Researchers have found a new way to turn low-frequency light into higher-frequency terahertz waves using special quantum materials called topological insulators. By placing these materials inside tiny ring-shaped structures that boost light signals, they created both even and odd harmonics—something rarely seen before. This breakthrough could lead to better ways of generating terahertz light, which is useful for imaging, communication, and exploring new physical effects in advanced materials.

A research paper just published in Science China Life Sciences reveals that narrow-ranging species and wide-ranging species adopt distinct adaptive strategies to cope with aridity in drylands, with narrow-ranging species exhibiting higher leaf water content, a steeper increase in leaf volume relative to dry weight, and greater species abundance under high aridity, thereby enhancing water storage and conferring an adaptive advantage in extreme environments.

A new review in Molecular Biomedicine reveals how intricate regulation of cholesterol metabolism connects cellular lipid homeostasis to diseases such as atherosclerosis, fatty liver, and Alzheimer's disease—and explores next-generation therapeutic strategies including gene editing, RNA drugs, and gut microbiota modulation.

This study offers a fresh perspective on neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and related brain functions and diseases.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered significant attention in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries for their potential to mitigate the severe polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics. However, the development of highly efficient SACs and a comprehensive understanding of their structure–activity relationships remain enormously challenging. Herein, a novel kind of Fe-based SAC featuring an asymmetric FeN₅-TeN₄ coordination structure was precisely designed by introducing Te atom adjacent to the Fe active center to enhance the catalytic activity. Theoretical calculations reveal that the neighboring Te atom modulates the local coordination environment of the central Fe site, elevating the d-band center closer to the Fermi level and strengthening the d-p orbital hybridization between the catalyst and sulfur species, thereby immobilizing polysulfides and improving the bidirectional catalysis of Li-S redox. Consequently, the Fe-Te atom pair catalyst endows Li-S batteries with exceptional rate performance, achieving a high specific capacity of 735 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 C, and remarkable cycling stability with a low decay rate of 0.038% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1 C. This work provides fundamental insights into the electronic structure modulation of SACs and establishes a clear correlation between precisely engineered atomic configurations and their enhanced catalytic performance in Li-S electrochemistry.

Researchers from Nanjing University and Peking University have developed an innovative method for integrating two transverse superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) onto a single silicon waveguide, achieving a detection efficiency of over 99%. This breakthrough provides a scalable and materials-compatible solution for on-chip photon detection in quantum computing and communication applications.

Electrochemical water splitting holds promise for producing clean hydrogen at industrial scales, but current technologies often falter under large current densities. Recent advances in catalyst design and scalable synthesis strategies are bridging this gap, offering materials that maintain high efficiency, stability, and durability under harsh operational conditions. This review synthesizes progress in scalable electrocatalyst production, from electrodeposition and corrosion engineering to thermal treatment approaches, and further to their combinations. By addressing the key challenges of performance degradation, bubble management, and cost limitations, the study highlights emerging solutions that can accelerate the industrial adoption of green hydrogen production technologies.

Organic cathodes have long been sought after for safe, sustainable, and recyclable energy storage, yet their development has been hampered by solubility, low voltage, and poor conductivity. In this study, researchers report a hexaazatriphenylene-based polymer with a three-dimensional (3D) framework that successfully addresses these challenges. The material exhibits remarkable insolubility, strong electronic delocalization, and accessible redox sites, resulting in a zinc–organic battery with an impressive initial discharge voltage of 1.32 V and an extraordinary lifespan of more than 40,000 cycles with over 93% capacity retention. This work provides a new molecular design strategy for creating high-voltage, ultrastable organic batteries.

This paper proposes an intermittent measurement-based attitude tracking control strategy for spacecraft operating in the presence ofsensor-actuator faults. A sampled-data (self-)learning observer is developed to estimate both the spacecraft’s states and lumped disturbances, effectively mitigating the impact of faults. This observer acts as a virtual predictor, reconstructing states and actuator fault deviations using only intermittent measurement data, addressing the limitations imposed by sensor failures. The control scheme incorporates compensation based on the predictor’s estimates, ensuring robust attitude tracking despite the presence of faults. We provide the first proof of bounded stability for this learning observer utilizing intermittent information, expanding its applicability. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this innovative strategy,  highlighting its potential for enhancing spacecraft autonomy and reliability in challenging operational scenarios.

Electrochemical synthesis in aqueous solution has emerged as a sustainable strategy to replace traditional fossil-fuel-driven chemical production, but it is often limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that wastes energy and yields low-value products. Recent advances are transforming this challenge into an opportunity by replacing OER with faster, value-added oxidation reactions paired with reduction processes beyond hydrogen production. This review highlights cutting-edge catalysts, hybrid electrolyzers, and in situ characterization tools that enable the simultaneous generation of two valuable products in a single electrochemical process. Such integrated systems not only enhance efficiency and economic viability but also pave the way for greener chemical manufacturing aligned with global net-zero goals.