Researchers analyzed snow droughts in Xinjiang from 1980 to 2021 and classified them into warm-only, dry-only, and warm-dry types. The study identifies strong spatial heterogeneity, highlights the Kunlun Mountains as a major hotspot, and shows that warm-dry snow droughts increased markedly after 2000.

Researchers have developed a single machine-learning turbulence model that predicts a wide range of turbulent flows—without the manual zoning, switching, or tuning that conventional models require. Led by researchers at the University of Stuttgart, the work advances a long-sought goal in computational fluid dynamics: a unified turbulence model that handles many flow mechanisms within one framework. Details of the findings were published in National Science Review.

EPFL researchers have developed a new way to use holograms for 3D printing, enabling much faster, more precise, and energy-efficient fabrication than existing methods. The innovation shows promise for supporting affordable, biocompatible volumetric printing for biomedical and microengineering applications.

Inspired by insect compound eyes, Prof. Ji Chen’s team from Southeast University proposes a bioinspired motion detector based on planar metalens arrays. It realizes an ultra-wide 135° field of view and achieves high-precision perception of moving targets’ velocity and direction. The design effectively detects tiny and slow-moving objects in complex backgrounds and enables intelligent motion trajectory prediction. Featuring high integration and lightweight structure, it provides solid technical support for autonomous perception, industrial early warning and unmanned intelligent systems.

Inspired by insect compound eyes, Prof. Ji Chen’s team from Southeast University proposes a bioinspired motion detector based on planar metalens arrays. It realizes an ultra-wide 135° field of view and achieves high-precision perception of moving targets’ velocity and direction. The design effectively detects tiny and slow-moving objects in complex backgrounds and enables intelligent motion trajectory prediction. Featuring high integration and lightweight structure, it provides solid technical support for autonomous perception, industrial early warning and unmanned intelligent systems.

The rare and endangered tree species Phoebe zhennan (commonly known as "golden-thread nanmu") is a unique timber tree of the family Lauraceae endemic to China. It is naturally distributed in Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The wood is highly valued for its golden luster, fragrance, and durability. However, due to historical over‑harvesting and habitat loss, its wild resources have sharply declined. It is now listed as a second-class nationally protected wild plant in China and as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Previous genetic studies mostly relied on low‑throughput markers such as SSR and AFLP; although these revealed some population structure, they had insufficient resolution. Recently, chromosome‑level genome assemblies have become available, but conventional non‑haplotype‑resolved assemblies cannot distinguish allelic variation from haplotype‑specific structural variants, hindering in‑depth analyses of evolutionary and adaptive mechanisms.

Human microbiome research has long focused on barrier surfaces such as the gut and skin. However, a neglected class of "invisible inhabitants" lurks within the body's internal tissues and circulating cells. Though small in number, they may have a profound impact on health and disease. Recently, in a new review published in Immunity & Inflammation, Professor Chen-Yu Zhang's team at Nanjing University systematically proposed the novel concept of “Persistent Intracellular Extraintestinal Microbes” (PIEM). This expands the scope of microbiome research from external surfaces to the body's interior, opening a new direction for understanding the long-term symbiotic relationship between humans and microbes and the pathogenesis of numerous complex diseases.