Communications Engineering (@commseng.nature.com) Bsky

How bio-inspired is your design? A transparent reporting framework - Communications Engineering From aircraft to neural networks, engineers are often inspired by biological systems; however, literature often conflates inspiration with scientific evidence. Christina Harvey proposes a transparent and consistent reporting framework for bio-inspired design that can accelerate technological progress and stimulate collaborative scientific pursuits.

What does "bioinspired" actually mean? What are the risks of using it superfluously? 🔎 Our Editorial Board Member Dr Christina Harvey (UC Davis) explores the use of the term and suggests a framework for more transparent reporting in a new Comment:

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How bio-inspired is your design? A transparent reporting framework Communications Engineering, Published online: 13 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00641-4From aircraft to neural networks, engineers are often inspired by biological systems; however, literature often conflates inspiration with scientific evidence. Christina Harvey proposes a transparent and consistent reporting framework for bio-inspired design that can accelerate technological progress and stimulate collaborative scientific pursuits.

How bio-inspired is your design? A transparent reporting framework

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High-capacity optical communication relayed by multi-core amplifier on deployed submarine seven-core fiber cable Communications Engineering, Published online: 11 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00664-xSDM based on multi-core fiber is a promising approach for capacity scaling in submarine cables. Yingyu Chen, Jinkai Zhou, and colleagues report the field validation of a deployed 7-core fiber submarine link, achieving 410.5 Tbit/s over 140 km with C + L band cladding-pumped MC-EDFAs.

High-capacity optical communication relayed by multi-core amplifier on deployed submarine seven-core fiber cable

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Predictive correlation of optimum phase change material for thermal energy storage Communications Engineering, Published online: 09 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00655-yPredictive correlation of optimum phase change material for thermal energy storage

Predictive correlation of optimum phase change material for thermal energy storage

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Seamless integration of distributed acoustic sensing and passive optical networks for human intrusion monitoring Communications Engineering, Published online: 08 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00662-zRong Tang and colleagues report a method that seamlessly integrates passive optical networks with distributed acoustic sensing for human intrusion monitoring. The system enables simultaneous data transmission and sub-meter localization over 25 km of fiber, supporting secure and wide-area infrastructure monitoring.

Seamless integration of distributed acoustic sensing and passive optical networks for human intrusion monitoring

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Opportunities and barriers for innovation at the interface of engineering and maternal-fetal medicine - Communications Engineering The development of safe and effective maternal-fetal therapeutics is significantly hindered by chronic underfunding, inequitable access to specialized care, and persistent sociopolitical stigmas surro...

We recently published a Comment piece by Dr Kelsey Swingle and colleagues from Rice University on opportunities and barriers for innovation at the interface of engineering and maternal-fetal medicine, as part of our 'Tech for Women's Health' collection. Read it here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

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Mechanical energy storage of planar spiral structures based on two-dimensional nanomaterials Communications Engineering, Published online: 07 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00658-9Shangchun Jiang and colleagues propose a micro/nano-scale mechanical energy storage device based on two-dimensional materials. By mimicking the morphology of a spiral spring, this device achieves fully reversible mechanical energy storage within a compact space without causing plastic deformation in the material

Mechanical energy storage of planar spiral structures based on two-dimensional nanomaterials

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Optimized T-shaped resonator via local enhancement model integration within a cell for enhanced Rydberg-atom receiver sensing Communications Engineering, Published online: 07 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00631-6Previous Rydberg atom with resonators research has presented diverse resonator structures, focusing on finite element simulation design yet lacking in theoretical guidance. Here, Bo Wu and colleagues bridge this gap by proposing a local enhancement model, which guides the adoption of positive countermeasures aimed at maximizing the electric-field local enhancement ability and avoid blindly modifications.

Optimized T-shaped resonator via local enhancement model integration within a cell for enhanced Rydberg-atom receiver sensing

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Accurate and affordable cobot calibration without external measurement devices Communications Engineering, Published online: 06 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00633-4Giovanni Franzese and colleagues introduce a low-cost calibration method using a two-socket and spherical-joint tool. Validated on various robots, the method reduces errors by up to two orders of magnitude, enabling the successful execution of high-precision manipulation tasks.

Accurate and affordable cobot calibration without external measurement devices

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Thermal runaway-induced short-circuit arc in highly integrated lithium-ion battery systems: mechanisms, thresholds, and mitigation strategies Communications Engineering, Published online: 06 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00657-wZhenxing Yu and colleagues report that thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery releases conductive ejecta, which induces three short-circuit arc modes in high-voltage systems (case-to-case arc being the most dangerous failure mode). They reveal a three-stage arc mechanism, establish a quadratic relationship between critical breakdown voltage and electrode spacing, and propose a risk map to guide safer design of highly integrated and ultra-fast charging battery systems.

Thermal runaway-induced short-circuit arc in highly integrated lithium-ion battery systems: mechanisms, thresholds, and mitigation strategies

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Integrating fixed and mobile coherent optical access networks for unified broadband services Communications Engineering, Published online: 04 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00663-yQi Wu and colleagues report a field trial integrating fixed and mobile networks over a single optical carrier using amplitude phase layered modulation. Their approach simultaneously delivers 128 Gb/s digital data and high fidelity analog wireless signals up to 16384-QAM over 109 km, supporting advanced modulation formats and achieving record performance, highlighting a scalable path toward converged 6G ready fiber infrastructures.

Integrating fixed and mobile coherent optical access networks for unified broadband services

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Opportunities and barriers for innovation at the interface of engineering and maternal-fetal medicine Communications Engineering, Published online: 03 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00660-1The development of safe and effective maternal-fetal therapeutics is significantly hindered by chronic underfunding, inequitable access to specialized care, and persistent sociopolitical stigmas surrounding women’s health. Addressing these challenges will require interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and engineers to design accessible therapeutics for maternal-fetal healthcare.

Opportunities and barriers for innovation at the interface of engineering and maternal-fetal medicine

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Robust bionic distributed multimodal flexible sensor for extreme-condition sensing and intelligent operation Communications Engineering, Published online: 02 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00653-0Traditional flexible sensors struggle with synchronized multimodal perception and robustness, limiting their performance in extreme environments. Baijin Mao and colleagues propose an ultra-robust bionic distributed multimodal flexible sensor inspired by tiger-shark skin.

Robust bionic distributed multimodal flexible sensor for extreme-condition sensing and intelligent operation

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The transonic safe mode as an enabler of next-generation wind turbines Communications Engineering, Published online: 02 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00656-xDelphine De Tavernier and colleagues report that next-generation wind turbines may face transonic flow at the blade tip during normal operation. They propose and demonstrate the use of a Transonic Safe Mode, a strategy to ensure a safe design and operation.

The transonic safe mode as an enabler of next-generation wind turbines

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PdNeuRAM: forming-free, multi-bit Pd/HfO2 ReRAM for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing Communications Engineering, Published online: 30 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00650-3Resistive memory devices often require an energy-intensive forming step that limits efficiency and reliability. Erbing Hua and colleagues report forming-free Pd/HfO2 devices enabled by a Pd-O-Hf interfacial mechanism, supporting multi-bit operation and reduced energy use in spiking neural networks.

PdNeuRAM: forming-free, multi-bit Pd/HfO2 ReRAM for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing

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μ2T(n): a method for extracting the density dependent mobility in two-terminal nanodevices Communications Engineering, Published online: 28 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00644-1Christian E. N. Petersen and colleagues propose a method to extract charge carrier density-dependent mobility from two-terminal measurements. The approach enables mobility analysis without the need for multi-terminal devices, simplifying nanowire characterization.

μ2T(n): a method for extracting the density dependent mobility in two-terminal nanodevices

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Thalamus: a real-time system for synchronized, closed-loop multimodal behavioral and electrophysiological data capture Communications Engineering, Published online: 26 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00646-zStudying brain function requires synchronized recording of the brain and behavior in real time. Jarl Haggerty and colleagues describe Thalamus, an open-source platform that synchronizes multimodal data and enables low-latency closed-loop experiments.

Thalamus: a real-time system for synchronized, closed-loop multimodal behavioral and electrophysiological data capture

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A miniature ultrasonic surgical device based on a flextensional configuration with a pre-stressed piezoelectric stack Communications Engineering, Published online: 26 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00651-2Xuan Li and colleagues report a miniature flextensional ultrasonic surgical device driven by a pre-stressed piezoelectric stack with vibration-amplifying metal caps. In vitro robot bone cutting showed less than 1 N force and less than 6% cut width deviation from blade thickness.

A miniature ultrasonic surgical device based on a flextensional configuration with a pre-stressed piezoelectric stack

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Achieving wideband wavefront manipulation in asymmetric media by phase-engineered metasurfaces with near-unity transmission Communications Engineering, Published online: 26 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00645-0Manipulating waves across different materials is limited by signal loss and a narrow bandwidth. Xiaojing Li and colleagues propose a metasurface design that achieves efficient, wideband control of electromagnetic waves at such interfaces.

Achieving wideband wavefront manipulation in asymmetric media by phase-engineered metasurfaces with near-unity transmission

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Co-packaged electronics with microfluidics for direct-to-package cooling Communications Engineering, Published online: 25 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00620-9Henry A. Martin and colleagues design co-packaged electronics with microfluidics to bridge the thermal gap between the device junction and the coolant. This is beneficial for mid-to-high power electronics, chiplet architectures, and multi-chip packages.

Co-packaged electronics with microfluidics for direct-to-package cooling

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How can truck platooning reduce greenhouse gas emissions in road transportation? 🚚 Jia Hu and Haoran Wang from Tongji University developed a method of allowing a human-driven lead truck to guide automated trucks: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

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A multi-modal, multi-physics approach to determine the percentage of recycled plastic content Zhao et al. “Determining the Percentage of Recycled Plastic Content in a Plastic Product.” Nature Communications Engineering (2026)…

Plastic products often claim a certain recycled percentage, but how do we actually verify this? ♻️ Yaoli Zhao, Amit Goyal and colleagues demonstrate a method of determining this:
http://dlvr.it/TRgjGY

Read the paper here: http://dlvr.it/TRgjGZ

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Curious about how we can improve underwater object detection? 🌊 Yaoming Zhuang and colleagues develop a layout-guided diffusion framework for generating high-quality underwater images: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

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Synapse-inspired energy networks: a neuromorphic approach to microgrid protection without communication links Communications Engineering, Published online: 23 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00643-2Saurabh Prabhakar and colleagues propose a spike-based neuromorphic protection framework for inverter-dominated microgrids using local voltage, current, and power disturbances. The approach enables fast, communication-free fault detection and selective isolation.

Synapse-inspired energy networks: a neuromorphic approach to microgrid protection without communication links

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Determining the percentage of recycled plastic content in a plastic product Communications Engineering, Published online: 23 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00639-yYaoli Zhao and colleagues have developed a non-destructive method to determine the percentage of recycled plastic content in a plastic product. By combining multi-modal sensing with machine learning, this approach enables reliable verification of recycled content, supporting regulatory compliance, quality control, and circular plastics manufacturing.

Determining the percentage of recycled plastic content in a plastic product

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Realization of blue-emitting CsPb(Br1-xClx)3 nanocrystals via simultaneous halide exchange and defect passivation using dopamine hydrochloride Communications Engineering, Published online: 20 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00640-5Dokyum Kim and colleagues report a post-treatment strategy using dopamine hydrochloride to simultaneously enable halide exchange and surface defect passivation in CsPbBr3 NCs. This work addresses a key challenge in halide perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) research, where wavelength tuning and structural stability are achieved through separate or multi-step surface engineering processes.

Realization of blue-emitting CsPb(Br1-xClx)3 nanocrystals via simultaneous halide exchange and defect passivation using dopamine hydrochloride

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Bridging mathematical modeling and AI for 3D coordinate recognition of moving objects without external reference and attitude measurement Communications Engineering, Published online: 20 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00648-x3D positioning of moving objects typically relies on costly attitude sensors or external calibration. Junfan Yi, Ke-ke Shang and colleague propose a hybrid AI-mathematics framework that enables real-time 3D positioning using only three off-the-shelf cameras.

Bridging mathematical modeling and AI for 3D coordinate recognition of moving objects without external reference and attitude measurement

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Adaptive robot guidance through real-time compliance estimation and dual-modal control Communications Engineering, Published online: 19 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00632-5Ravi Tejwani and colleagues present a robot guidance controller that coordinates physical forces and verbal instructions based on real-time human compliance estimation. User studies demonstrate significant improvements in task performance over single-modality approaches.

Adaptive robot guidance through real-time compliance estimation and dual-modal control

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Tunable Magnetic Field Control for Next-Generation Medical Microrobotics We developed a new magnetic robotic tool that can precisely control tiny magnetic robots and particles. This platform enables advanced magnetic actuation for minimally invasive medicine, targeted drug...

📝Read 'Behind The Paper' for a recent publication at Communications Engineering 🔍 Tunable Magnetic Field Control for Next-Generation Medical Microrobotics
communities.springernature.com/posts/tunabl...

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Long-term on-leaf monitoring of plant electrophysiology with printed adhesive gel bioelectrodes Communications Engineering, Published online: 19 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00638-zCatherine Crichton and colleagues describe a flexible printed adhesive hydrogel bioelectrode for long-term monitoring of plant electrophysiology. By maintaining stable electrical contact for weeks, these biocompatible electrodes can transform plants into reliable living sensors.

Long-term on-leaf monitoring of plant electrophysiology with printed adhesive gel bioelectrodes

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