Researchers have developed a strategy to improve the fire safety of polymer materials by using ZIF-67, a porous metal-organic framework, together with different flame-retardant components. The study explains how ZIF-67 can enhance fire resistance, reduce smoke release and provide a versatile platform for designing safer high-performance polymer composites.

Molecular perovskite energetic materials (PEMs), featuring ordered ABX₃ crystal frameworks, have emerged as a promising platform for integrating fuel and oxidizing components at the molecular and crystal levels. A review in Energetic Materials Frontiers establishes molecular perovskites as a distinctive platform for the development of multicomponent energetic crystals. Their modular crystal architecture enables fuel and oxidizer components to be organized within ordered lattices, while site substitution, composite modification and data-driven design provide multiple pathways for tuning energy release, thermal stability and safety.

New research reveals that natural soil minerals critically control the fate of lead locked into chloropyromorphite—a stable mineral formed during phosphorus-based lead remediation. Negatively charged clay minerals enhance its mobility, while positively charged iron minerals promote rapid settling, highlighting the need for site-specific risk assessments.

A new study in Macao reveals that stormwater drains carry significant microplastic pollution into coastal waters. Concentrations reached over 53 particles per litre, with hazardous polymers like PVC posing high ecological risks. The research highlights how land use and rainfall drive this pollution pathway in subtropical coastal cities.

Thermochromic smart windows can automatically adjust solar and thermal radiation in response to temperature, offering a passive route to reduce building energy demand and improve indoor comfort. A new review published in Science Bulletin examines why these windows have not yet achieved large-scale application, despite rapid materials progress. The authors identify key challenges in spectral regulation, switching temperature, response speed, durability, scalable fabrication, glazing integration, lifecycle impacts, and building control. They argue that future development should shift from isolated material optimization toward deployment-oriented design and system-integrated adaptive building envelopes.

GBD 2021 data were used to assess trends, SDI-related distributions and DALY drivers from 1990 to 2021. Cardiovascular diseases had the highest mortality and DALY rates in 2021. Communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional (CMNN) burdens remained concentrated towards lower-SDI settings but gradients weakened, whereas NCD burdens remained concentrated towards higher-SDI settings and gradients strengthened. Population growth and ageing mainly drove the 577 million rise in NCD-related DALYs.

Researchers at Soochow University have demonstrated a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with a lab efficiency of 34.0%. An independently certified device achieved a steady-state efficiency of 33.5% and an open-circuit voltage of 2.014 V. Discrete zirconia nanoparticles at the buried interface promoted uniform, void-free perovskite growth and suppressed non-radiative recombination through field-effect passivation without hindering charge extraction. The encapsulated device retained 84% of its initial efficiency after 2000 h of continuous operation.