Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10866-0

A strategy using polymeric carbon nitride crystals induces out-of-plane carrier migration by means of internal electric fields applied on facet-selective nanofilms placed on polymer photocatalysts, increasing the apparent quantum efficiency for overall water splitting.

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10823-x

Cryo-STEM reveals that SrTiO3 forms periodic polar nanodomains below 105 K, but these fragment below 40 K, linking quantum paraelectricity to nanoscale polar ordering and disordering.

Nature, Published online: 15 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10746-7

A catalyst-free upcycling strategy based on in situ generation of hydroxyl radicals at microdroplet interfaces is described for efficient and scalable processing of polymers with minimal infrastructure, using only water and oxygen under mild conditions.

Nature, Published online: 08 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10712-3

Viscoelastic phase separation is used to fabricate non-collapsible, air-rich networks in high-water-content hydrogels containing silica aerogel beads, allowing air to permeate through the material and enabling a tenfold increase in oxygen permeability over pristine hydrogels.