A controlled/“living” click polymerization method developed by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo and Nagoya University enables precise chain-growth of AB-type monomers—traditionally limited to step-growth processes—by leveraging copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition. The approach achieves well-defined polymers with narrow dispersity and enables the bidirectional synthesis of ABA-type block copolymers, offering a powerful new strategy for constructing functional macromolecular architectures from a wide range of monomers.

A new palladium-loaded amorphous InGaZnO_x (a-IGZO) catalyst achieved over 91% selectivity when converting carbon dioxide to methanol, report researchers from Japan. Unlike traditional catalysts, this system leverages the electronic properties of semiconductors to generate all the species necessary for the conversion reaction. This study demonstrates novel design principles for sustainable catalysis based on electronic structure engineering.

Indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO)-based displays suffer from instability caused by atomic-scale defects. Now, a new study provides the first insights into these instabilities in single-crystal IGZO. Researchers grew high-quality IGZO single crystals and uncovered how oxygen vacancies and structural disorder create unwanted electronic states—details that were unclear in previous studies using amorphous IGZO samples. These findings could guide the development of more stable and longer-lasting displays for smartphones, televisions, and other devices.

A recent review published in National Science Review delves into the significance and potential of synchronous electrolytes for aqueous zinc-halogen batteries. The review examines challenges such as zinc corrosion and halogen instability, while proposing advanced strategies like gradient hydrogels and biphasic electrolytes to simultaneously optimize both sides. These insights pave the way for practical applications in grid-scale energy storage.

Powered by differentiable imaging, Uncertainty - Aware Fourier Ptychography (UA - FP) revolutionizes computational imaging. It models uncertainties without complex calibration, enabling high - quality reconstructions despite system flaws, and opens doors to diverse applications.

An international research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has, for the first time, succeeded in visualizing and quantifying the complex airflow dynamics directly above the ocean surface in high resolution. Using an innovative laser measurement system, previously unknown and highly complex mechanisms of energy exchange between wind and waves have been deciphered — a significant step forward for climate research, weather models, and ocean dynamics. The research findings have been published in Nature Communications.