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CRISPR–Cas tools enable genome regulation but are often too large for efficient AAV delivery. Here, authors engineer a compact enhanced TnpB–ωRNA system (enTnpB) as a versatile genome regulation platform and develop a single-AAV regimen, ImmunAct, to activate endogenous cytokines and enhance cancer immunotherapy.

Treatment failure exists in Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) patients. Here this group reports a phase 2 randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of adding nimotuzumab, to CCRT on 246 patients with untreated, non-keratinising, stage II–IVA LA-NPC.

Direct observation of second sound in graphite at ambient conditions reveals phonon-hydrodynamic transport. By controlling isotope scattering, this work demonstrates wave-like heat propagation, exceeding conventional diffusive thermal limits.

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a regulatory element involved in genomic stability and gene regulation. This study identifies widespread eccDNA in early mammalian embryos. These eccDNAs arise from active genomic regions, increase during a major wave of gene activation, and can regulate key developmental genes.

Women with diminished ovarian reserve face persistently low success rates during in vitro fertilization. Here, the authors show that a modified letrozole protocol yields cumulative clinical pregnancy rates and cumulative live birth rates comparable to those of the GnRH antagonist protocol.

Lithium||sulfur batteries are limited by sluggish solid-state sulfur conversion. Here, authors investigate spin-state transitions as a key kinetic barrier and design a spin-regulated catalyst that accelerates sulfur conversion, suppresses polysulfide shuttling, and enables high-capacity pouch cells.

Thermogenic adipocytes are a potential therapy to combat obesity, although the process underlying their activation remains unclear. Here, the authors use epigenetic profiling to demonstrate RUNX1 and RUNX2 inhibit thermogenesis by distinct mechanisms.

Digital medicine needs intuitive readouts to translate multidimensional biomarkers into reliable cancer tests. Here, authors present EnCODE, an enzyme-driven colorimetric platform that encodes multi-miRNA profiles into decodable colours, detecting pancreatic cancer with 90% accuracy in 163 patient samples.

The mid-infrared (MIR) range of the electromagnetic spectrum can be indirectly accessed by frequency upconversion. Here, authors propose a phase-matching-free scheme for broadband and efficient upconversion, covering wavelengths from MIR to ultraviolet with high-order harmonics generated from a NbOI₂ crystal. MIR imaging is demonstrated with a standard silicon camera.

Recently, superconductivity was achieved in La3Ni2O7 and (La,Pr)3Ni2O7 thin films at ambient pressure due to in-plane compressive strain. Here, the authors report the enhancement of the superconducting onset from about 30 K to over 48 K by applying hydrostatic pressure to the films.

Topological interfacial coupling enhances PMA in 2D Fe₄GeTe₂, yielding coexisting IMA/PMA components enabling field-free SOT switching at low current density with polarity control, demonstrating reconfigurable logic for low-power spintronics.

The cellular pathology of Japanese encephalitis (JE) remains elusive. Here, the authors use spatial transcriptomics in JE mouse model and show that Ackr1⁺ endothelial cells and Ly6c2⁺ monocytes synergistically drive neuroinflammation, revealing potential therapeutic targets for neurotropic virus infections.

Interfacial charge recombination losses limit solar cell efficiency. Gao et al. mitigate these losses through front and rear-contact engineering, achieving efficiencies of 26.34% and 32.73% in tunnel oxide passivating contact single-junction and tandem solar cells.

Wan, Li, Cao and colleagues report a feedback crosstalk between THY1⁺ cancer stem cells and neutrophils via migrasome-mediated release of mitochondria, which induces a pseudohypoxic state and promotes metastasis.

Deep brain stimulation is effective but invasive. Here, the authors develop an injectable conductive hydrogel that forms in situ and enables wireless neuromodulation under volume conduction via capacitive coupling, showing therapeutic potential in a Parkinson’s disease rat model

Japonica subspecies has a lower nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) than that of indica rice. Here, the authors show that natural variations in the NIN-like protein 4 (OsNLP4) encoding gene are responsible for the divergence and introgression of the indica OsNLP4 allele into elite japonica cultivar can increase NUE and grain yield.

Crystallizing the perovskite layer on thin tunnel oxide passivated contact silicon cells is challenging due to rapid heat transfer. Zhou et al. address this issue using a 2-mercaptobenzothiazole additive, achieving a tandem cell efficiency of 32.76%.

ROS-mediated sulfenylation or ‘oxidative activation’ of p-GSK-3β can terminate glycogenesis and initiate gluconeogenesis by modulating Gys2 and FoxO1, leading to hepatic insulin resistance.

Self-assembled monolayers are efficient hole-selective contacts but suffer from aggregation and adhesion issues. To address these, Wang et al. introduce a dimeric molecular design that forms a hydrogen-bond network, enabling 28.4% certified efficiency in all-perovskite tandem solar cells.

Zhang, Han, Tan, Lu, Ma et al. report that kynurenine derived from peritumoural adipose tissue is hijacked by cancer cells to mediate ferroptosis resistance, a process that could potentially be targeted with immunotherapy to inhibit tumour growth.

A clinical trial testing whether monitoring ctDNA clearance during treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer could be used to inform decisions about an individual’s subsequent therapeutic programme shows promising results.

Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum) is thermotolerant, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors report the cloning of the heat tolerance gene encoding a STKc_GSK3 kinase and its variation affects phosphorylation level of downstream TaPIF4 in determining thermotolerance.

A self-regulated photothermal superhydrophobic film with strong solar modulation, energy storage, and durability is reported, switching between black and white as temperature changes, enabling winter anti-/deicing and summer overheating prevention.

Au nanowires with an unconventional hexagonal close-packed (4H) phase stabilize the 4H-phase high-entropy alloys grown epitaxially on their surface through a facile chemical synthesis. The resulting core–shell nanostructures demonstrate promising overall water electrolysis performance.

A metal-ion-assisted RNA folding technique is used to modulate the mechanical interactions between RNA nanoparticles and cell membranes for improved protein expression and mRNA therapy.

Ge, Liu et al. develop and validate a survival model (SM-CRT) using multicentre data from 30,947 cancer patients to predict catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) risk. The model accurately identifies high-risk patients and high-risk time periods, supporting personalised thromboprophylaxis and optimised catheter removal timing.

TaHST2 negatively regulates thermotolerance in wheat as it encodes a ubiquitin hydrolase that represses heat tolerance by stabilizing TaHSC701/702. During domestication, TaHST2 was progressively suppressed to select for improved thermotolerance.

Pangenome analyses of 28 representative Gossypium hirsutum accessions, including a telomere-to-telomere genome for NDM13, and transcriptomic profiling across 15 tissues highlight structural variations associated with breeding traits.

Measurement-based quantum computing implements quantum algorithms by performing sequences of measurements on special classes of entangled states, such as cluster states. This approach has now been demonstrated on a superconducting quantum processor.

Bioisosteric replacement of benzenes with caged hydrocarbons can form enhanced lead compounds with improved drug-like properties, but synthetic challenges limit their application. Now, a collective strategy for synthesizing saturated bioisosteres of 1,2,4-trisubstituted and disubstituted benzenes has been developed. This strategy involves constructing 2-thiabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane scaffolds via cycloaddition of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes and mercaptoacetaldehyde.

Nitrate pollutants are known to contribute to a variety of environmental problems. Here, the authors suggest that nano-sized titanium dioxide, as used in numerous surface coatings, may catalyse the formation of nitrate via the photochemical reaction of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen.

Presence of higher soil pH and calcium in limestone promote free-living nitrogen fixation activity in soils by fostering beneficial microbial associations, whereas lithology has no significant effect on the activity in litter, according to sampling analysis conducted in the southwest China.

In a prospective multi-centre cohort in China, people living in areas of high soil selenium had a 35% increased risk of incident diabetes over a 3-year study period, with a stronger effect seen for men.

The authors mapped the continental-scale fraction of age-dependent leaf area index and revealed a widespread increase in the fraction of photosynthetically efficient young leaves across the majority of Amazon rainforests over the past decades.

The lack of effective reinforcement has hindered the widespread use of 3D-printed concrete. The authors developed an in-process embedding technology for simultaneously printing concrete and flexible fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grids.

Living in Guangzhou shows how data governs not through commands but by shaping what can be seen, reported and acted upon. Although smart governance promises efficiency, everyday encounters reveal the limits of digital systems that make some urban problems visible while leaving others beyond view.

Gong et al. report an all-perovskite photovoltaic-powered battery using ethyl viologen diiodide and its derivative to modify the perovskite solar cell and the battery cathode, enabling an overall energy conversion efficiency of 18.54%. The flexible version powers a wearable glucose monitor for 24 h.

Chen et al. report a tailored self-assembled monolayer to create a localized 2D/3D perovskite heterojunction. This strategy reduces interfacial loss, achieving photovoltages >90% of thermodynamic limit for wide-bandgap cells, and enables perovskite-organic tandem solar cells with efficiency of 27.11%.

Connectome gradient mapping reveals hierarchical cortical compression in primary angle-closure glaucoma linking visual and default mode network disruption to cognitive impairment and synaptic-related gene expression.