Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a lower-cost and more resource-abundant alternative to lithium-ion systems, but their practical performance is often weakened before they truly begin working. A major obstacle is the loss of active sodium ions during the first charge-discharge cycle, especially when hard carbon anodes are used. A new study reports a residue-free electrolyte additive, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO₂CF₃), designed to release sodium ions at the right stage of battery formation while avoiding harmful solid leftovers. By combining molecular design, electrochemical testing, and pouch-cell validation, the work offers a practical route to improving initial efficiency, cycle life, and manufacturability in sodium-ion batteries.

Optically addressable spin systems have emerged as promising platforms for quantum sensing. Researchers studying spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have found that excitation wavelength plays a critical role in their performance. By tuning the wavelength, the team achieved a threefold improvement in the measured contrast and magnetic field sensitivity. The findings also uncover a strong impact on photodynamics, offering a practical pathway to optimising hBN-based defects for quantum sensing technologies.

Researchers from the High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Nanjing University and Yanshan University, have directly observed the Meissner effect in two-dimensional (2D) superconductors using a high-sensitivity magnetic measurement technique.

Infected wounds pose a significant medical challenge, often leading to delayed healing and complications due to bacterial biofilms and excessive inflammation. A key characteristic of these infection sites is an acidic microenvironment. Scientists have now engineered a smart nanoplatform that uses this acidity as a trigger to release a potent combination of therapeutic agents directly at the wound site.

In an article appearing in the journal Biomedical Analysis, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University describe the development of a novel nanocomposite, SH@ZIF-8/AgNPs. This platform consists of a porous carrier called a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), which is loaded with shikonin (SH), a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The surface of this carrier is then decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are well-known for their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The design enables the encapsulation of a high concentration of shikonin within a stable structure.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are widely viewed as a safer and more powerful alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, but their promise is often limited by unstable interfaces inside the cell. A new study shows that carefully introducing oxygen into a sulfide-based solid electrolyte (SE) can stabilize this vulnerable interface while keeping lithium ions moving rapidly. Using lithium sulfate (Li₂SO₄) as an oxygen source, the researchers reshaped the internal lithium pathways of an argyrodite electrolyte and activated cage-to-cage ion conduction. The result is a solid electrolyte that supports high capacity, fast charging and discharging, and long cycling stability, offering a practical strategy for next-generation batteries.

A new genomic study uncovers how hybridization helped shape the extraordinary diversity of Philodendron, one of the world's most valued tropical foliage plant groups.

A global registry study of 1,762 patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv), led by Professor Henryk Wilczek and colleagues from Karolinska Institutet and published in eGastroenterology, shows that pre-transplant phenotype strongly influences long-term outcomes after liver transplantation. Cardiac involvement predicts significantly worse survival, while renal involvement alone does not. Median survival reached 20.4 years overall but dropped to 15.2 years in cardiac phenotypes. Early autonomic neuropathy progression may signal disease recurrence. These findings refine patient selection and provide a benchmark for evaluating modern disease-modifying therapies.