Scientists have discovered that licorice extract, a common traditional herb, offers powerful protection against Paraclostridium bifermentans spores—a heat-resistant microbe that threatens the safety and shelf life of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken breast. In laboratory tests, licorice extract concentrations above 12.5 mg/mL significantly suppressed spore growth, while a 50 mg/mL dose nearly doubled product shelf life at 15 and 20 °C. Predictive modeling confirmed the extract’s impact on microbial growth rates and lag phases. Moreover, treated chicken samples showed slower spoilage, with lower acidity and chemical breakdown. The findings open up new possibilities for natural, plant-based preservation strategies in the meat industry.

Egg yolk, long known for its nutritional benefits, may hold the key to a natural treatment for osteoporosis. A groundbreaking study has found that water-soluble egg yolk fractions, particularly the FC1 subfraction (< 3 kDa), significantly inhibit osteoclastogenesis—the process responsible for bone resorption. This discovery, based on in vitro tests with RAW264.7 macrophages, shows that FC1 not only curbs osteoclast formation but also activates apoptosis in mature osteoclasts. With further research, these egg yolk-derived bioactive compounds could pave the way for safer, natural supplements to promote bone health, offering an alternative to traditional treatments with fewer side effects.

Fermented sausages are renowned for their bold, region-specific flavors—but what truly drives these sensory profiles lies beneath the surface. This review uncovers how dynamic microbial successions shape flavor development in both Eastern and Western sausage varieties. While Western sausages such as salami and chorizo rely on controlled fermentation with selected starter cultures for consistency, Eastern sausages depend on spontaneous microbial activity and local ingredients, resulting in diverse and nuanced flavors. By revealing the biochemical and microbial pathways responsible for taste formation, the study offers new insights into improving quality, safety, and flavor optimization for global consumers.

As 5G deployment accelerates and 6G development begins, the demand for high-performance microwave dielectric ceramics (MWDCs) has surged. A team of researchers has developed a new garnet-type ceramic material, Y₃MgAl₃GeO₁₂ (YMAG), with excellent microwave properties, including low permittivity, high quality factor, and good temperature stability. By optimizing the material with TiO₂, they achieved near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency, and a dielectric resonator antenna based on this material demonstrated outstanding performance in the X-band, highlighting its potential for 5G/6G applications.

Slow scintillation component due to charge carrier capture at point defects is a serious issue in scintillator materials. Therefore, the fabrication of scintillators with a high proportion of fast component in scintillation response is of great interest to material scientists. By applying the defect engineering strategy in the advanced optical Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce,Mg (LuAG:Ce,Mg) ceramics, ultrahigh fast scintillation proportion can be achieved with slight loss of the fast scintillation light. This strategy has a broad application potential in improving fast scintillation proportion of various oxide scintillators.  

Transition metal diborides (TMB₂) are materials of choice for the applications in hypersonic vehicles and scramjet engines due to their unique combination of fascinating properties such as high melting point, high elastic modulus, excellent thermal and chemical stability, etc. Understanding microscopic information such as the electronic structure and chemical bonding of TMB₂ is essential for establishing the structure-property relationships. However, for decades, direct observation of atomic arrangements in TMB₂ was seldom conducted due to the limited resolution of transmission electron microscope and filling this research gap was imperative. Herein the crystal structure and chemical bonding of CrB₂ were approved for the first time using aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy coupled with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) accessory. Combined with first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), CrB₂ is confirmed to have an AlB₂-type structure, where Cr bonds to each other in (001) plane by metallic bonding and B is bonding in the form of a graphite-like six-membered ring in (002) plane through sp² hybridization, while Cr-B ionic-covalent bonding is formed in (110) plane. A detailed analysis of the experimental and calculated results of EELS of CrB₂ show that the hybridization between Cr 3d and B has a significant effect on EELS of transition metal borides (TMB₂). In addition, hysteresis loop of CrB₂ was tested for the first time based on the theoretical calculation and the molar susceptibility of CrB₂ was about 5.77×10^-4 emu/mol.

To meet the demand of ultrahigh-temperature thermal insulation, a novel porous dual-phase high-entropy ultrahigh-temperature ceramic (TiZrHfNbTa)C-(TiZrHfNbTa)B₂ with outstanding merits is designed and fabricated, which has superhigh porosity, low density, high strength, low thermal conductivity, and excellent oxidation resistance. The research results provide a potential alternative for ultrahigh-temperature thermal insulation materials in aerospace field.

The limitations of conventional electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials in terms of high-temperature resistance have stimulated interest in the development of high-temperature EMW absorbing materials across various fields. However, due to the temperature dependence of the permittivity, achieving effective EMW absorption across a wide temperature range remains a significant challenge for high-temperature EMW absorbing materials. Herein, a novel molecular-scale strategy is proposed for in-situ construction multi-heterointerface during the polymer-derived ceramics process, thereby achieving temperature-insensitive permittivity. This approach to developing temperature-insensitive dielectric ceramics significantly improves the performance and functionality of high-temperature EMW absorbing materials, thereby providing substantial guidance and reference value.

A recent study highlights both the promise and limitations of the inhaled COVID-19 vaccine Ad5-XBB.1.5. Researchers found that the vaccine effectively induced strong immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses in the nasal mucosa and bloodstream, with nasal IgA showing a stronger correlation with virus-neutralizing activity than immunoglobulin G (IgG). The vaccine also boosted antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses and slightly increased antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). However, the study revealed that nasal IgA levels declined significantly by six months post-vaccination, and the majority of participants experienced breakthrough infections during the recent JN.1 wave. Additionally, individuals with high levels of pre-existing antibodies against adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) showed reduced neutralizing responses, indicating that vector immunity may limit the vaccine’s effectiveness. These findings underscore the challenges of achieving long-lasting mucosal immunity through current inhaled vaccine strategies. The researchers call for the development of next-generation mucosal vaccines, that can sustain strong and durable IgA responses in the nasal mucosa, offering better protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and reducing community transmission.