Twisted nylon actuators (TNAs) are widely recognized in soft robotics for their excellent load-to-weight ratio and cost-effectiveness. However, their limitations in deformation and output force restrict their ability to support more advanced applications. Here, we report 3 performance-enhancing strategies inspired by the construction process of chromosome, which are validated through 3 novel types of TNAs. First, we design a dual-level helical structure, demonstrating remarkable improvements in the deformation (60.2% vertically and approximately 100% horizontally) and energy storage capability (launching a miniature basketball to 131 cm in height). Second, we present a parallel-twisted method, where the output force of TNAs reaches 11.0 N, achieving 12.1% contraction under a load of 15 N (10,000 times its weight). Additionally, we construct the dual-level helical structure based on parallel-twisted TNAs, resulting in a 439.7% improvement in load capability. We have adopted TNAs for several applications: (a) two bionic elbows capable of rotating and shooting a miniature basketball over 130 cm; (b) a robot that can rapidly jump over 30 cm; and (c) a soft finger that achieves contracting (15.3% contraction under 2 kg load), precise bending (tracking errors less than 2.0%), and twisting motions. This work presents approaches for fabricating high-performance soft actuators and explores the potential applications of these actuators for driving soft robots with multifunctional capabilities.

We apply the recently developed concept of the nucleon energy–energy correlator (NEEC) for the gluon sector to investigate the long-range azimuthal angular correlations in proton–proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. The spinning gluon in these collisions will introduce substantial nonzero \text{cos}\left(2\varphi \right) asymmetries in both Higgs boson and top quark pair productions, where \varphi is the azimuthal angle between the forward and backward energy correlators in the NEEC observables. The genesis of the \text{cos}\left(2\varphi \right) correlation lies in the intricate quantum entanglement. Owing to the substantial \text{cos}\left(2\varphi \right) effect, the NEEC observable in Higgs boson and t\overline{t} production emerges as a pivotal avenue for delving into quantum entanglement and scrutinizing the Bell inequality at high-energy colliders.

Human breast milk serves as a vital source of nutrition for infants, and it also plays a critical role in shaping the infant gut microbiota and establishing intestinal homeostasis. This process substantially impacts immune function, neurodevelopment, and overall health. The noninvasive nature of breast milk collection makes it an ethical and accessible area for research, positioning it as a key focus for future studies. These future directions include the identification of novel bacteria combination, the establishment of comprehensive databases on infant microbiota, and the use of computational models to predict interactions between breast milk components and the gut microbiome. Additionally, the creation of diverse biological models and the establishment of infant stool banks will further enhance understanding of host–microbiome interactions and support disease prevention strategies.

The brittleness of traditional ceramics severely limits their application progress in engineering. The multiscale structural design of organisms can solve this problem, but it still lacks sufficient research and attention. The underlined main feature is the multiscale hierarchical structures composed of basic nano–microstructure units arranged in order, which is currently impossible to achieve through artificial synthesis driven by high temperatures. This perspective aims to bridge the gap between biostructural materials and biomimetic ceramics, highlighting the relationship between bioinspired structures and interfacial interaction of structure densification in biomimetic ceramics. Therefore, we could accomplish densification and ceramic development at room temperature, consequently correlating the structure, properties, and functions of materials and accelerating the development of the next generation of advanced functional ceramics.

Digital light processing (DLP) is a high-speed, high-precision 3-dimensional (3D) printing technique gaining traction in the fabrication of ceramic composites. However, when printing 0-3 composites containing lead zirconate titanate (PZT) particles, a widely used piezoelectric ceramic, severe density and refractive index mismatches between the 2 phases pose challenges for ink synthesis and the printing process. Here, we systematically and quantitatively optimized DLP printing of PZT composites, streamlining process development and providing a solid theoretical and experimental foundation for broader applications of DLP technology. PZT particles were pretreated with air plasma to improve slurry uniformity and enhance stress transfer at the composite interface, leading to improved chemical modification, mechanical strength, and piezoelectric properties. We investigated the effects of key process parameters on printability and accuracy by analyzing the curing behavior of PZT–polymer composites. A quantitative model of the DLP curing process was introduced. Unlike stereolithography (SLA), DLP curing depth was found to depend on energy dose and light intensity, with higher intensities proving more favorable for printing 0-3 PZT composites. From depth/width–energy curves, optimal process parameters were determined. We designed and fabricated a soft piezoelectric metamaterial-based touch sensor using these parameters, achieving a customized output profile. This work offers critical insights into optimizing DLP for functional materials and expands the potential of 3D-printed piezoelectric composites.

Developing advanced tissue-engineered membranes with biocompatibility, suitable mechanical qualities, and anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory actions is important for tympanic membrane (TM) repair. Here, we present a novel acoustically transmitted decellularized fish swim bladder (DFB) loaded with mesenchymal stem cells (DFB@MSCs) for TM perforation (TMP) repair. The DFB scaffolds are obtained by removing the cellular components from the original FB, which retains the collagen composition that favors cell proliferation. Benefitting from their spatially porous structures and excellent mechanical properties, the DFB scaffolds can provide a suitable microenvironment and mechanical support for cell growth and tissue regeneration. In addition, by loading mesenchymal stem cells on the DFB scaffolds, the resultant DFB@MSCs system exhibits remarkable anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects, together with the ability to promote cell migration and angiogenesis. In vivo experiments confirm that the prepared DFB@MSCs scaffolds can not only alleviate inflammatory response caused by TMP but also promote new vessel formation, TM repair, and hearing improvement. These features indicate that our proposed DFB@MSCs stent is a prospective tool for the clinical repair of TM.

The study of many phenomena in the terahertz (THz) frequency spectral range has emerged as a promising playground in modern science and technology, with extensive applications in high-speed communication, imaging, sensing, and biosensing. Many THz metamaterial designs explore quantum physics phenomena embedded into a classical framework and exhibiting various unexpected behaviors. For spatial THz waves, the effects inspired by quantum phenomena include electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), Fano resonance, bound states in the continuum (BICs), and exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian systems. They facilitate the realization of extensive functional metadevices and applications. For on-chip THz waves, quantum physics-inspired topological metamaterials, as photonic analogs of topological insulators, can ensure robust, low-loss propagation with suppressed backscattering. These trends open new pathways for high-speed on-chip data transmission and THz photonic integrated circuits, being crucial for the upcoming 6G and 7G wireless communication technologies. Here, we summarize the underlying principles of quantum physics-inspired metamaterials and highlight the latest advances in their application in the THz frequency band, encompassing both spatial and on-chip metadevice realizations.

Human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) play an important role during the fracture healing phase. Previous clinical studies by our research group found that fracture healing time was obviously delayed in patients who underwent splenectomy, for combined traumatic fractures and splenic rupture, which is most likely related to the dysregulation of immune inflammatory function of the body after splenectomy. A large number of studies have reported that the inflammatory factor interleukin-1β plays an important role in the multi-directional differentiation ability and immune regulation of BMSC, but its specific regulatory mechanism needs to be further studied. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted remarkable attention owing to their close relationship with stem cell osteogenesis and potential role in various bone diseases. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism of a novel lncRNA, LncMSTRG.11341.25 (LncMSTRG25), in terms of its effects on osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. Our results reveal significant up-regulation of LncMSTRG25, osteogenic differentiation markers during the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, and decreased expression of miR-939-5p with an increase in differentiation time. LncMSTRG25 knockdown significantly inhibited the osteogenic ability of hBMSCs. When we knocked down PAX8 alone, we found that the osteogenic ability of hBMSCs was also significantly reduced. The interaction between LncMSTRG25 and PAX8 was verified using the RNA immunoprecipitation assay, RNA pull-down assays, silver staining, and the dual-luciferase reporter. The results show that LncMSTRG25 can function as a sponge to adsorb miR-939-5p, inducing the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by activating PAX8. These findings deepen our understanding of the regulatory role of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks in the immune microenvironment of bone marrow, and highlight the important role played by the spleen as an immune organ in fracture healing.

Simulated microgravity (SMG) poses substantial challenges to astronaut health, particularly impacting osteoblast function and leading to disuse osteoporosis. This study investigates the adverse effects of SMG on osteoblasts, focusing on changes in mitochondrial dynamics and their consequent effects on cellular energy metabolism and mechanotransduction pathways. We discovered that SMG markedly reduced the expression of osteoblast differentiation markers and promoted mitochondrial fission, as indicated by an increase in punctate mitochondria, a decrease in mitochondrial length, and a reduction in cristae density. These mitochondrial alterations are linked to elevated reactive oxygen species levels, a decrease in ΔΨm, and a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, resulting in decreased adenosine triphosphate production, which are all indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results showed that treatment with mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (mdivi-1), a mitochondrial fission inhibitor, effectively inhibited these SMG-induced effects, thereby maintaining mitochondrial structure and function and promoting osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, SMG disrupted critical mechanotransduction processes, by affecting paxillin expression, the RhoA–ROCK–Myosin II pathway, and actin dynamics, which subsequently altered nuclear morphology and disrupted Yes-associated protein signaling. Notably, treatment with mdivi-1 prevented these disruptions in mechanotransduction pathways. Moreover, our study showed that SMG-induced chromatin remodeling and histone methylation, which are epigenetic barriers to osteogenic differentiation, can be reversed by targeting mitochondrial fission, further highlighting the significance of mitochondrial dynamics in osteoblast function in an SMG environment. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial fission emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy to alleviate osteoblast dysfunction under SMG conditions, providing novel approaches to maintain bone health during prolonged space missions and safeguard the astronaut well-being.