Researchers from Zhejiang University and other institutions conducted a systematic study on intrinsic defects in half-Heusler compounds—a big family of functional materials. They have discovered a new type of planar defect, named “filling fault,” along with the associated vacancy swap occupation. Their work clarifies the long-standing contradiction regarding defect types and atomic occupation in half-Heusler compounds. They elucidate the formation rules of filling faults across different compositions and reveal the mechanisms by which this novel planar defect influences carrier transport and piezoelectric response. These findings offer new perspectives for the design of functional materials.

Researchers have developed a wide-field Fourier transform hyperspectral imaging system that captures electrochemical reactions on hundreds of individual nanoparticles simultaneously. By integrating a common-path interferometer with a fast 2D camera, the method provides real-time spectral evolution during electrodeposition of palladium and cadmium sulfide on gold nanoparticles. Statistical analysis reveals distinct deposition behaviors on nanospheres versus nanorods—insights that would require thousands of tedious single-particle measurements using conventional approaches.

Researchers have developed a compact, built-in neutron analyzer for on-site measurement of uranium loading and element changes in wet ion-exchange resins. The 80 kg system combines prompt fission-neutron counting with prompt-gamma spectroscopy. Laboratory tests yielded a 0.129 g/L uranium detection limit in 60 s, while a field campaign at a commercial in-situ recovery mine followed adsorption, elution, transformation and a second adsorption cycle.

A new review brings together research on geopolitical tensions, meteorological disasters, regional environmental degradation, supply chain disruption, systemic financial instability, and technology-mediated societal and institutional risks. It shows how shocks can spread through interconnected political, economic, ecological, technological, and social systems, and outlines a flexible cycle of risk identification, assessment, management, and adaptive monitoring supported by international cooperation.

Ammonia is essential for fertilizers and is emerging as a zero‑carbon energy carrier, but its industrial production via the Haber‑Bosch process is energy‑intensive and emits large amounts of CO₂. Meanwhile, nitrate pollution from agriculture and industry has contaminated groundwater worldwide, threatening ecosystems and human health. Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (NO₃RR) offers an elegant solution: using renewable electricity to convert nitrate waste into valuable ammonia.

This critical review evaluates pharmaceutical pollution in soil‑air environments—where prevalent contaminants are antibiotics, analgesics, NSAIDs, antidepressants and anticancer agents—that threatens terrestrial and microbial communities, and highlights an urgent need for interdisciplinary research to protect ecosystem health.

Recently, a research team led by Associate Professor Jian Chen at China Agricultural University developed two novel Type I-C CRISPR systems, Aca I-C and Cja I-C, that enable efficient genome editing in maize. The study establishes Type I-C CRISPR systems as additional platforms for plant genome engineering and highlights the potential of microbial genome mining for discovering editing tools. These technologies may contribute to future crop improvement by providing alternative strategies for targeted genome modification.