A research team led by Prof. LI Xianfeng from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) eveloped a novel bromine-based two-electron transfer reaction system to overcome key limitations of conventional zinc–bromine flow batteries. By introducing amine compounds as bromine scavengers, the team converts corrosive bromine (Br₂) into brominated amines, reducing Br₂ concentration to ultra-low levels (~7 mM). This enables a two-electron redox process that increases energy density while significantly lowering electrolyte corrosivity.

At the core of each of our cells, the DNA molecule is constantly changing its configuration. When it twists or unfolds, it determines which genes are activated at each moment.

"We have shown that the way DNA twists is a layer of gene expression regulation that had previously gone unnoticed," says CNIO researcher Felipe Cortés.

Many breast cancers are treated by blocking oestrogens. Understanding on a molecular scale how this hormone works could help design better therapies, the authors suggest.

Shown in a study by researchers from CNIO and CABIMER published in 'Science Advances'.

Wildfires may disappear from the landscape within weeks, but their hidden effects on the soil can persist for decades. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen, together with partners in Tübingen, Berlin and Chile, has shown how wildfires in humid temperate rainforests and mediterranean woodlands of central Chile lead to very different pathways of soil recovery and ecosystem resilience. The study shows that soil structure and nutrients continue to change for more than a decade after a fire. The results were published in the journal Catena.

 

Denise Antunes da Silva, a senior R&D staff member at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been elected a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society for her outstanding contributions to the field of ceramics and materials science.

Fungal denitrification play a key role in the regulation of nitrogen cycle. Knowledge of the fungal denitrification of soil microbes and the driving mechanisms will be essential to understand the impact of soil N₂O emissions in the karst region. This study demonstrates that soil fungal nirK-derived N₂O in the karst region are significantly distinct between cropland and forest, soil NO₃^‒-N and sand are important drivers of the soil N₂O emissions variation, especially after vegetation restoration. The researchers’ finding appeared September 9, 2025 in Soil Ecology Letters.

The ecosystem of tropical coral islands is relatively isolated, characterized by harsh environmental conditions. It is frequently subjected to climatic stressors such as high temperatures, intense solar radiation, high salinity, and seasonal drought.

Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining multiple soil functions in terrestrial ecosystems. However, evidence linking soil microbial communities to soil multifunctionality under warming and precipitation changes remains limited. This study shows that the combined effects of warming and increased precipitation can markedly weaken soil multifunctionality in semi-arid grasslands, primarily by intensifying competition between bacteria and fungi. The researchers’ finding appeared October 28, 2025 in Soil Ecology Letters.Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining multiple soil functions in terrestrial ecosystems. However, evidence linking soil microbial communities to soil multifunctionality under warming and precipitation changes remains limited. This study shows that the combined effects of warming and increased precipitation can markedly weaken soil multifunctionality in semi-arid grasslands, primarily by intensifying competition between bacteria and fungi. The researchers’ finding appeared October 28, 2025 in Soil Ecology Letters.