Flavanols are plant-derived compounds with an astringent taste, exhibiting pro- or antioxidant properties depending on the environment. Due to poor bioavailability, their health-promoting mechanism remains unclear. A new study identified their action via the brain-gut axis.  A single oral intake of flavanols stimulated brain regions involved in memory and sleep-wake regulation, and increased sympathetic nervous activity, a stress response. These findings may lead to future applications, such as the development of next-generation foods.

Researchers at Yonsei University developed a fluoride-based solid electrolyte (LiCl–4Li₂TiF₆) that enables all-solid-state batteries to operate safely beyond 5 volts, overcoming a major voltage stability barrier. The innovation enhances ionic conductivity, prevents interfacial degradation, and achieves record energy density. Its compatibility with cost-effective materials makes it promising for next-generation electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, marking a paradigm shift in battery technology.

A semiconductor–metal synergistic interface design via in situ engineering of a Bi/BiOCl heterostructure on Zn anodes was presented. This dual–functional heterointerface enables unprecedented electrochemical performance, including: (i) stable cycling for 2500 h at 10 mA cm^–2 in symmetric cells; (ii) 1000 cycles at 10 A g^–1 for the Zn@Bi/BiOCl//dibenzo[b,i]thianthrene–5,7,12,14–tetraone (DTT) full battery, and 15,000 cycles at room temperature and 7500 cycles at –20 °C for the Zn@Bi/BiOCl//activated carbon (AC) hybrid ion capacitor (HIC), outperforming most reported AZIBs. This breakthrough originates from a dual–functional synergy: Bi nanoparticles serve as zincophilic nucleation guides to expedite homogeneous Zn²⁺ deposition, while the BiOCl semiconductor establishes a built–in electric field with Zn to redistribute interfacial ion/charge flux and elevate the hydrogen evolution barrier. This coordinated regulation simultaneously inhibits Zn dendrite formation, HER, and Zn corrosion, imparting promising applications for Zn anodes in AZIBs. Our work not only resolves the long–standing interfacial instability of Zn anodes but also pioneers a semiconductor–metal heterojunction strategy, offering a universal platform for designing dendrite–free metal batteries operable under extreme thermal and rate conditions.

In recent years, digital agricultural technology extension services (DATES), leveraging Internet platforms such as WeChat official accounts and mobile applications, have gained popularity, providing a new pathway for agricultural technology dissemination. This service overcomes the temporal and spatial limitations of traditional agricultural technology extension, enabling farmers to conveniently access planting knowledge. Then, can DATES effectively encourage farmers to adopt OMF and contribute to the green transformation of agriculture? Professor Minjuan Zhao from the College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, and her team addressed this question through a survey of farmers in major apple - producing areas in China. The related research has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2024590).

The POINT platform (http://point.gene.ac/) integrates multi-omics biological networks, advanced network topology analysis, deep learning prediction algorithms, and a comprehensive biomedical knowledge graph. It provides a powerful tool to overcome current bottlenecks in network pharmacology and advance the field.