Researchers have developed a new polymer electrolyte that enables lithium metal batteries to operate safely at high voltages and across an extreme temperature range, from -40°C to 55°C. The material directly addresses two long-standing barriers to next-generation energy storage: poor oxidation stability and insufficient ionic conductivity. By tuning the molecular structure of the electrolyte and creating a cross-linked network, the team achieved exceptional electrochemical stability and rapid ion transport. This advance brings high-energy-density lithium metal batteries—promising longer-range electric vehicles and more reliable portable electronics—significantly closer to practical, real-world application.

As heat waves become more frequent, leafy vegetables face rising risks of yield loss, quality decline, and shortened production windows.

A research team has developed an enzyme-aware digital model that explains why hydrogen-producing microbes often struggle to grow fast and generate hydrogen efficiently at the same time. 

Achieving high safety in energy storage systems is paramount but hindered by the catastrophic risks of thermal runaway propagation (TRP). This study develops a gradient-laminated ceramifiable silicone foam composite to resolve the inherent trade-off between thermal insulation and dynamic impact toughness. By integrating a polydimethylsiloxane foam matrix with a load-bearing glass fiber fabric skeleton, the material utilizes silane coupling agents for robust interfacial adhesion, while multiscale fillers promote synergistic ceramicization. Characterization reveals robust mechanical durability, maintaining stable elasticity across a wide temperature range (− 40 to 300 °C) and retaining 93% residual stress after 1,000 compression cycles. Under extreme thermal exposure, the foam transforms into a dense ceramic barrier, reducing total heat release by 54.4% and sustaining thermal protection for over 30 min. Crucially, during battery module testing, this architecture efficiently intercepts high-velocity gas jets and confines thermal runaway to a single cell. Fabricated via a scalable process, this composite paves a viable way for constructing intrinsically safe energy storage systems.

Scientists reveal how exercise eases osteoarthritis: mechanical joint loading helps red blood cell‑derived EVs carry oxygen into cartilage and meniscus. These EVs enter avascular tissues via HRG (histidine rich glycoprotein)‑HSPG (heparin sulfate proteoglycan) affinity mechanism, directed by hypoxia‑induced CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling. The study establishes a “circulation‑joint transport axis” that alleviates intra‑articular hypoxia, offering a non‑drug strategy for joint health.

Inspired by firefly bioluminescence, scientists have created a flexible fiber sensor that converts electrical sensing signals into optical signals directly on the fiber itself. The ESOT FiSensor simultaneously detects vibration, pressure, temperature and strain through a single optical fiber, transmitting data over long distances with complete immunity to electromagnetic interference — far surpassing traditional sensors.

A one-pot POM-directed interfacial assembly strategy enables anisotropy-tunable mesoporous polydopamine nanomotors with integrated antibacterial functionality. By regulating emulsion interfaces, POMs program open hollow architectures and confer intrinsic activity, while Pt loading drives self-propulsion. The resulting nanomotors, with high drug-loading capacity, actively penetrate drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and achieve near-complete eradication, offering a versatile platform for intelligent antibacterial therapy.