As we venture deeper into space and establish bases and orbital stations on celestial bodies, it is imperative to develop sustainable space transportation methods that minimise propellant usage. Currently, the most common method for Earth-Mars transfers is through chemical propulsion systems. While the chemical propulsion system is well established, it has several drawbacks, including low efficiency, high propellant mass requirements, thermal limitations, and operational complexity. Momentum exchange tethers, which, in theory, can operate without the need for any propellant, offer an innovative alternative to these propulsion systems. Especially, in a symmetrical tether, the COM lies at the centre of the length. If both the equal mass payloads are released at the same time, then the orbit of the tether does not change. Additional delta-v can be generated by the libration (oscillation) or rotation of the tethers, which can be induced by a motor facility. Though there are various investigations into space tethers, there is a gap in the use of symmetrical tethers for interplanetary transfers. 

Sudden surface anomalies (SSAs)—ranging from earthquakes and floods to wildfires and industrial accidents—pose escalating threats to ecosystems and societies worldwide. With its advantages of wide coverage, high revisit frequency, and rich information content, remote sensing is regarded as an effective tool for rapid detection and early warning of such anomalies. However, significant technical bottlenecks remain in using remote sensing to monitor SSAs, such as delays due to revisit intervals and complex data processing chains and challenges for the integration and joint analysis of multi-source information, resulting in frequent occurrences of missed detections and false alarms. Real-time remote sensing has emerged as a transformative approach for monitoring and early warning of such abrupt events, driven by recent advances in satellite constellations, on-orbit artificial intelligence, and multi-source data fusion.

Achieving regioselective C–H functionalization is a particularly difficult issue in organic chemistry when these C–H bonds have similar reactivity. Although significant progress has been made in regioselective C–H functionalization at one specific site, the tunable version of such processes is rarely documented. Here we describe a tunable meta- and para-selective C–H borylation of aryl and benzyl phosphonates, in which the regioselectivity can be switched by bifunctional ligands. A broad range of substrates are compatible and exhibit good to excellent regioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. Benzyl phosphonates can be conveniently transformed into styrene derivatives via Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination. Gram-scale preparation and derivatization of borylated products demonstrate the important application of our method in synthetic chemistry. The orthogonality of two functional Bpin and phosphorylmethyl groups provides ample opportunity for increasing the diversity of styrene derivatives with precise site-control.

Efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ production is a sustainable alternative to the anthraquinone process, yet designing photocatalysts with both high activity and selectivity is extremely challenging. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer modular architectures and tunable electronic structures, but precise electronic modulation for maximizing H2O2 photosynthesis is rarely attained. Here we report a series of naphthalimide-based donor–acceptor COFs with systematically engineered cores. Among them, NDI–B–COF (benzene core) delivers an outstanding H₂O₂ yield of 11,025 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (with sacrificial agent), far surpassing its nitrogen- and triazine-core analogs. This performance stems from synergistic effects of an extended in-plane conjugation and a reduced core polarity, which collectively enhance charge separation, directional carrier transport, and *OH intermediate formation, thereby lowering the barrier for two-electron water oxidation. These findings establish a clear structure–property–activity correlation and offer a general strategy for developing highly efficient metal-free photocatalysts.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team conducted a within-subject crossover study, which examined electroencephalographic source activity and heart rate variability in 29 community-dwelling elderly women during flower arrangement tasks using fresh and artificial flowers.

Lithium–oxygen batteries are widely considered a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage because of their exceptionally high theoretical energy density. However, their development has been limited by poor cycling stability, slow charging reactions, and substantial energy loss.

As the world faces new and often untreatable viral threats, Simon Fraser University researchers have found a way to cut years off the time it takes to discover antiviral drugs. The research enables scientists to quickly create large libraries of nucleoside analogs (NAs), compounds that mimic the building blocks of DNA and RNA and are widely used to treat cancer and viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

 Informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia experience notable reductions in stress and improvements in mindfulness within just three to four weeks of using a tailored mobile application, according to a secondary analysis published in JMIR Aging.