Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a commonly used cell type in regenerative medicine. However, their therapeutic potential remains controversial due to challenges in maintaining their lineage and viability. Directly injected MSCs are prone to clearance by the host immune system. To address this, cell encapsulation strategies have been developed to protect stem cells, with alginate hydrogels, as extracellular matrix mimics, being a preferred material due to their low immunogenicity and tunable me...

As we bid farewell to 2024, we take pride in reflecting on a year filled with groundbreaking achievements, innovative discoveries, and meaningful collaborations within and beyond the Zhejiang University community. From pioneering research to global partnerships, every milestone reached this year reflects our shared commitment to excellence and impact. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering connections, and shaping a more sustainable future together. Here's to an...

The metamorphosis of a humble caterpillar into a vibrant butterfly is a marvel of nature. The development of insect wings plays a key role in their evolution. Yet, due to the diversity in wing morphology and dynamic energy demands, the molecular mechanisms behind metabolic adaptations during wing evolution in insects remain largely obscure.Now, a groundbreaking study by Professor WANG Huabing’s research group at the College of Animal Sciences has shed new light on this process. Published in Mol...

On November 23–24, the International Alliance of Teaching Museology in University (IATMU) was officially inaugurated at Zhejiang University, accompanied by its first major event, the 2024 International University Colloquium on Teaching Museology, held at the Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology. During the opening ceremony, representatives from member universities signed the Consensus of the Founding of International Alliance for Teaching Museology in University, marking the formal ...

As the core organ governing thought and consciousness, the brain consumes immense biological energy to maintain critical functions such as learning, memory, and emotions. To enable energy-efficient operation, the brain must finely regulate this process, achieving massive parallel information processing and storage at low energy costs. This high-efficiency, low-energy capability remains the ultimate goal of supercomputing and AI technologies, yet it is a peak still beyond human technological reac...

Suspension bath-based 3D bioprinting (SUB3BP) is frequently used for fabricating artificial tissues with vascular structures. However, existing SUB3BP techniques encounter difficulties in fabricating biomimetic structures with multicellular layouts, such as suspension bath removal concerns, restricted material options, complex preparation protocols, and low accuracy.A recent study proposed a simple, storable, stable, and scalable (4S) starch hydrogel to leverage the next-generation SUB3BP techni...

From the university’s early days, gymnastics has been an integral part of campus life. By the 1980s, rhythmic gymnastics gained popularity, and newer activities such as aerobics, sports dance, line dance, and cheerleading followed, evolving into today’s diverse and dynamic modern dance and fitness curriculum.Dance combines aesthetics with physicality, emphasizing posture, poise, and control. Instructors in dance and fitness classes employ various training techniques to build students...

Intravenous (IV) infusion, a milestone invention of modern medicine since its development during World War II, remains essential in maintaining therapeutic blood drug concentrations and minimizing toxicity. However, IV therapy requires professional administration and confines patients to medical facilities, leading to reduced compliance and elevated healthcare costs.  A research team led by professors GU Zhen, ZHANG Yuqi, YU Jicheng from the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhejia...

The 2024 Future Science Prize award ceremony took place on November 3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, celebrating groundbreaking achievements in science. SUN Binyong, a prominent mathematician from the Zhejiang University Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, was awarded the 2024 Future Science Prize in Mathematics and Computer Science for his exceptional contributions to the representation theory of Lie groups.Sun’s work addresses several long-standing problems in mat...

At the 11th Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) award ceremony held at the UN Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, global leaders and experts gathered to recognize groundbreaking contributions to solving water scarcity. The ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, as well as other distinguished figures, including the Head of the International Water Prize Council and the Director of ...