Frontiers in Science Deep Dive webinar series: AI-embodied surgical robots can revolutionize surgery—if regulatory questions addressed
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Oct-2026 16:16 ET (30-Oct-2026 20:16 GMT/UTC)
Scientists have demonstrated a fiber-optic sensing method that detects strain and displacement by reading interference patterns in the electrical spectrum after photodetection. The approach uses modal delay in polymer optical fibers and may support faster, simpler sensing systems.
Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops.
Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries represent a compelling technology for large-scale, sustainable energy storage, yet their practical application is severely hampered by the simultaneous interfacial challenges of uncontrolled dendrite growth on the zinc anode and the parasitic polyiodide shuttle. Herein, we introduce a dual-site functional orchestration strategy by employing a single electrolyte additive, 2-imidazolidone (ELA), to concurrently stabilize both the anode and cathode interfaces. On the anode side, the carbonyl (C=O) functional group of ELA initiates an effective anodic modulation, regulating the Zn2+ solvation environment and facilitating a dynamic adsorption layer. This homogenizes the ion flux and guides preferential Zn deposition along the (002) plane, effectively suppressing dendrite formation. Concurrently, at the cathode, the imino (N-H) group immobilizes soluble polyiodide species via hydrogen bonding, realizing an effective cathodic mooring. This targeted confinement arrests the shuttle effect without impeding the intrinsic redox kinetics. This synergistic stabilization translates into exceptional electrochemical performance, with symmetric cells achieving an ultra-long lifespan of over 5500 h at a high current density of 8 mA cm-2 and the full Zn||I2 cells demonstrating robust cycling with 79.4% capacity retention after 2500 cycles. This work introduces a dual-site functional orchestration strategy, offering a pathway toward more durable aqueous batteries.