Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in ACS Applied Nano Materials a new method to precisely measure nuclear elasticity—the stiffness or softness of the cell nucleus—in living cells. By employing a technique called Nanoendoscopy-AFM (NE-AFM), which inserts a nanoneedle probe directly into cells, the team revealed how cancer cell nuclei stiffen or soften depending on chromatin structure and environmental conditions.

The findings provide fundamental insights into how the physical properties of cancer cell nuclei change during disease progression, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment evaluation.

In the study, researchers identified top-performing covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for both adsorption and membrane separation, showing that 3D COFs with small pores excel in adsorption, while 2D COFs with large pores are ideal for membrane separation. The team also uncovered key features governing COFs' separation performance, pointing to more efficient ways to extract helium from natural gas.

A research team led by Dr. Kee Young Koo from the Hydrogen Research Department at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (President Yi Chang-Keun, hereafter referred to as KIER) has developed a world-class catalyst for the reverse water–gas shift reaction, transforming carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, into a key building block for eco-friendly fuels. The reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a technology that converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H₂O) by reacting it with hydrogen (H₂) in a reactor. The resulting carbon monoxide can be combined with the remaining hydrogen to produce syngas, which serves as a building block for synthetic fuels such as e-fuels* and methanol. This makes the RWGS reaction a promising technology for driving the eco-friendly fuel industry.

A research team led by the School of Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made significant advances in quantum rod light-emitting diodes (QR-LEDs), setting record-high efficiency level for red QR-LEDs. This innovation is poised to revolutionize next-generation display and lighting technologies, offering smartphone and television users a vibrant and enhanced visual experience.

Scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have recently achieved a major breakthrough in the field of photovoltaic technology, successfully developing highly efficient and durable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) suitable for outdoor environments. The inverted PSCs using this new technology not only maintain stability at temperatures as high as 85°C, meeting international industry standards, but also survive 700 cycles between -40°C and 85°C, maintaining over 98% of its initial power conversion efficiency (PCE), representing one of the best reported results.

Researchers have developed a highly sensitive method for detecting hotspots in the environment, such as bushfires or military threats, by harnessing the focussing power of meta-optical systems.

The key to the approach is innovative lens technology thinner than a human hair, which can collect and process infrared radiation from fires and other heat sources with much improved efficiency. Crucially it does not need cryogenic cooling, unlike current sensors.

The result is sensor technology that promises to enhance devices in both the civilian and military spheres, said Dr Tuomas Haggren, lead researcher on the project.