Understanding how interfacial water governs photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is essential for rational photocatalyst design. Here, we directly characterize the adsorption state and hydrogen-bonding structure of interfacial water and correlate them with hydrogen evolution activity. We reveal that relatively weaker water-TiO₂ interactions and more flexible hydrogen-bond networks favor higher interfacial water reactivity. These findings provide a molecular basis for engineering water-catalyst interfaces to enhance photocatalytic performance.

A novel OsSBEIIb allele was identified in an indica rice mutant. The OsSBEIIb mutation increases the resistant starch (RS) content in raw rice flour, as well as in retrograded and heated rice. The chalk2 mutant serves as a valuable indica rice germplasm for breeding high-RS rice varieties.

An elite germplasm, G253, with superior morphogenic callus induction and proliferation capacity was identified. A stable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation platform enabling transgenic plant generation was established. An efficient protoplast transient transformation system was developed from the morphogenic callus.

Building upon their earlier platform Crop-GPA 1.0, a team of researchers in China developed Crop-GPA 2.0 to enable transferable SNP-level genotype–phenotype association prediction across crop species. Across multiple crop species, Crop-GPA 2.0 improved cross-species prediction performance, remained robust under limited training data, and identified biologically meaningful SNPs supported by previously reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) evidence.

Researchers have developed a scalable polyolefin bilayer membrane that helps roofs stay cool while resisting the loss of reflectivity caused by aging and dirt. The membrane achieved 94.1% solar reflectance and retained 83% after xenon-arc aging equivalent to ten years under the adopted testing protocol. Outdoor tests showed an average roof-temperature reduction of 9.4 degrees Celsius and a maximum reduction of 18.1 degrees Celsius, highlighting its potential for long-term building energy savings.

The book, titled Theatre at Messene: An Architectural Study has been awarded the prestigious Herend Award, and the volume offers a comprehensive architectural study tracing the evolution of Greek into Roman theatre architecture and ancient engineering practices.

A new BMJ study led by Sinai Health's Dr. Paula Rochon identifies 24 common drug combinations that can trigger unnecessary prescribing cascaades in older adults, and points to better clinician awareness, pharmacist involvement, and technology to support prescribing practices. 

A Reusable Catalyst for Antibiotic Removal

Sulfamethoxazole, a widely used antimicrobial, can persist in aquatic environments and pose risks to ecosystems and human health. Researchers led by Xuejiao Tang at Nankai University developed millimeter-scale magnetic carbon beads, designated CoNC@cPAN/rGO-800, to address the limited recoverability and metal-leaching concerns associated with powdered cobalt catalysts. The material combines a polyacrylonitrile carbon framework, reduced graphene oxide, and cobalt-containing active sites.

Porous Structure, Rapid Degradation

The beads were prepared from a cobalt-containing zeolitic imidazolate framework, polyacrylonitrile, and graphene oxide, followed by calcination under nitrogen at different temperatures. Microscopy, spectroscopy, diffraction, surface-area analysis, electrochemical measurements, and density functional theory calculations were used to characterize the material and assess its catalytic behavior. Under optimized conditions, 0.1 g L⁻¹ of catalyst and 0.1 g L⁻¹ of peroxymonosulfate removed 100% of 10 mg L⁻¹ sulfamethoxazole within 20 min at pH 7.