Scientists have discovered a novel infection-associated organelle, termed the “virulensome,” in the nematode-trapping fungus Dactylellina haptotyla. Previously observed only as mysterious electron-dense structures, virulensomes are now shown to form specifically in response to nematode stimulation. They function as cellular hubs enriched with diverse virulence factors. These organelles rapidly deploy pathogenic molecules into the host, revealing a previously unknown strategy underlying fungal infection. The findings were published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences.

Researchers have developed a solid-state electrolyte design strategy that enables rapid lithium-ion transport while using substantially less lithium. By forming connected interfacial networks inside oxychloride electrolytes, the strategy combines high ionic conductivity with tunable properties, including high-voltage stability. The concept was validated in long-life, high-rate all-solid-state batteries and may provide a new route for designing a family of lean-lithium solid electrolytes.

A recent study published in National Science Review developed an open-access interactive map of ARGs in Chinese soils. It revealed that the relative abundance of total ARGs and Rank I ARGs in croplands declined by 52.6% and 77.0%, respectively, after 2016, coinciding with the implementation of China’s National Action Plan to Contain Antimicrobial Resistance (2016–2020). The study further highlights chemical pollutants and agricultural activities as important factors for future environmental AMR management.

Professor Zheng Yanzhen's team at Xi'an Jiaotong University has discovered a single-molecule magnetic ring whose shape responds to changes in the magnetic field. In this system, the large spin ground state generated by ferromagnetic coupling can rapidly respond to the magnetic field, thereby inducing macroscopic crystal striction, a phenomenon that characterizes a 'single-molecule magnetostrictor'.

Reported in Science Bulletin, a new study presents the design and fabrication of an ultra-robust and multifunctional ionic biogel with multiscale architecture via a synergistic structural engineering strategy, and demonstrates its application in self-powered human interaction.

This work introduces a self-cleaning lamination technique for two-dimensional (2D) materials, using an elastic bevel stamp-assisted thermal lamination (EBTL) approach. By actively expelling interlayer impurities such as water and oxygen during lamination, the method eliminates bubbles, wrinkles, and interface defects, achieving ultra-clean van der Waals interfaces. The technique enables large-area, damage-free stacking of monolayers, twisted bilayers, and complex superlattices, as well as fully vdW-laminated transistor arrays with high performance and low device-to-device variability.

Researchers have developed a green separation process combining a tailor-made ionic liquid with heat pump technology that slashes energy consumption by 48.68% for separating dimethyl carbonate from methanol—a critical bottleneck in sustainable chemical production. Using a multi-scale strategy spanning molecular screening, experimental validation, and process optimization, the team identified an eco-friendly ionic liquid entrainer that breaks the stubborn azeotrope between these industrially important chemicals, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing.