Optical tweezers manipulate microparticles via optical forces and torques. Researchers from China and Singapore demonstrate that particle morphology and rotation angle critically govern optical torques and forces under paraxial trapping system. Non-spherical particles may exhibit positive torques, negative torques, or rotational freezing accompanied by stable lateral drift. Originating mainly from geometric asymmetry, this mechanism completes a missing element in optical manipulation and enables shape-based optical sorting.

Gastric cancer remains a major global health challenge, and therapeutic resistance continues to limit the effectiveness of existing HER2-targeted treatments. A research team from Jiangsu University has developed a bispecific cellular nanovesicle platform that simultaneously targets CD16-positive natural killer (NK) cells and HER2-positive gastric cancer cells. The engineered nanovesicles enhance NK cell recruitment, activation, cytokine secretion, and tumor-killing activity, providing a promising strategy for next-generation cancer immunotherapy.

An ethylene carbonate (EC)-based electrolyte highly compatible with high-voltage LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) cathodes is developed. Two insights that go against conventional understanding are uncovered, i.e. contrary to the common belief that EC decomposes readily under high voltage, it demonstrates outstanding high-voltage stability; and LNMO cycles in this electrolyte without forming a typical cathode/electrolyte interphase, experiencing instead a unique surface restructuring.

Approximately one-third of fresh fruit is lost along the supply chain, with harvesting and grading representing major sources of loss. Inspired by the deformation mechanism of octopus suckers, the researchers developed a soft robotic gripper integrated with three-axis triboelectric tactile sensors. The system independently resolves normal and tangential forces and, within a single picking cycle, simultaneously assesses fruit firmness, enables damage-free harvesting, and measures fruit weight. Field trials demonstrated the feasibility of integrating non-destructive harvesting with in-field quality grading, offering a new pathway to reduce post harvest losses, streamline fresh-produce supply chains, and improve operational efficiency.