The January issue of Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering features advancements in tree resource monitoring, differential phase-contrast STEM applications, and multimodal neural interfaces for precision farming. It highlights the importance of flexible neural probes in enhancing brain-computer interfaces and discusses the potential of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in bioelectronics. The issue also covers underwater acoustic communication, energy storage solutions, and developments in photonic-crystal lasers and robotic guide dogs, marking the journal's first anniversary.