A collaborative research team comprised of Xin Li from Nankai University, Wei Zhang from Sichuan University, and Hanliang Zheng from Zhejiang Normal University developed a green and efficient photo-redox/hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)/chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) synergistic catalytic strategy to achieve the deracemization of α-aryl cyclic ketones, successfully synthesizing a series of chiral α-aryl cyclic ketones (Figure 1). The reaction generates a sulfur radical via a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process between an excited-state photosensitizer and a thiophenol, followed by hydrogen atom transfer and single-electron reduction to form a key enol intermediate. Finally, an asymmetric keto-enol tautomerism occurs under chiral phosphoric acid catalysis, achieving deracemization. A series of mechanistic experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the above reaction pathway and further reveal that conformational distortion of the chiral catalyst in the unfavorable transition state is a key factor in regulating the enantioselectivity of the reaction. The article was published as an open access Research Article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

Acoustic frequency combs can precisely organize sound vibrations for sensing and imaging applications, but existing approaches operate at high, inaudible frequencies and offer limited bandwidth. Researchers have developed a phonon-laser-based acoustic frequency comb that generates up to 6000 evenly spaced frequencies over a tunable range from 10 Hz to 100 kHz, representing the highest tooth count and the broadest tunable bandwidth achieved in an acoustic frequency comb to date.

A groundbreaking study published in Carbon Research reveals that analyzing soil color indices is not only a scientifically sound way to predict Soil Organic Matter (SOM) but also a massive financial win for farmers and laboratories.

Harvard researchers have demonstrated a special type of optical frequency comb, called a normal-dispersion Kerr microcomb, on a thin-film lithium niobate chip, allowing for frequency comb generation and electro‑optic modulation to be combined on a single, compact platform.

Harvard researchers have developed OpenMetabolics, an open-source, smartphone-based activity monitor that uses machine learning and leg motion to estimate calories burned.

Harvard researchers report a new way to make ultra-smooth, microscopic mirrors that form high-performance optical resonators, or cavities.

Researchers from the USDA and UC Davis are helping beekeepers protect their colonies from destructive varroa mites through a promising new line of research.

SAN ANTONIO — February 19, 2026 — New research by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF-NCAR) has developed a new tool providing a first step toward the ability to forecast space weather weeks in advance, instead of just hours. This advance warning could allow agencies and industries to mitigate impacts to GPS, power grids, astronaut safety and more.