Researchers from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology, led by Professor Jiao's team, report a photoelectrochemical photodetector that integrates α-Ga₂O₃ nanorod arrays with CdS quantum dots. By exploiting the pyro-phototronic effect, the device operates at zero-bias, and exhibits a broadband spectral response from 220 to 700 nm with responsivities of 0.99 mA W⁻¹ at 254 nm and 1.48 mA W⁻¹ at 450 nm. The rise and fall times are 30 ms and 24 ms, respectively. Furthermore, the detector executes “AND”, “OR”, and “NOT” logic functions and successfully transmits the optical message “HIT”. These results provide a route toward broadband, fast-response, and low-power optoelectronic modules for optical communication and sensing.

A team of researchers has developed chiral plasmonic nanocatalysts that significantly enhance the efficiency and selectivity of converting CO₂ into methane using circularly polarized light. The catalysts, featuring helical gold-silver nanorods coated with mesoporous silica, achieve 95.8% electron selectivity for methane production—a 3.1-fold improvement over conventional catalysts—while suppressing competing hydrogen evolution. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of polarization-controlled photocatalysis for sustainable fuel synthesis and CO₂ valorization.

A new study reveals a GaTe/PdSe₂ van der Waals heterostructure with unique type-II band alignment and reverse rectification. This device achieves remarkably low dark current, high reverse rectification ratio, and exceptional responsivity across an ultra-broad spectrum from ultraviolet to near-infrared (365–940 nm). It also demonstrates high polarization sensitivity, making it a versatile platform for next-generation advanced photodetection and optical communication applications.

A first-in-human trial from Institute of Science Tokyo and EVA Therapeutics, Inc., demonstrates that enteral ventilation, a technique that could deliver oxygen through the intestine, is safe and feasible in healthy subjects. The method involves intrarectal administration of an oxygen-carrying fluid into the gut, where oxygen may diffuse into the bloodstream. These findings provide important evidence for further testing of enteral ventilation as a potential alternative oxygenation method for patients with respiratory failure.

The development of renewable energy is a key path for the global energy structure to transform towards low-carbonization and an important technical direction for addressing climate change. However, battery technology, as the core energy storage carrier, is confronted with multiple challenges such as resource constraints, energy density limitations, and high costs. In this context, rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have emerged as a highly promising next-generation electrochemical energy storage system due to their advantages such as abundant raw materials, low cost and high safety. In a recent review published, Chinese researchers systematically reviewed the related studies of RABs, pointing out that by leveraging the multi-ion cooperative strategy and multi-electron redox reaction mechanism, the long-term bottlenecks of aluminum batteries in reaction kinetics and capacity retention can be effectively broken through, providing a clear technical path for their large-scale practical application.

Space missions are complex, multidisciplinary tasks that involve high risk and high cost. Systems engineering (SE) technology is an emerging discipline used to manage project complexity and ensure mission success . As technology advances and systems become more complex and volatile, SE needs to accommodate the constant reassessment, upgrading, and development of systems . Traditional SE relies on a large number of decentralized documents that cannot keep up with the changes in the system. Therefore, SE is transforming toward digitalization and has led to model-based systems engineering (MBSE), which provides a way to address SE challenges and is emerging as a paradigm and principle of SE. According to the International Council on Systems Engineering, MBSE is “the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phase”.Space missions are complex, multidisciplinary tasks that involve high risk and high cost. Systems engineering (SE) technology is an emerging discipline used to manage project complexity and ensure mission success . As technology advances and systems become more complex and volatile, SE needs to accommodate the constant reassessment, upgrading, and development of systems . Traditional SE relies on a large number of decentralized documents that cannot keep up with the changes in the system. Therefore, SE is transforming toward digitalization and has led to model-based systems engineering (MBSE), which provides a way to address SE challenges and is emerging as a paradigm and principle of SE. According to the International Council on Systems Engineering, MBSE is “the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phase”.

A single carbon atom is revolutionizing pesticide design. Scientists reveal how adding a tiny methyl group to existing insecticides can dramatically boost their killing power against crop-destroying pests—offering a clever, cost-effective solution to combat rising resistance and protect global food supplies.