New research regarding single crystals holds the potential for room-temperature sensors that can detect volatile organic compounds.

The aerospace and manufacturing industries face a persistent physical contradiction: materials that block noise are typically too weak to support heavy loads, and strong structural materials lack the porosity needed to absorb sound.

Publishing in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers have merged acoustic engineering with robotic 3D printing to create a carbon-fiber composite that swallows sound waves while retaining the strength of industrial load-bearing panels.

Confronted with increasingly severe challenges of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic radiation pollution in industrial, military, and aerospace applications, the development of novel materials that combine high shielding efficiency with excellent comprehensive performance has become a research hotspot. Inorganic high-performance fibers (IHPFs), recognized for their lightweight nature, outstanding mechanical properties, and chemical stability, are regarded as ideal candidate materials for designing lightweight, durable, and structurally functional integrated EM shielding systems. However, besides metal fibers, most IHPFs exhibit intrinsic surface chemical inertness and physical smoothness, resulting in poor interfacial compatibility and weak adhesion with functional coatings or resin matrices, which significantly undermine the long-term service reliability of composites under extreme conditions. This paper introduces the EM shielding mechanism, highlights common issues of surface inertness in IHPFs, and elaborates on both “dry” and “wet” surface modification strategies. These strategies enable the formation of robust functional layers, facilitating the integration of high strength, high modulus, and multifunctionality, while ensuring interfacial reliability in composites. Furthermore, the principles and processing techniques of various strategies for fabricating EMI shielding functional layers on IHPFs surfaces are reviewed, and recent advances in the application of functionalized IHPFs, as well as service reliability and environmental stability, are summarized, including EMI shielding protection and radar-absorbing stealth. Finally, the challenges and future research directions for the large-scale and long-term stable application of IHPF-based EMI shielding functionalization in high-end fields are discussed, offering insights that may accelerate the development of next-generation lightweight, sustainable, and multifunctional EMI shielding materials.

On this World Meteorological Day, let's meet Shanghuang Observatory (ABLES) — a state-of-the-art research platform in Southeast China. What makes it special? Why does it matter to us?

ABLES was established in 2023 by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Perched atop Damaojian Peak (1,128 meters) in Shanghuang village, Wuyi county, Zhejiang province, this station aims to become a key hub for global scientific partnership.

ABLES prioritizes research in three key areas:

(a) Cross-sphere transport of pollutants and their climatic and environmental impacts.

(b) Physical and chemical interactions between clouds and aerosols under extreme weather conditions.

(c) Multi-scale feedback mechanisms between climate change and ecosystems.

Watch this video to see how Earth observations support safety, resilience, and sustainable development.

Nations around the globe are grappling with a massive dual challenge: maintaining economic momentum while drastically slashing carbon outputs. Many policymakers have placed their bets on the digital economy as a modern solution for climate change. However, the exact mechanics of how data and connectivity actually clean up our air have remained somewhat murky. Now, a comprehensive evaluation of 259 Chinese cities cuts through the noise, mapping exactly how digital transformation drives environmental progress.