Facing the increased severely environmental challenges and energy shortages, the development of new green energy systems to replace the traditional fossil fuels has become more urgent for human being. Hydrogen (H₂) is regarded as the environmentally friendly and renewable energy resource for the future. Its unparalleled virtue lies in the fact that its combustion byproduct is exclusively water. Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) technology is recognized as one of the most promising methods for hydrogen production, while its widespread adoption has been impeded by the high associated costs, its global market share remains negligible, at less than 4%. Reducing the cost of alkaline water electrolysis for the production of green hydrogen is a common challenge for countries around the world. The limited elemental abundance and high cost of noble metal electrocatalysts like Pt and RuO₂ constrain their large-scale application. Therefore, the development of bifunctional non-precious metal electrocatalysts with a high catalytic activity, low cost, and excellent stability is essential to significantly improve the energy efficiencies of AWE.

A study in Forest Ecosystems revealed that Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Europe partly originated in a 17th-century practical agroforestry innovation, and not exclusively in a 19/20th-century academic debate as previously thought. The research into forestry history traced the development of CCF all the way from early agroforestry, through individual-based silviculture, and eventually to the later academic debate, offering historical insights for modern sustainable forest management.

A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that two closely related evergreen oaks (Quercus aquifolioides and Quercus spinosa) in the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountains adapt to different climates through adjustments in leaf trait integration and modularity, with the high-altitude species having flexible traits for harsh conditions and the lowland one showing tightly coordinated traits for efficiency. It also notes the findings’ value for conservation and understanding species’ responses to climate change.

Inspired by oriented and Bouligand structures in natural organisms with remarkable strength and toughness, this study aims to construct biomimetic HA bioceramics with fine microstructures at nanoscale and microscale to enhance the mechanical properties. An innovative magnetic field-assisted 3D printer was developed to create oriented and Bouligand structural HA ceramics under weak magnetic field strengths (58 mT - 116 mT).

This article has developed an integrated multifunctional composite by combining SiCN ceramics, porous ceramics, and phase change materials via a vacuum impregnation process. The resulting composite achieves an impressive minimum reflection loss of -31.29 dB. Leveraging its phase change property, the PCM effectively buffers temperature fluctuations within the composite. When heated at 90℃ for 42 minutes, the composite maintains a significant temperature difference of 36.6℃ from the external thermal load—this unique thermal buffering capability ensures the material delivers stable thermal insulation and reliable infrared stealth performance. This innovative design offers valuable new insights for advancing the development of multifunctional electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials.

Adenomyosis affects up to one-third of women of reproductive age and is linked to pain, heavy bleeding, and infertility. Researchers from Jiaxing University and Tongji University have developed a new laboratory “assembloid” model that mimics uterine tissue, published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences. The model reveals that abnormal stromal cell subgroups may disrupt BMP and WNT signaling pathways, driving disease progression. This work provides a valuable tool for studying adenomyosis mechanisms and developing new treatments.

Precipitation δ¹⁸O provides important insights into the decadal variability of the East Asian monsoon. Using both isotope-enabled climate simulations and reconstructions, this study found a quasi-11-year cycle in precipitation δ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸O_p) across the monsoon region. The cycle was driven by enhanced solar activity, which strengthens the Walker circulation and increases moisture transport from the equatorial Pacific. The results have suggested that the quasi-11-year δ18O_p cycle primarily reflects shifts in moisture sources driven by solar activity. The findings were recently published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences.

Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease that affects both adults and children. While global efforts are ongoing to tackle chikungunya in adults, progress in addressing pediatric chikungunya remains inadequate. To shed light on this, researchers have investigated the presentation of pediatric chikungunya and proposed multipronged approaches to diagnose, prevent, and manage this disease. These insights may help clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to develop effective measures to tackle pediatric chikungunya.