A widely used method for measuring how well streams absorb excess nutrients has a hidden flaw: it systematically overestimates uptake length under high-nutrient conditions. Researchers at Duke Kunshan University have derived a corrected zero-order analytical approach that better captures stream nutrient processing when nutrients are abundant, improving the accuracy of tools used to assess river health and guide restoration decisions.

Brain-computer interfaces are moving beyond simple device control toward more dexterous robotic assistance. A new review highlights how noninvasive neural decoding, deep learning, and shared autonomy are helping robotic devices better interpret user intent, reduce control burden, and support future assistive technologies for people with motor impairments and the general population.

A stretchable, self-healing semiconductor has been developed using hierarchical hydrogen bonds—like mixing Velcro with a zipper. Unlike single-strength bonds, these multi-level bonds work together to balance rigidity and flexibility. It achieves 150% stretchability, 90% electrical healing, and record mobility of 1.01 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ under 150% strain. This solves the trade-off between charge transport, stretchability, and healing ability, paving the way for future stretchable electronics.

Researchers from the group of Prof. Jia Shuang at Peking University and the group of Prof. Xu Gang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology have recently collaborated to investigate the heavy-fermion ferromagnet CeCrGe₃. They observed giant anomalous Hall and anomalous Nernst effects and revealed that these remarkable responses originate from Kondo-driven topological flat bands. The results were published under the title “Giant Anomalous Hall and Nernst Effects in a Heavy Fermion Ferromagnet” in Science Bulletin.

By imaging the superfluid density and superconducting transition temperature in an infinite-layer superconductor, researchers revealed a strong correlation between the two quantities. This correlation is quantitatively similar to that reported in cuprate superconductors, hinting at a close connection between the superconductivity of infinite-layer nickelates and that of cuprates.