Porous piezoelectric ceramics exhibit strong potential for sensing weak mechanical stimuli. However, the intrinsic coupling between the piezoelectric charge coefficient (d₃₃) and dielectric constant (εᵣ) limits energy conversion efficiency. Here, a fully open, three-dimensionally interconnected PZT-based porous ceramic (3D-PPC) is developed to overcome this constraint. Despite an ultrahigh porosity of 92%, the material retains a high d₃₃ (~470 pC/N), while εᵣ is significantly reduced (~140), leading to a ~14-fold enhancement in g₃₃ (~380 × 10^-3 V·m/N). This performance arises from synergistic effects of heterogeneous stress/electric fields, multiscale domain structures, and defect engineering, demonstrating that 3D interconnected porosity actively modulates local polarization behavior.

Tsinghua University Press is pleased to announce the launch of Carbonsphere, a new open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to carbon science, technology, and policy. Sponsored by Qinghai University and Tsinghua University and published by Tsinghua University Press, the journal creates a new interdisciplinary platform for research spanning natural systems, engineered systems, and human systems.

Tsinghua University Press has launched Health Engineering, a new international open-access journal designed to unite engineering, biotechnology, and medical science in addressing some of the most pressing global health challenges. The journal aims to accelerate research that applies engineering principles to improve health outcomes, enable earlier disease intervention, and support the transition from treatment-focused medicine toward proactive health management.

A University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology-developed algorithm – paired with a continuous glucose monitor – can help users better manage their type 2 diabetes by recommending insulin-dose adjustments, a new study found.

Across the board, the authors found that LLM responses were significantly more similar to each other than human responses. In isolation, a single LLM response to a task was typically rated as roughly equally creative or more creative than the average human response. However, when compared to other outputs from other LLMs—whether Gemini, GPT, or Llama—similar ideas and responses emerged again and again. According to the authors, relying on LLMs for brainstorming, problem solving, or making art risks harming human thinking.