The commercialization of liquid lithium-ion batteries has revolutionized the consumer electronics industry. However, conventional lithium-ion batteries with graphite anodes and organic electrolytes are approaching their intrinsic performance limits and struggle to meet the growing demands for higher energy density, reliability, and safety in electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage. Solid-state batteries utilizing lithium or sodium metal anodes are considered promising next-generation energy storage solutions. Despite this potential, the formation of dendrites during charge–discharge cycling remains a critical challenge. Dendrite growth can initiate a destructive feedback loop of crack propagation and further dendrite intrusion, ultimately leading to battery failure and performance degradation. Previous studies have predominantly focused on single physical domains, such as electrochemical, stress, or thermal fields. However, such single-physics approach limits the understanding of dendrite evolution under realistic, coupled multiphysics conditions. This review first compares the morphological characteristics of dendrites in liquid and solid-state metal batteries. It then critically examines the key factors and predictive models of dendrite formation, initially from single-physics and subsequently from an integrated multiphysics perspective. Finally, strategies for mitigating dendrite growth via multiphysics field regulation are summarized. By establishing a comprehensive framework that integrates morphology evolution, multiphysics modeling, and suppression strategies, this work provides a foundational theoretical understanding for addressing dendrite formation in solid-state lithium and sodium metal batteries.

Fluorescence molecular imaging is an evolving technology for precision tumor diagnosis and therapy. By means of fluorescence probes, it enables the visualization of tumor-associated molecules, cells, or microenvironmental components, thereby facilitating the efficient identification and localization of lesions. With recent advances in the near-infrared II (NIR-II) window, targeted probes, microenvironment-responsive probes, multimodal imaging strategies, and theranostic integrated probes, fluorescence molecular imaging is shifting from a modality primarily used to “visualize lesions” toward a more comprehensive platform for tumor identification, therapy facilitation, and treatment-response monitoring. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, can support image denoising, enhancement, resolution improvement, and three-dimensional localization, and may further assist in tumor recognition and grading, minimal residual disease assessment, and metastatic risk estimation. Overall, the integration of fluorescence imaging with AI is advancing oncology toward a more precise, intelligent, and integrated paradigm; however, key challenges remain, including probe biocompatibility and safety, clinical translation, and the lack of standardized imaging protocols.

A research team has completed the first genome-wide analysis of the UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene family in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), identifying 149 genes and revealing their potential roles in flavonoid production, anthocyanin metabolism, fruit development, and environmental responses. 

Honeysuckle flower buds carry medicinal, horticultural, and ornamental value, but their best harvest stage is brief: once buds open, key bioactive compounds can decline and floral quality changes quickly. A new study traces the unusually slow bud opening of the honeysuckle cultivar Lonicera japonica 'Huajin 6' to a genomic bottleneck in jasmonic acid (JA) production. By assembling a chromosome-level genome and integrating comparative genomics, transcriptomics, hormone profiling, and functional assays, the researchers found that contraction of the lipoxygenase (LOX) gene family limits JA accumulation during a critical floral transition. The finding explains how gene loss can lengthen a useful harvest window and offers a breeding route for flowering-time control.

Dr. Deanna Kennedy of the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management and Drs. Ana Diaz Artiles and Bonnie Dunbar from the Department of Aerospace Engineering have partnered to investigate how differences in gravity influence coordination and movement control. Their latest work looks into how the body performs in altered gravity conditions to identify challenges astronauts encounter in space and how the human body adapts when environmental surroundings shift.

“On Earth, we spend our entire lives moving in a 1G environment, where the gravitational force feels natural,” Kennedy said. “But when that changes, the way our body controls movement changes too and understanding that helps us predict where performance may begin to break down.”

As demand for optical communication capacity continues to grow, the 2 µm wavelength region is emerging as a promising new window for future photonic systems. Researchers have developed a high-speed InGaAs/GaAsSb type-II superlattice photodetector that is heterogeneously integrated on silicon via micro-transfer printing. By combining a backside Au reflector with a low-index BCB cavity, the device achieves broadband operation from 0.8 to 2.5 µm and a 57.9% responsivity enhancement at 2 µm, while maintaining 17–18.7 GHz bandwidth and clear 50 Gbps eye diagrams. The work provides a practical route toward broadband, high-speed photodetectors for silicon photonics and next-generation optical interconnects.