Harbin Institute of Technology researchers propose a new terrain-aware framework for jointly optimising coverage, connectivity, and cost, enabling the first system-level design of laser power-beaming networks for extreme exploration tasks in the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions

Six partners from research and industry, including Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), the Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI), BASF, Dunia Innovations, Siemens Energy, and the Technical University Berlin are launching a joint project to accelerate the catalyst discovery. The German Federal Ministry for Science, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is providing €30 million in funding for ASCEND (Accelerated Solutions for Catalysis using Emerging Nanotechnology and Digital Innovation). The research initiative targets the defossilisation of energy-intensive industries while safeguarding industrial competitiveness, with a focus on the chemical sector. The five-year project will start on 1^st April 2026.

Assessing the health impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in cetaceans is challenging due to ethical constraints on live animal testing. This study developed a predictive "QIVIVE" model for finless porpoises. By calculating the "freely dissolved concentration" of POPs using a mass distribution model, we discovered that current environmental exposure levels pose a low risk to cell viability. This novel framework enables precise, ethical chemical risk assessments for marine mammals.

Fujitsu Limited and the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at The University of Osaka today announced the development of a new technology designed to accelerate the industrial application of quantum computers in the era of early fault-tolerant quantum computing (early-FTQC). By combining ver. 3 of the STAR architecture, a unique highly efficient phase rotation gate quantum computing architecture, with a novel molecular model optimization technique, researchers have significantly reduced computational resource requirements. This breakthrough will enable the energy calculations for chemical material design such as catalyst molecules, within a realistic timeframe using early-FTQC quantum computers. These kinds of calculations are currently not possible using current computers, and would take millennia even using previous versions of the STAR architecture. The technologies are expected to contribute to solving various societal challenges, including accelerating drug discovery, improving the efficiency of ammonia synthesis processes, and advancing carbon recycling technologies.

Okayama University of Science, the NTT East Group, and Ichii Inc. have begun constructing a land-based sockeye salmon aquaculture facility in Namie Town, Fukushima, using “The Third Water.” The project marks a shift toward full-scale operations, with larger-capacity tanks, renewable energy integration, and plans to raise fish from eggs for shipment within two years.

A new review links three forces shaping osteoarthritis: mechanical stress, integrin signaling, and integrin endocytosis. The authors argue that integrin trafficking can reprogram where and how long signals persist in joint cells, helping explain stage-dependent effects and pointing to new biomarker and therapy ideas, from small molecules to RGD biomaterials and MSC-based approaches.

To address the challenge of wireless signals being blocked by seats or passengers, a team led by Professor Jingjing Zhang from Southeast University and Professor Yu Luo from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics developed a transparent metasurface smart window. Utilizing "self-accelerating" and "self-healing" Weber beams, the technology allows signals to bypass obstacles and recover automatically. Experiments show an average signal power increase of 8.37 dB, providing a practical solution for 5G vehicular communications.