Researchers have developed a thermo-viscoelastic modeling framework to predict the damage initiation strength of composite solid propellants under varying temperatures and strain rates. By combining thermo-viscoelastic constitutive theory with the force–heat equivalence energy density principle, the new model provides an efficient and low-cost alternative to conventional experimental approaches, offering a practical tool for evaluating the structural integrity and storage safety of solid rocket propellants.

A study of 21 adults receiving seasonal influenza vaccination found that pre-existing antibody levels were associated with distinct B-cell responses. Individuals with different baseline antibody levels showed differences in B-cell receptor features and antibody breadth after vaccination. The findings provide new insights into how pre-existing immunity may influence responses to influenza vaccination.

Researchers have developed a dopamine-enhanced soft electrode that helps wearable drug-delivery patches operate more reliably in wet conditions. The additive improves the electrode’s structure, protects it during electrical operation and strengthens its attachment to the device. In laboratory tests using pig skin, the electrode delivered model compounds more effectively and remained functional during repeated use, offering a potential route to longer-lasting iontophoresis patches.

In its August 2026 issue, Petroleum Science publishes a landmark editorial that identifies 100 fundamental scientific challenges facing petroleum science—a discipline at a historic inflection point. Compiled through a rigorous five-year process involving hundreds of experts worldwide, the list spans six domains and three archetypes of scientific problems. The editorial reveals that artificial intelligence has evolved from an enabler into a core driver, and together with the low-carbon transition, is fundamentally redefining the paradigm of petroleum science. This roadmap is intended to guide research planning, investment, and talent development for decades to come.

CSwinUKAN, a crack-segmentation model for tunnel linings that combines Swin Transformer and Tokenized KAN within an enhanced U-Net, is introduced in the study. The model outperformed multiple baselines and delivered notably higher recall, reducing missed detections in safety-critical inspections.

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (Mn-HCF) is a promising cathode for aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs) due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, its practical application is hindered by rapid capacity fading, which originates from Mn dissolution and the uneven lattice expansion induced by Jahn–Teller distortion and successive phase transitions. While strategies such as lattice doping, surface coating, and electrolyte additives have been explored to mitigate Mn dissolution, they merely delay rather than prevent the process. Moreover, the subsequent degradation reactions remain poorly understood. Herein, we elucidate a degradation chain reaction initiated by Mn dissolution. Dissolved Mn²⁺ ions catalyze interfacial water oxidation, generating protons that protonate the C≡N ligands of Fe(CN)₆^4−/3−. The subsequent ligand dissociation releases Fe²⁺/³⁺, which then react with residual Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ and Na⁺ to precipitate Na_xFe[Fe(CN)₆] (Fe-HCF) on the electrode surface, ultimately leading to the lattice collapse of Mn-HCF. As this chain reaction continues, conventional approaches that only slow Mn dissolution are insufficient, and thus, the vacancies must be refilled in real time to halt the process. Accordingly, we introduce iron(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (Fe(OTf)₃) into a concentrated 17.6 m NaClO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The Fe³⁺ ions rapidly occupy Mn vacancies as they form, thereby blocking the chain reaction at its source. A full cell incorporating the stabilized Mn-HCF cathode and a PTCDI (3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylicdiimide) anode retains 80% of its initial capacity after 20,000 cycles at 2 A g⁻¹, corresponding to an ultra-low-capacity fade rate of 0.001% per cycle that outperforms most reported ASIB cathodes.

Haze pollution intensifies urban heat islands by modifying atmospheric optical properties. Scientists developed design guidelines for photonic coolers to achieve subambient daytime radiative cooling under haze-polluted skies, with a focus on the selective scattering of sunlight and infrared thermal emission. To validate these guidelines, scientists fabricated a proof-of-concept device consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films of varying thickness on a silver substrate.