New research has discovered that the molecular machines responsible for copying our DNA have a surprising hidden talent – an ability to create entirely new and highly sophisticated DNA sequences from scratch.

A team of scientists from the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, has introduced an economical and environmentally friendly approach for cleaning antibiotic-contaminated water. The work, led by authors Jingqi Wu and Jiawei Chen, focuses on enhancing a carbon material called hydrochar, derived from the noxious invasive water hyacinth plant. By applying a simple mechanical grinding process, the team was able to nearly triple the material's capacity to adsorb the common antibiotic norfloxacin, presenting a promising new avenue for water remediation.

Measuring low-frequency electric fields remains difficult when traceability, small size, and vector resolution are all required at the same time. A team at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, proposed a sensing scheme based on a Rydberg dipolar atom chain, where the external field is reflected in angle-dependent many-body interactions. With readouts in the time, energy, and frequency domains, the work suggests a feasible way to realize compact and vector-resolved sensing of low-frequency electric fields.

China’s ambitious “Dual Carbon” initiative, aiming for carbon dioxide emissions to peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, necessitates a profound transformation across all sectors. A recent perspective paper explores the significant role of forestry in this national endeavor, detailing its potential to enhance carbon sequestration while addressing developmental challenges. The analysis, conducted by researchers at Foshan University, University of Western Australia, and the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, offers a strategic blueprint for leveraging forest resources as a low-cost carbon sink for global climate change mitigation.