Transfer hydrogenation (TH) emerges as a frontier in hydrogenation science for utilizing safe and available non-H₂ hydrogen sources. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), with maximal atom utilization, well-defined active sites, and tunable structures, are attractive heterogeneous catalysts for TH due to the superior performance, clear structure-performance relationship, and low cost. This review categorizes TH by hydrogen sources, exploring the correlation between SACs’ structural characters and catalytic behaviors as well as corresponding synthetic strategies toward the featured structures of SACs. It also discusses challenges/opportunities remained in the field of TH promoted by SACs, guiding the design of high-performance SACs for the environmental-friendly and cost-effective hydrogenation technology.

Regarded as a superposition of the Kagome and the honeycomb lattice, the Kagome-honeycomb lattice potentially inherits the exotic electronic band structures of both sublattices, such as topologically nontrivial flat bands and linearly dispersing bands. Due to these unique band structures, the Kagome-honeycomb lattice may serve as a versatile platform for exploring various exotic physical phenomena, including the quantum anomalous Hall effect, tunable superconductivity, and (anti-)ferromagnetism. However, current research on Kagome-honeycomb lattices remains limited, only a few studies have constructed such lattices through hydrogen bonding or π-π interactions. Achieving large-area and well-ordered Kagome-honeycomb lattices remains a significant challenge.

A research team has outlined how synthetic biology can accelerate discoveries in plant–microbe interactions, offering strategies to enhance disease resistance, engineer synthetic symbioses, and manipulate root microbiomes.

A research team has reviewed how machine learning (ML) is revolutionizing fermentation design and process optimization by providing powerful simulation and prediction tools.

A research team has proposed a new approach to improve photosynthesis by replacing the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxidase (RuBisCO) with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC).

A research team from the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed) has successfully developed a novel elastic calcium phosphate material that mimics the structure of human bone. The material, dubbed ‘nano bone cement’, offers a promising alternative to traditional bone grafts in orthopaedic surgeries, which typically rely on harvesting tissue from the patient or a donor. Research and experimental results show that this innovative bone material provides robust mechanical support and accelerates healing in bone-defect cases.

Professor Edmund Lam, Dr Ni Chen and their research team from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have developed a novel uncertainty-aware Fourier ptychography (UA-FP) technology that significantly enhancing imaging system stability in complex real-world environments. The breakthrough has been published in Light: Science & Applications, an international journal under Nature Publishing Group.