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Selective recovery of gold from electronic waste using mild reagents is a challenge. Now a photocatalytic technology is reported to enable highly selective gold dissolution through solvent pH adjustment. This process is scaled up to allow for the efficient handling of a single batch of 10 kg of electronic waste.

The use of acyl functional groups as nucleophilic synthons in transition metal-catalysed carbometallation of unsaturated hydrocarbons remains challenging. Here, nickel-catalysed acylzincation reactions of alkynes and alkenes with organozinc reagents under 1 atm of CO are developed, featuring high functional group tolerance, a broad substrate scope and mild conditions.

Electrocatalytic semi-hydrogenation of alkynes offers a viable route for the synthesis of Z-alkenes, yet it falls short in achieving the semi-deuteration of these compounds. Here, the authors report an electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed transfer deuteration reaction that yields Z-configuration deuterated alkenes.

This study presents the difference in oxidation potential between metals and carbon as a thermodynamic factor for designing multielement heterostructures. A roll-to-roll carbothermal shock technology is developed to achieve one-step synthesis and continuous manufacturing of the multielement heterostructures.

Isotope engineering can enhance spin coherence of solid-state defects, such as NV centers in diamond but progress for defects in hBN has been limited. Gong et al. report the optimization of isotopes in hBN and demonstrate improved coherence and relaxation times for the negatively charged boron vacancy centers.

While the counterion of a metal catalyst can influence the activity and selectivity of reactions, this phenomenon is rarely observed in carbonzincation reactions. Herein, the authors report increased catalytic efficiency in the iron-catalyzed alkylzincation of alkynes when the weakly coordinating bulky counterion tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate is added.

Observations of SN 2021yfj reveal that its progenitor is a massive star stripped down to its O/Si/S core, which remarkably continued to expel vast quantities of silicon-, sulfur-, and argon-rich material before the explosion, informing us that current theories for how stars evolve are too narrow.

The direct conversion of low alkane-like ethane into high-value chemicals has posed a significant challenge. Herein, the authors successfully accomplish a one-step conversion of ethane to C2 oxygenates using a Rh single-atom catalyst under mild conditions.

Zhao et al. show that Akt-mediated phosphorylation of ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1)-specific E3 ligase 1 (UFL1) catalyzes the UFMylation of ArpC4, a core subunit of actin-related proteins 2 and 3. Through ArpC4 UFMylation, UFL1 promotes lamellipodia formation and enhances cell migration, invasion and metastasis.

The authors resolve high-resolution structures of complex multimeric RNA-only assemblies, redefining our understanding of non-coding RNA architecture and expanding the landscape of naturally evolved RNA nanostructures.

The neuraminidase antigenicity of the circulating influenza A(H3N2) viruses differs from that of a recent A(H3N2) vaccine virus due to three amino acid substitutions, two of which introduce an N-linked glycosylation site that significantly reduces the binding of neuraminidase by antibodies.

Atomic electron tomography is used to determine the 3D atomic positions and chemical species of medium- and high-entropy alloy nanoparticles and quantitatively characterize the local lattice distortion, strain tensor, twin boundaries, dislocation cores and chemical short-range order.

Reduction process is a key step to fabricate metal zeolite catalysts, but existing reduction technologies are always energy intensive and inevitably cause the agglomeration of metallic particles or destroy zeolite structure. Here the authors find that zeolites after ion exchange of ammonium display an interesting and unexpected self-reducing feature.

Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production faces challenges in creating robust anodes that resist corrosion. Here, the authors report a PW₁₂-polyoxometalate-modified CoFe hydroxide anode that achieves selective and durable seawater oxidation over 1300 hours at 1 A cm⁻².

Influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) is an important target for universal influenza vaccines. Here, the authors identify two monoclonal antibodies, CAV-F6 and CAV-F34, that inhibit NA activity across multiple subtypes, offering protection against seasonal and emerging avian influenza strains, thus advancing the development of broadly protective vaccines and therapeutics.

Vertical organic electrochemical transistors demonstrating unprecedented performances in both p- and n-type operation modes have been synthesized from new electro-active and ion-permeable semiconducting polymers by the interface engineering of electro-active blend layers.

The advancement of high entropy alloy development is both rapid and challenging. Here, the authors discover an unusual Sabatier principle operating on the high entropy alloy surface, which leads to a notable enhancement in catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reactions.

Critical issues such as oxygen release during battery cycling plague the development of high-energy Li-rich oxide cathodes. Here the authors report a Li-gradient structure of the oxides, obtained by a selective LiO leaching process via a molten salt treatment, displaying virtually zero oxygen loss.

Silencing of endogenous retroviral elements (ERVs) is mediated by KAP1. Here, the authors describe the molecular mechanism by which KAP1 induces structural reorganization and multimerization of HP1α and maintains inaccessible chromatin at ERVs in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Nickelates have been shown to host unconventional superconductivity, and recently it has been found that the choice of substrate can significantly change the superconducting critical temperature. This suggests, that like some Cuprates, strain could be important. Here Gao, Fan, Wang, and coauthors find that magnetic excitations in a parent Nickelate are insensitive to substrate choice, and therefore strain, which differs markedly from the case of Cuprates.

Electronic nematicity is typically associated with the breaking of rotational symmetry. Here the authors report unusual nematicity in BaNi2As2, manifested in a large splitting of the optical phonon mode above the structural transition temperature, and link it to the coupling between the lattice and nematic fluctuations.

Elastocaloric cooling is an emerging cooling technology. This work develops a ternary TiNiCu alloy based elastocaloric prototype using a roller-driven mechanism for partial kinetic energy recovery. The prototype achieved a 125% improvement in the material coefficient of performance and a 78% work recovery efficiency.

Clinical trials of CD47 blocking antibody in human cancer patients have not yielded ideal results. Here the authors show that USP2 stabilizes CD47 through deubiquitination, whereas USP2 inhibition enhances macrophage phagocytosis, reprograms tumor microenvironment and synergizes with anti-PD-1 treatment.

Alloys are important materials for catalysis but are usually limited by miscibility gaps present in their phase diagrams. Here the authors break this limitation by developing high-entropy alloy catalysts made of five earth-abundant elements and demonstrate great catalytic enhancements for ammonia decomposition.

The authors identify fluctuating local polarization as a key atomistic factor behind enhanced piezoelectricity in perovskites, offering new insights into performance differences and guiding the design of next generation piezoelectric materials.

Chen, Hu, Zhao, Fang and colleagues show that the ribosomal large subunit protein Rpl12 functions as a conserved ribophagy receptor in multiple organisms.

High entropy alloys usually emphasize equiatomic compositions, which restrict the compositions available to induce strengthening via precipitation. Here the authors use spinodal decomposition in a five-element alloy to obtain high content nanophases and the highest tensile strength reported to date.

The first-reported natural quasicrystal, found in the meteorite Khatyrka, has posed many questions regarding the extraterrestrial processes that led to its formation. Here, the authors suggest how the metallic Al- and Cu-bearing phases formed and report the discovery of other new minerals.

Non-noble transition metal oxides are common yet typically poor hydrogen evolution catalysts due to scarce active electronic states. This work provides a route for achieving hydrogen evolution at high current densities by stabilizing a metastable NiMoO₄ phase with abundant active electronic states.

The separation of propadiene from propyne/propadiene mixtures remains challenging. Here, the authors report a sorbent screening protocol and show that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with open metal sites and cage-based molecule traps exhibit high performance for propyne/propadiene separation.

Programmable topological dipoles could be used in stimuli-responsive materials. Now it is shown that confinement of an apolar liquid crystal results in controllable polar arrangements of elastic dipoles.

Antiskyrmions, like skyrmions, are a form of topological spin texture, with a topological charge of opposite sign to the equivalent skyrmion with the same polarity. While antiskyrmions have been less explored, they offer some potential advantages for applications, and here, Guang et al demonstrate antiskyrmion motion within stripe domains.

Ion-solvating membranes (ISMs) are non-porous polymer films that can uptake KOH and, therefore, conduct ions and be used as separators in electrolysers. Here the authors report an ISM for alkaline water electrolysis with exceptionable stability and broad operability.

Enantiopure aliphatic amines are frequently encountered as chiral auxiliaries and synthetic intermediates for bioactive compounds. Here, the authors report a mild nickel-catalysed asymmetric reductive hydroalkylation to convert enamides and enecarbamates into α-branched chiral amines and derivatives.

The study of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) has drawn much attention. Here the authors show a series of tetrathiafulvalene based COFs designed and exfoliated into nanosheets which exhibit high electrocatalytic CO₂RR performance.

A reinforcement learning-based virtual reality system, implementing a series of sport sessions with coaching, was as effective as standard physical activity in reducing fat mass in adolescents, with positive effects on cognition.

Gas-evolving catalysts suffer from severe mass transport limitations under industrial conditions. Here, the authors report an interfacial metal-layer engineering strategy to separate bubble nucleation from active sites, enabling transfer-resistance-free electrocatalytic interfaces.

Monomethylation of histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me1) contributes to DNA replication but the mechanism is not well understood. Here, the authors identify a conserved tandem Tudor domain of BAHCC1 as a H4K20me1-specific reader, which promotes the recruitment of MCM complex to chromatin for efficient DNA replication.

Developing fast-responsive NH3 sensors at room temperature is challenging. Here the authors developed robust Hoffmann-type MOF based NH3 sensors with a low detection limit (25 ppb) and quick response (5 s). The sensors exhibit high NH3 selectivity, stability, and easy recovery.

High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems yet face detrimental parasitic reactions. Here, authors develop a durable cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics dual-structure-breaking electrolyte.

Broad and potent neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants can be efficiently identified via accurate deep-mutational-scanning-based prediction of viral evolution and delivered to mice using mRNA–lipid nanoparticles.

Difunctionalization of olefins is an ongoing and important focus of synthetic organic chemistry. Here the authors report a nickel-catalysed hydroalkylation of unactivated alkenes to obtain branched alkyl carboxylic acids or alkyl amines, using aminoquinoline and picolinamide as directing groups.

Enantioenriched α-aminoboronic acid, a structural unit in many bioactive molecules, is also a valuable synthon in organic synthesis. Here, the authors disclose a NiH-catalysed asymmetric hydroamidation process for their direct synthesis.

Diatomic actinide molecules are ideal models for studying rare multiple-bond motifs. Here, the authors report host-guest structures of metastable charged U≡N diatoms confined in fullerene cages and stabilized by coordinative electron transfer.

Xia et al. report that tumor cell-expressed paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor alpha (PILRα) interacts with the T cell surface protein CD99 to suppress T cell activity, proposing PILRα targeting to enhance antitumor immune responses.

The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila is known to regulate a wide spectrum of host processes using its Dot/Icm effectors. In this work, He et al. provide insight into L. pneumophila regulation of ATP level in host cells.