Salicylic acid (SA) plays a pivotal role in plant defense, yet its genetic regulation in tea remains largely unexplored. By analyzing 299 tea accessions through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), researchers uncovered a key gene—CsNCED1—that negatively regulates SA-mediated immune responses. Overexpression of this gene increased abscisic acid (ABA) levels and weakened pest resistance by suppressing SA biosynthesis and its receptor signaling pathway. The findings reveal the antagonistic interplay between ABA and SA in determining tea plants’ susceptibility to biotic stress, offering crucial genetic resources for marker-assisted breeding of insect-resistant cultivars.

Grapevine berries possess remarkable metabolic flexibility that enables them to sustain growth even when photosynthetic carbon input is restricted. By integrating analyses of 42 metabolites, 21 enzyme activities, and transcriptomic data, researchers revealed how Vitis vinifera berries adjust central carbon metabolism under carbon limitation. The study found that glycolytic intermediates and amino acids accumulated to maintain osmotic and energy balance, while tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediates remained stable. Despite these metabolic changes, most enzyme activities showed minimal response, indicating tight regulatory coordination at the post-transcriptional level. These findings highlight the adaptive mechanisms of grape berries to carbon stress, providing insights into managing fruit quality under climate change.

Wearable ultrasound devices represent a transformative advancement in therapeutic applications, offering noninvasive, continuous, and targeted treatment for deep tissues. These systems leverage flexible materials (e.g., piezoelectric composites, biodegradable polymers) and conformable designs to enable stable integration with dynamic anatomical surfaces. Key innovations include ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery through cavitation-mediated transdermal penetration, accelerated tissue regeneration via mechanical and electrical stimulation, and precise neuromodulation using focused acoustic waves. Recent developments demonstrate wireless operation, real-time monitoring, and closed-loop therapy, facilitated by energy-efficient transducers and AI-driven adaptive control. Despite progress, challenges persist in material durability, clinical validation, and scalable manufacturing. Future directions highlight the integration of nanomaterials, 3D-printed architectures, and multimodal sensing for personalized medicine. This technology holds significant potential to redefine chronic disease management, postoperative recovery, and neurorehabilitation, bridging the gap between clinical and home-based care.

A research team from Queensland University of Technology has developed an effective strategy to enhance sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) by using lignin, a natural polymer, as sustainable precursor for hard carbon anodes. Lignin, which is a by-product of processing biomass, has chemical treated to eliminate its hemicellulose. The purified lignin was used to make hard carbon (HC) with improved structural properties, like short-range graphitic layers, fewer defects, and a better pore structure that facilitates sodium storage. Their findings demonstrated that removing hemicellulose significantly boosts the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE, 76.1%) and the reversible capacity of the hard carbon (277.5 mAh g^-1) , along with 86.1% capacity retention after 250 cycles. This study highlights that hemicellulose removal is a crucial first step in improving the electrochemical performance of lignin-derived HC.

University of Sydney and startup Dewpoint Innovations have developed paint-like substance that reflects 97 percent of sunlight and can cool the painted surface by up to six degrees below ambient temperature, cooling building and passively extracting water. The innovation could help cool urban heat islands and supplement tank water.

A team of researchers from the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria has highlighted a promising new way to cut diesel engine pollution without sacrificing performance. Their review of global research on Water-in-Diesel Emulsion (WiDE) technology shows that blending small amounts of water into diesel fuel can dramatically reduce harmful emissions while maintaining or even improving engine efficiency.

A sweeping new study has uncovered global patterns in how bacteria thrive and interact within lakes and reservoirs, offering new insights into the invisible forces that sustain freshwater ecosystems. The research, led by scientists from Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, analyzed hundreds of samples from around the world to understand how geography, temperature, and nutrients shape bacterial communities in water and sediments.