In the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and their co-workers used multi-material 4D bioprinting to assemble magnetically responsive, mineral-seeding "microrobots". Printed as flat constructs, these adaptive devices automatically curl upon contact with bodily fluids to fit complex joint contours, coaxing host cells to rebuild hard bone below and slick cartilage above.

Researchers have developed a deterministic IFC-based workflow that evaluates whole-building material choices for both embodied carbon and circularity. In a reference building, 150 wall-floor-roof configurations were reduced to 12 non-dominated candidate scenarios, with stable results across weighting, threshold and uncertainty checks.

A novel nanovesicle-based platform developed at Institute of Science Tokyo can measure hydrostatic pressure by converting pressure-induced molecular changes into fluorescence signals. The researchers developed pyrene-modified polyionic complex vesicles and demonstrated that variations in the vesicles’ membrane stiffness regulate their pressure sensitivity. Softer vesicles showed strong sensitivity in the 0.1–50 MPa range, while stiffer vesicles showed pressure-dependent changes in fluorescence lifetime. These findings enable the investigation of hydrostatic pressure-dependent phenomena in diverse inaccessible environments.

Pitting corrosion can threaten the durability of aluminum components. Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, used interpretable machine learning to reveal a critical shift in how surface morphology affects steam-coated aluminum. The model identified a thickness-dependent change in this interaction near 2,200 nm, or 2.2 µm, within a specific roughness range. The findings suggest directions for coating design and further experimental validation.

Wearable sensors that measure sodium and potassium in sweat could help monitor people working or exercising in hot environments. However, printed reference electrodes often need a long conditioning time before giving stable readings. Against this backdrop, researchers developed an wristwatch-type sensor that pairs a quick-settling printed reference electrode with ion-selective electrodes, a fabric-based sample transport layer, and wireless electronics. Their design demonstrates the feasibility of a wearable sweat-monitoring system with potential for low-cost mass production.

Early warning alone cannot stop an outbreak. A new Perspective in Science Bulletin examines why signals from emerging infectious diseases can fail to trigger timely public health action, and proposes a practical pathway linking rapid verification, context-sensitive risk assessment, predefined action triggers and operational readiness.

Researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn have succeeded in dramatically rejuvenating human cells in a test tube. To do so, they directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into stem cells from which neurons can be derived. During this process, the molecular clocks that indicate a cell’s age were reset. For example, blood cells from an 80-year-old were transformed into stem cells with a molecular age of less than 20 years. Since this rejuvenation process occurred very slowly, it is well-suited for a more detailed investigation of the underlying mechanisms. The results have been published in the journal Aging Cell.