion, and migration at the single‑fiber scale; inter‑fiber spacing and pore size determine liquid‑bridge formation and transport pathways at the network scale; and wettability gradients coupled with layer stacking drive the transition from surface spreading to through‑thickness penetration at the multilayer scale. A coarse‑to‑fine Janus membrane achieved rapid penetration, a high water vapor transmission rate, and excellent fog‑harvesting performance.

Researchers have systematically investigated how support properties govern the in‑situ carburization of MoO₃ to active Mo₂C for the reverse water‑gas shift reaction. Among six oxide supports, Mo/SiO₂ exhibited the weakest metal oxide‑support interaction, the highest surface Mo₂C concentration, and the best mass‑specific activity. The ionic potential of the support serves as a quantitative descriptor for metal oxide‑support interaction strength: acidic supports preserve MoO₃ crystallites that readily carburize, while basic supports form stable solid solutions that suppress Mo₂C formation. This work provides clear support selection criteria for rational design of high‑performance Mo‑based RWGS catalysts.