A research team led by Assoc. Prof. CAO Liang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Anhui University and other research institutions, has developed a new approach based on controlled interlayer sliding to regulate quantum states in layered materials. By precisely tuning the movement of atomic layers, the approach enables the design of superlattices and the regulation of electronic properties through structural engineering.

Catalysts are everywhere—from fertilizer production to clean energy—but making them more active without sacrificing stability has remained a major challenge. Researchers have now engineered a gold-platinum nanocluster catalyst that can be activated at lower temperatures while maintaining its precise atomic structure, boosting low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation performance. Yet a clever ligand design could pave the way for more efficient and durable catalysts.Catalysts are everywhere—from fertilizer production to clean energy—but making them more active without sacrificing stability has remained a major challenge. Researchers have now engineered a gold-platinum nanocluster catalyst that can be activated at lower temperatures while maintaining its precise atomic structure, boosting low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation performance. Yet a clever ligand design could pave the way for more efficient and durable catalysts.

Complete tumor remission and suppression of recurrence/metastasis demonstrated in animal models of triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer

The team constructed a hierarchical “herb–compound–target–disease” network that aligns with the holistic philosophy of TCM. This paradigm upgrades TCM intervention from single‑target modulation to network target regulation, scientifically interpreting the molecular logic of the “monarch‑minister‑assistant‑guide” compatibility principle and syndrome differentiation. It builds a foundational bridge between classical TCM theory and modern molecular biology.

From ocean pollution to carbon emissions, mixed plastics are an environmental headache. Japanese researchers have now developed a catalyst that selectively degrades polyurethane in mixed plastic waste while leaving coexisting polyester and nylon intact. Using an iridium-based catalyst with a phenolate salt additive and hydrogen gas, the method was successfully tested on blended textiles and end-of-life car seats, offering a practical route to recycling complex plastic combinations long considered too difficult to separate.

A team of researchers developed a radically gentler way to monitor baibies in the neonatal unit: a featherlight, silk-based sticker, smaller than a coin, that quietly reads four critical health signals at once just by changing color.

Rice straw is often returned directly to fields to improve soil health, but in highly saline-sodic soils, where salt, alkalinity, and poor structure slow decomposition, that strategy may not work fast enough. A new study published in Biochar reports that converting rice straw into biochar before returning it to the field can offer a more effective route for sustainable rice production in salt-affected regions.

Antibiotic residues in water are an increasing environmental concern, especially as widely used medicines can pass through human, livestock, and aquaculture systems and enter rivers, groundwater, and soils. Tetracycline, a common broad-spectrum antibiotic, is one such pollutant. Although effective for treating bacterial infections, it can persist in the environment and contribute to ecological risks.