McGill University researchers have discovered a new way to fold flat sheets into smooth, curved shells that can switch from floppy and flexible to stiff and load-bearing on demand. By designing a special origami pattern and threading cable-like elements through it, they can control the material’s final three-dimensional shape and how rigid it becomes. The result, a “doubly curved lens box,” could advance the technology of such objects as temporary emergency tents, morphing robots and smart fabrics, the researchers said.

As pets become part of everyday family life, scientists are asking a new question: could the hair shed by cats and dogs help reveal the chemical pollutants circulating inside our homes?

Microplastics are now found across oceans, soils, food chains, and even human biological samples. Yet scientists still face a major challenge: these tiny particles are difficult to detect, track, and link to health risks using traditional laboratory methods alone. A new perspective article argues that artificial intelligence could help change that.

A global survey traces six centuries of evolution, revealing how university botanic gardens blend historical roots with modern missions in conservation, education, and public well-being.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are key devices for achieving efficient "hydrogen-electricity" conversion. They have attracted significant attention due to their high energy conversion efficiency and zero carbon emissions. However, their core component, oxygen reduction/evolution (ORR/OER) electrocatalysts, still face challenges of activity and stability. Among them, platinum-group catalysts (such as Pt, Ir, Ru) are currently the most effective ORR/OER catalysts, but issues like their scarcity and high cost severely limit their large-scale utilization in PEMFCs/PEMWEs. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) and multi-atom catalysts (MACs), with their nearly 100% metal utilization rate and unique electronic structures, provide a new path for developing low-loading, high-activity, and high-stability platinum-group catalysts.

A novel combination of silybin and carvedilol is firstly confirmed to synergistically block hepatic stellate cell activation by targeting the Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway, and its 50:1 fixed ratio in vivo can reverse liver fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, providing a scientific and practical experimental basis for the clinical translation of liver fibrosis therapy.

A method using a “green” solvent made from ethylenediamine and choline chloride is provided to restructure industrial lignin. The process significantly increases the active sites on lignin while preventing unwanted clumping, transforming a low-value byproduct of the paper industry into a viable substitute for petroleum-based materials.