Researchers have developed tough, conductive RBA hydrogels using a hyperbranched multi-arm crosslinking strategy. The hydrogels form a dense, stable network that enables wearable sensors to monitor full-body motion and support Morse-code-based human–machine interaction.

By applying an “attribution constraint” method based on optimal fingerprinting to correct systematic biases in CMIP6 climate models,  the study significantly improved the projection reliability on the the upper‑level Hadley circulation.

Quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSEs) are critical for ultrafast-charging yet high-safety sodium metal batteries (SMBs), yet their implementation is hindered by sluggish Na⁺ transport in bulk and at interfaces. Here, we propose dual interlocked mediator engineering that transcends conventional independent approaches by coupling cationic Sn²⁺ salt with anionic difluoro(oxalato)borate (DFOB⁻) salts to simultaneously regulating bulk ion transport and bilateral interface chemistry. During QSE preparation, Sn²⁺ initiates in situ cationic polymerization, while DFOB⁻ acts as a retarding agent to suppress runaway polymerization. The first interlocking effect in the Sn-FB QSE bulk builds a uniform network, enabling near-unity Na⁺ transference number (0.94) and robust puncture strength (8.5 kPa). During cell operation, Sn²⁺ is reduced to form a hybrid NaSn alloy-based solid-electrolyte interphase, while DFOB⁻ oxidizes to generate a robust yet thin cathode–electrolyte interphase, respectively. This second interlocking effect creates adaptable bilateral interphases that facilitate Na⁺ diffusion and mitigate interfacial degradation. As a result, the symmetric cells exhibit 6000 h stability, and full cells retain 80.1 mAh g^–1 at an ultrafast-charging rate of 15C and retain 90% capacity at 3C over 2000 cycles. Furthermore, high-mass-loading full cells and pressure-free pouch cells are demonstrated, underscoring the potential of dual interlocked mediator engineering for practical SMBs.

Food waste recycling is a growing priority for cities seeking to cut landfill use and build a circular bioeconomy. Anaerobic digestion can turn food waste into renewable energy, but it also leaves behind a wet, nutrient-rich residue known as food waste digestate. Composting this digestate can return nutrients to soil, yet the process often loses valuable nitrogen as ammonia and nitrous oxide, reducing compost quality and contributing to air pollution and climate change.

Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, but in some mining-impacted regions, paddy soils can contain elevated levels of arsenic and antimony. These toxic metalloids can move from soil into rice plants, raising concerns for food safety and human health. A new study published in Biochar reports a promising strategy: a magnetic silicon-enriched biochar gel that can immobilize both arsenic and antimony in contaminated paddy soil and reduce their accumulation in rice grains.

A new study has shown that spent coffee grounds, one of the world’s most familiar daily wastes, can be transformed into a high performance, biodegradable thermal insulation material with potential applications in buildings, packaging, transportation, and solar energy systems.

A research team has mapped how a key ripening regulator helps strawberries develop the color, softness, sweetness, and aroma that define fruit quality. 

Mobile DNA, once treated largely as genomic clutter, may help plants build new ways to respond to environmental stress. 

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are indispensable for the thermal protection system of the hypersonic vehicles. However, the intrinsic brittleness of ceramic matrix limits atom motion, restricting their mechanical stability and ablation resistance. Phase transformation toughening offers an effective solution to overcome such brittleness. Recently, organic-inorganic hybrid infiltration strategy is proposed to construct ZrC nanoparticle reinforced C/C-ZrC-SiC composites. The introduced nanoparticles trigger 3C→6H-SiC polytypic transformation and ZrO₂ martensitic transformation, which synergistically realize matrix strengthening and toughening, and anti-ablation performance. The optimized composite achieves a flexural strength of 207.5 MPa, fracture toughness of 7.12 MPa·m^1/2 and low linear ablation rate of 0.15 μm·s⁻¹ at ultrahigh temperature.