- KAIST and MIT develop an electrochemical marine carbon removal technology that converts carbon dioxide in seawater into solid minerals for permanent storage

- Technology reduces electricity consumption by up to 54% compared with conventional systems and demonstrates stable operation for more than 120 hours using Jeju lava seawater

- Next-generation carbon removal technology helps the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide, with potential applications aboard ships and offshore platforms

Supramolecular polymer science expands the scope of supramolecular chemistry and enriches the field of polymer science. It is expected to become an important contributor to scientific and technological progress for a sustainable society. A group of 37 international scholars from seven countries and regions, including China, Singapore, Germany, the UK, and the US, including Professor Xi Zhang from Tsinghua University, Professor Xiaodong Chen from Nanyang Technological University, Professor Frank Würthner from the University of Würzburg, Professor Oren A. Scherman from the University of Cambridge, Professor Amar Flood from Indiana University, Professor Feihe Huang from Zhejiang University, and Professor Junqi Sun from Jilin University, review the important progress in supramolecular polymer science in recent years from five perspectives: 1) driving forces of non-covalent polymerization, 2) polymerization methodologies, 3) physical mechanisms, 4) material morphology, and 5) engineering applications. They also raise nine fundamental questions and major challenges that urgently need to be addressed in response to future development needs: 1) synergy, 2) quantification, 3) spatiotemporal observation, 4) theoretical simulation, 5) digitalization, 6) recyclability, 7) healthcare, 8) energy conversion, and 9) large-scale manufacturing. They point out that the integration of new concepts, technologies, and methods, such as artificial intelligence, data-driven design, automated synthesis, and advanced manufacturing, supramolecular polymer science holds the keys to the development of recyclable materials, devices, and intelligent systems for sustainable social progress. This review is not only an in-depth summary and discussion, but also a collaborative initiative for the global multidisciplinary research community. The article was published as an open access Review in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

Protecting rivers, lakes, wetlands, and reservoirs requires more than collecting water samples. Monitoring systems must also detect emerging risks, explain why water quality is changing, evaluate whether management actions are working, and provide reliable evidence for regulatory decisions.

The SDSS-V Black Hole Mapper reaches a milestone with its first southern hemisphere optical observations, coordinated eROSITA X-ray identification, and multi-epoch tracking of accreting black holes across the universe.

Using a combination of laser cooling techniques and strong magnetic fields, researchers at Colorado State University have created an ultracold neutral plasma with electrons cooled to temperatures measured to be within one degree Kelvin (absolute zero) for the first time. The work, highlighted in Physics of Plasmas, outlines an approach to better validate theory and refine models with this common state of matter under these and other extreme conditions. Among many potential applications, the findings will be helpful for the future development of fusion energy systems and the study of astrophysical systems such as white dwarf stars. 

One hundred years after the technique was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is still making waves in the scientific world. Theodor Svedberg developed the approach in the 1920s, using it to characterize tiny gold particles. Now, AUC helps researchers determine specific properties of individual molecules clustered together, such as those used in pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals.

Syracuse University biologists connect humpback whale song structure to diving behavior for the first time, a breakthrough that could allow researchers to infer whale behavior from acoustic recordings and better monitor the effects of human activity in the ocean.

High-capacity lithium-ion anodes often undergo an “activation” process in which capacity initially decreases and then gradually recovers during cycling, delaying full battery performance. Researchers have now shown that this behavior is strongly dependent on particle size. Using a Sn-based model system, the team found that large particles exhibit pronounced activation, whereas small particles show little to no activation. Their results reveal that the difference arises from a stress-induced kinetic retardation during lithiation, providing new guidance for the design of advanced battery materials.

A research team led by Prof. Jin Ge reports a strategy to markedly enhance iontronic mechanical sensors by tuning two previously underexplored electrical parameters—ionic conductivity and excitation frequency. Through a droplet-based model system combined with impedance spectroscopy and equivalent circuit analysis, the study establishes a quantitative framework linking these parameters to device impedance and capacitance variation. The results reveal that reducing ionic conductivity while increasing excitation frequency significantly boosts sensitivity, achieving up to 8772% improvement without altering device structure. The approach is further validated in hydrogel-based solid-state systems, demonstrating broad applicability. Prototype devices enable real-time pressure sensing, material differentiation in robotic systems, and 2D pressure mapping, offering a new pathway for the rational design and optimization of iontronic sensors.