Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing a digital co-pilot, or “assistant”, that helps specialists take a comprehensive approach when restoring historic sandstone buildings suffering from weathering damage.

The co-pilot combines artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR). An initial version was developed and implemented as part of a pilot project at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Lausanne.

The project offers an example of how digital tools can be used in built heritage conservation.

Optical quantum computers are gaining attention as a next-generation computing technology with high speed and scalability. However, accurately characterizing complex optical processes, where multiple optical modes interact to generate quantum entanglement, has been considered an extremely challenging task. KAIST research team has overcome this limitation, developing a highly efficient technique that enables complete characterization of complex multimode quantum operations in experiment. This technology, which can analyze large-scale operations with less data, represents an important step toward scalable quantum computing and quantum communication technologies.

A team led by Prof. ZHOU Yongjin from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics demonstrated that combining lifespan engineering strategies with metabolic pathway optimization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enables highly efficient sclareol biosynthesis, marking an advance in improving microbial production through lifespan engineering.

Dr. Keun-Hwan Oh and his colleagues at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have successfully applied functionalized two-dimensional boron nitride nanoflakes (BNNFs) to silicone and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)-based sealing gaskets. The newly developed nanocomposite gasket demonstrates excellent mechanical robustness, hydrogen-barrier capability, and chemical and thermal stability.

Professor Dong-Myeong Shin and his team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) shed light on the contribution of ions in electric charge transfer, though their contribution differs with environmental humidity.

Touch is the sense that brings us into direct contact with reality, revealing shape, texture, and resistance. Designing soft sensors to mimic biological fingertips facilitates natural haptic communications in telerobotics and prostheses, but suffers from inaccurate tactile decoding. Scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University reported a 3D-architected pressure sensor featuring a hydrogel lattice encapsulated within an origami-inspired framework. The designed linear electro-mechanical responses enable sophisticated pressure input for robotic control and an intelligent fingertip for modulus detection.

A research team led by Associate Professor Yukihide Ishibashi at the Graduate School of Science and  Engineering, Ehime University, has successfully achieved the direct observation of exciton diffusion processes within individual copper phthalocyanine（CuPc）nanofibers using a custom-built femtosecond microspectroscopy technique, which enables clarification of exciton dynamics in mesoscopic materials. Previously, only ensemble-averaged information（e.g., CuPc thin films）was available for exciton diffusion coefficients and diffusion lengths. By measuring these parameters for single nanofibers, the team revealed that the diffusion coefficient of η-phase CuPc nanofibers is about three times higher than that of β-phase ones. This enhancement arises from the larger molecular tilt angle and stronger π–π overlap in the η-phase, which promote intermolecular excitonic interactions. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient was found to decrease with increasing fiber length, indicating a “size effect” in exciton hoopping. This study not only deepens the understanding of optical properties in organic molecular crystals but also provides important insights for improving the efficiency of organic photovoltaic and photoenergy-conversion devices. The findings were published online in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters by the American Chemical Society on October 31, 2025.