Arousal by the brainstem and subcortical regions, and awareness from cortical regions combine to produce consciousness in the brain. While arousal or wakefulness is regulated by the ascending reticular activating system of brainstem, the exact mechanism by which brainstem injuries lead to disorder of consciousness (DoC) remains unelucidated. Now, researchers reveal the roles of four nodes in the brainstem in DoC, and describe therapies targeting these nodes and their networks to aid recovery.

Maintaining long-term health has become a major challenge, driving research into ways to extend “healthspan” rather than lifespan alone. In a recent study, researchers from Japan investigated COX7RP, a mitochondrial protein that promotes the assembly of mitochondrial respiratory supercomplexes essential for efficient energy production. They found that boosting COX7RP improves mitochondrial performance, enhances metabolic health, and significantly prolongs lifespan in mice, opening doors to novel anti-aging interventions and therapeutic strategies for aging-related diseases.

The Jahn–Teller effect is a well-explored phenomenon in solid-state physics. In a new development, researchers from Waseda University, Japan, focused on spinel-type compounds with the formula AV₂O₄, discovering a phenomenon in which a structural phase transition occurs simultaneously with magnetic ordering in Co₁₋ₓFeₓV₂O₄. This innovation holds fundamental scientific interest and is expected to open new avenues for applications in quantum information.

Adhesives are essential in various industries and have widespread use. However, conventional petroleum-based adhesives rely heavily on the petrochemical industry and pose environmental risks due to harmful emissions and limited reusability. In a new study, researchers developed a novel photo-switchable smart adhesive based on materials derived from rose oil. It is both eco-friendly and highly reusable, while exhibiting great adhesion to a variety of surfaces. This innovative adhesive paves the way for more sustainable and smart material technologies.

This study develops an electrocorticography (ECoG) device named NeuroCam, which boasts up to 4096 recording channels with only 128 leads for signal fan-out, supporting large-scale manufacturing. This innovation delivers a pivotal breakthrough in overcoming the key bottlenecks of existing ECoG devices, including limited channel counts, low density, complicated wiring, and challenges in scaling production. It provides a novel tool for decoding complex neural activities, supports the breakthrough development of advanced brain-machine interface (BMI) technology, and opens up opportunities for neuroscience research as well as the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

China, Tianjin-Researchers at Nankai University have 3D-printed soft hydrogel thermocell “power patches” that can hug skin and devices, turning gentle temperature differences into electricity. By Combining 3D printing and immersion activation strategies, they “sculpt” microstructured hydrogel thermocell surfaces that grip rough, moving heat sources and boost power output several-fold. These patches can also serve as self-powered touch and motion sensors, suggesting that customizable wearable power supplies could quietly harvest waste heat from bodies and irregular heat sources for future sustainable, human-integrated electronics.

A research team at the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), together with Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), has developed a new class of ultra-thin, flexible bioelectronic material that can seamlessly interface with living tissues. The researchers introduced a novel device called THIN (Transformable and Imperceptible Hydrogel-Elastomer Ionic-Electronic Nanomembrane). THIN is a membrane just 350 nanometers thick that transforms from a dry, rigid film into an ultra-soft, tissue-like interface upon hydration.