Quantum particles in imperfect or quasiperiodic environments may spread, become localized, or enter critical states with fractal wave functions. These behaviors can combine into seven fundamental localization phases, but a unified framework for all of them has been missing. A team led by Prof. Xiong-Jun Liu at Peking University has now developed a generic spin-1/2 quasiperiodic system that captures all the fundamental phases, proves three theorems, constructs new exactly solvable models, and proposes the implementation with ultracold atoms in optical Raman lattices.

Cadmium contamination in paddy soils is a serious global food safety concern, threatening the health of millions who rely on rice as a staple. While cleaning up contaminated soil is often impractical, a team of scientists has demonstrated an effective and agronomically simple alternative: spraying rice leaves with a solution of tiny, engineered carbon dots (CDs).

In a field experiment on moderately cadmium-contaminated soil, researchers from the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and Jiangnan University applied CDs to rice canopies. The application produced remarkable results. The higher-dose treatment not only reduced the cadmium accumulated in the rice grains by 46% but also increased the overall grain yield by 18%, all without harming the grain's nutritional quality.

Biochar, a charcoal-like substance added to soil, is widely seen as a tool for improving crop yields and locking away carbon. When added to soil, it creates a unique micro-environment known as the charosphere, where complex chemical reactions take place. A new investigation from Northwest A&F University now shows that this zone can become a hotspot for reactive oxygen species (ROS)—highly unstable molecules that can influence critical soil processes. The findings demonstrate that how biochar is produced determines the type of ROS created, with significant consequences for its ability to mitigate greenhouse gases.

The research team, led by corresponding author Hanzhong Jia, conducted controlled incubation experiments to track chemical changes in the soil immediately surrounding biochar. They produced biochar at two different pyrolysis temperatures—a lower 300°C and a higher 500°C—to see how this affected its properties. Using fluorescence imaging and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, they identified and quantified the different ROS being generated in the charosphere over time and space, linking them back to the specific particles released by each type of biochar.

In the global effort to combat climate change, soil has been recognized as the largest terrestrial carbon sink. Yet, most climate policies and carbon accounting systems focus only on the top 30 centimeters. A comprehensive new review, led by an international team of scientists from institutions including The University of Western Australia, Amity University, and Tsinghua University, explains why this surface-level view is dangerously incomplete and calls for a fundamental shift in how we manage the massive carbon reserves stored deep within the Earth.

This extensive work synthesizes global research to build a cohesive picture of deep soil carbon—the organic matter stored below the standard sampling depth. The analysis confirms that these subsoil layers contain a colossal amount of carbon, estimated at over 850 petagrams worldwide, which accounts for 50% to 60% of the total carbon stock in the top meter of soil. By examining the sources, distribution, and stability of this carbon, the review provides a critical framework for understanding its role in long-term climate mitigation and soil health.

This review highlights spider silk as a next-generation eco-smart biomaterial with broad potential across dermatology, cosmetics, aerospace, textiles, and electronics. Owing to its exceptional strength, elasticity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity, spider silk is increasingly explored for wound healing, tissue regeneration, drug delivery, scar repair, and smart dermatologic theranostics. In cosmetics, its amino acid-rich structure supports skin hydration, elasticity, and barrier repair. Beyond healthcare, its lightweight strength, thermal stability, optical clarity, and flexibility enable applications in advanced composites, biodegradable sensors, and wearable devices, making spider silk a promising sustainable material for future industries.

We are thrilled to announce that our esteemed academic journal, Food & Medicine Homology has been officially included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) by Web of Science, a leading global provider of scientific and scholarly research information. All articles published by Food & Medicine Homology since its establishment in 2024 will be included in ESCI. Its first impact factor will be released in 2027.

A refined precision-cut liver slice (PCLS) platform enables stable long-term culture of human liver tissues for up to 14 days while preserving multicellular architecture and disease-relevant remodeling. Using optimized slicing, oxygen delivery, and viability monitoring strategies, the study demonstrates dynamic fibrogenesis, hepatocyte dedifferentiation, regeneration, and ductular reaction in human liver explants. This extended ex vivo system provides a physiologically relevant platform for mechanistic studies, therapeutic testing, and the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in liver research.

A global survey of 44,711 endangered Puya raimondii plants reveals topography and poor seed dispersal will erase nearly all habitat by 2100 under +5°C warming, requiring assisted colonization.