Aging leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), significantly impairing their osteogenic capacity—a critical barrier to bone regeneration in elderly populations. Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Peking University demonstrated that replenishing aged PDLSCs with functional mitochondria from young counterparts restores mitochondrial integrity, reduces oxidative stress, and reactivates osteogenic capacity. This breakthrough, mediated by the AKAP1/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, highlights mitochondrial replenishment as a promising therapeutic strategy for age-related bone defects and broader regenerative medicine applications.

Low-frequency electromagnetic response in microwave technology exhibits unprecedented demand, benefiting applications such as 5G communications, Wi-Fi, and radar systems. To date, the purest low-frequency response materials are induced by magnetic metals. However, magnetic metals will demagnetize at high temperatures and cannot serve in high-temperature environments. Here, we introduced a SiC/CoSi/CeSi composite co-modified with transition metal Co and rare earth metal Ce, achieving a 14-fold increase in reflection loss (RL) from -4.74 dB to -66.48 dB. The effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL≤-10 dB) is 2.46 GHz. With the SiC/CoSi/CeSi composite, the effective absorption frequency is shifted to the low-frequency band (3.65 GHz), and the high-temperature stability (500 °C) is maintained, inheriting 94.5% effective absorption. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulation further confirms the excellent stealth capability of the composite, reducing the target reflection intensity by 22.7 dB m². Mechanism investigation indicates that the excellent EMW absorption performance of the composite is attributed to multiple reflections and scattering, conduction losses, abundant interface polarization, and good magnetic loss. This research supplies critical inspiration for developing efficient SiC-based absorbers with both low-frequency and high-temperature responses.

Targeted drug delivery remains a major challenge in cancer therapy, often limiting both efficacy and safety. Although microRNA sponges and short-hairpin RNAs show potential for gene-based cancer treatment, their clinical use is restricted by delivery inefficiency, off-target effects, cytotoxicity, and instability. Viral vectors offer high efficiency but are associated with issues such as immune responses, insertional mutagenesis, and limited cargo capacity. Non-viral carriers are safer and more affordable but suffer from poor transfection efficiency, instability, and inadequate endosomal escape. These limitations hinder the clinical application of RNA therapeutics. The Vir-inspired Biotechnical Vector (VIBV) is a novel hybrid platform that combines viral and non-viral elements with nanotechnology to enable personalized, tumor-specific gene therapy. Engineered with a spindle-shaped nanocore and a polyethylene glycolylated liposomal shell, VIBV ensures immune evasion, prolonged circulation, and controlled therapeutic release triggered by tumor microenvironmental cues such as acidity, hypoxia, and elevated glutathione levels. It delivers oncogenic microRNA sponges, short-hairpin RNAs, tumor-specific antigens, and cyclin-targeting RNAs to enhance gene silencing, immune activation, and tumor suppression. This review examines the limitations of current delivery systems and presents VIBV as a promising next-generation strategy with improved biocompatibility, targeting precision, and potential for cost-effective, personalized cancer therapy, while also addressing its remaining challenges and prospects.

Dr. Juchan Yang’s research team at the Hydrogen & Battery Materials Center, from the Energy & Environment Materials Research Division of the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), has developed a composite catalyst using the novel material MXene that suppresses the generation of chloride ions-one of the key challenges in seawater electrolysis. This research outcome is expected to accelerate the practical application of seawater electrolysis technology by enabling stable hydrogen production even in seawater.

The spent grain from beer brewing can be used to make microcapsules that can preserve omega-3 oils and medicines.

Aiming to better equip educators for the growing artificial intelligence (AI) wave, Kennesaw State University Department Chair of Information Technology Shaoen Wu, along with assistant professors Seyedamin Pouriyeh and Chloe “Yixin” Xie, were awarded two grants to help unite educators and lay the foundation for common guidelines in AI education.

During National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences are proud to announce the three Laureates and six Finalists of the 2025 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists, the Blavatnik Awards’ flagship prize that honors outstanding postdoctoral scientists from academic research institutions across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

The 2025 Blavatnik Regional Awards Laureates are:

 

Life Sciences: Veena Padmanaban, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Recognized for discovering a molecular mechanism allowing sensory neurons to communicate with breast cancer cells to drive metastasis and uncovering novel actionable therapeutic targets.

Physical Sciences & Engineering: Valentin Crépel, PhD, nominated by the Flatiron Institute

Recognized for advancing theories describing stacked, single-atom-thick materials, enabling easier control of their behaviors for applications in quantum technology and opening up new avenues for developing materials useful in novel quantum computing platforms.

 

Chemical Sciences: Xiao Xie, PhD, nominated by Princeton University

Recognized for pioneering chemical biology tools to map protein phase separation and copper signaling, which uncover molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Xie is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of 2015 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate, Christopher Chang, PhD.

The Finalists are:

LIFE SCIENCES

Maria Cecilia Campos Canesso, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Recognized for advancing our understanding of food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease by developing new tools to uncover how immune cells communicate in the intestine, laying the foundation for more effective treatments.

 

Ipshita Zutshi, PhD, nominated by New York University

Recognized for discovering how the brain integrates dynamic goals with sensory inputs (sound, vision) to guide memory and decision-making — providing a framework for understanding cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.

 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

Ore Gottlieb, PhD, nominated by the Flatiron Institute

Recognized for shifting the paradigm describing neutron star mergers, giving scientists a roadmap for finding and studying these rare events.

 

Viraj Pandya, PhD, nominated by Columbia University

Recognized for groundbreaking discoveries on early galaxy evolution, reshaping our understanding of how galaxies formed and challenging longstanding theories of the early universe.

 

CHEMICAL SCIENCES

Lucien Dupuy, PhD, nominated by Rutgers University, Newark

Recognized for developing quantum-classical and machine learning simulations that elucidate how molecules respond to light, crucial to understanding diverse topics like DNA stability, photocatalysis, and energy conversion. Dupuy is the first Blavatnik Awards honoree from Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.

 

Yunjia Lai, PhD, nominated by Columbia University

Recognized for pioneering mass spectrometry innovations to map and screen environmental exposures and biological changes that drive neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.