A team led by Prof. ZHOU Yanguang, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), discovered a novel mechanism for rapid ion transport in solids, opening new avenues for materials design.a team led by Prof. ZHOU Yanguang, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), discovered a novel mechanism for rapid ion transport in solids, opening new avenues for materials design.

Achieving Zn anode stability is critical for advancing commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. However, the instability of zinc metal anodes driven by dendritic growth, hydrogen evolution, and interfacial passivation remains a critical obstacle for advancing aqueous zinc-ion batteries. In this paper, we report a synergistic interfacial engineering strategy that integrates in situ-grown zincophilic copper nanorod arrays with a self-assembled layer of 1-dodecanethiol to regulate ion flux and suppress side reactions simultaneously. The water-poor electric double-layer microenvironment derived from this dual-function “zincophilic–hydrophobic” architecture (denoted as HS-Cu@Zn) promotes uniform Zn deposition along the (100) plane, enhances desolvation kinetics (Zn²⁺ transference number increased from 0.47 to 0.75), and effectively excludes electroactive water molecules from the anode surface. As a result, the symmetric cells exhibit ultra-long cycling stability over 3500 h at 1 mA cm⁻², while Zn||Cu half-cells maintain a Coulombic efficiency of 99.65% for 900 cycles. ZnVO||HS-Cu@Zn full cell demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, achieving 2000 stable cycles at 5 A g⁻¹ with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8%.

A newly designed magnesium-tin alloy is bringing magnesium batteries a step closer to reality. The new alloy design improves both stability and magnesium-ion transport inside solid-state batteries, helping address one of the long-standing challenges in next-generation battery technology.

Biochar is often described as a stable form of carbon that can improve soils, store carbon, and help immobilize pollutants. But once biochar is applied to farmland, contaminated sites, or other soils, it does not remain unchanged. A new review published in Biochar examines how biochar weathers over time and what those changes mean for soil health, carbon sequestration, and soil remediation.

Phosphorus is essential for crop growth, but using it efficiently remains one of agriculture’s long-standing challenges. Farmers often apply large amounts of phosphorus fertilizer to maintain yields, yet only a small fraction is taken up by crops. The rest can become locked in soil or escape into waterways, contributing to nutrient pollution and eutrophication.

A joint research team from NIMS, the Institute of Science Tokyo, and Kochi University of Technology discovered high-performance catalysts capable of significantly reducing "boil-off losses," which had been a long-standing issue in liquid hydrogen storage and transportation. These composite catalysts, in which metallic nanoparticles, such as iron, are supported on silicon dioxide (silica) or other low-cost oxide, demonstrate significantly superior performance compared to conventional iron oxide-based catalysts. In this research, the team demonstrated a new mechanism where ortho to para hydrogen conversion is promoted, not by magnetism as in conventional mainstream mechanisms, but by an inhomogeneous electric field on the surface of the catalyst. This research result, which is expected to contribute to a hydrogen energy society, was published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters on March 12, 2026.

Scientists from Wroclaw Medical University and the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences discovered that the type of tea used in kombucha production strongly affects the drink’s chemistry, aroma, and antioxidant activity. Kombuchas made from green and oolong teas showed the highest antioxidant potential, while each tea created a distinct flavor and chemical profile during fermentation. The researchers emphasize that kombucha is not a single universal product and that further clinical studies are needed to confirm its health effects.

Early-onset intervertebral disc degeneration is partly driven by cellular senescence, yet effective disease-modifying therapies remain limited. Researchers report that the senolytic combination dasatinib and quercetin reduces senescence markers, inflammatory signaling, and degenerative tissue changes in a genetic mouse model of disc disease. In contrast, navitoclax shows no benefit. The study identifies JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling as a key pathway underlying disease progression and therapeutic response, highlighting a potential strategy for slowing spinal disc degeneration.