Researchers create a soft electrohydraulic robot that adapts to terrestrial and aquatic environments

Imagine a robot that is crawling and exploring on land, as it encounters a body of water, it switches into swimming mode to keep going freely- this is not a sci-fi scenario, but the real-life capabilities of a multi-modal amphibious soft robot newly developed by a team of researchers. The highlight of this robot is its ability to switch smoothly between terrestrial and aquatic environments without any structural modifications or reconfiguration. What is more impressive is its ability to operate in extreme temperature environments, from -20°C to even 70°C.

The team published their findings in Cyborg and Bionic Systems on June 9, 2025.

In the context of global aging, aging has become a key risk factor for chronic diseases and death. It remains uncertain which of the several promising DNA methylation (DNAm)-based algorithms best captures the true state of biological aging. Recently, the team led by Li Xiangwei from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the team led by Tong Tianlang from Hainan International Medical Center published an article titled "Associations of twelve DNA methylation signatures of aging with mortality" on hLife, bringing new breakthroughs to the field of aging and mortality risk assessment. Based on long-term and population-based cohorts, the team found that GrimAge2 has significant advantages over other DNAm signatures of aging in predicting mortality risk and is expected to become a powerful tool for mortality risk assessment.

Cirrhosis is a life-threatening liver disease that affects millions worldwide and is often accompanied by complications such as malnutrition, muscle loss, and cognitive decline. In a comprehensive narrative review, researchers from China highlight that handgrip strength measurements can serve as a powerful predictor of cirrhosis progression and mortality. This simple, non-invasive test reinforces traditional muscle mass measures and offers a cost-effective tool to guide early intervention and improve patient outcomes.

The decline in oral function can result in poor diet balance, affecting daily physical activities in older adults. However, its association with overall health remains unknown. To address this, researchers from Japan investigated the association between oral function and blood test results in older adults. The findings revealed that adults with blood test results outside the normal range had low oral function, indicating that poor oral health may increase the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases.