Air pollution from cruise ships could be damaging the health of people living in port cities by increasing inflammation and susceptibility to viruses such as the common cold and COVID-19.

Infected wounds can lead to delayed healing, suppuration, and potentially life-threatening complications, making their management critically important. An ideal wound dressing should possess key characteristics such as high protective function, comfortable user experience, and effective antibacterial efficiency. However, a single dressing that integrates all these functions is rarely achieved. Herein, we developed a “bionic cooling skin” for infected wound management based on hierarchical nanofiber construction. This was achieved by integrating solvent welding technology with single-sided metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that generate visible light-responsive reactive oxygen species (ROS, band gap = 2.56 eV). The designed bionic skin promotes rapid healing of infected wounds, and the healing mechanism has been confirmed by gene analysis. This advanced dressing closely mimics natural skin, exhibiting similar mechanical properties (σ_max = 21.6 MPa; ε_max = 54%), and high air and moisture permeability (> 1.8 mL s⁻¹ and > 12.5 kg m⁻² d⁻¹), respectively. Furthermore, the bionic cooling skin reduces the local temperatures of wounds exposed to sunlight by 4 °C, mitigating heat gain through high mid-infrared emissivity. This innovative bionic wound dressing not only enhances comfort and healing efficacy but also advances our understanding of wound repair mechanisms, holding significant promise for future wound care and biomedical material design.

A research team led by Prof. WANG Zhongzhen from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China and Anhui University, has developed a new membrane-based approach for high-salinity brine treatment.

A research team led by Assoc. Prof. CAO Liang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Anhui University and other research institutions, has developed a new approach based on controlled interlayer sliding to regulate quantum states in layered materials. By precisely tuning the movement of atomic layers, the approach enables the design of superlattices and the regulation of electronic properties through structural engineering.

Catalysts are everywhere—from fertilizer production to clean energy—but making them more active without sacrificing stability has remained a major challenge. Researchers have now engineered a gold-platinum nanocluster catalyst that can be activated at lower temperatures while maintaining its precise atomic structure, boosting low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation performance. Yet a clever ligand design could pave the way for more efficient and durable catalysts.Catalysts are everywhere—from fertilizer production to clean energy—but making them more active without sacrificing stability has remained a major challenge. Researchers have now engineered a gold-platinum nanocluster catalyst that can be activated at lower temperatures while maintaining its precise atomic structure, boosting low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation performance. Yet a clever ligand design could pave the way for more efficient and durable catalysts.

Complete tumor remission and suppression of recurrence/metastasis demonstrated in animal models of triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer

The team constructed a hierarchical “herb–compound–target–disease” network that aligns with the holistic philosophy of TCM. This paradigm upgrades TCM intervention from single‑target modulation to network target regulation, scientifically interpreting the molecular logic of the “monarch‑minister‑assistant‑guide” compatibility principle and syndrome differentiation. It builds a foundational bridge between classical TCM theory and modern molecular biology.