A research team from Jiangnan University has developed an engineered Escherichia coli strain capable of producing orotic acid at unprecedented levels using an innovative antibiotic-free plasmid stabilization system. The study reports a final titer of 150.48 g/L with a yield of 0.63 g/g glucose in fed-batch fermentation.

Inspired by the multimodal perception characteristics of insect antennae (for force, temperature and gas), the ECUST interdisciplinary team developed the Electronic Multifunctional Sensing Antenna (EMSA)—a flexible thin-film self-decoupling multimodal sensor fabricated via a maskless laser direct writing process. The sensor realizes intrinsic decoupling of temperature and strain, as well as simultaneous thermo-mechanical-gas trimodal monitoring, with four core technological breakthroughs.

A recent study by University of Notre Dame researchers describes a promising alternative for next-generation cooling using thermoelectric technology, which has no moving parts ad no gaseous refrigerants, allowing for zero leaks.

A team of gas sensors led by Ronghan Wei from Zhengzhou University in Zhengzhou, China, synthesized In₂O₃ with oxygen vacancies (In₂O₃-L) and anchored Pt single atoms, enabling real-time detection of low-concentration acetone. The In₂O₃-L-Pt sensor demonstrated a 5-fold improvement in response to 20 ppm acetone at 220 °C compared to In₂O₃, exhibiting rapid response/recovery times (2/30 s), ultra-low theoretical detection limits, excellent selectivity, and outstanding long-term stability.

In cell biology, organelles have long been regarded as the “functional components” within cells. Recent research reveals that organelles are not merely internal “factories”; they can also function as ‘couriers’ between cells through various transfer mechanisms, enabling intercellular communication and functional regulation. This organelle transfer phenomenon resembles an “asset-light transfer” between cells, allowing cells to rapidly acquire necessary “functional components” to adapt to environmental changes. Moreover, the signals carried by these organelles facilitate damage repair or disease progression.

A new review highlights how electric fields can act as a versatile "smart switch" to dynamically control friction in atomically thin two-dimensional materials. This precise manipulation, achieved through mechanisms like electrostatic regulation and mechanical resonance, is crucial for improving the reliability and lifespan of next-generation nanoelectronics and micro-machines.

Amid global energy and environmental challenges, thermoelectric generation (TEG) technology offers a green solution by converting thermal energy directly into electricity. However, traditional TEG systems are limited by low energy density and inability to operate around the clock. A joint research team has developed a bio-inspired Janus-structured metamaterial device integrating microstructured SiO₂ radiative cooling and Si photothermal layers, achieving 24-hour continuous power generation with a peak voltage of 108 mV and power density of 41.5 μW/cm², marking a major advance in sustainable energy technology.