A research team introduces Plant-MAE, a self-supervised learning framework designed to automate 3D segmentation of plant organs from point cloud data.

Bioelectrical signals (including EEG, EMG, and ECG signals) have been widely applied in health monitoring, disease treatment, wearable devices, myoelectric exoskeletons, brain-machine interfaces, and other fields. Microneedle electrodes penetrate the stratum corneum, effectively reducing the impedance at the electrode-skin interface without the need for conductive gel, thus meeting the requirements for long-term and high-precision measurements. This review comprehensively summarizes the electrode materials, fabrication methods, performance evaluation, and applications of microneedle electrodes for bioelectrical signal acquisition. It particularly emphasizes the development of materials used to fabricate microneedle electrodes. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges related to material selection and performance testing, and provide insights into the future trends in this field.

A research team from Tsinghua University has developed a novel, metal-free, reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing platform using a graphene-MoS₂ heterostructure enhanced by oxygen plasma treatment. This innovative approach overcomes the limitations of traditional SERS sensors, achieving detection limits comparable to costly metal-based sensors.

Aging leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), significantly impairing their osteogenic capacity—a critical barrier to bone regeneration in elderly populations. Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Peking University demonstrated that replenishing aged PDLSCs with functional mitochondria from young counterparts restores mitochondrial integrity, reduces oxidative stress, and reactivates osteogenic capacity. This breakthrough, mediated by the AKAP1/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, highlights mitochondrial replenishment as a promising therapeutic strategy for age-related bone defects and broader regenerative medicine applications.

The spent grain from beer brewing can be used to make microcapsules that can preserve omega-3 oils and medicines.

Researchers at the Arkansas Center for Food Safety examined the efficacy of five commercially available hand sanitizers with different active ingredients to fill gaps in understanding of their efficacy. The evaluation of hand sanitizers with 30 volunteers revealed that those who rubbed their hands with sanitizer until it was dry saw a greater reduction of viruses than those who rubbed their hands the typical 10 seconds. Also, the study supported other research that found product formulation, rather than just active ingredient concentration, impacted product efficacy.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng), long valued as the “king of medicinal plants,” faces breeding challenges due to its slow growth, limited seed production, and complex tetraploid genome. 

Grafting is a centuries-old practice that unites plants for improved resilience and yield.