The size of a tomato fruit begins with its flower. Scientists have revealed that the gene SlKNUCKLES (SlKNU), which encodes a zinc finger protein, plays a decisive role in determining tomato fruit size by regulating the activity of floral meristems—the tissue that gives rise to reproductive organs. 

The development of proton conductors that demostrate high conductivity with mechanical resilience is critical for advancing energy devices operating under harsh conditions. Polymer nanocomposites offer a promising route to reconcile these competing requirements through strategic material design. In this work, we report an anhydrous proton-conducting nanocomposite composed of a comb-like crosslinked polymer network and superacidic polyoxometalate (POM) clusters. The modular tunability of both polymer topology and inorganic clusters establishes this approach as a generalizable platform for tailoring ion-transport materials and opens new avenues for high-performance energy technologies.

Photocatalytic conversion of plastic waste into valuable chemicals represents a groundbreaking approach to addressing global plastic pollution while generating clean energy. Nickel-substituted polyoxometalates (Ni-POMs), when combined with cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanospheres, create highly efficient single-cluster catalysts that enable simultaneous hydrogen production and plastic degradation under visible light irradiation. The optimized Ni₉@CdS-10 catalyst demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of 22.29 mmol g⁻¹ alongside 19.01 mmol g⁻¹ of pyruvate production from polylactic acid (PLA) degradation. This innovative system, developed by researchers at Tianjin University of Technology, offers a sustainable solution for plastic waste management through its unique electron-sponge mechanism that enhances charge separation efficiency by 160-fold compared to conventional CdS catalysts.

Owing to their tunable structures and strong emission, chiral metal–organic frameworks (CMOFs) incorporating rare-earth ions hold great promise for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Herein, enantiomeric rare-earth CMOFs are synthesized via the direct self-assembly of optically pure ligands (1,3-bis((S)- and (R)-1-carboxyethyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium chlorides) with Tb³⁺ ions and shown to exhibit CPL with a dissymmetry factor (|g_lum|) of 0.016, which is attributed to efficient chirality transfer and the antenna effect. The introduction of a luminescent guest (MnCl₄²⁻) into the framework channels markedly enhances CPL and increases |g_lum| to 0.071. The results of control experiments and spectral analysis indicate that this enhancement arises from the synergy between host–guest energy transfer and chirality transfer. This work describes a modular strategy for constructing CPL-active rare-earth CMOFs and provides a general design principle for tuning their chiroptical properties through host–guest interactions.

The sputtering mode diagram (SMD) can be utilized to precisely control the phase structure as well as the electronic properties of niobium nitride (NbN), thus realizing the precise tuning of device performance. The SNSPDs fabricated in different modes have flexible performance with saturated quantum efficiency and small kinetic inductance, which provide a practical reference for extending the research and application of superconducting devices.

Prof. Zhang Jiangwei's group at Inner Mongolia University: Anderson series of polyoxometalates assembly of mesoporous silica spheres as catalysts for propane dehydrogenation by carbon dioxide oxidation

A team from Shanghai University, Nanjing Medical University, and The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University developed a photothermal-responsive hydrogel (GMHD/TFe@Aca) loaded with Acacetin to enhance bone defect repair. By inhibiting the STING pathway and modulating macrophage polarization, it reduces inflammation and promotes bone regeneration. The hydrogel enables precise drug release under near-infrared light, with strong mechanical properties and adhesion. In mouse cranial defect models, it significantly boosted new bone formation without toxicity. This hydrogel offers a novel immune-modulating and regenerative strategy for bone repair, with potential clinical applications.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by dysregulation of the immune system after an infection. Corticosteroids are the only known and recommended course of treatment. In a recently published narrative review, researchers describe the mechanisms by which corticosteroids modulate the immune response, causing sepsis and allowing patients to recover. They also describe the other protective effects of corticosteroids and provide a framework to choose the appropriate course of treatment.