To enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion battery anodes with higher silicon content, it is essential to engineer their microstructure for better lithium-ion transport and mitigated volume change as well. Herein, we suggest an effective approach to control the micropore structure of silicon oxide (SiO_x)/artificial graphite (AG) composite electrodes using a perforated current collector. The electrode features a unique pore structure, where alternating high-porosity domains and low-porosity domains markedly reduce overall electrode resistance, leading to a 20% improvement in rate capability at a 5C-rate discharge condition. Using microstructure-resolved modeling and simulations, we demonstrate that the patterned micropore structure enhances lithium-ion transport, mitigating the electrolyte concentration gradient of lithium-ion. Additionally, perforating current collector with a chemical etching process increases the number of hydrogen bonding sites and enlarges the interface with the SiO_x/AG composite electrode, significantly improving adhesion strength. This, in turn, suppresses mechanical degradation and leads to a 50% higher capacity retention. Thus, regularly arranged micropore structure enabled by the perforated current collector successfully improves both rate capability and cycle life in SiO_x/AG composite electrodes, providing valuable insights into electrode engineering.

Metasurfaces, ultra-compact optical devices capable of "precisely manipulating light," have shown great potential in augmented reality (AR) glasses, holographic projection, biosensing, and other fields. However, traditional manufacturing technologies face a dilemma: either they are costly and inefficient, or they lack sufficient performance, making large-scale mass production difficult. Recently, a team led by Yujin Park, Donghoe Kim, and Junsuk Rho from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea, published a review paper in Optics and Photonics Research, systematically proposing two innovative strategies based on nanoimprint lithography (NIL). These strategies successfully address the "low refractive index" limitation of traditional processes, bringing the transition of metasurfaces from laboratory research to industrial production within reach.

Climate change and extreme weather drive a globally growing interest in technologies to control the weather. Japanese government research seeks to harness such technology to reduce storm and flood damage. Yet such interventions could fundamentally change the relationship between people and the weather. New research published in npj Climate Action proposes “Weather Commons” as a democratic, community-centric approach that puts people in charge, and calls for a broad public conversation about weather control.

Researchers at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, have created an untethered soft robot that embodies deformation-resilient flexible batteries enabled by  the same magnetic fields that drive its movement. The team developed flexible batteries that endure constant bending and perform better under magnetic fields, improving capacity retention from 31% to 57% after 200 cycles. Integrated with sensors and circuits in a manta-ray-shaped design, the soft robot can swim freely, detect temperature changes, avoid obstacles and correct its path in real time, advancing embodied intelligence for soft robotics in confined, fragile and dynamic environments.

Researchers have developed a noninvasive, computer-mediated spinal stimulation system that allows individuals with chronic spinal cord injury and paraplegia to regain volitional control of stepping movements. These findings highlight a promising approach for gait rehabilitation without surgery. The study was published online in Brain on November 26, 2025.

A new study published in Translational Exercise Biomedicine (ISSN: 2942-6812), an official partner journal of International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), reveals that a progressive, multi-component exercise program, enhanced by wearable sensor technology, can significantly counteract the debilitating effects of frailty in older adults. The 12-week intervention led to remarkable improvements not only in physical strength and balance, but also in cognitive abilities and overall quality of life, presenting an effective and practical strategy for community health management in an aging global population.

Soft robots offer incredible potential in fields from medicine to exploration, but their fluid-driven actuators are often tethered to bulky, rigid pumps. Researchers from Zhejiang University have developed a new-type, soft fiber pump inspired by the body's lymphatic system. This pump is not only highly flexible and easy to manufacture but can also be powered by a built-in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), harvesting energy from motion to create untethered, self-sufficient soft robotic systems.