Due to the inherent low atomic number of organic materials, their ability to absorb high-energy rays is relatively weak. Coupled with the low utilization rate of excited-state excitons, the radio-luminescence intensity of organic scintillators is generally lower than that of inorganic scintillators. Recently, the research team led by Professor Shuang-Quan Zang from Zhengzhou university innovatively utilized charge-separated (CS) state traps to capture high-energy carriers, significantly enhancing the radio-luminescence intensity of organic scintillators. The related paper was published in National Science Review.

In vertebrate retinas, specialized photoreceptors responsible for color vision (cone cells) arrange themselves in patterns known as the “cone mosaic”. Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have discovered that a protein called Dscamb acts as a "self-avoidance enforcer" for color-detecting cells in the retinas of zebrafish, ensuring they maintain perfect spacing for optimal vision. Their findings have been published in Nature Communications. 

The South Atlantic Anomaly represents a region within near-Earth space characterized by a significantly weaker geomagnetic field and a higher flux of energetic particles compared to other areas. It is a space weather hazards to Low-Earth-Orbit satellites. There has been evidence that the Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves from the powerful ground VLF radio transmitter in Australia, known as NWC, have the capacity to scatter energetic electrons’ pitch angle in the inner radiation belt. In a paper published in Science China: Earth Sciences, scientists report the initial observation of a 'wisp' precipitation resulted from NWC, an unusual occurrence with peak intensity detected inside the SAA. With the full pitch angle distribution observed via the Macao Science Satellite – 1 at Low-Earth-Orbit, scientists attribute the 'wisp' within the anomaly to a specific pitch angle range just outside the drift loss cone.

Early animal studies show that a single vaccine could protect the recipient from different variants of the coronaviruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and the common cold. In addition to creating antibodies that target a specific region of the spike protein that doesn’t mutate, the vaccine removes the sugar coat from the virus that allows it to hide in the body. The researcher will present his results at the ACS Spring 2025 Digital Meeting.

Deep below the Earth’s surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and green. Scientists are using these fluorescent features to understand how the caves formed and the conditions for supporting life in extreme, and even extraterrestrial, environments. The researchers will present their results at ACS Spring 2025.

The condition of the grass on a golf course can drastically skew the chances of a winning putt regardless of a player’s skill. Now, a coating that soaks up water molecules could slow the roll of a golf ball on a lightning-fast, dry course and speed it up on a sluggish, wet course without interfering with the ball when it’s airborne. The researcher will present his results at ACS Spring 2025.