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Fracto-mechanoluminescence is the emission of light from fracturing solids. Here, the authors show that this emission in Mn halides arises from elastic stiffness, electromechanical coupling, and trap states that activate Mn²⁺ d−d transitions.

Actinide compounds possess complex electronic structures. Here the authors introduce the satellite peak in actinide M₄-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering to probe the number of localized 5 f electrons and assesses bond covalency in actinide compounds.

The MUC2 mucin is a large, highly glycosylated polymer that builds the intestinal mucus. Here, the authors generate a high-resolution structural model of the 800 amino acid C-terminal dimer including its glycans. Stabilization is achieved by interdimer disulfide-bonds in both ends, essential for a stable mucus barrier.

A halogenase enzyme uses the copper in its active site to catalyse iterative chlorinations on multiple unactivated carbon−hydrogen bonds, enabling carbon−hydrogen functionalization that is not achievable with an iron-based halogenase.

Efforts to produce aromatic monomers through catalytic lignin depolymerization were focused on aryl–ether bond cleavage, while the carbon–carbon bonds of a large fraction of aromatic monomers in lignin are difficult to cleave. Here, the authors report a catalytic autoxidation method using manganese and zirconium salts as catalysts to cleave the C–C bonds in lignin-derived dimers and oligomers from pine and poplar.

Researchers mapped how the plant enzyme FUT11 adds fucose to N-glycans. Microarrays, crystal structures and simulations indicate the enzyme can distort the acceptor sugar during catalysis, informing glycoprotein engineering.

Ruthenium complexes with facially coordinating tripodal phosphine ligands are privileged catalysts for a broad range of (de-)hydrogenation-based transformations but the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here the authors present a detailed investigation on the triphos-Ru catalysed C–O bond scission on a molecular level.

This study introduces Ni-doped W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires that integrate low-coordinated W and Ni dual active sites with surface plasmon resonance, facilitating solar-driven methanol dehydration for efficient dimethyl ether generation.

Selective cleavage and subsequent functionalization of C−C single bonds present a fundamental challenge, and the use of inexpensive and Earth-abundant group IV metals for catalytic C−C single-bond cleavage is largely underdeveloped. Here, the authors report zirconium-catalyzed C−C single-bond cleavage and subsequent hydroboration reactions.

Catalyst deactivation caused by the aggregation of active metal species poses great challenges for supported metal catalyzed solid-liquid reactions. Here, the authors develop a hypercrosslinked polymer integrated with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as bifunctional support to stabilize palladium in heterogeneous C-C bond formations.

Bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidota move by gliding and export proteins using a type-9 secretion system. Here, Liu et al. show that these two processes use a shared mechanism in which outer membrane proteins are covalently attached by disulfide bonds to a moving track structure inside the cell.

Many biological systems appear to organize their dynamics close to a critical point. Now it is shown that the protein array mediating Escherichia coli chemosensing is near-critical, enabling large signal amplification without compromising response speeds.

Anhydrides are used in creating covalent adaptable networks for recycling thermosets and plastic wastes, yet their bond exchange mechanism is not fully understood. Herein, the authors elucidate this mechanism under uncatalysed and acid-catalysed reaction conditions using density functional theory, revealing that acid catalysis can reduce the bond exchange barrier at lower temperatures.

Atomic force microscopy is used to investigate the adsorption and organization of ions on charged surfaces. Trivalent ions adopt complex networks, clusters and layers associated with overcharging, whereas divalent ions follow classical predictions.

Sulfur dioxide hydrolysis is a major atmospheric removal pathway. Here the authors use neural-network-potential driven molecular dynamics simulations to show that this process is accelerated in the bulk phase rather than at air-water interfaces.

Variable New Antigens Receptors (VNARs) from shark antibodies possess a unique molecular dexterity that allows them to access epitopes inaccessible to conventional antibodies. Here, the authors use crystallography to investigate how two VNARs selectively engage soluble TNF-alpha.

Shear stiffening gels have promise in impact protection, but can have problems with toxicity and corrosion. Here, the authors report the development of a boron-free material based on a shear-stiffening polytitanosiloxane network through a metal-ion-mediated hydrogen bond enhancement strategy.

Here, the authors use a mouse model of multiple sclerosis to show that CD38⁺Foxp3⁺ T_reg cells persist in postinflammatory CNS tissues and are needed for maintaining immune homeostasis. These localized stress-tolerant T_reg cells have developed mechanisms to exploit the limited availability of IL-2 in this tissue.

Ionic skins have potential in long-term physiological monitoring, but do not always achieve a desirable balance of viscosity and elasticity. Here, the authors report a material with hierarchical topological entanglements allowing desirable viscoelastic properties.

Using time-resolved Coulomb-explosion imaging, the authors capture a 600 fs pseudorotation in the benzene cation, revealing coherent vibronic dynamics around a conical intersection and visualizing transient structural variations.

Metallofullerenes typically have polar single bonds between metals and non-metals. Here, through arc-discharge experiments, the authors observe the formation of an endohedral fullerene with an encapsulated tri-coordinate μ₃-carbon centre and a stable titanium-carbon double bond.

In this study, the authors develop a flavivirus vaccine strategy by introducing mutations into envelope glycoproteins resulting in structural changes that conceal the ADE-prone fusion loop epitope. They show that the Zika virus-specific construct protects mice against viral challenge and prevents ADE by Dengue virus.

Direct methane oxidation to C2+ with O₂ is impeded by tough C–H activation and uncontrolled coupling. Here, Fe-(μ-O)-Zn dual-atom sites on ZSM-5 enable efficient photocatalytic acetic acid production at ambient temperature and pressure.

Oxatriquinane is a remarkably stable alkyl oxonium ion, despite the fact that its carbon–oxygen bond lengths are 1.54 Å. The robust nature of this fused tricyclic molecule enabled the addition of increasing steric bulk to the system, culminating in a tri-tert-butyloxatriquinane with a record 1.62 Å C–O bond distance.

The Stille reaction is a long-standing method for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds by coupling aryl halides with organotin compounds. Here the authors report a Stille coupling between aryl ammonium salts and arylstannanes catalysed by nickel.

The formation of carbon–carbon bonds is achieved via directed cleavage of traditionally non-reactive carbon–hydrogen bonds and their subsequent coupling with readily available alkenes.

Hydrogels with homogenous structure are vulnerable to defects and cracks, and local mechanical failure occurs consequently. Here, the authors develop a spinning process to produce robust hydrogel microfibers with both crack insensitivity and self-healability.

The pursuit of efficient C–N bond formation is a prime focus of synthetic organic chemistry. Here, the authors documented a base promoted amination between alkyl iodides and diazonium salts via halogen-atom transfer (XAT) process.

Sonani et al. report the cryo-EM structures of the Milano phage tail, unraveling the mechanism of its flexible-to-rigid transformation, the inter-chain disulfide network hindering tail contraction and the structural organization of receptor binding proteins.

Bacteria secrete polysaccharides essential for colonization and infections. Here, the authors reveal the structure and mechanism of WzaB, a Class-3 OPX protein, uncovering a distinct trans-envelope secretion complex driving critical polysaccharide export in diderm bacteria.

Here, the authors report a general, iridium-catalyzed C–H functionalization concept demonstrating the ability of a single ligand framework to achieve three different selectivities (para, meta & ortho) by varying the additives.

Many C–C bond activation methods involve strain-releasing cleavage of small rings to compensate for unfavourable kinetics and thermodynamics. Now, the 1,2-positional interchange of vicinal C–C and C–Pd bonds has been reported, giving access to quaternary carbon–palladium bonds. This dyotropic rearrangement has been used for the enantioselective synthesis of functionalized fluorinated cyclopentanes.

Induction of CD11b-positive regulatory B cells and low expression of CD40 in melanoma cells have been associated with resistance to agonist CD40 (aCD40) and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here the authors show that the addition of RAS/MEK/PI3K inhibitors to aCD40 abrogates these effects and reverses ICB resistance in preclinical melanoma models.

Indigo is an extremely popular molecule in dye industry, however, its use in photochemical transformations is surprisingly scarce. This report explores its photocatalytic activity over an unusually wide excited-state redox window.

The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction is an important pathway to upgrade glycerol, but a fundamental explanation for the selectivity toward breaking different number and type of the CO bonds is still lacking. Here, the authors explore the possibility of tuning the HDO selectivity by manipulating the surface oxophilicity.

Programmable self-assembly can help construct complex nanostructures. Now a mathematical framework can identify if and how a particular structure can be assembled.

Here, the authors present a resonance theory to describe the bonding configuration of flat boron materials without quantum calculation. Like aromaticity theory in carbon, it allows to intuitively understand the stability and properties of boron-related materials

The inability to distinguish two-bond from long-range HMBC correlation has historically impeded NMR structure elucidation. Here the authors developed a practical iHMBC methodology utilizing accurate isotope shift measurement to overcome this limitation.

A catalytic para-selective alkylation reaction connects C–H functionalization and decarboxylative coupling strategies using simple bases to trap a previously hidden intermediate. This reaction exploits an ‘inverted sequence’ that forms the C–C bond prior to C–H bond cleavage and provides a new entry into C–H functionalization reactions.

Tuning of metal atom coordination in dual atom catalysts remains challenging. Here, axial dual Fe-Co atoms are incorporated into a COF and N-doped graphene, as bifunctional oxygen catalyst. The axial Fe-Co orbital coupling optimizes orbital energy levels enhancing its electrocatalytic performance.

Radical Fe^II/α-ketoglutarate-dependent halogenases are powerful biocatalysts for C–H functionalization. Here, the authors reveal the mechanistic basis for chemoselectivity in a lysine halogenase.

Producing isolated single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride with predefined spin transitions is challenging. Oxygen annealing enables the controlled fabrication of narrowband quantum emitters with optically active spin for quantum applications.

The chemistry of the U≡N species is little known, even though solid uranium nitride has been proposed for use as a nuclear fuel. Now, photolysis of a uranium azide complex has been shown to release N₂ and generate a transient U≡N fragment that can activate C–H bonds.