Since 2017, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has annually organized the Global Engineering Frontiers strategic consulting program to assess major trends in engineering science and technology, identify emerging frontiers, and guide the development of engineering-driven industries. The program is supported by CAE’s nine disciplinary divisions and the Engineering Journal series.

A new self-healing polymer electrolyte that repairs itself within 30 minutes under mild heating, enabling lithium-metal batteries to achieve excellent electrochemical performance. The self-healing polymer electrolyte restores more than 98% of its original ionic conductivity after damage, offering a promising solution to the long-standing interface instability and dendrite growth problems in solid-state batteries.

Azo compounds are widely used in many applications, and photoelectrochemical synthesis provides a promising green route for producing them under mild conditions. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China reported that Cs⁺-induced surface reconstruction of BiVO₄ photoanodes can stabilize the electrode interface, accelerate charge transfer, and promote efficient photoelectrochemical synthesis of azobenzene under illumination.

A new study published in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics （https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cja.2025.103943） tries to break this deadlock. Researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University and Tsinghua University have developed a novel modeling framework called differential equation model long-short term memory neural network (DEM-LSTM). This hybrid approach integrates the theoretical rigor of differential equations with the nonlinear mapping capabilities of LSTM neural network, offering a solution that is both accurate and physically interpretable.

This special issue, Advanced Lightweight Materials and Structures, invited by Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, aims to bring together cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that address the data-driven development and evaluation of advanced lightweight materials (e.g. metals and alloys, composites and nanocomposites, coatings and cellular materials) and structures for airframes, aeroengines, helicopters, drones, etc.

A new framework for cross-scale Raman thermometry enables precise temperature mapping from the micrometer to the single-molecule scale. By mastering non-equilibrium energy statistics and decoupling probe interference, this work paves the way for the intelligent thermal design of next-generation semiconductors at their ultimate physical limits.

A new retrospective cohort study conducted at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf has revealed that hypoxic liver injury (HLI) is a frequent and highly consequential complication among critically ill patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The findings highlight HLI as a significant prognostic marker associated with markedly increased mortality in this vulnerable population.