Communications Engineering, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00795-1Jun Ji and colleagues develop a low-loss gigahertz-frequency phononic integrated circuits platform based on patterned thin-film silicon nitride on lithium niobate substrate. Our waveguides achieve a propagation fQ product of 4.22×1013 Hz, and a 1-GHz ring-resonator-based oscillator reaches a phase noise of −159 dBc/Hz at a 100-kHz offset.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00771-9Dr. Damiano Padovani and colleagues assess the current research landscape and identify crucial areas for future studies on blood-wetted cardiovascular devices, as their hemocompatibility remains unsatisfactory. Combining numerical methods with experiments is paramount and calls for collaboration among researchers with different backgrounds, clinicians, and industry.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00790-6Huanglun A. Zhu and colleagues investigated the role of nares-inspired pressure sensing for aerodynamic-state perception in a controlled leader-follower formation-flight experiment. We found that pressure sensing improved prediction when combined with position information, and that the two nares-inspired sensors captured a substantial amount of useful pressure information.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00797-zSpace sustainability rests on the peaceful and socioeconomic use of space. Current measures focus on maintaining orbital trafficability, largely following a linear material flow, neglecting impacts on Earth’s atmosphere and environment. A holistic approach should extend concern from orbital safety and ground casualty risk to full circularity of spacecraft materials.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 26 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00787-1Ilir Gashi and colleagues present an inverse-design framework that optimizes geometrical optics propagation equations to design a metamaterial GRIN lens for broadband multi-beam forming. The fabricated device provides continuous beam steering over a ±35∘ range with 33% fractional bandwidth (13–18 GHz) and less than 2 dB scan loss.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00754-wCellular communication infrastructure can be reused for low-altitude sensing through integrated sensing and communication. Zhiyong Feng and colleagues highlight key engineering issues, enabling techniques and experimental demonstrations for aerial target detection, localization, tracking, and recognition.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00789-zApplied current induced degradation of delamination strength of coated conductors and microscopic mechanism revelation

Communications Engineering, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00783-5Jinrong Cao and colleagues combine distributed fiber-optic strain sensing, X-ray computed tomography and coupled modelling to track deformation and carbon dioxide migration during laboratory core flooding. Strain changes precede the carbon dioxide saturation front, revealing a pressure-driven poroelastic footprint ahead of plume advance.

The tiny power sources, tested in pigs, dissolve inside the digestive tract after several months.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00786-2Jessica Ezemba and colleagues present a large-scale benchmark for assessing vision-language model performance on engineering simulation visualizations across structural and fluid dynamics domains. Evaluation of ten models reveals near-chance accuracy with negligible effect sizes, establishing baselines for domain-specific development.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00788-0Time-frequency gated transformer for structural dynamic response reconstruction

Communications Engineering, Published online: 21 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00781-7High pressure, turbidity, and complex flows hinder current techniques for reservoir dams inspection and repair. Yan Xiang, Yakun Wang and colleagues synthesize the state of underwater inspection and repair technologies and outline priorities for safer dam maintenance.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 19 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00775-5Kai Tang, Chen Song and colleagues report a method using a specific L-shaped reflector layout and standard satellite laser ranging to simultaneously realize passive spacecraft identification and attitude measurement. The reflector scheme extracts satellite identity and attitude from range differences, and its reliability and practicality are confirmed via theoretical analysis, numerical simulations and field experiments.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 19 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00780-8Fabio Enrico Furcas and colleagues study crevice corrosion in riveted heritage structures by combining electrochemical techniques, mineral phase analyses and thermodynamic modelling approaches. Corrosion initiates as a cascade of anodic and cathodic reactions that migrates along the crevice, creating distinct high- and low-pH regions.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00778-2Sihan Wang and colleagues use interpretable metrics to investigate when and why frame or event sensing is advantageous in hybrid visual perception. They find that frames benefit from preserved target structure and events from target-driven temporal changes with low background activity, while metric-guided modulation consistently improves detection.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00779-1Robert Wendland and colleagues present an all-optical platform that combines sparse, label-free sensing of contraction wavefronts in cardiomyocyte syncytia with adaptive holographic optogenetic stimulation. The system enables real-time classification and spatiotemporal closed-loop control of wavefront propagation, e.g., for the testing of cardioversion strategies.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00782-6Feng Liu and colleagues experimentally demonstrated non-line-of-sight (NLoS) terahertz (THz) communication at 146.8 GHz using reflection from and transmission through common building materials. The links achieved data rates of up to 40 Gbit/s by reflection and 50 Gbit/s by transmission over 1 m, showing the feasibility of high-speed indoor NLoS THz communications.

Organized by Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nature Sensors, Nature Electronics, Nature Photonics, Nature Communications and Nature Reviews Electrical Engineeri...

Communications Engineering, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00776-4Lei Xu and colleagues combine mechanical pre-activation with calcination at 550 °C to produce a reactive kaolinitic clay for low-carbon cement. The route lowers the activation temperature by 250 °C, improves strength relative to conventional calcination, and reduces modelled energy demand and CO₂ emissions.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 14 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00777-3Xiangyu Zhang and colleagues investigate phase-tuned wave focusing by a dual-parabolic breakwater using a second-order three-dimensional boundary-element model. The submerged secondary breakwater generates delayed scattered waves whose phase can be tuned to enhance focal amplification across target wave conditions.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00774-6Xiangkun Piao and colleagues report an image-guided cardiac focused ultrasound neuromodulation approach, enabling rapid and feedback-controlled heart rate regulation in mouse models. This approach offers a potential non-invasive strategy for the management of arrhythmia.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00772-8Guangchao Yang and colleagues develop an inverse-design framework combining dynamic-mesh simulations, Gaussian-process surrogates, and constrained optimization for fluid-solid interfacial bumps. The framework accelerates database construction and identifies morphologies that balance heat transfer, temperature uniformity, and pressure loss.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00770-wWen Fan and colleagues introduce an in-sensor computing paradigm for vision-based tactile sensors that seamlessly integrates tactile sensing and perception within the imaging pixel array. PixelTac demonstrates on-chip spatial, temporal and force perception while reducing data transfer, latency and power consumption.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 05 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00768-4Fangjun Qin, Leiyuan Qian and colleagues report a high-precision strapdown gravimetry method adaptively robust to GNSS anomaly. This method overcomes the influence of GNSS signal interference and outages without increasing the cost of operation or equipment.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00767-5Ying Zhang and colleagues develop a human-like memory mechanism that enables embodied robots to achieve long-term object navigation in dynamic and unfamiliar environments. The results show that memory-guided navigation substantially improves robot autonomy, efficiency, and robustness compared with existing approaches.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00769-3Chen Zhao and colleagues developed and validated Wind-Matrix, a large-scale low-altitude Urban Air Mobility wind simulator with 81 programmable fans, vertical jet, and swirl system. It generates 55 m/s max winds, turbulence spectra, shear, gusts, tornadoes, downbursts, and 3D non-uniform flows, bridging the critical sim-to-flight data gap and supporting aerodynamic testing, control system verification, and safety standards.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00735-zChengyao Shi and colleagues demonstrate an event-based compression and body channel communication for energy-efficient and high-bandwidth intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs). This framework lays the ground for transdural communication for distributed and free-floating brain implants.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 31 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00763-9While the characterization of the flow fields of arc-heated test facilities is complicated by the hostile testing environment, this work demonstrates that reliable flow characterization can be achieved using Femtosecond Laser Electronic Excitation Tagging (FLEET) optical velocimetry diagnostics. Aaron Gieder and colleagues report nonintrusive velocimetry measurements in both undisturbed hypersonic air flow and near an object’s surface within an arc-heated test facility.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 27 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00766-6Fa Su, Jiaqi Zhao and colleagues develop velocity & acceleration-dependent damping models that couple hydraulic resistance and reactance in adjustable shock absorbers. The models bridge the gap between idealized resistance and actual impedance behaviour, capturing cloud-like hysteresis across currents (R2 = 0.89 − 0.96) and improving simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop agreement.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 25 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00764-8Huaqiang Chu and colleagues propose a hierarchical four-stage framework based on a full-scale facility to optimize net-zero-liquid discharge and resource recovery from industrial wastewater. They reveal salinity-driven trade-offs between membrane separation and organic degradation, while renewable electricity reduces the system’s carbon footprint by 81.8%.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 25 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00759-5Azmat Ali and colleagues review progress on porous-lift-off Germanium (Ge) membranes as lightweight, cost-effective and reusable templates for III-V space solar cells. They identify key bottlenecks in membrane uniformity, scalability, and industrial integration, and outline strategies for scalable manufacturing and Ge-substrate reuse.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 22 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00748-8Ilias Skandalos and colleagues demonstrate silicon-germanium quantum-confined Stark effect photodetectors on 8-inch silicon wafers, monolithically integrated with silicon nitride waveguides. At low bias, the devices exhibit a dark current density of 0.03 A cm−2 and a bandwidth of 25 GHz, while in avalanche mode they achieve a responsivity above 4 AW−1 and operation at 50 Gb s−1, providing monolithic photodetectors for short-reach and access communications.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 21 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00762-wFatma Nur Kilinc introduce a multichannel optical computer that self-optimizes, using Bayesian tuning of input channels and a self-organized-criticality protocol to reshape its own hardware, with no differentiable model required. Multichannel processing alone lifts accuracy 25-45 points, and self-optimization adds 7-12 more.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00755-9Liang Dong pairs federated learning with reservoir computing so edge devices learn temporal and event-driven tasks by sharing only a small readout or its statistics, without backpropagation. On brain-computer and event-camera benchmarks it matches strong baselines at severalfold lower communication, with a compressed mode reaching hundreds-fold savings.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00757-7Telerobotic machines are currently unable to provide tactile feedback to their operator. Singuaroli and colleagues present a system enabling a human operator to perceive distributed and real-time neuromorphic tactile feedback over the arm in response to the stimulation of a robotic e-skin.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00736-ySidong Zhang and colleagues develop a Machine-Learning-based Surface Impedance Prediction model that enables fast acoustic characterization prediction of microslit panels under grazing flow. This work demonstrates that the effect of flow on acoustic resistance is predominantly positive, while its effect on acoustic reactance is negative, with a few cases where the reversal of the influence of structural parameters occurs and exhibiting complex flow-acoustic coupling phenomena.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00760-yTanvir H. Pantha and colleagues present a digital twin platform for data-efficient optimization of amorphous oxide semiconductor transistors across materials, devices, and circuits. Bayesian active learning identifies optimal fabrication conditions with up to 5× fewer experiments while enabling application-aware DRAM optimization.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 15 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00750-0Achieving intuitive neural control of extra robotic limbs is a challenge in human movement augmentation. Haneen Alsuradi and colleagues use EEG to show that imagining a supernumerary robotic thumb and the natural thumb together elicits stronger motor-related brain activity than imagining either alone.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00753-xNatasha Watson, an engineering practitioner, synthesises how caregiving, safety, and male-centred design shape the navigation of and access to our urban environments for women and girls. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature, case studies, and existing gender mainstreaming frameworks, she explored what can be done to make cities more equitable for all.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00756-8Linpeng Qin and colleagues combine seismic ambient noise analysis with interpretable machine learning to monitor floor-level dynamics in a high-rise building on thick sediments. The model identifies transitions near floors F6–F7 and F9–F10 using only basement and roof recordings, consistent with interferometric velocity reductions.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00752-yGaofeng Zhang and colleagues develop a mechanics-informed, risk-aware learning framework for multiaxial structural reliability, combining augmented load features, Weibull reweighting and a Degradation Risk Score. In a bolted steering-knuckle assembly, it raises linear-model R² from 0.37 to 0.96, reduces RMSE by 67%, and enables Bayesian risk calibration.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00745-xZiyuan Shi and colleagues develop an interference-engineered Mach-Zehnder modulator that actively suppresses residual optical leakage using an auxiliary extinction-enhancement branch and adaptive bias control. The device achieves a dynamic extinction ratio above 38 dB and significantly improves the performance of photon-counting optical communication systems.

Communications Engineering, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44172-026-00749-7Natnael Taye Tsegaye and colleagues present a drone- and AI-enabled bridge inspection workflow that combines instance segmentation, video analytics, 3D reconstruction, and Geographic Information System integration for bridge condition assessment. The framework detects eight concrete defect types, generates defect metrics that align with National Bridge Inventory condition ratings, and supports near real-time deployment for infrastructure monitoring.