Researchers from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology, led by Professor Jiao's team, report a photoelectrochemical photodetector that integrates α-Ga₂O₃ nanorod arrays with CdS quantum dots. By exploiting the pyro-phototronic effect, the device operates at zero-bias, and exhibits a broadband spectral response from 220 to 700 nm with responsivities of 0.99 mA W⁻¹ at 254 nm and 1.48 mA W⁻¹ at 450 nm. The rise and fall times are 30 ms and 24 ms, respectively. Furthermore, the detector executes “AND”, “OR”, and “NOT” logic functions and successfully transmits the optical message “HIT”. These results provide a route toward broadband, fast-response, and low-power optoelectronic modules for optical communication and sensing.

A first-in-human trial from Institute of Science Tokyo and EVA Therapeutics, Inc., demonstrates that enteral ventilation, a technique that could deliver oxygen through the intestine, is safe and feasible in healthy subjects. The method involves intrarectal administration of an oxygen-carrying fluid into the gut, where oxygen may diffuse into the bloodstream. These findings provide important evidence for further testing of enteral ventilation as a potential alternative oxygenation method for patients with respiratory failure.

The development of renewable energy is a key path for the global energy structure to transform towards low-carbonization and an important technical direction for addressing climate change. However, battery technology, as the core energy storage carrier, is confronted with multiple challenges such as resource constraints, energy density limitations, and high costs. In this context, rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have emerged as a highly promising next-generation electrochemical energy storage system due to their advantages such as abundant raw materials, low cost and high safety. In a recent review published, Chinese researchers systematically reviewed the related studies of RABs, pointing out that by leveraging the multi-ion cooperative strategy and multi-electron redox reaction mechanism, the long-term bottlenecks of aluminum batteries in reaction kinetics and capacity retention can be effectively broken through, providing a clear technical path for their large-scale practical application.

Forest restoration, a critical strategy for mitigating climate change and rejuvenating natural ecosystems, is a global priority, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) targeting substantial atmospheric carbon removal through these efforts. However, understanding the factors that govern the recovery of soil organic carbon (SOC) – the largest terrestrial carbon pool – has remained a complex challenge. A comprehensive global meta-analysis, led by Shan Xu and Junjian Wang from the Southern University of Science and Technology with international collaborators including Nico Eisenhauer from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, now clarifies these crucial drivers, offering vital insights for effective climate change mitigation strategies.