A study recently published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts reports a bioinspired multi-network photonic hydrogel capable of decoupling the traditional trade-off between optical performance and mechanical robustness in mechanochromic materials. The researchers designed a cellulose nanocrystal/polyacrylamide/waterborne polyurethane (CPW) hydrogel featuring a triple-network architecture inspired by octopus iridophores. Through dynamic hydrogen bonding and interpenetrating structural design, the hydrogel achieved a tensile strength of 420 kPa and elongation exceeding 800% while maintaining highly reversible structural color changes from near-infrared to the full visible spectrum. Reflection wavelengths shifted continuously from 467 to 670 nm during stretching, enabling reversible color transitions from blue to red. The material further demonstrated strain-dependent optical encoding and information concealment capabilities with excellent cyclic stability and low-temperature tolerance. The work provides a new strategy for designing intelligent bio-based photonic materials suitable for advanced optical devices and adaptive sensing systems.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a strategy to make aggregates of nanoparticles plastically deform under heating. Anionic groups are introduced onto the surfaces of cellulose nanofibers and paired with cations from an ionic liquid. At high temperatures, the cations diffuse across the interfaces between the nanofibers in the aggregates, enabling the aggregates to expand. This study is the first time nanoparticle aggregates have been thermoformed without loss of nanoparticle shape or crystallites.

An international team, led by Penn State’s Institute of Energy and the Environment Director Bruce Logan, has developed a new reactor design that efficiently converts carbon dioxide and renewable electricity into methane — the primary component of natural gas — while scaling the system up by roughly an order of magnitude without sacrificing performance.

What if your eyes could use light to heal themselves? Drawing inspiration from how plants harness sunlight, researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are pioneering a revolutionary treatment for dry eye disease. Their approach uses a light-activated technology derived from the photosynthetic membranes of the spinach plant, enabling the eye to stay continuously hydrated. This offers a solution that is simple, effective and non-invasive.

To address the fire risks of lithium batteries, as well as the bulky size and limited power capacity of lead-acid batteries, a research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has been awarded funding under the second batch of the “RAISe+ Scheme” to develop the next generation of aqueous zinc-based batteries that offer improved safety, higher power, lower cost and environmental sustainability. The team aims to establish a production line with an annual capacity of 1 GWh over three years. This breakthrough addresses large-scale energy storage challenges, providing future data centres with ideal backup power and improving the safe operation of AI facilities in Hong Kong and global markets.

University of Pittsburgh researchers Melissa Bilec, Federica Geremicca, and John Brigham, with University of Central Florida's Alessandro Fascetti, have built an interactive digital twin of Pitt’s Mascaro Center that allows users to “walk” through a 3D version of the building and assess energy use, air quality, and the materials in real time. Their research is advancing how we build, maintain, and automate buildings more sustainably.