A study shows how a modified form of biochar can help microbial biofilms break down stubborn dye pollutants in wastewater, offering a promising strategy for cleaner and more stable anaerobic treatment systems.

As the world searches for cleaner ways to store and convert energy, scientists are turning to an unlikely source of high-performance materials: biomass. A review published in Biochar examines how biomass-derived materials, especially biomass-derived carbon materials, are being developed for energy storage devices and electrocatalytic energy conversion systems, including supercapacitors, fuel cells, water electrolysis, and carbon dioxide reduction.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a major complication after pancreatic surgery despite technical advances. This comprehensive review from eGastroenterology by Professor Yan Bi and colleagues from Mayo Clinic outlines updated definitions, multifactorial risk predictors, and evolving management strategies. Key developments include refined risk scoring systems, integration of biomarkers and imaging, and innovations in surgical techniques and materials. Emerging therapies, ranging from biologic sealants to AI-based prediction models, highlight a shift toward personalised, multidisciplinary care aimed at improving outcomes and reducing morbidity associated with POPF.

With the development of quantum chips, quantum communication is becoming essential for quantum computing and quantum networks. Flying Qubits, quantum information carried by photons, play a vital role in transferring data between nodes. Prof. Guofeng ZHANG, Professor of Department of Applied Mathematics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is dedicated to developing precise control methods for flying qubits, aiming to significantly improve the reliability and fidelity of quantum information transfer in future technologies.

Electrochemical oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) offers a sustainable route to produce value-added chemicals, yet its efficiency is often limited by sluggish charge transfer and interfacial reaction kinetics. In this work, a CeO₂/β-Ni(OH)₂ heterojunction electrode was constructed via an in situ electrodeposition strategy. The built-in electric field formed at the heterointerface promotes directional charge transfer and accelerates the formation of active NiOOH species, while the introduction of CeO₂ significantly enhances surface hydrophilicity and substrate affinity. The synergistic regulation of interfacial electric field and wettability enables efficient electron–proton transfer, resulting in markedly improved HMF electrooxidation performance. This study highlights an effective interface-engineering strategy for boosting biomass electrocatalysis.

A review published in eGastroenterology highlights the rapid evolution of in vitro liver disease models are rapidly evolving from simple 2D hepatocyte cultures to multicellular organoids, precision-cut liver slices, and microfluidic liver-on-a-chip systems. Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin argue that next-generation platforms should prioritise pathophysiological “states” (e.g., lipotoxic stress, fibrogenesis, cholestasis, viral injury) and deliver biologically meaningful, decision-ready readouts under controlled conditions. Model selection, they stress, must be fit-for-purpose, balancing fidelity, cost, and throughput.

For a century, light’s wave-particle duality has reshaped physics, yet spectrometers have long relied solely on light’s wave nature—resulting in unavoidable tradeoffs between resolution, spectral range, and device size. A team from Tsinghua University presents a comprehensive review, featured on the cover of Nano Research, that, for the first time, systematically explores the evolution of spectrometer designs through the lens of wave-particle duality, contrasting traditional wave-based methods with innovative particle-based approaches that enhance performance while minimizing device size. By examining the principles and advancements in both paradigms, the review provides valuable insights into the future of compact and high-performance spectral detection technologies.

Albeit surface reconstruction of precatalysts for alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is extensively studied, the dynamic structure evolution and true active phase in neutral media remains largely unexplored. Here, the activation behaviors in neutral and alkaline media are comparatively studied using NiMoO₄ as a model precatalyst. The results reveal that, when electrochemically activated in harsh alkaline conditions, NiMoO₄ undergoes rapid and complete reconstruction with the formation of considerable NiOOH active phase. On the other hand, direct activation in neutral media only results in weak reconstruction with a thin NiOOH layer on NiMoO₄ surface. Accordingly, the electrode oxidized in basic electrolyte yields a superior OER performance compared to that directly treated mild pH condition. Our study deepens the understanding of the neutral water oxidation reaction, which provides insightful guidelines for further development of efficient electrocatalysts for neutral water electrolysis with self-reconstruction.

Research Team from The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Reports: Ce-Myricetin Nanoparticles Alleviate Inflammation and Multi-organ Damage through ROS Clearance and Macrophage Reprogramming in Sepsis