Researchers at Hefei University of Technology and Southeast University have comprehensively reviewed the recent advances in arc-linear motors (ALMs). Then, the major merits and demerits of various ALMs are identified and summarized. Finally, Researchers discussed the main issues and core challenges of ALMs, and proposed the perspectives as well to promote a more comprehensive understanding for ALM.

Zeolites have high ion exchange capacity and certain radiation resistance. However, their traditional synthesis methods have problems such as high temperature and pressure and difficult control of morphology. Moreover, powdered zeolites are prone to high pressure drop during dynamic adsorption, which limits their practical engineering applications. Therefore, developing spherical zeolites synthesis technology that combines high mechanical strength, excellent radiation resistance and efficient adsorption performance has become a core challenge in the field of radioactive pollution control.

The research team led by Nobel Laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is already known for their discovery of the brain’s sense of place. Now they have shown that the brain also weaves a tapestry of time: The brain segments and organizes events into experiences, placing unique bookmarks on them so that our lives don’t become a blurry stream, but rather a series of meaningful moments and memories we can revisit and learn from.

In a paper published in National Science Review, Professor Yan Shi and his graduate student Shihan Dai from Xidian University, China, proposed a novel multi-target simultaneous intelligent detection approach based on space-time-coding metasurfaces and software defined radio technologies, with experimental validation across diverse liquid samples under complicated ambient conditions.

The reactive oxygen species (O*) released from the Nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes (LiNi_xCo_yMn_1−x−yO₂, NCM) are responsible for triggering thermal runaway (TR) in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Specifically, the charge compensation from transition metal (TM) 3d to oxygen (O) 2p in NCM plays a pivotal role in O* release. Here, inspired by the strong chelating effect of sodium phytate (PN) on TM, this study utilizes PN as a cathode additive to interact with nickel, weaken the charge compensation of TM 3d to O 2p on the surface of LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) and enhance the battery safety. It is shown that the chelation successfully stabilizes lattice oxygen and inhibits O* release, preventing harmful phase transitions in NCM811 and attenuating heat generation from O* related crosstalk reactions. Consequently, the TR trigger temperature (T_tr) of NCM811 pouch cell with PN increases from 125.9 to 184.8 °C, while the maximum temperature (T_max) decreases from 543.7 to 319.7 °C. Moreover, the PN-modified layer allows NCM811 to be cycled stably for over 700 cycles at 4.6 V. This strategy provides a facile method for stabilizing lattice oxygen in NCM, inhibiting O*-triggered TR, and enhancing high-voltage performance.

Human-robot interaction (HRI) depends on advanced sensing technologies to ensure both safety and efficiency. However, most current robotic sensors offer limited functionality. This study presents a fully soft robotic sensor with four integrated sensing capabilities: spatial proximity sensing, non-contact thermal sensing, contact-based thermal sensing, and mechanical force sensing. This multipurpose sensor enables precise detection of thermal and mechanical stimuli in both contact and non-contact manners. When integrated with a soft gripper and robotic arm, the robotic sensor demonstrated robust performance across a range of HRI scenarios. This technique could advance robotic perception and adaptability in complex environments.