Using liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy, this study observed intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) transition from single molecules to oligomers, networked clusters, and a dense phase above a concentration threshold. Driven by conformational changes, this dynamic dense phase can disassemble into oligomers/monomers and reform. This provides direct experimental evidence for a non-classical, multi-step nucleation mechanism in early liquid-liquid phase separation.

Chiral objects are important in fields like drug development because their interactions with biological systems depend on handedness. Researchers from Tokyo University of Science, Institute for Molecular Science, and Seoul National University used light to selectively manipulate nanosized chiral objects. By confining circularly polarized light in an ultra-thin optical fiber, they transported metallic chiral nanoparticles based on handedness, thereby enabling chirality control at near-molecular scales, opening possibilities for applications involving chiral systems, including drug development.

Biodegradable plastics hold potential for reducing marine plastic pollution, but degrade too quickly, limiting their practical use. Researchers from Gunma University now show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown rate of biodegradable plastics in seawater by altering the microbial communities that colonize their surfaces, known as the plastisphere. These findings could help design plastics that stay durable during use and then degrade at an appropriate time once in the ocean.

A research team led by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), CAS, has achieved a breakthrough in spintronics by demonstrating that nonsymmorphic symmetry in hexagonal SrIrO₃ protects topological Dirac semimetal states. This unique electronic structure leads to record-breaking charge-spin conversion efficiency, enabling magnetic switching with ultra-low power dissipation. The study establishes a robust and universal criterion for designing future energy-efficient spintronic devices.