Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) are plant-derived molecules with unique pharmaceutical potential, but their highly complex and intricate structures make them difficult to produce in the laboratory. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new strategy that enables the total synthesis of bisleuconothine A and bousigonine B, two biologically relevant oligomeric MIAs. Their findings lay the foundation for further studies of this family of molecules.  Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) are plant-derived molecules with unique pharmaceutical potential, but their highly complex and intricate structures make them difficult to produce in the laboratory. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new strategy that enables the total synthesis of bisleuconothine A and bousigonine B, two biologically relevant oligomeric MIAs. Their findings lay the foundation for further studies of this family of molecules.  

Achieving high safety in energy storage systems is paramount but hindered by the catastrophic risks of thermal runaway propagation (TRP). This study develops a gradient-laminated ceramifiable silicone foam composite to resolve the inherent trade-off between thermal insulation and dynamic impact toughness. By integrating a polydimethylsiloxane foam matrix with a load-bearing glass fiber fabric skeleton, the material utilizes silane coupling agents for robust interfacial adhesion, while multiscale fillers promote synergistic ceramicization. Characterization reveals robust mechanical durability, maintaining stable elasticity across a wide temperature range (− 40 to 300 °C) and retaining 93% residual stress after 1,000 compression cycles. Under extreme thermal exposure, the foam transforms into a dense ceramic barrier, reducing total heat release by 54.4% and sustaining thermal protection for over 30 min. Crucially, during battery module testing, this architecture efficiently intercepts high-velocity gas jets and confines thermal runaway to a single cell. Fabricated via a scalable process, this composite paves a viable way for constructing intrinsically safe energy storage systems.

Inspired by firefly bioluminescence, scientists have created a flexible fiber sensor that converts electrical sensing signals into optical signals directly on the fiber itself. The ESOT FiSensor simultaneously detects vibration, pressure, temperature and strain through a single optical fiber, transmitting data over long distances with complete immunity to electromagnetic interference — far surpassing traditional sensors.

Freestanding oxide membranes are promising platforms for flexible electronics, sensors, and heterogeneous device integration, but cracks and wrinkles formed during release and transfer can compromise their performance and reliability. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a lock-in thermography-based method that converts these hidden structural imperfections into characteristic thermal signatures. The approach enables rapid, wide-area inspection of conductive oxide membranes and provides semi-quantitative information on crack size, crack orientation, and wrinkle morphology.

Some barley beers labeled as “gluten-free” contain small amounts of gluten residues that may trigger celiac disease, which are not detected by the standard antibody-based tests currently in use. This is the conclusion of a study by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich. In the study, researchers compared two antibody-based testing methods with a mass spectrometric detection method newly developed at the Institute. The study results show that modern food analytical methods could help further improve the safety of gluten-free products in the future.

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction for solar fuel production is a critical technology enabling carbon cycling and efficient renewable energy storage. However, conversion efficiency remains severely limited by bottlenecks such as rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, high activation barriers for CO2 molecules, and inadequate catalyst stability. To overcome these challenges, this study constructed an in situ ZrO2 nanoparticle protective layer on CdS nanospheres, yielding a ZrO2/CdS-20 (ZOCS-20) core-shell composite photocatalyst. Under light conditions, this catalyst demonstrated exceptional performance, with a CO production rate of 330.23 µmol/(g·h) and near 100% CO selectivity. Systematic characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the underlying enhancement mechanism. The core-shell heterostructure suppresses charge recombination through interfacial engineering, significantly improving charge separation efficiency and carrier transport kinetics while enhancing material stability. Crucially, strong electron coupling at the ZrO2/CdS interface shifts the d-band center of catalyst toward the Fermi level, strengthening CO2 chemisorption and lowering its activation barrier. The optimized electronic interface also reduces the energy barrier for forming the *COOH intermediate, substantially decreasing activation energy of the rate-determining step (RDS) and providing additional thermodynamic driving force. This work elucidates an interface-band synergy enhancement mechanism, offering both theoretical insights and experimental guidance for the design of efficient photocatalytic materials.

Scientists found that certain chemical impurities, such as hydrogen and oxygen, help amorphous carbon form graphite-like, ultralow-friction interfaces under mechanical stress. The findings reveal how impurities can enable self-forming lubricating surfaces, offering a new strategy for designing durable, energy-efficient materials.