The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) plays a crucial role in regulating calcium handling and cellular function in cardiac myocytes. However, the properties of cardiac SR calcium have not been fully elucidated, particularly in small rodents like rats and mice, which are widely used in cardiovascular research.

In this groundbreaking study, researchers from Beijing University of Technology and Xi’an Jiaotong University developed a spatially detailed numerical model to investigate calcium movements within the junctional SR (jSR) cisternae of rat cardiomyocytes. This model accurately replicated the jSR calcium kinetics observed in a recent experimental study, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms governing calcium handling in rat cardiomyocytes.

A new study by Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev reveals groundbreaking findings about the famous Rujm el-Hiri site (known as the "Wheel of Ghosts") in the Golan Heights. Based on geomagnetic analysis and tectonic reconstruction, the researchers determined that geodynamic movement over 150 million years, at an average rate of 8–15 mm per year, caused significant shifts in the ground, rotating and reorienting it over millennia. This finding challenges the widely held theory that the structure was used as an astronomical observatory, as the original alignment of the walls and entrances does not correspond to celestial observations, as previously hypothesized.

A novel machine learning framework accelerates the discovery of ionic thermoelectric materials, achieving precise Seebeck coefficient predictions. This groundbreaking method identified a waterborne polyurethane-potassium iodide ionogel with a Seebeck coefficient of 41.39 mV/K. Insights into key molecular features promise rapid advancements in waste-heat recovery and thermal sensing technologies.

In a paper published in National Science Review, an advanced catalytic team of scientists present a novel heterogeneous catalytic process that efficiently converts polyurethane waste into important chemicals like aromatic amines and lactones by combining methanolysis and hydrogenation with a CO₂/H₂ reaction medium. The intermediate chemicals were then transformed into functional polymers—polyimide and polylactone.

A research team led by Professors Wu and Cai at the State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, AIRCAS has developed a flexible serpentine electrode probe that enables stable, long-term neural monitoring. This study was published in National Science Review.