Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have now revealed the complete three-dimensional (3D) ultrastructure of xylem vessel pits in rice and identified a critical regulatory module, MYB61-PS1, that shapes the 3D structure of pits in rice. 

In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers at Trinity College Dublin have unveiled a novel inkless printing method that could transform the way functional materials and devices are manufactured. The technique, called Laser Ablation Dry Aerosol Printing (LADAP), generates nanoparticles directly from solid targets using pulsed laser ablation, and then focuses them aerodynamically to print metals and oxides without the need for solvent-based inks.

Imagine using one laser beam to 'write' instructions into a material and another to 'bend' it into a complex, functional shape—all on the spot, without moving a thing. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have turned this concept into reality, developing a novel dual-laser method that creates adaptive, shape-locking devices in situ.

In the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, A novel conductive hydrogel, termed AirCell Hydrogel and developed by Tianjin University researchers, exhibits an ultra-high sensitivity of 18.9. Its smooth surface enables conformal adhesion that effectively suppresses motion artifacts, while its porous interior structure lowers the Young's modulus during deformation tracking.

A new review in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing highlights the rapid progress in turning metallic materials into flexible electrodes (FEs) and, ultimately, soft epidermal electrodes (SEEs). Unlike the rigid metal pads traditionally used in medical monitoring, SEEs are engineered to mimic the softness and stretchability of skin itself. They conform like a second layer of tissue, remaining comfortable even during long wear and delivering stable, high-quality signals.

In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers used a carefully tuned femtosecond laser under water immersion to etch nanogratings just 46 nanometers apart with groove widths near 13 nanometers onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). It addresses a long-standing challenge: fabricating uniform structures smaller than 100 nanometers.

Ce-MOFs based solid frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) were designed via a competitive coordination strategy using single-carboxylate ligands. Functional groups (–NH₂, –OH, –Br, –NO₂) modulate the Ce–CUS/Ce–OH acid–base sites, enhancing H₂ heterolytic cleavage through a “push-pull” effect. The optimized MOF-808-NH₂ achieves complete conversion of styrene and dicyclopentadiene at 100 °C and 2 MPa, providing an efficient pathway for green olefin hydrogenation catalysis.

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts reports a 1 000-L process that converts 20 % solids corn stover into 10.6 g L⁻¹ Rhodosporidium toruloides lipids. After 80-day 6 % NaOH ambient storage, one-hour steam and cloth-squeeze detox, the fed-batch fermentation achieves 93.6 % total reducing-sugar recovery and a palm-oil-like fatty-acid profile without centrifuges, demonstrating scalable, low-energy microbial oil production from agricultural waste.

Researchers have discovered a powerful synergy between gold, manganese, and copper that could transform the way we produce valuable chemicals. By supporting tiny gold nanoparticles on a specially designed perovskite material (LaMn_0.75Cu_0.25O₃), the team achieved an impressive 95% yield of acetaldehyde from ethanol at just 225 °C, a major step toward cleaner, more efficient chemical processes. The secret lies in the smart use of copper. A small amount of Cu dramatically improves the catalyst by creating active sites that speed up the toughest step in the reaction. But there’s a catch: too much copper destabilizes the system, reducing efficiency. This delicate balance highlights the importance of atomic-level design in next-generation catalysts for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Radiative cooling systems (RCSs) possess the distinctive capability to dissipate heat energy via solar and thermal radiation, making them suitable for thermal regulation and energy conservation applications, essential for mitigating the energy crisis. A comprehensive review connecting the advancements in engineered radiative cooling systems (ERCSs), encompassing material and structural design as well as thermal and energy-related applications, is currently absent. Herein, this review begins with a concise summary of the essential concepts of ERCSs, followed by an introduction to engineered materials and structures, containing nature-inspired designs, chromatic materials, meta-structural configurations, and multilayered constructions. It subsequently encapsulates the primary applications, including thermal-regulating textiles and energy-saving devices. Next, it highlights the challenges of ERCSs, including maximized thermoregulatory effects, environmental adaptability, scalability and sustainability, and interdisciplinary integration. It seeks to offer direction for forthcoming fundamental research and industrial advancement of radiative cooling systems in real-world applications.