Rapid industrialization advancements have grabbed worldwide attention to integrate a very large number of electronic components into a smaller space for performing multifunctional operations. To fulfill the growing computing demand state-of-the-art materials are required for substituting traditional silicon and metal oxide semiconductors frameworks. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have shown their tremendous potential surpassing the limitations of conventional materials for developing smart devices. Despite their ground-breaking progress over the last two decades, systematic studies providing in-depth insights into the exciting physics of 2D materials are still lacking. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the importance of 2D materials in bridging the gap between conventional and advanced technologies due to their distinct statistical and quantum physics. Moreover, the inherent properties of these materials could easily be tailored to meet the specific requirements of smart devices. Hence, we discuss the physics of various 2D materials enabling them to fabricate smart devices. We also shed light on promising opportunities in developing smart devices and identified the formidable challenges that need to be addressed.

An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher examined whether abdominal obesity predicts frailty progression in 2,962 community-dwelling adults aged 30–79 years in Osaka, Japan over the course of a year.

No calibration, no alignment errors: A new laser system images and machines in one step, carving precise shapes in circuits and weeding out bad micro-LEDs with better than 15 µm accuracy—read how it works.

The mode transition of combined-cycle inlets, governed by sidewall constraints, is inherently characterized by significant three-dimensional (3D) unsteady flow phenomena that elude capture by conventional two-dimensional (2D) diagnostics or single-point transducers. This research published in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics utilizes fast-response pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) to conduct dynamic measurements on the wall pressure field of a typical over-under TBCC inlet during mode transition, successfully elucidating the 3D characteristics of these unsteady flows.

The development of artificial synapses aimed at creating neuromorphological computing systems that are anticipated to fundamentally address the performance bottleneck issues in von Neumann architecture systems. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, with their atomic-scale thickness and van der Waals contact surfaces, offer exceptional optoelectronic properties, making them potential candidates for artificial synapse fabrication.

Pore-scale mechanisms of drag reduction by micro-blowing have rarely been explored. A direct numerical simulation (DNS) study, published in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, is performed to uncover the fundamental physics of single-hole micro-blowing in a supersonic turbulent boundary layer. Results reveal a dual-regime drag-reduction mechanism: upstream reduction driven by adverse pressure gradients and downstream reduction dominated by the formation of a low-speed air film. A detailed vortex-interaction analysis further explains how micro-blowing sustains stable drag-reduction performance under turbulent vortex interference.

Understanding the internal structure of asteroids is crucial for deciphering their formation and establishing defenses against potential hazard asteroids (PHAs). Ground-based radar, notably the Goldstone observatory operating in the C-band, plays a crucial role in quickly and precisely determining the orbit, size, shape, and rotation rate of PHAs. Whereas, the limited penetration capabilities of C-band electromagnetic waves hinder the exploration of subsurface information such as porosity and internal structure. A recently constructed interferometric array – DAocheng Radio Telescope (DART), previously known as DSRT for short – designed for low-frequency Sun imaging presents a promising tool for probing asteroid interiors. DART is a circular array of 1 km diameter with 313 element antennas, each with an aperture of 6 m. The nominal receiver band is 150 to 450 MHz. Electromagnetic waves in the band can penetrate asteroids to study the subsurface.

Following the path towards innovation in education and health, the Department of Education and Specific Didactics of the Universitat Jaume I is developing Hort4Health. Under the direction of Mireia Adelantado Renau, lecturer in the Department of Didactics of Experimental Sciences, this leading project seeks to analyse and investigate in an interdisciplinary way the impact of integrating an eco-educational garden in the classrooms where students learn about health, sustainability and emotional well-being, thus offering a solid scientific basis on the benefits of these practices.

The Hort4Health project emerges in response to the growing need to promote healthy habits among young people, especially in an era where technology and sedentary lifestyles predominate and generate worrying figures. Through practical activities in the garden, students not only study about agriculture and ecology, but also experience the benefits of physical activity and contact with nature for their mental and physical health. Researcher Mireia Adelantado points out that in this way "scientific results will be obtained on the current healthy habits of the university community, completing the scarce previous literature on this subject in this population". This initiative has already involved more than a hundred pupils from the Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher degrees, who have participated in sessions designed to improve their emotional wellbeing, their connection with the environment and their understanding of the importance of an active and healthy life. Early results indicate a significant positive impact on the physical health of the participants and underline the potential of the garden as an innovative space for learning and wellbeing.

As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) becomes more prevalent, scientists are exploring new methods for its early detection. In a recent review, researchers from India outline how neuron-derived extracellular vesicles—tiny membrane-bound particles released by neurons—are emerging as a promising diagnostic tool for AD. The contents of these vesicles carry molecular clues on the health of neurons, and it may soon be possible to use them to predict the onset of AD several years in advance.