Table of Content

25 February 2026, Volume 48 Issue 1

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Invited Special Paper

The Tibetan Plateau and Asian summer monsoon

HE Bian, WU Guoxiong, LIU Yimin, BAO Qing, SHENG Chen, HE Xinyu, LIU Xiaoyu, FENG Shijian, GUO Tong

2026, 48(1):  1-8.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.001

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The Asian summer monsoon exhibits pronounced variability that can trigger severe droughts and floods with profound societal impacts. As a primary topographic forcing of the monsoon system, the Tibetan Plateau plays a crucial role in regulating large-scale circulation and precipitation through combined dynamic and thermodynamic effects. However, owing to the intrinsic complexity of both the Plateau’s topography and the Asian monsoon system, the relative importance of these forcings on Asian summer monsoon remains a subject of ongoing debate. In this study, the influence of Tibetan Plateau topography on atmospheric circulation is examined through both theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. It is demonstrated that elevated surface heating over Asian large-scale orography, particularly the Tibetan–Iranian Plateau, induces perturbations of isentropic surfaces that constitute a fundamental driving mechanism of the monsoon circulation. Furthermore, systematic biases in the simulation of Asian summer monsoon precipitation in state-of-the-art climate models are shown to be closely linked to deficiencies in the representation of Plateau thermal forcing. To better quantify the climatic dynamical effects of the Plateau, the concept of surface potential vorticity forcing framework is proposed, providing an integrated metric for evaluating how surface thermodynamic and dynamic processes over the Plateau are represented in models. Based on simulations with the FGOALS-f climate system model, a quantitative relationship between this forcing index and Asian summer monsoon precipitation is established.




The evolutionary history of horses witnessed by Chinese fossils

DENG Tao

2026, 48(1):  9-17.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.002

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China’s vast land preserves a sequence of horse fossils spanning 56 million years, constructing a complete global evolutionary chain from their origin, radiation to the rise of extant taxa, providing irreplaceable oriental evidence. The Early Eocene Erihippus tingae from Hengyang, Hunan, fills the gap in the early equid fossil record of Asia. This discovery dates the history of equids in Asia back to the origin stage and reveals a possible early intercontinental migration path from Europe via North America to Asia, revising the traditional view that equids originated only in North America and Europe. The unique picture of equid evolution in China during the Miocene is highlighted, particularly reflected in the symbiotic evolution of Sinohippus and Hipparion, which coexisted in the same strata in northern China, reflecting a mixed forest-steppe landscape. Through methods such as carbon and oxygen isotopes, it is confirmed that the three-toed horse represented by Proboscidipparion is the earliest and most adapted to open grasslands, rather than the later true horses. In addition, the Hipparion fossils from the Tibetan Plateau became key evidence for reconstructing paleoelevation. Equus eisenmannae discovered in the Linxia Basin, Gansu, is the earliest true horse in East Asia, and its symbiosis with the three-toed horse records the generational alternation of evolution. Subsequently, the unique Chinese horses such as E. sanmeniensis and E. qingyangensis exhibited rapid radiation of true horses. Especially crucial are E. sanmeniensis and E. beijingensis from Zhoukoudian as companion animals of Peking Man, which have a large number of fossils witnessing early human hunting activities on horses, indicating the beginning of human intervention in the history of equid evolution.




Review Article

Soft bioelectronic materials for the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases

JI Guangbo, ZHAO Guoxiang, ZHAO Qiang

2026, 48(1):  18-24.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.006

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Soft electronics, as an innovative technology, enables the fabrication of organic/inorganic electronic devices on flexible or stretchable substrates, demonstrating tremendous potential in disease diagnosis and treatment. When achieving seamless integration with the surface of the heart, soft bioelectronic materials can monitor key parameters, including cardiac volume, pressure, and electrophysiological signals in real time through embedded electronic components. These parameters are crucial for the accurate diagnosis of cardiac diseases such as ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Furthermore, by integrating electrical and optical stimulation units into soft bioelectronic materials, it is possible to further optimize the therapeutic outcomes of cardiac electrophysiological treatments. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in soft bioelectronic materials for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases, with a focus on current challenges and future directions in this field.




Regaining new sound: Biomaterials paving the way for auditory regeneration

XU Baoying, YU Dehong, FENG Wei, CHEN Yu

2026, 48(1):  25-32.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.003

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The auditory system works through the coordination of cochlear hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons, and their synaptic networks to perceive and transmit external sounds. Once these key structures are damaged, irreversible sensorineural hearing loss occurs. Although hearing aids and cochlear implants have made progress in improving some hearing functions, their ability to repair damaged auditory receptors remains limited. In recent years, with the development of materials science and biomedical engineering, biomaterials have shown broad prospects in the field of auditory system regeneration. Leveraging biomimetic structures, intelligent drug delivery systems, biocatalytic performance, and good tissue compatibility, these materials are expected to repair and reconstruct auditory cells and neural structures, thus promoting the regeneration of hearing function. This paper systematically reviews the current research progress and scientific challenges of biomaterials in auditory repair, providing theoretical foundations and new strategies for precise intervention in sensorineural hearing loss.




Bone organoids: from biomimetic construction to precision medicine

ZHANG Chen, BAI Long, SU Jiacan

2026, 48(1):  33-40.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.005

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With the accelerating process of global population aging, the incidence of bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone tumors is markedly increasing, posing serious threats to public health and quality of life. Bone health therefore has been a major challenge in global public health. Traditional cell culture provides advantages of simplicity and controllability in studying cell proliferation, differentiation, and molecular mechanisms, but it lacks the three-dimensional structure and complex physiological microenvironment required to accurately mimic the architecture and functions of bone tissue in vivo. Animal models can partially reproduce physiological features, yet they are limited by species differences, restricted translational potential, and ethical concerns. Bone organoids, as a cutting-edge achievement in organoid research, are generated through the self-organization of stem cells under a three-dimensional in vitro environment, and they closely recapitulate the structure and function of bone tissue. Compared with conventional models, bone organoids not only better resemble native bone tissue in morphology and function, but also reproduce key physiological and pathological processes such as bone formation, vascularization, and immune regulation. This provides a more precise platform for investigating bone development, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies. This review systematically summarizes the development and construction strategies of bone organoids, highlights their applications in disease modeling, bone defect repair, drug screening, and personalized medicine, and further discusses their potential value in precision medicine and clinical translation.




Applications and challenges of metal-polyphenols in diabetic wound repair

LIANG Xiaodan, DU Jiyuan, XIAN Caihong, WU Jun

2026, 48(1):  41-50.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.008

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Diabetes mellitus is a globally prevalent metabolic disorder frequently associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications. Among these, diabetic wounds represent one of the most severe sequelae, significantly compromising patient quality of life. Current clinical drugs are often limited by high costs, restricted accessibility, and the potential for adverse side effects, necessitating the urgent development of novel therapeutic strategies. In recent years, metal-phenolic materials have garnered increasing attentions due to their superior biocompatibility, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we systematically review the progress of metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) in diabetic wound repair. We first review the characteristics of the aberrant diabetic wound microenvironment and the mechanisms underlying impaired healing. Subsequently, we elucidate the assembly strategies of various metal-phenolic systems and their specific applications in modulating this microenvironment, including their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-angiogenic properties. Finally, we critically evaluate the current technical challenges in the field and provide an outlook on future engineering designs and clinical translation pathways, aimed at offering a theoretical framework for the development of next-generation materials for diabetic wound repair.




Scientific light illuminating the microscopic battlefield: fluorescent probes for visual detection of bacteria

LUO Fei, LUO Xianzhu, XING Yanlong, LI Gaonan, YU Fabiao

2026, 48(1):  51-63.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.004

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Bacterial infections pose a major challenge in the field of public health, making the development of rapid and accurate detection technologies crucial for disease prevention and control. Conventional methods such as culture, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) are limited by long processing times, limited sensitivity, and the inability to perform real-time monitoring. In contrast, fluorescent probe technology, with its high specificity and sensitivity, enables rapid and visual detection of bacteria by recognizing bacterial targets and generating fluorescence signals. This review systematically summarizes the molecular design strategies, luminescence mechanisms, and classifications of fluorescent probes, with a focus on their current applications in medical diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. It also highlights the challenges the technology faces, including detection limits, specificity, and clinical translation. Looking ahead, innovative approaches such as multimodal probe integration and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis are expected to drive the technology toward more intelligent and practical advancements. Fluorescent probe technology provides a powerful tool for research and control of bacterial-related issues.




Progress

Magnetic skyrmion materials and their research progress

LIU Jiaqi, XI Yilian, ZHANG Jingwei, SHI Hanqing, DU Yi

2026, 48(1):  64-78.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.009

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The urgent request for high storage density has spurred extensive research on novel spintronic devices. Magnetic skyrmions, vortex-like spin textures with quasiparticle characteristics and topological protection, have emerged as promising candidates for spintronic applications due to their nanoscale size, topological stability, and low threshold current density for driven motion. Based on the latest research in the field, our paper provides a detailed review of the types, properties, generation mechanisms, material systems, and manipulation methods of magnetic skyrmions. It also summarizes the challenges and prospects associated with the application of skyrmions in racetrack memory.