As industries seek innovative solutions for carbon capture, scientists have turned to advanced materials that efficiently trap and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions. A recent study of a team from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden University of Technology (TUD), and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland) sheds light on the gas adsorption physics of so-called Calgary Framework 20 (CALF-20), a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF). While applying a combination of advanced techniques, the scientists reveal the material’s unique adaptability under varying conditions, as they report in the journal Small (DOI: 10.1002/smll.202500544). The research highlights how CALF-20 efficiently captures CO₂ while resisting interference from water – a common issue in carbon capture materials.

Achromatic metasurface waveguide technology is revolutionizing augmented reality (AR) displays by addressing the longstanding issue of chromatic aberration. Developed by a research team from China, this innovative approach combines inverse-designed metasurface couplers with a high refractive index waveguide, achieving superior color accuracy and uniformity across a wide field of view. The technology promises to enhance the visual experience in compact AR systems, paving the way for advanced applications in various fields by overcoming the limitations of traditional diffractive waveguides.

Professor Chao XIANG, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has been honoured with the 2025 Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award for his pioneering research in silicon photonics, specifically his work on “integrating lasers for advanced photonic integrated circuits".

In a breakthrough that blends biology and robotics, researchers at The University of Osaka have created a new type of insect cyborg that can navigate autonomously—without wires, surgery, or stress-inducing electrical shocks. The system uses a small ultraviolet (UV) light helmet to steer cockroaches by taking advantage of their natural tendency to avoid bright light, especially in the UV range. This method not only preserves the insect’s sensory organs but also maintains consistent control over time.

A research team led by Prof. ZHU Yingjie from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed the neural mechanisms by which social rank influences vulnerability to drug addiction.

Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly advantageous properties.

A new technique enables the use of, for example, cooking oil from fast-food restaurants to dissolve and separate silver. The process requires light and diluted hydrogen peroxide. The technique makes it possible to secure the supply of silver and reduce the burden on the environment.