Researchers at Northeast Normal University have shown that the relative twist angle between two WS₂ layers can be used to tune both exciton binding energy and photoinduced bandgap renormalization. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, they found that the exciton binding energy changes from 265 to 336 meV as the twist angle approaches 30 degrees, while bandgap renormalization near the Mott transition varies by more than 100 meV. Strong interlayer coupling near 0 degrees also enhances exciton transport, yielding an effective mobility of 134 cm²/(V·s), about three times that of the near-30-degree bilayer. The results connect twist-controlled interlayer coupling with dynamic screening and nonequilibrium many-body physics in two-dimensional semiconductors.

This study examines how dryland vegetation in northern China responds to interannual droughts using satellite data from 2001 to 2022. The researchers found that severe drought changes the balance between drought resistance and post-drought recovery. Under moderate drought, plants that resisted drought well also tended to recover well, but under severe drought this became a tradeoff. Arid ecosystems appeared more fragile as drought intensified, while semi-arid areas relied more on recovery. The findings highlight the need to consider both resistance and recovery in dryland restoration and management.

To unlock the full energy potential of lithium-ion batteries, researchers at Tsinghua University have developed a novel synthesis route for the high-capacity cathode material LiNiO₂. Their “low-temperature reaction–high-temperature crystallization” (LR-HC) strategy bypasses problematic rocksalt phase formation that plagues conventional methods, yielding a material with significantly improved cycling stability and efficiency. The work offers a scalable pathway toward next-generation high-energy-density batteries and deepens the fundamental understanding of nickel-based cathode synthesis.

The fabrication of high-performance 3D hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering requires a balance between mechanical stiffness and structural integrity, yet single-wavelength femtosecond laser processing has struggled to achieve both simultaneously. A dual-wavelength dual-pulse strategy with optimized spatiotemporal coordination has now been applied to the preparation of three-dimensional hydrogel cell scaffolds, overcoming the inherent limitations of single-wavelength processing and enabling 20-layer bubble-free scaffolds with enhanced mechanical properties and in-situ nanoscale topography for improved cellular responses.

5G/6G expansion intensifies electromagnetic interference, demanding high‑performance absorbers (EWAs). Conventional equilibrium syntheses suffer from slow diffusion and long heating, driving materials toward stable configurations that erase defect‑rich, metastable features beneficial for microwave loss. Flash Joule heating (FJH) offers a paradigm shift: millisecond electrical pulses generate >3000 K and ultrafast quenching, trapping materials in non‑equilibrium states. This perspective establishes FJH as a programmable platform for designing EWAs with tailored defects, metastable interfaces, and discontinuous networks.

Organic fluorophores operating in the second near-infrared window can provide deep-tissue images with high contrast, but their performance often depends on nanocarriers that can prevent hydrophobic dyes from leaking in complex biological environments. Researchers at Tong and Xiang’s group have developed multivalent tetraphenylethylene-modified DNA nanoaggregates that remain assembled under denaturing conditions, stably retain NIR-II fluorophores, and enable high-contrast vascular imaging in living mice.

In the review, researchers summarize the latest advances in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) fibers for self-powered sensing in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These fiber- and fabric-based sensors are flexible, breathable, and comfortable, converting the wearer's movements and physiological signals directly into electrical signals that drive immersive human–computer interaction. The authors survey TENG fiber structures, scalable production and integration methods, strategies to boost electrical output, and key VR/AR applications—from wearable virtual buttons to gesture recognition and virtual-character control—while outlining the remaining challenges on the path to practical, commercializable products.

Melon flesh thickness is the edible portion of the fruit and directly determines its commercial value and yield, yet the genes controlling this trait have long remained a mystery. 

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 7,663 patients reveals that 40% of people with chronic pancreatitis (CP) develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Smoking is identified as a significant risk factor, while diagnostic method strongly influences prevalence estimates—underscoring the urgent need for standardized EPI screening and early intervention.

A new clinical trial published in the Chinese Medical Journal has assessed a novel triple-combination regimen comprising the angiogenesis inhibitors famitinib, the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor dalpiciclib, and fulvestrant for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) advanced breast cancer. Although the regimen exhibited measurable antitumor activity, its overall efficacy and safety profile did not support its use as a preferred first-line therapeutic option.