Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) pose a global concern as an emerging environmental pollutant. However, their transport properties currently lack complete theoretical interpretation. In a recent review, researchers from China now provide a comprehensive summary of the present pollution status of MNPs in hyporheic zones and groundwater systems, explaining their transport process and proposing future research directions on MNPs.

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the design and synthesis of quantum materials, which are central to discovery science involving synergies with quantum computation. These innovative materials, including magnetic compounds with honeycomb-patterned lattices, have the potential to host states of matter with exotic behavior.

This paper proposes a new power generating system that combines wind power (WP), photovoltaic (PV), trough concentrating solar power (CSP) with a supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO₂) Brayton power cycle, a thermal energy storage (TES), and an electric heater (EH) subsystem. The wind power/photovoltaic/concentrating solar power (WP–PV–CSP) with the S-CO₂ Brayton cycle system is powered by renewable energy. Then, it constructs a bi-level capacity-operation collaborative optimization model and proposes a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) nested linear programming (LP) algorithm to solve this optimization problem, aiming to obtain a set of optimal capacity configurations that balance carbon emissions, economics, and operation scheduling. Afterwards, using Zhangbei area, a place in China which has significant wind and solar energy resources as a practical application case, it utilizes a bi-level optimization model to improve the capacity and annual load scheduling of the system. Finally, it establishes three reference systems to compare the annual operating characteristics of the WP–PV–CSP (S-CO2) system, highlighting the benefits of adopting the S-CO₂ Brayton cycle and equipping the system with EH. After capacity-operation collaborative optimization, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and carbon emissions of the WP–PV–CSP (S-CO₂) system are decreased by 3.43% and 92.13%, respectively, compared to the reference system without optimization.

This paper addresses carrier aircraft landing scheduling considering bolting and aerial refueling. It defines fuel and wake interval constraints, formulates a combinatorial optimization model, and designs an improved firefly algorithm. A dynamic replanning mechanism handles special situations, and simulations validate the model’s effectiveness in enhancing recovery safety and efficiency.

Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have made a significant discovery regarding quantum entanglement. This phenomenon, which has long been viewed as a significant obstacle in classical quantum simulations, actually enhances the speed of quantum simulations and acts as a valuable resource. The groundbreaking findings have been featured as the Cover Story in the prestigious journal Nature Physics in an article titled “Entanglement accelerates quantum simulation”.

A research team from the Department of Surgery and the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has demonstrated that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men aged 45 and above can significantly reduce the incidence of advanced-stage prostate cancer from 39% to approximately 1%, and lower the mortality rate from 6.14% to 2.85%. The study highlights that implementing risk-stratified screening in Hong Kong is highly cost-effective, providing robust evidence to support the formulation of future cancer prevention and control policies in the city. The study findings were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers elucidated molecular crosstalk between lactoferrin and IgGFcγBP, revealing a pivotal role in mucosal protection. 

University of Texas at Dallas researchers, in partnership with Texas-based biotech company EnLiSense, have demonstrated a pioneering wearable perspiration-based sensor that measures two key hormones that regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. The electrochemical sensor continuously monitors cortisol, which promotes wakefulness, and melatonin, which signals the body to sleep.

Metformin makes it easier for women with the hormone disorder PCOS to get pregnant, and the mother often gets better throughout the pregnancy. Her children, however, have a markedly higher risk of eczema and allergies.