Recently, a team of researchers led by Professor Peng Hou from the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences systematically summarized the limiting factors in corn production and proposed a green production scheme that balances high yield with efficient resource utilization based on quantitative design principles. The related paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025601).

The study introduces ISM-FLUX, a simpler version of the powerful MINFLUX concept. By using a detector array instead of a single element sensor, ISM-FLUX can precisely locate single molecules over a much larger area. This larger localisation range significantly increases the robustness of ISM-FLUX and dramatically simplifies the architecture by mitigating the need for an iterative localization approach, which will facilitate broader adoption of MINFLUX.

The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and autonomous vehicle systems, has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI, enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing, image recognition, and real-time decision-making. However, these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized, relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency, privacy, and energy efficiency. To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications, such as wearable health monitoring, robotics, and immersive virtual environments, innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed. This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing (NSEC) system, built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform, to provide real-time, energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge. Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction, coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations, the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design. Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis, the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77% for gestures and 98.31% for gaits, ultra-low latency (< 10 ns), and minimal energy consumption (< 0.34 pJ). This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications, enabling efficient, privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare, robotics, and next-generation human–machine interfaces, marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.

Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage applications due to their high safety and low cost. However, the use of Zn metal in batteries suffers from many severe issues, including dendrite growth and parasitic reactions, which often lead to short cycle lives. Herein, we propose the construction of functional organic interfacial layers (OIL) on the Zn metal anodes to address these challenges. Through a well-designed organic-assist pre-construction process, a densely packed artificial layer featuring the immobilized zwitterionic molecular brush can be constructed, which can not only efficiently facilitate the smooth Zn plating and stripping, but also introduce a stable environment for battery reactions. Through density functional theory calculations and experimental characterizations, we verify that the immobilized organic propane sulfonate on Zn anodes can significantly lower the energy barrier and increase the kinetics of Zn²⁺ transport. Thus, the Zn metal anode with the functional OIL can significantly improve the cycle life of the symmetric cell to over 3500 h stable operation. When paired with the H₂V₃O₈ cathode, the aqueous Zn-ion full cells can be continuously cycled over 7000 cycles, marking an important milestone for Zn anode development for potential industrial applications.

The 2025 MRS International Risk Conference, jointly organized by China Finance Review International (CFRI), Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School, and the Modern Risk Society (MRS), successfully concluded in Boston from 24 to 26 July 2025. The three-day conference united leading scholars and industry experts from around the world, emphasizing the importance of cutting-edge research in risk and finance.

Solid-state sodium batteries (SSSBs) are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, owing to their enhanced safety, cost-effectiveness as well as the abundance of sodium resources. However, despite their conceptual advantages, significant performance degradation, mainly associated to the electrode-electrolyte interfaces, has hindered their widespread application. A recent study led by researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology provides a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of interfacial degradation in NASICON-type electrolyte-based solid-state sodium metal batteries. Their work focuses on Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂ (NZSP), a widely studied ceramic electrolyte known for its robust thermal stability and competitive ionic conductivity, yet plagued by poor long-term interfacial performance.

Scientists in Korea developed a photopatterning approach for emissive layer (EML) patterns using prepatterned photoresist based on a molecular crosslinking strategy. This approach enables ultra-high resolution up to 3000 ppi—fulfilling AR display requirements—without direct exposure of EML to etchants or UV irradiation, unlike conventional photolithography. The simple method offers a promising route for high-resolution OLEDs for VR/AR applications.

Historically seen as a limitation, grain boundaries (GBs) within polycrystalline metal halide perovskite (MHP) films are thought to impede charge transport, adversely impacting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we employ home-built confocal photoluminescence microscopy, combined with photocurrent detection modules, to directly visualize the carrier dynamics in the MHP film of PSCs under real operating conditions. Our findings suggest that GBs in high-efficiency PSCs function as carrier transport channels, where a notable enhancement in photocurrent is observed. Femtosecond transient absorption and Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements further validate the existence of a built-in electric field in the vicinity of GBs, offering additional driving force for charge separation and establishing channels for swift carrier transport along the GBs, thereby expediting subsequent charge collection processes. This study elucidates the pivotal role of GBs in operational PSCs and provides valuable insights for the fabrication of high-efficiency PSCs.

A group of researchers from Northeastern University of China developed a novel FeCrVNiAl eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEA) that exhibits a remarkable combination of mechanical strength and high corrosion resistance for marine environments. The alloy integrates hierarchical nanoscale precipitates of B2 (NiAl) and L2₁ (Fe₂CrV) phases within its matrix, which are precisely controlled through solid solution and aging treatments. These precipitates induce multistage strengthening mechanisms, including dislocation interactions, strain hardening, and the formation of misfit dislocations at coherent interfaces. The result is an alloy capable of bearing compressive stresses up to ~3.05 GPa, while simultaneously maintaining outstanding ductility and strain-hardening capabilities. Additionally, the microstructure promotes the formation of a stable passive film comprising chromium oxide, which reduces corrosion current density and enhances resistance in saline, marine-like environments. This dual achievement addresses a key challenge faced by traditional marine materials, which often fail in harsh conditions either by lacking sufficient strength or corrosion resistance. The study offers a new microstructural design that not only achieves these demanding properties but also provides insights into the underlying mechanisms contributing to this synergy.