High-performance piezoceramics are urgently needed for precision actuation, but conventional lead-based materials face environmental restrictions. The BiFeO₃‑BaTiO₃ (BF-BT) lead-free system offers high Curie temperature yet suffers from large leakage current and poor process stability. A team led by Prof. Bo-Ping Zhang at University of Science and Technology Beijing developed a one-step sintering method to fabricate 0.7BiFeO₃‑0.3BaTiO₃ ceramics, achieving a d₃₃ of 201 pC/N, a high-field d₃₃* of 1021 pm/V, a large strain of ~0.38%, and a Curie temperature of 501 °C. Through precise Fe non-stoichiometry defect engineering, the study reveals the temperature-dependent leakage conduction mechanisms in the BF-BT system and the synergistic role of internal bias fields on strain behavior, providing insights into defect–property relationships for lead-free piezoceramics.

The escalating complexity of the electromagnetic environment calls for advanced electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials capable of efficient multi-frequency attenuation. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising dielectric candidate but is hindered by intrinsic impedance mismatch and limited polarization loss. Herein, we report a novel ternary heterostructure absorber consisting of SiC nanowires synergistically coupled with dual rare-earth silicides (Ce₅Si₄ and Pr₅Si₄), fabricated via a combined magnesiothermic/carbothermal reduction process using an MFI-type zeolite precursor. This unique architecture creates an intricate porous network featuring abundant multiple heterogeneous interfaces (SiC/Ce₅Si₄, SiC/Pr₅Si₄, and Ce₅Si₄/Pr₅Si₄). The simultaneous incorporation of Ce and Pr optimizes the complex permittivity for impedance matching and induces intense multi-interface polarization relaxation. Consequently, the designed composite achieves efficient and strong EMW absorption performance in the C-band (4.30 GHz), X-band (8.24 GHz), and Ku-band (16.51 GHz), demonstrating remarkable multi-frequency points absorption performance. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulations further demonstrate its significant stealth capability, highlighting the potential of dual rare-earth synergistic engineering. This work provides a pioneering strategy for designing high-performance, multi-frequency SiC-based absorbers through the construction of ternary rare-earth silicide heterostructures.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology can harvest low-frequency and low-power energy. However, there is limited research on harvesting energy from secondary effluents using TENG. Now, researchers have developed a droplet-based electricity generator system capable of harvesting energy from treated municipal wastewater. Using TENG technology, the system converts low-frequency energy from secondary effluents into usable electricity while simultaneously supporting wastewater treatment processes. The findings highlight a promising low-carbon pathway for sustainable wastewater resource recovery and energy utilization.

Genetically engineered cyanobacteria developed at Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, produce sulfated polysaccharides using sunlight and carbon dioxide. By transferring an entire gene cluster responsible for the production of a sulfated polysaccharide, the researchers enabled a non-producing cyanobacterial strain to produce such a polysaccharide. The research demonstrates a sustainable route for manufacturing biomaterials using photosynthesis, expanding the possibilities for synthetic biology and green chemistry applications.

On the small Greek island of Kastellorizo, researchers have discovered Dolichopoda balrogi, a new species of cave cricket living inside an artificial underground tunnel. Named after Tolkien's subterranean demon, the find proves that human-made structures can harbour entirely unique and isolated ecosystems.

Researchers at the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Jyväskylä have used artificial intelligence to speed up the analysis of colorectal cancer samples and predict the functioning of the cells’ DNA repair mechanism. The AI model's analysis can help shorten diagnosis times, reduce costs, and improve the analysis's accuracy. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Central Finland Welfare Region and is co-funded by the European Union.

An international team involving Graz University of Technology has investigated how heavy machinery can be operated more safely using extended reality applications. In the process, a disco laser outdid VR headsets.

Researchers have developed a design principle enabling the creation of complex patterns on silicon chips by way of microfabrication.

Thanks to these patterns, vibrations follow predetermined paths.

A material structured in this manner could harvest energy from vibrations or process signals without electricity.