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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Apr-2026 15:15 ET (3-Apr-2026 19:15 GMT/UTC)
Bio-inspired network structures for next-generation AI
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)Brain-inspired network design for computation could lead to more accurate, higher-performance machine learning.
- Journal
- Nature Communications
Himalayan forests: nature's carbon credit powerhouses unveiled
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University- Journal
- Carbon Research
What happens when our immune system mistakenly attacks the nervous system?
BIAL FoundationA scientific review on autoimmune neurological diseases reveals what occurs in our body when the immune system, by mistake, produces antibodies that target a protein essential for the normal functioning of nerves. The result is hyperexcitability, that is, uncontrolled electrical signals that trigger continuous, involuntary muscle activity.
- Journal
- Biomolecules
- Funder
- Fundação Bial, ICBAS-UPorto
Gene discovery in potatoes: A step forward in improving yield and sugar content
Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of SciencePotatoes are one of the world's most important food crops, yet genetic improvements to increase tuber yield and quality have been constrained by the lack of a high-quality reference genome.
- Journal
- Horticulture Research
Switchable-selectivity gas sensing enabled by a functionalized-graphene microrod resonator
Maximum Academic Press- Journal
- Photonic Sensors
Leaf chemistry and microbes combine to boost disease resistance in black currants
Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of SciencePowdery mildew poses a major threat to black currant production, yet some cultivars naturally withstand infection far better than others. This study reveals that resistant black currants deploy a multilayered defense system involving physical structures, specialized metabolites, and the assembly of protective microbial communities on leaf surfaces. By integrating metabolomics and phyllosphere microbiome profiling, the research identifies key leaf metabolites—such as salicylic acid, trans-zeatin, and griseofulvin—that help recruit beneficial bacteria and fungi linked to disease suppression. These metabolites also directly reduce pathogen growth. Together, these processes explain how resistant cultivars mount a coordinated defense that limits pathogen invasion and maintains plant health.
- Journal
- Horticulture Research
New genetic pathway discovered for boosting tomato yield without affecting quality
Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of ScienceTomato fruit size, a trait that strongly influences market value and yield, is governed by intricate developmental processes. This study uncovers a previously unknown translational regulatory pathway mediated by the RNA-binding protein SlRBP1. Through fruit-specific gene manipulation, researchers show that SlRBP1 is essential for normal cell division and expansion within the tomato pericarp. The findings reveal that SlFBA7 and SlGPIMT are direct downstream gene targets whose translation is controlled by SlRBP1, and silencing either gene produces small fruits similar to SlRBP1-suppressed plants. This work highlights translational regulation as a key but underexplored mechanism for improving fruit size and overall productivity.
- Journal
- Horticulture Research
New machine learning method refines peach fruit quality trait analysis
Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of ScienceThis study leverages advanced genomics and machine learning to refine the understanding of key fruit quality traits in peaches. Using whole-genome resequencing data from an F1 progeny of two distant peach cultivars, the researchers constructed an ultra-high-density genetic map, identifying key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for traits such as fruit shape, color, and maturity. Notably, the study introduces machine learning models for more accurate phenotyping of fruit color, revealing two previously undetectable QTLs for peach flesh color variation. These innovations provide a new framework for precision breeding, enhancing peach quality and other complex traits through improved mapping and phenotyping strategies.
- Journal
- Horticulture Research
Host–guest inversion engineering induced superionic composite solid electrolytes for high‑rate solid‑state alkali metal batteries
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal CenterComposite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are promising for solid-state Li metal batteries but suffer from inferior room-temperature ionic conductivity due to sluggish ion transport and high cost due to expensive active ceramic fillers. Here, a host–guest inversion engineering strategy is proposed to develop superionic CSEs using cost-effective SiO2 nanoparticles as passive ceramic hosts and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVH) microspheres as polymer guests, forming an unprecedented “polymer guest-in-ceramic host” (i.e., PVH-in-SiO2) architecture differing from the traditional “ceramic guest-in-polymer host”. The PVH-in-SiO2 exhibits excellent Li-salt dissociation, achieving high-concentration free Li+. Owing to the low diffusion energy barriers and high diffusion coefficient, the free Li+ is thermodynamically and kinetically favorable to migrate to and transport at the SiO2/PVH interfaces. Consequently, the PVH-in-SiO2 delivers an exceptional ionic conductivity of 1.32 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 25 °C (vs. typically 10−5–10−4 S cm−1 using high-cost active ceramics), achieved under an ultralow residual solvent content of 2.9 wt% (vs. 8–15 wt% in other CSEs). Additionally, PVH-in-SiO2 is electrochemically stable with Li anode and various cathodes. Therefore, the PVH-in-SiO2 demonstrates excellent high-rate cyclability in LiFePO4|Li full cells (92.9% capacity-retention at 3C after 300 cycles under 25 °C) and outstanding stability with high-mass-loading LiFePO4 (9.2 mg cm−1) and high-voltage NCM622 (147.1 mAh g−1). Furthermore, we verify the versatility of the host–guest inversion engineering strategy by fabricating Na-ion and K-ion-based PVH-in-SiO2 CSEs with similarly excellent promotions in ionic conductivity. Our strategy offers a simple, low-cost approach to fabricating superionic CSEs for large-scale application of solid-state Li metal batteries and beyond.
- Journal
- Nano-Micro Letters