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High yield and wide adaptation rice are crucial for grain supply and food security. Here the authors report OsPI4Kγ7 which contributes to different “adaptability-yield” trade-offs in japonica and indica, and provides an alternative breeding strategy for raising grain yield in different latitudes.

Papaya is a trioecious species with XX females, XY males, and XY^h hermaphrodites, and the combination of Y and Y^h chromosomes is lethal. Here, the authors identify the degeneration of the YY lethality gene on the Y chromosome as the causal balancing lethal factor that reenforces dioecy and stabilizes balanced sex ratios.

Altermagnets combine spin-split electronic bands with zero net magnetization, making them ideal for integration into spin-based information processing devices. Here Guo, Chen, Zeng, and coauthors demonstrate a magnetic memory making use of the altermagnetic spin splitting torque in a three terminal MRAM device.

Here the authors show a general method to make alkoxide-based network-forming glasses with tunable properties by combining titanium, zirconium and boron-based nodes, multi-dentate alcohol linkers and mono-dentate alcohol modulators.

SARS-CoV-2 variants often exhibit immune evasion, necessitating antiviral strategies beyond vaccination. This study presents a papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitor called YL1004, which exhibits potent, broad-spectrum antiviral activity against wild-type, Delta, and Omicron variants in vitro and in vivo.

Here they establish an NTR-based genetic ablation tool in axolotls to investigate the function of specific cells. They use this system to demonstrate the capacity of ependymoglial cells for central nervous system regeneration.

The use of benzene ring contraction in chemical synthesis is challenging due to the need to disrupt aromaticity and generate highly strained intermediates. Now, a photothermal ring contraction reaction for the synthesis of multisubstituted fused pyridines is reported, from arylhydrazines and carbonyl compounds, via benzene ring contraction.

The potential of detecting acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) is explored for early cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, this group reports a pH-responsive ratiometric photoacoustic sensor that dynamically monitors TME acidity throughout HCC initiation, progression, and metastasis.

This work introduces synthetic gain to electron-beam spectroscopy, greatly enhancing spectral resolution and revealing hidden features, enabling advances in nanoscale analysis and free electron-based quantum optics under challenging signal conditions.

Conventional organic polymeric resists and chemical solutions used in microlithographic techniques can damage sensitive materials. Here, the authors report the application of inorganic selenium molecules as a lithographic mediator and encapsulation layer during the processing of various sensitive materials, such as perovskites and black phosphorus.

Protein kinases contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma progression and immune evasion. This study identifies SPAK as a key driver of oncogenesis and immune exhaustion, showing that SPAK inhibition synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy to enhance antitumor efficacy.

Hepatokine FGL1 mediates liver-kidney crosstalk in renal fibrosis. Upregulated by circulating inflammatory cytokines post-injury, it binds ALK5 to potentiate TGF-β signaling and promotes fibrotic progression, presenting a promising target for CKD.

A streamlined blood test using mass spectrometry improves measurement of amyloid-β for early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, requiring less sample volume and reagents while maintaining high accuracy, sensitivity and strong agreement with brain imaging.

Following the detection of the diatomic phosphorus mononitride, HPNH is the simplest iminophosphane that has been proposed as a candidate interstellar species. Here, the authors report the synthesis and characterization of iminophosphane HPNH and aminophosphinidene H₂NP as prototype molecules bearing phosphorus nitrogen multiple bonds.

Plastic foams are widely used across industry, but petroleum-based materials are unfavorable. Here the authors report a cellulose-based molecular foam for thermal management as an environmentally friendly alternative.

Epigenetic traits can persist across generations through small RNAs and chromatin marks. Here, the authors show that SET-24, a non-enzymatic SET protein, partners with HCF-1 to maintain RNAi silencing and sustain chromatin states and small RNA populations in C. elegans.

Transition of superfluid to insulator is observed in the layer-imbalanced regime of bilayer magnetoexcitons.

The study identifies cavernosal lactate as a driver of diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction through FBP1 dysfunction, histone methylation and palmitoylation.

Earthquake-cycle observations reveal that the 2025 Mw 7.1 Dingri earthquake featured complex rupture, widespread triggered a/seismic slip, and early viscoelastic relaxation, highlighting how stress transfer through the cycle shapes fault behaviour.

Bulk superconductivity has been observed up to 96 K in pressurized bilayer nickelate single crystals which were synthesized under ambient pressure.

How the vascular endothelial cells support the functional adaptation of pancreatic islets under obesity-associated metabolic stress is poorly understood. Here, the authors show that the ER stress sensor IRE1α employs its RNase activity to play an important regulatory role in this process.

IBI318 is a recombinant bispecific IgG1 antibody that targets PD-1 and PD-L1. Here the authors report the results of a phase II trial of IBI318 combined with the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor lenvatinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with acquired resistance to first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Grain number per panicle (GNP) is a yield-determining trait of rice. Here, the authors identify a GSK3-like kinase-encoding gene GNP2 and a bZIP transcription factor-encoding gene GNP5, demonstrating their synergistic regulation of GNP and showing that specific allele combinations of these genes enhance rice yield in field conditions.

The response of different immune cell subsets to radiation therapy (RT) greatly influences treatment outcome. Here, the authors compare the effects of RT and Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in preclinical mouse models of melanoma and colorectal cancer, and show that BNCT achieves tumor cell-selective killing while preserving immune cell functions, allowing sustained anti-tumor immunity and long-term memory.

The Huayuan biota exhibits extraordinary biodiversity, illuminating the impact of the Phanerozoic mass extinction around 513 million years ago and offering critical insights into the transformation of global ecosystems in the early Cambrian.

Through integrated multi-omics and experimental validation, this study reveals that altered gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism activate TLR3 to induce urothelial injury in interstitial cystitis, identifying a pathway with therapeutic potential.

Nanoparticles sensing glycosaminoglycan loss in osteoarthritis enable disease-severity-responsive delivery of ghrelin messenger RNA to cartilage lesions, reducing cartilage damage, bone thickening and pain in animal models.

Psychedelics and their non-hallucinogenic analogues were compared, revealing that serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT_2AR)-mediated G_i signalling is essential for hallucinogenic effect, with the functional mechanisms underlying this providing insights for designing therapeutic drugs without hallucinogenic effects.

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 mechanisms underlying oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and neuron interactions remain unclear. Here, the authors show that chromatin remodeler BAF155 regulates OPC differentiation and myelination by coordinating synaptic genes for OPC neuron communication, contributing to autism-like behavioral deficits in mice

While neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy can improve rectal cancer patient outcomes, there is a need to better identify those who will respond well. Here, the authors present a single-arm phase II trial reporting the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and sintilimab (anti-PD-1) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with proficient mismatch repair and intermediate/high Immunoscores.

GALRs, receptors for the neuropeptide galanin, have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease. Here the authors report that GAL53, a long galanin peptide derived from non-mammalian vertebrates, alleviates induced colitis in preclinical models by engaging GALR2 and activating the β-arrestin2-biased signalling pathway.

Proper lipid storage in adipocytes is critical for preventing ectopic lipid deposition and maintaining metabolic health. Here, the authors show the important role of the adipocyte-specific gene clstn3b in promoting lipid droplet maturation and enhancing the lipid storage capacity of adipocytes.

Mechanistic modeling of the MAT2A–SRF–PARN axis reveals a SAM-independent pathway that stabilizes SRF, drives glycolysis through PI3K/AKT activation, and promotes osteosarcoma progression, highlighting MAT2A as a therapeutic target.