News from Science China Press

Researchers studying 5556 participants in a Chinese endoscopy-screened cohort found that genetic risk and lifestyle independently and jointly influenced upper gastrointestinal cancer risk. The study identified a potential new gastric cancer susceptibility locus at 6p12.1 from genome-wide association study and showed that adding polygenic risk scores to conventional risk models improved risk stratification. A healthy lifestyle reduced risk across genetic risk groups, with greater benefit among those at high genetic risk.

Brain-computer interfaces are moving beyond simple device control toward more dexterous robotic assistance. A new review highlights how noninvasive neural decoding, deep learning, and shared autonomy are helping robotic devices better interpret user intent, reduce control burden, and support future assistive technologies for people with motor impairments and the general population.

A stretchable, self-healing semiconductor has been developed using hierarchical hydrogen bonds—like mixing Velcro with a zipper. Unlike single-strength bonds, these multi-level bonds work together to balance rigidity and flexibility. It achieves 150% stretchability, 90% electrical healing, and record mobility of 1.01 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ under 150% strain. This solves the trade-off between charge transport, stretchability, and healing ability, paving the way for future stretchable electronics.

Researchers from the group of Prof. Jia Shuang at Peking University and the group of Prof. Xu Gang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology have recently collaborated to investigate the heavy-fermion ferromagnet CeCrGe₃. They observed giant anomalous Hall and anomalous Nernst effects and revealed that these remarkable responses originate from Kondo-driven topological flat bands. The results were published under the title “Giant Anomalous Hall and Nernst Effects in a Heavy Fermion Ferromagnet” in Science Bulletin.

The discovery of pathogenic genes based on large CHD cohort forms the foundation for improving early diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of CHD. To this end, Academician Lin He launched the Chinese Children's CHD Genome Research Project. The research team conducted whole-genome sequencing on 354 core CHD families from China, integrated single-cell transcriptomic data and phenotypic analysis in model animals, and identified high-confidence CHD risk genes. This study has constructed the largest genetic etiology map of congenital heart disease in Asian populations.