Hong Kong’s rich history is interwoven with layers of untold stories, many buried beneath the surface of its bustling modern landscape. A project led by researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics seeks to reveal and record the City’s lost history hidden underground by utilising cutting-edge geospatial technologies and to launch public education programmes to promote the conservation and better understanding of the City’s cultural heritage. The project has received funding of HK$3.22 million from the General Support Programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF-GSP) of the Innovation and Technology Commission.

As populations worldwide continue to age, chronic back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration is emerging as a widespread and costly health burden.

Addressing the critical challenge of crack propagation in electrodeposited SiO₂ coatings caused by cristobalite phase transitions, the Al nanoparticles were incorporated into SiO₂ coatings for enhanced phase stability and durable temperature oxidation resistance. Incorporating Al inhibits and optimizes the generation of cristobalite, suppressing the formation of cracks, thereby reducing the parabolic oxidation rate constant of the SiO₂ coating by ​​32.4%​​ after oxidation at 900 °C for 100 h. The DFT calculations demonstrate that the introduced Al preferentially exists in a substitutional form, effectively stabilizing the K@SiO₂ lattice structure by inhibiting K migration-induced cristobalite precipitation. Thermodynamically, the negative solution energy (-4.367 eV) of K@Si_x-1AlO_2x confirms the spontaneous incorporation of substitutional Al into K@SiO₂ lattice. Structurally, substitutional Al forms a shorter Al-K bond (2.91 Å) compared to the Si-K bond (3.39 Å), which can mitigate K-induced channel distortion and hinder the migration of K. Charge distribution analysis reveals that the Mulliken charges of Al (1.040) partially neutralize the Mulliken charges of K (-2.187), reducing electrostatic repulsion and promoting localized bonding. Furthermore, the incorporation of Al can restrain the precipitation of brittle Z-phase, further contributing to improved oxidation performance.

Within the transition process of urban rail transit system, challenges of high energy consumption, increasing carbon emissions, limited economic viability, and intricate risks emerge as significant hurdles. This paper proposes a novel energy utilization framework for urban rail transit system incorporating underground energy storage systems characterized by high resilience and low carbon. Firstly, existing methods are comprehensively reviewed. Then, the integrated framework is introduced, which effectively utilizes and manages diverse renewable energy sources and the available space resources. The viability is demonstrated through a case study by combining Nanjing Metro. Finally, the suggestions research in pivotal areas are summarized.

Microplastic pollution in agricultural soils is an emerging threat to food safety and ecosystem health, yet detecting these tiny particles at low concentrations remains a major challenge.

A recent PubMed study reveals that obese individuals have a 30–50% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to those with a healthy weight. Weight management is key and early detection remains the most effective way to reduce colorectal cancer mortality.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way designers brainstorm, visualize, and bring ideas to life—but its effectiveness depends on the form it takes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key aspect of our lives. Large language model (LLM) is an AI which can understand and generate human-like text. ChatGPT is an LLM which is gaining popularity. A new scoping review of 16 studies explores the role of ChatGPT in writing instruction in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) setting. The review highlights the effectiveness of ChatGPT in providing feedback, revising grammar, and idea generation. The review also highlights the limitations of ChatGPT.

The global freshwater crisis has become one of the most urgent environmental challenges. Solar interfacial evaporation technology demonstrates significant potential for seawater desalination. However, conventional evaporators struggle with a persistent trade-off between stable evaporation and salt accumulation, as crystallized salt obstructs water transport and reduces efficiency. Recently, a research team from Shandong First Medical University published a groundbreaking study in Science Bulletin, introducing a novel approach to desalinate high-salinity brine. Inspired by the natural salt secretion and brine transport mechanisms of mangroves, the team designed a bio-inspired solar evaporator featuring an external photothermal layer and internal water supply channels. This innovative design effectively overcomes the long-standing trade-off between stable evaporation and salt accumulation, achieving highly efficient and stable desalination alongside continuous salt collection under high-salinity brine conditions.