Researchers have identified a single mutation in the YFT3 gene that disrupts a key enzymatic function in tomato carotenoid biosynthesis, resulting in strikingly yellow fruits.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a versatile oxidant widely used in pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, and chemical manufacturing. However, conventional H₂O₂ production relies on energy-intensive processes and costly metal-based catalysts, raising economic and environmental concerns. As a sustainable alternative, photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis harnesses solar energy, water, and oxygen under mild conditions. This research group summarizes recent advancements in the development of metal-free organic semiconductors for photocatalytic H₂O₂ generation. Notably, it delves into novel surface reaction mechanisms, including anthraquinone intermediate, peroxy acid intermediate, bipyridine intermediate, and dual channel synergistic mechanisms for optimizing photocatalyst performance. They also highlight the critical role of advanced characterization techniques, including in-situ characterizations and computational simulations, in understanding structure-property relationships and real-time catalytic processes. By proposing new strategies for material modification and potential device-based applications, this review aims to stimulate further research and promote the industrialization of photocatalytic H₂O₂ production, contributing to sustainable chemical processes.

NiMo-NiMoO_x with crystalline/amorphous heterointerface was fabricated by a facile electrodeposition method. Theoretical calculations and experimental results confirm that the introduction of Mo atoms can not only lower the energy barrier of water dissociation and optimize the capacity for hydrogen adsorption/desorption, but also modulate the ratio between crystalline and amorphous phases, increasing the heterostructure interfaces and enriching active sites. Thus, the NiMo-NiMoO_x electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable HER catalytic properties and durability. It requires a low overpotential of 30 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^-2 in 1.0 M KOH, as well as a long-term stability with slight degradation after operating for over 80 h. Moreover, it also exhibits excellent activity and stability with negligible declination in the simulated alkaline seawater, making it highly promising for seawater electrolysis applications.

The application of CAR-T cell therapy against solid tumors is often hindered by the dense and rigid tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). While combining CAR-T with hyaluronidase (HAase) to reduce ECM is apparent, the efficacy is limited because of low accumulation and penetration efficiency of HAase inside the tumor tissue. Herein, the stimuli-responsive HAase-loaded nanogels (H-NGs) which are conjugated on the surface of CAR-T cells were designed for synergistically improving HAase accumulation, ECM degradation and CAR-T cell efficacy. The conjugation of H-NGs on the T cell surface was achieved through metabolic oligosaccharide engineering (MOE) in a semi-quantitatively controlled manner. Intravenous injection of H-NGs armed CAR-T cells resulted in more ECM degradation than co-injection of CAR-T cells and free H-NGs, leading to an 83.2% tumor inhibition rate and relieves tumor suppressive microenvironment in the Raji solid tumor model. Proteomic analysis of the harvested tumor tissues indicated that the combining of H-NGs and CAR-T cell collaboratively reduces cell adhesion and enhanced leukocyte transendothelial migration. Overall, this work simultaneously boosts the efficacy of hyaluronidase and CAR-T cells in combating solid tumor, which has broad application potential in cancer combination therapy.

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) has developed a high-performance near-infrared (NIR) computational spectrometer using finely-tuned lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs). This innovation, published in Nano Research, achieves a spectral resolution of 1.5 nm, making it a powerful tool for applications ranging from qualitative material identification to quantitative alcohol content measurement in liquor. The study highlights the critical role of QD monodispersity and precise synthesis in enhancing spectrometer performance, paving the way for portable, low-cost NIR spectrometers in industrial and consumer applications.

In a groundbreaking study published in Nano Research, researchers from Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai) and the University of Wollongong have developed a novel catalytic system that significantly enhances the efficiency of hydrogen oxidation reactions (HOR) in alkaline media. This advancement could pave the way for more efficient and durable anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), a critical component in the transition to clean energy technologies.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and renewable energy source. However, the efficiency of these cells is often limited by the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction, particularly in alkaline environments. Platinum (Pt) is the most effective catalyst for HOR, but its performance is hindered by high hydrogen adsorption binding energy (HBE) and insufficient hydroxyl adsorption energy (OHBE). This study addresses these challenges by introducing a new catalytic system that balances HBE and OHBE, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the reaction.