By engineering lubricated interfaces inside nanopores, EPFL researchers have enabled ions to flow through a nanofluidic membrane with unprecedented speed and control. In addition to enhancing nanofluidic technologies, the innovation could help accelerate the development of next-generation osmotic energy harvesting.

Generative AI, which can create and analyse text, images and other content on the basis of instructions, can be used to combat misinformation. However, it can also exacerbate the problem by producing convincing manipulations that are difficult to detect and can quickly be copied and disseminated on a wide scale. In a new study, researchers have defined seven distinct roles that AI can play in the information environment and analysed each role in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks. For the seven roles, see fact box.

Developed at the University of Eastern Finland, a new an open‑source JavaScript library, Epicurrents, enables users to view several types of clinical neurophysiology recordings directly in a web browser.

Proteins often function in pairs or groups, concealing their internal connection points and making it difficult for scientists to study their individual units without altering their natural structure. Researchers successfully isolated single units of the protein SOD1, which is linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), by chemically tagging the protein and encapsulating it within tiny, self-assembled artificial cages. This technique exposed the normally hidden interface of the protein, allowing the team to identify specific compounds like quercetin that bind to these regions, offering a promising new strategy for finding drugs that inhibit disease-causing protein aggregation.

In a landmark development for the region’s scientific community, Hong Kong has been selected to host the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM) for the first time. Dubbed the “The Olympics of Astrophysics and Space Science”, this prestigious event will take place from May 4 to 8, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).