An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team assessed how varying IVM durations affect developmental competence and embryo quality in oocytes with fast- or slow-predicted NMS classified via machine learning.

The development of flexible zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) faces a three-way trade-off among the ionic conductivity, Zn²⁺ mobility, and the electrochemical stability of hydrogel electrolytes. To address this challenge, we designed a cationic hydrogel named PAPTMA to holistically improve the reversibility of ZIBs. The long cationic branch chains in the polymeric matrix construct express pathways for rapid Zn²⁺ transport through an ionic repulsion mechanism, achieving simultaneously high Zn²⁺ transference number (0.79) and high ionic conductivity (28.7 mS cm⁻¹). Additionally, the reactivity of water in the PAPTMA hydrogels is significantly inhibited, thus possessing a strong resistance to parasitic reactions. Mechanical characterization further reveals the superior tensile and adhesion strength of PAPTMA. Leveraging these properties, symmetric batteries employing PAPTMA hydrogel deliver exceeding 6000 h of reversible cycling at 1 mA cm⁻² and maintain stable operation for 1000 h with a discharge of depth of 71%. When applied in 4 × 4 cm² pouch cells with MnO₂ as the cathode material, the device demonstrates remarkable operational stability and mechanical robustness through 150 cycles. This work presents an eclectic strategy for designing advanced hydrogels that combine high ionic conductivity, enhanced Zn²⁺ mobility, and strong resistance to parasitic reactions, paving the way for long-lasting flexible ZIBs.

The gravitational wave is a prediction of the general theory of relativity that can be detected by measuring the relative distance between two test masses (TM) along the geodesics. The TM is fixed by the cage and vent mechanism to avoid collision with the spacecraft cavity during launch. Once the drag-free spacecraft reaches its target orbit, the TM must be released by the grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM) to the cage center of the inertial sensor in a limited amount of time. The capture of the TM by means of the electrostatic suspensions is crucial for the mission. However, the GPRM inevitably generates large release errors and the low electrostatic force makes the TM capture control a difficult task. Moreover, the experimental results of the LISA Pathfinder mission have shown that the TM release velocities were well higher than the ones expected. The previous robust sliding mode controller needs to be optimized.

Termites play a key ecological role in many tropical and subtropical ecosystems. By building and maintaining their nests and mounds, they substantially affect bioturbation levels, soil properties, and nutrient distribution.

Free-space optical communications (FSOC), which use lasers for high-speed data links between aircraft, spacecraft, and ground stations, are limited by size and power constraints. To overcome this, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, proposed and experimentally validated a fiber-bundle-based architecture that could enable compact, multi-directional FSOC.

Researchers in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, have discovered that instead of manipulating every component or modifying interactions in a many-body system, occasionally resetting just a small fraction can reshape how the entire system behaves macroscopically, including how it transitions from one phase to another. This counterintuitive approach, called subsystem resetting, offers a powerful, universal control strategy to tune collective behavior in complex systems ranging from magnets to neural networks.