For many years, designing synthetic polymer systems has been inspired by the hierarchical self-assembly of folded proteins into functional nanostructures. However, extending folding-based design principles to small synthetic molecules has remained elusive. In particular, luminescent molecules with complex three-dimensional structures were considered difficult to assemble. Now, researchers from Japan demonstrate that such molecules can undergo folding-mediated self-assembly to form highly ordered nanotubes. These structures exhibit unique multidirectional energy transport, highlighting their potential for advanced optoelectronic applications.

Cutinases are fungal enzymes that naturally degrade plant cuticles and show promise for recycling plastics. However, they must balance structural rigidity to withstand high temperatures with flexibility required for catalysis. Now, researchers have investigated the structural basis of catalytic activation in a heat-tolerant cutinase, CtCut, from the fungus Chaetomium thermophilum and found that a rigid core supports stability while a flexible lid is associated with catalytic function, offering insights for improving enzymes for plastic recycling.

A research team at IDM is leading the development of a sensor that paves the way for the rapid, selective and cost-effective detection of active tuberculosis. The device detects the presence of a protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease. It provides results in just 60 minutes – significantly less time than conventional methods, such as microbiological culture, which can take several weeks.

Researchers have developed a universal strategy to create high-voltage aqueous electrolytes by incorporating ionic liquids, overcoming the solubility limits of conventional zinc salts. The new “water-in-salt/ionic liquid” (Wi(S/IL)) approach enables an exceptionally wide 3.8 V electrochemical window and stable zinc cycling over 10,000 cycles. The work also establishes a multi-spectroscopic framework for decoding electrolyte liquid structures, paving the way for rational design of next-generation safe and high-energy batteries.

Scientists from Fudan University have developed a graphene-integrated silicon nitride microtube resonator via self-rolling nanomembrane technology. By engineering a  lobe structure, they achieved axial mode quantization, creating a potential well that confines light and significantly enhances the quality factor. The device demonstrates high photoresponsivity (2.80 A W^-1) and intrinsic polarization sensitivity, offering a versatile platform for compact, high-performance on-chip photonic-electronic systems.

A research team from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has simulated and extended a famous quantum phenomenon , the Aharonov–Bohm effect, using a simple water tank. By sending water waves toward a swirling vortex from opposite directions of the tank, the team observed flat, rotating lines of water that radiate across the whole tank. This classical analogue offers a visually accessible way of studying how the quantum world behaves. 

Researchers have developed a new method to measure the small forces exerted by light with high precision. Using this approach, they discovered a surprising phenomenon in which light can twist tiny objects sideways, in a direction perpendicular to the light's direction of travel.

How can the mild flavor of flaxseed oil be preserved for longer? A research team led by Roman Lang from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has investigated this question. As the team demonstrates in its latest study, natural precursors of bitter-tasting compounds can be gently removed from the oil using bleaching earth (magnesium-aluminum silicate). This results in significantly fewer bitter-tasting compounds formed during storage, and the flaxseed oil remains flavor-stable for longer. The particular advantage: The high content of health-beneficial fatty acids as well as the oil’s typical character are preserved despite the purification process.

Researchers at TU Wien have shown that many 2D materials once considered highly promising are in fact unsuitable for this purpose. When 2D materials are combined with an insulating layer, an extremely thin gap inevitably forms between them, drastically degrading their electronic properties. The good news is that this approach also allows researchers to identify which materials are not affected by this problem—potentially saving the semiconductor industry from investing billions in technologies that are fundamentally limited by the laws of physics.