Squeaks from soft-on-rigid interfaces, like shoes on a smooth floor, are driven by opening slip pulses that rapidly detach and reattach the interface at near-supersonic speeds. The audible pitch is determined by how frequently these pulses repeat.

High-voltage cathodes like spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) promise cheaper, more powerful electric vehicle batteries, but they degrade quickly with standard electrolytes. A research team has developed a novel all-fluorinated electrolyte (AFE) that forms a robust, fluorine-rich interphase on the cathode. This "protective armor" allows the battery to operate stably at high voltages (up to 4.9 V) and elevated temperatures, paving the way for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.

Researchers in Japan developed a high-efficiency iron-based photocatalyst as a cheaper alternative to rare metals like ruthenium and iridium. This catalyst works with blue LED light, significantly reduces the use of chiral ligands, and enables the first synthesis of both enantiomers of heitziamide A, a natural medicine compound that suppresses respiratory bursts.

Enzymatic biofuel cells can act as self-powered wearable biosensors by converting chemicals in body fluids into electricity; however, manufacturing challenges have prevented their widespread adoption. Now, researchers from Japan have developed water-based ‘enzyme inks’ that enable single-step screen printing of complete biofuel cells onto paper substrates. The printed electrodes demonstrated superior performance and stability compared to those made using conventional methods, paving the way for mass-produced, battery-free wearable health monitors.