News from Science China Press

Solitons are prototypical localized states in nonlinear physics. Their formation usually relies on a balance between wave-packet spreading and nonlinear self-focusing. In conventional Hermitian lattices, the threshold for soliton formation is often governed by dimensionality and boundary geometry. For instance, in two dimensions, corners are more favorable for soliton formation than edges, and edges are more favorable than the bulk. In non-Hermitian systems with the non-Hermitian skin effect, however, linear eigenmodes can become anomalously concentrated near boundaries or other selected regions, reshaping this familiar picture. Then, the open question is: How does skin-mode localization affect soliton formation? What role does band nonreciprocity play? Moreover, do these two non-Hermitian mechanisms act in the same way or in opposite ways? 

A research team has discovered a superconducting dome with a record maximum T_c of approximately 17.8 K in the rhombohedral-I phase of ReO₃ under high pressures of 12 to 39 GPa. This study reveals how a densified oxygen lattice and strong metal-oxygen covalent hybridization synergistically drive the electron-phonon coupling, offering a new pathway for discovering light-element-dominated superconductors in metal oxides.

Sepsis can leave survivors with lasting brain symptoms. Researchers report that ANXA2, a protein in the brain's immune cells, may act like an inflammation amplifier after sepsis. They designed a dual-targeted lipid carrier to bring evodiamine into the brain and microglia, easing inflammation and improving behavior and memory in mice.

Researchers identified two opposing tumor-associated macrophage states that regulate T cell interferon signaling and immunotherapy response in gastric cancer. An interferon-responsive immune niche predicts improved outcomes, while lipid-driven macrophages suppress T cell function and contribute to resistance.

While Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves complex factors, specific genetic causes often remain unknown. In Science Bulletin, a Central South University team identified H6PD as a novel PD causative gene, and found that H6PD mutations damage MAMs, the "bridges" between organelles. This "bridge failure" disables cleanup, causing mitochondrial buildup and neuron death. The study reveals a "H6PD-MAMs-Mitophagy" pathway, offering fresh targets for PD’s precision medicine.

It has long been recognized that chiral materials can selectively transport electron spins, yet their role in electrochemical energy storage remained unclear. Now, writing in National Science Review, researchers led by Prof. Hongsen Li at Qingdao University demonstrate that regulating the chiral asymmetry factor enhances spin polarization at catalytic sites, accelerates sulfur redox reactions, and significantly improves the electrochemical performance of lithium–sulfur batteries.

Researchers identified functional noncoding variants in an enhancer of TBX1 that may contribute to tetralogy of Fallot, the most common cyanotic congenital heart defect. Using whole-genome sequencing in 428 patients and blood vessel organoids, the study shows that disruption of this enhancer reduces TBX1 expression and impairs vascular development linked to the cardiac outflow tract.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences, a research team led by Professor Chengbang An reconstructed 4,000 years of dietary evolution in the central-eastern Eurasian Steppe from the Bronze Age to the Tang Dynasty, revealing synchronized dietary shifts across multiple regions: increased millet and meat consumption from the Early Iron Age to the Han Dynasty, followed by a return to wheat- and barley-based C₃ diets during the Jin-Tang periods. The study further demonstrates that these transitions were jointly driven by climate change, intensified interregional interaction among pastoralist groups, and innovations in grain processing technology. This work provides a critical reference for understanding human-environment interactions in the Eurasian Steppe.