A new study shows that plants communicate defensive warnings more effectively with species sharing similar volatile profiles, not necessarily close evolutionary relatives. Researchers exposed nine plant species to volatiles from invasive Phytolacca americana and found that defense priming was the dominant response. The strength of this response was better predicted by volatile similarity than by phylogenetic distance. The findings offer new insights into mechanisms of plant–plant communication.

Researchers developed a battery-free hydrogel bioelectronic patch that wirelessly monitors periodontal inflammation and releases miRNA therapy in response to disease-related enzyme activity. The device links local inflammation sensing with immune modulation, offering a new approach for integrated monitoring and treatment of periodontitis.

A recent study published in National Science Review has revealed a hidden population of high-frequency magnetohydrodynamic waves in the Sun’s polar corona. Using high-resolution Solar Orbiter observations, researchers found that these waves carry substantial energy, offering new clues to coronal heating and the acceleration of the fast solar wind.

Structures exposed to wind, waves or flowing water can be difficult to model and monitor, especially when reliable measurements are scarce. A research team has developed FSI-PINNs, a physics-informed neural network framework that links fluid pressure with structural motion. Using no more than 1% of a simulated dataset, the method predicted flow fields and beam displacement and identified unknown structural density, offering a possible new tool for engineering problems in data-scarce environments.

We have developed a facile dip-coating method for fabricating ordered two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled block copolymer (BCP) micelle templates on substrates. Through point-to-point adsorption on these micelle templates, 2D non-close-packed, short-range ordered gold nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays were successfully obtained. The study elucidates the governing principles of critical processing parameters: the effects of withdrawal speed and micelle concentration on template morphology, as well as the influence of nanoparticle size and micelle corona thickness on the electrostatic adsorption process, thereby enabling the controllable fabrication of large-area 2D non-close-packed nanoparticle arrays. When employed as nanoscale floating gates in non-volatile memory devices, these BCP@AuNP composite arrays demonstrate superior performance—specifically, the incorporation of AuNPs broadens the memory window and enhances device operational stability compared to pure BCP micelle template layers. This strategy offers distinct advantages including operational simplicity, high efficiency, broad applicability, and cost-effectiveness, without requiring additional pre- or post-treatment steps. The entire process demonstrates substantial potential for industrial-scale fabrication of controllable 2D non-close-packed nanoparticle arrays.

A research team has found that frequent exposure to laboratory chemicals and low consumption of antioxidant-rich foods are jointly associated with a greater likelihood of self-reported health symptoms among young scientists. 

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Heavy drinking, a common behavioral response to childhood adversity, may further amplify health risks. This study investigated whether heavy drinking modifies the association between ACEs and cardiometabolic multimorbidity in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Results showed that heavy drinking significantly strengthened the adverse effects of ACEs on cardiometabolic health. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both childhood trauma and alcohol use in preventing cardiometabolic diseases.

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, has been associated with various adverse health outcomes. However, its relationship with infection risk remains unclear. This prospective cohort study of 458,332 participants from the UK Biobank examined the association between sarcopenia and the long-term risk of overall infections and specific infectious diseases. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining muscle health for immune function and infection prevention. The study provides new evidence for the role of sarcopenia as a modifiable risk factor for infectious disease susceptibility.

Platinum resistance remains a major obstacle in ovarian cancer treatment. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of cancer progression and drug resistance. This study identified circSFPQ_008 as a key driver of platinum resistance in ovarian cancer through the circSFPQ_008/SFPQ/BRCA1 axis. Targeting this pathway sensitized ovarian cancer cells to platinum chemotherapy, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming drug resistance. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of platinum resistance and identify potential therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.