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Endogenous retroviruses synthesize heterologous chimeric RNAs to reinforce human early embryo development

New findings in Science offer insight into why some embryos fail to develop past zygotic genome activation, pointing to an unexpected root of human infertility.

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) failure leads to developmental arrest and poses a clinical challenge to women’s fertility. We observed that human embryos arresting at the eight-cell ZGA stage exhibited specific down-regulation of endogenous retrovirus MLT2A1. Depleting MLT2A1 resulted in a failure in embryo development and a reduction in ZGA gene expression. Mechanistically, MLT2A1s synthesized chimeric transcripts with downstream coding and noncoding sequences, predominantly with heterologous retro–transposable elements. These diverse fusion sequences expanded the genome-targeting spectrum of MLT2A1 RNAs. Nevertheless, the shared MLT2A1 sequences partnered with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU) to recruit RNA polymerase II, promoting global transcription of ZGA genes and autoamplification of the MLT2A1 subfamily.

Discovery of energetic ionic cocrystals via high-throughput virtual screening

Researchers developed a faster, more targeted way to design ionic cocrystals (ICCs) of the energetic oxidizer ammonium dinitramide (ADN).

Using high‑throughput virtual screening with the CSD Python interface and RDKit, followed by quick experimental tests, they identified and synthesized a new ADN cocrystal with oxalyl dihydrazide (OHD).

Read the full paper here.

Ionic cocrystals (ICCs) offer a promising strategy to tailor the properties of energetic oxidizers like ammonium dinitramide (ADN). However, the current design process of ADN-based ICCs remains heavily reliant on empirical trial-and-error methods, which significantly impedes development efficiency and presents a fundamental challenge in balancing energy performance and hygroscopicity. Herein, we leverage a high-throughput virtual screening strategy to identify coformers of ADN cocrystals that meet requirements for structures and performances, integrating the CSD Python interface and RDKit via custom Python scripts. Combined with rapid experimental screening, the first ADN cocrystal with balanced hygroscopicity and energy is successfully synthesized using a commercially available coformer oxalyl dihydrazide (OHD). The resulting ADN/OHD cocrystal exhibits a positive oxygen balance of +4.37%, enhanced moisture resistance and thermal stability. Moreover, compared to pure ADN, ADN/OHD delivers a 27.6% higher specific impulse, along with excellent green processability and engineering scalability. This work establishes a rational and scalable approach for developing perchlorate-free oxidizer cocrystals with well-balanced properties, and also provides a generalizable paradigm for the performance-oriented design of ICCs.

Pnictogen-bonding-crosslinked polymer networks: constructing self-healing materials

Herein, we introduce pnictogen bonding interaction into polymer networks for the design and modulation of dynamic macromolecular materials. Several types of polymeric pnictogen-bonding networks with graded interaction strengths were constructed to explore the structure–property relationship. Comprehensive investigations revealed that strengthening the pnictogen bonding significantly enhances the topological stability of the resulting materials. In contrast, analogous hydrogen-bonded networks did not exhibit comparable mechanical reinforcement. Moreover, the pnictogen-bonding networks endow the materials with tunable self-healing capability, allowing not only spontaneous healing at room temperature and thermally triggered healing on demand, but also effective healing in aqueous environments. This represents the first exploration of self-healing behavior driven by pnictogen bonding in polymeric materials. Mechanistic insights into the role of pnictogen bonding in polymer networks were elucidated through NMR titration of donor–acceptor polymer pairs, comparative self-assembly behavior, and cocrystal structures of small-molecule analogues. The incorporation of pnictogen bonding interaction into polymer networks provides a robust and versatile platform for engineering high-performance dynamic polymeric materials.

Nanoparticle-Single-Atom Tandem Catalyst within a Metal–Organic Framework for Efficient Ethylene Electrosynthesis

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) are effective catalysts for the electroreduction of CO2 (ECO2R) to multicarbon products but suffer from insufficient selectivity, aggregation, and deactivation. To address these challenges, we developed an in situ encapsulation strategy that engineers Cu NPs in a metal–organic framework (MOF) host from a simple one-pot hydrothermal synthesis, creating a selective and robust CO2R catalyst. The key design is the introduction of Sn additives during synthesis, which later evolve into single atoms (SAs) that serve a dual function: modulating the growth of Cu NPs from 3.35 to 9 nm and acting as active sites for the conversion of CO2 to CO. The locally generated CO then feeds adjacent Cu NPs, promoting subsequent C–C coupling via a tandem mechanism. The optimal catalyst, with a balanced Cu/Sn ratio, achieves a CO2-to-C2H4 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 64%. Combined theoretical simulations and in situ infrared spectroscopy further reveal that Sn SAs promote Cu NPs electron transfer, enriching the electron density at active sites. This stabilizes *CO intermediates and reduces the energy barriers for CO2 activation and ensuing C–C coupling steps. This work presents a novel atomic- and nanoscale design strategy for advanced CO2RR catalysts.

Superagers’ ‘Secret Ingredient’ May Be The Growth of New Brain Cells

Not only do our brains appear to generate new neurons into adulthood, but those of superagers contain far more brain cells in development than those of healthy peers, new research has found.

According to a study of 38 adult human brains donated to science, superagers – people who retain exceptional memory as they age – have roughly twice as many immature neurons as their peers who age more typically.

Moreover, people with Alzheimer’s disease show a marked reduction in neurogenesis compared to a normal baseline.

New iron nanomaterial wipes out cancer cells without harming healthy tissue

Scientists at Oregon State University have engineered a powerful new nanomaterial that zeroes in on cancer cells and destroys them from the inside out. Designed to exploit cancer’s unique chemistry—its acidity and high hydrogen peroxide levels—the tiny iron-based structure sparks not one but two intense chemical reactions, flooding tumors with cell-damaging oxygen molecules. This dual attack overwhelms cancer cells with oxidative stress while sparing healthy tissue.

Light-powered soft robot jumps 188 times without electronics

An insect-scale robot that jumps using only light has completed 188 continuous leaps without a single electronic component.

The soft machine bends, snaps and resets itself automatically, powered entirely by material physics instead of chips or wires.

The robot is built mainly from liquid crystal elastomers, a rubber-like material that changes shape when exposed to light. When illuminated, the material bends and stores elastic energy in a curved beam structure.

Quantum internet materializes in Germany due to a 30-kilometer breakthrough

Something once thought too delicate for real cities just survived them. A quiet test in Germany hints that the next internet may be both unbreakable and already under our feet.

On a 30-kilometer loop of commercial fiber in Berlin, researchers just teleported data while ordinary internet traffic flowed on the same line without a hiccup. The feat, executed by T-Labs with Qunnect’s Carina platform, kept delicate quantum states steady against city vibrations and temperature swings, hitting 95 percent fidelity in real time. It shows that today’s networks can carry tomorrow’s quantum links, with stakes that range from unbreakable cryptography to connected quantum computers. For Deutsche Telekom’s Abdu Mudesir, it also signals a path to European technological sovereignty as the system scales to longer distances and more nodes.

A universal spin–orbit-coupled Hamiltonian model for accelerated quantum material discovery

Zhong et al. introduce Uni-HamGNN, a graph neural network model that predicts spin–orbit-coupled electronic structures quickly and accurately, enabling fast screening and the discovery of advanced quantum materials across the periodic table.

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