Browse Articles

Surface-dominant transport in Weyl semimetal NbAs nanowires for next-generation interconnects

Ongoing demands for smaller and more energy-efficient electronic devices necessitate alternative interconnect materials with lower electrical resistivity at reduced dimensions. We report the synthesis of Weyl semimetal niobium arsenide (NbAs) nanowires through thermomechanical nanomolding with single crystallinity and controlled diameters down to 40 nanometers. The resistivity of NbAs nanowires decreases with decreasing diameter, and 40-nanometer-diameter nanowires exhibited a room-temperature resistivity of 10.5 ± 1.9 microhm·centimeters, which is ~70% lower than their bulk counterpart. Calculations attribute this resistivity reduction to surface-dominant conduction with a long carrier lifetime at finite temperatures. Further characterization of nanowires and bulk crystals revealed high breakdown current density, stability, and thermal conductivity. These properties highlight the potential of NbAs nanowires as next-generation interconnects that could surpass the limitations of current copper-based interconnects.

Base-catalyzed regioselective C(sp3)–Si bond activation of silacyclobutanes and benzosilacyclobutenes

Pharmacotherapeutic Decisions in Autism

Spatiotemporally homogeneous crystallization for ambient scalable perovskite photovoltaics

Commercializing perovskite solar cells (PSCs) will likely require the scalable deposition of homogeneous perovskite films under ambient conditions. However, the spatially heterogeneous degradation of metastable perovskites during prolonged coating leads to nonuniformity. Here, we demonstrate spatiotemporally homogeneous crystallization of α-phase FAPbI 3 (where FA is formamidinium) enabled by a phase-locking strategy that establishes a dynamically evolving, moisture-buffering intergranular network during large-area printing. This method prevents the premature degradation caused by ambient humidity, eliminating directional inhomogeneity. Blade-coated PSCs achieved a 26.7% power conversion efficiency (PCE; 26.1% certified), and rigid and flexible 100-square-centimeter modules reached 21.5 and 19.5%, respectively. Improved morphological homogeneity mitigated localized degradation and suppressed self-amplifying aging pathways. Encapsulated devices retained more than 90% of their initial PCE after 1500 hours of 85°C maximum power point tracking in ambient air.

Heterogenous microglial reactivity contrasts with stable vascular transcriptional programs in mouse models of Alzheimer’s, CADASIL, and Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract The extent to which the cerebrovasculature is affected in various brain disorders is still not well understood. To address this, we established a transcriptomic repository of major vascular cell types and microglia to compare the global transcriptomic response in mouse models of three human brain disorders linked to neuroinflammation and associated vascular reactivity: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). Single-cell analysis of >250,000 cells at different disease stages led to identification of two previously unknown vascular cell subtypes, expanded the endothelial zonation spectrum and allowed for a detailed analysis of the cellular and molecular responses. Surprisingly, most vascular cell types lacked major transcriptomic changes across the three conditions, while microglia exhibited significant, disease-specific transcriptional changes. Notably, microglial responses converged between late-stage TBI and AD, offering insights into the predisposition for neurodegeneration following TBI.

Targeted Degradation of NETs in Lupus with DNASE1L3 Deficiency

Performance trade-offs define a fundamental dental dichotomy in mammals

Teeth define mammalian evolution, and one of many adaptive dental breakthroughs in crown mammals is the tribosphenic molar: a tooth with a dual shearing-crushing function, often considered a key adaptation in crown mammals. However, we do not know how potential trade-offs between these antagonistic functions may influence the macroevolutionary outcomes of mammalian lineages. Here, we show that predatory mammals evolved dichotomized performance in their tribosphenic carnassial teeth, with slicing constrained to a narrow set of optimal phenotypes and crushing exhibiting redundant solutions. Less than 1% of predators evolved optimized shearing and crushing. The fundamental trade-off in functions of the tribosphenic architecture promoted divergent macroevolutionary specializations rather than functional duality. These results highlight how key innovations can drive early evolutionary success while simultaneously constraining subsequent diversification.

Inhibited radiative decay enhances single-photon emitters

Abstract Quantum networks and modular quantum computers require efficient spin-photon interfaces, often realized using optical resonators that enhance radiative decay on a desired transition. However, this requires small mode volumes and high quality factors, which limits multiplexing capacity and demands precise frequency tuning. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach that circumvents these bottlenecks for upscaling. Using a W1 silicon photonic-crystal waveguide with a tailored photonic bandgap, we selectively inhibit unwanted decay pathways, thereby redirecting emission to the desired transition. This enables efficient photon collection over a large frequency range, allowing the resolution and individual addressing of tens of erbium dopants. Their lifetimes are preserved, or even increased, compared to bulk material. The extended mode volume of the devices enables the use of lower dopant concentrations, thereby improving emitter coherence. Our approach can be combined with Purcell enhancement and applied to other spin-qubit platforms, opening intriguing perspectives for photonic quantum technologies.

Efficacy and Safety of Obinutuzumab in Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Molecular glue degraders of HuR suppress BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer

An uncertain path

After the shocks of 2025, Malawi is rethinking its relationship to foreign aid—and trying to protect dramatic gains in maternal health

Intensity-correlation synthetic wavelength imaging in dynamic scattering media

Health Care–Associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals, 2023 versus 2015

Helium escaping from the atmosphere of a nearby rocky exoplanet orbiting in a habitable zone

Observations of highly irradiated gas giant exoplanets have shown helium escaping from their atmospheres. There is limited evidence for atmospheres on rocky exoplanets, perhaps because they have already escaped. We report near-infrared spectroscopic observations of LHS 1140b, a rocky exoplanet that orbits in the habitable zone of a nearby low-mass star. The transit spectra show absorption by helium escaping from the planet’s atmosphere. Helium absorption is detected in 2024 but not in 2025, indicating time-variable atmospheric escape. We interpret these results as indicating an upper atmosphere dominated by helium and depleted in hydrogen, with other volatile species trapped at lower altitudes, consistent with atmospheric fractionation models. No helium absorption is detected for LHS 1140c, a smaller and more strongly irradiated exoplanet in the same system.

High-gain and broadband in vivo amplifiers enabled by matched materials

Bundibugyo Virus Disease in 2026 — Clinical and Public Health Responses

Regaining your voice

AI speech neuroprostheses can restore day-to-day communication after neurological injury

Cross-platform Hi-C meta-analysis identifies functional insulators that actively block enhancer-promoter interactions

Abstract The function of topologically associating domain (TAD) boundaries as transcriptional insulators remains a fundamental controversy in genome biology. Here, we demonstrate that bona fide Functional Insulators (FINs) should be defined dynamically by their capability to block architectural rewiring. Leveraging DeepLoop to enable robust cross-platform Hi-C analysis, we performed a meta-analysis of nine high-resolution 3D genomic datasets following acute CTCF or cohesin depletion, mapping FINs genome-wide. We show that CTCF loss triggers the reproducible formation of new enhancer-promoter loops at only a few hundred specific loci. These loops are cohesin-dependent, enriched at G-rich cis -regulatory elements, and directly drive recurrent, early-response gene activation. Multiplexed CTCF-displacement assays functionally confirmed the causal role of FINs in these localized rewiring events. Crucially, FINs reside within active euchromatin, infrequently coincide with traditional TAD boundaries, and are sensitive to WAPL depletion. Our results reveal that the genome’s functional insulation is mediated by these discrete, dynamically active sites rather than static TAD boundaries.

Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

In a billion-dollar gamble, NSF bets on research with an economic payoff

New X-Labs initiative aims to develop breakthrough technologies—but academics aren’t sure they are welcome