Using a highly sensitive two-coil mutual-inductance technique, we systematically track the evolution of the phase stiffness in interfacial superconducting LaAlO₃/KTaO₃(111) and its correlation with the superconducting transition temperature as a function of electrostatic gating. A crossover from Bose–Einstein-condensate-like to Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer-like behavior is revealed, suggesting that superconductivity at the two extremes is limited by the establishment of phase coherence and the formation of Cooper pairs, respectively. This behavior is consistent with the emergence of superconducting granularity in two dimensions, which is further supported by the observation of a paramagnetic Meissner effect.

Seawater zinc-air batteries (SZAB) could provide safe, high-energy power for marine applications, but Cl⁻ in seawater can poison the catalysts that drive oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Researchers from Hainan University and collaborators designed an FeSn dual-single-atom catalysts (FeSn-DSACs) in which Sn neighbors tune Fe active sites through p-d orbital hybridization. The catalyst simultaneously accelerates ORR and suppresses Cl⁻ adsorption and corrosion. In SZAB, it delivered a peak power density of 255.6 mW cm⁻² and operated for more than 500 h, offering a design strategy for durable seawater ORR catalysis.

A data-knowledge dual-driven machine-intelligence framework enables experiment-efficient, full-chain synthesis of 2D dendrites. It achieves rapid process optimization within one week, constructs high-fidelity recipe-morphology mappings, and deciphers multifactorial growth mechanisms, requiring <70 experiments, which covers <1.5% of the total parameter combinations.

The 2026 MRS International Risk Conference, themed "AI in an Uncertain World," was successfully held from July 17 to 19, 2026, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Hosted by the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the conference was co-organized by China Finance Review International (CFRI), Modern Risk Society (MRS), and the Dishui Lake Advanced Institute of Finance at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Bringing together over 300 scholars and students from around the world, the conference featured 64 parallel sessions with 199 papers presented. More than 15 sessions focused on AI-related topics and 14 on climate finance and climate risk, reflecting the most pressing concerns in today's international financial research. As one of the co-organizers, CFRI actively participated in the event and awarded the CFRI Research Excellence Award. The organizing team also visited the Shidler College of Business to discuss international academic cooperation and journal development.

Researchers have developed a strategy to improve the fire safety of polymer materials by using ZIF-67, a porous metal-organic framework, together with different flame-retardant components. The study explains how ZIF-67 can enhance fire resistance, reduce smoke release and provide a versatile platform for designing safer high-performance polymer composites.

Molecular perovskite energetic materials (PEMs), featuring ordered ABX₃ crystal frameworks, have emerged as a promising platform for integrating fuel and oxidizing components at the molecular and crystal levels. A review in Energetic Materials Frontiers establishes molecular perovskites as a distinctive platform for the development of multicomponent energetic crystals. Their modular crystal architecture enables fuel and oxidizer components to be organized within ordered lattices, while site substitution, composite modification and data-driven design provide multiple pathways for tuning energy release, thermal stability and safety.

New research reveals that natural soil minerals critically control the fate of lead locked into chloropyromorphite—a stable mineral formed during phosphorus-based lead remediation. Negatively charged clay minerals enhance its mobility, while positively charged iron minerals promote rapid settling, highlighting the need for site-specific risk assessments.

A new study in Macao reveals that stormwater drains carry significant microplastic pollution into coastal waters. Concentrations reached over 53 particles per litre, with hazardous polymers like PVC posing high ecological risks. The research highlights how land use and rainfall drive this pollution pathway in subtropical coastal cities.

Optical neural networks capable of executing large-scale operations in parallel at the speed of light play an ever more prominent role in energy-efficient artificial intelligence. Towards this goal, scientists in China, inspired by the human brain, invented a backpropagation-free framework (B-ONN) for local learning. The technique will open new avenues for deploying physically robust, large-scale optical computing systems in real-world edge devices and green infrastructures.