Researchers from Lanzhou University developed a nanotube-based photocatalyst that mimics photosynthesis. By directing sunlight-driven electrons along a one-way path, it efficiently converts CO₂ into CO, offering a blueprint for clean fuel production.

Gynecological cancers remain a major threat to women's health, with traditional therapies often having limited effect and severe side effects. A new class of "“Magic bullets", known as Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), is now changing the game. With the first ADC for cervical cancer already approved and more in development for ovarian and uterine cancers, new hope is emerging for patients with recurrent disease. A literature review published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences provides a comprehensive overview of ADCs, synthesizing existing evidence from ongoing clinical trials and preclinical studies in gynecological cancers. It examines the adverse reactions associated with ADCs and explores strategies to mitigate these adverse effects, thereby enhancing the efficacy of ADCs in treating gynecological malignancies.

The Mpemba effect—"hot water can freeze faster than cold”—has long intrigued physicists as one of nature’s most counterintuitive phenomena. Its quantum analogue, the quantum Mpemba effect (QME), brings this counterintuitive phenomenon into the quantum world: a more asymmetric state can restore its subsystem symmetry faster during nonequilibrium evolution. Although this effect has been extensively investigated in integrable and thermalized systems, whether such a phenomenon can persist in many-body localization (MBL) systems that do not thermalize, has remained an important open question. Exploring the QME in MBL systems is key to understanding new mechanism of symmetry restoration without thermalization and to offering new insights into universal nonequilibrium dynamics.

Researchers from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed hourly dust emissions during 136 large dust events across Central East Asia from 2000 to 2023 using a state-of-the-art wind erosion model calculation. The results show that Mongolia has become the dominant source of dust emissions in the region, with its contribution increasing from 43% in the early 2000s to 53% in recent years. After two decades of decline, regional dust storm activity has rebounded sharply after 2021 due to stronger winds, vegetation degradation, and soil drying. The study provides new insights into the changes of Central East Asia dust activity and underscores the urgent need for cross-border dust monitoring and early warning systems. The findings were published in Science China Earth Sciences.

Researchers propose a novel closed-loop system merging brain-computer interfaces and peripheral nerve stimulation to enable real-time, adaptive therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders like depression and ADHD. This approach dynamically tailors treatment to individual brain signals, overcoming limitations of one-size-fits-all methods. The technology promises precision neuromodulation, targeting specific neural circuits without invasive surgery.

Recently, the research team led by Professor Ling Shuai from the State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology at Nankai University has successfully activated the totipotency in mouse embryonic stem cells by overexpressing the key gene Hmgn3. Through mechanistic studies, the team discovered that Hmgn3 exerts its function by interacting with the Dux family genes. This study provides a brand-new strategy and model for research in early embryonic development and regenerative medicine.

A recent comprehensive analysis highlights the transformative potential of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)—highly porous, tunable materials—in pharmaceutical research. The review concludes that MOFs can dramatically improve drug loading, enable targeted release to disease sites, and enhance the stability of delicate therapeutics, paving the way for more effective and precise treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to pulmonary diseases.

Intelligent optical sensing systems that integrate wavefront control with adaptive responses are emerging as key enablers for next-generation LiDAR technologies. Scientist in China developed a dual-mode LiDAR system using cascaded geometric and propagation phase metasurfaces. By modulating the polarization of incident light, the system can dyanmically switch between a high-accuracy beam-scanning mode , featuring tunable angular resolution via micro-actuator, and a high-efficiency flash illumination mode. Integrated with an adaptive 3D reconstruction algorithm, the dual-mode LiDAR can intelligently adjust detection modes and resolution based on target complexity and environmental demands. The work demonstrates a self-adaptive and reconfigurable metasurface platform, bridging the performance gap between scanning and flash LiDARs, and opening the door to compact, energy-efficient 3D perception systems for diverse application scenarios.