Professor Wen-Bo Liu's research group at Wuhan University reported a nickel-catalyzed regioselective hydrogen metallization/5-exo-trig cyclization reaction. Using β-propargylcyclobutanone as a starting material, multi-substituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanol can be synthesized in one step, followed by skeletal rearrangement to yield 1,2,4-trisubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanone. This structure can be used for diverse derivatization reactions. DFT computational studies elucidated the crucial role of carbonyl coordination in regioselectivity control. This research provides a new method for obtaining structurally diverse bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane (BCH) derivatives, with potential applications in drug development. The article was published as an open access research article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

The inspiring online talk, "Turn Waste Into Wonder: Discover How 'Supercharged Biochar' Can Grow a Greener Future!" is now available on demand.

A new scientific review highlights major advances in the use of iron enhanced biochar as a powerful tool for cleaning contaminated environments and supporting sustainable agriculture. The study synthesizes recent breakthroughs in modifying biochar with iron to dramatically improve its ability to capture pollutants, catalyze chemical reactions, and stabilize nutrients in soil and water systems.

Antibiotic resistance is widely recognized as one of the most urgent public health challenges of the twenty first century. Now, a new study shows that even very small amounts of antibiotics that commonly appear in soil, rivers, wastewater, and agricultural runoff may significantly accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria.

A study in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts reports large-area transparent bamboo produced by peroxyacetic-acid delignification followed by 20 MPa hot-pressing. A 10 µm polylactic-acid film loaded with 1% W-VO2 nanoparticles endows the composite with a 9.7% solar modulation range around a 31°C phase-change threshold. EnergyPlus simulations for four Chinese climate zones show annual energy savings of 1.6–5.6% versus clear single glass while cradle-to-gate life-cycle analysis indicates lower toxicity, particulate-matter and carbon footprints than either glass or cement.

The lithium-ion battery is a new energy storage device widely employed in various fields such as mobile power, electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and spacecrafts due to its high energy, high efficiency, lightweight, and environmental friendliness. Understanding the internal mechanism of the battery is of utmost importance. The electrochemical model provides detailed insights into the internal mechanism of lithium batteries and encompasses the single-particle model and the P2D model, as well as enhancements such as thermal coupling, mechanical stress coupling, and electric double-layer capacitive coupling. However, the dispersion effect of capacitors in solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film capacitors and porous electrodes has been basically ignored, which is essential for analyzing the internal mechanism and managing energy conversion in lithium batteries experiencing short-term effects. Furthermore, the determination of the dominant order of the Faraday process and non-Faraday process within a short time period is essential for accurately predicting the lifespan of lithium batteries subjected to high-frequency periodic excitation and assessing performance degradation. While the frequency range of these two processes can be roughly delineated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the precise transition time of their dominant positions remains uncertain. The lithium-ion battery is a new energy storage device widely employed in various fields such as mobile power, electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and spacecrafts due to its high energy, high efficiency, lightweight, and environmental friendliness. Understanding the internal mechanism of the battery is of utmost importance. The electrochemical model provides detailed insights into the internal mechanism of lithium batteries and encompasses the single-particle model and the P2D model, as well as enhancements such as thermal coupling, mechanical stress coupling, and electric double-layer capacitive coupling. However, the dispersion effect of capacitors in solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film capacitors and porous electrodes has been basically ignored, which is essential for analyzing the internal mechanism and managing energy conversion in lithium batteries experiencing short-term effects. Furthermore, the determination of the dominant order of the Faraday process and non-Faraday process within a short time period is essential for accurately predicting the lifespan of lithium batteries subjected to high-frequency periodic excitation and assessing performance degradation. While the frequency range of these two processes can be roughly delineated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the precise transition time of their dominant positions remains uncertain.

In a study published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences, researchers from Nanjing Normal University developed a unified mathematical model and a six-category classification system for coastal tipping points. By integrating land-sea interactions and multi-scale processes, the framework analyzes 91 global cases, highlighting spatial heterogeneity and urging advances in data fusion, modeling, and adaptive management to address irreversible shifts in these vulnerable systems.

In a new paper published in National Science Review, the team of the Professor Long Li from the Xidian University, China have proposed an electromagnetic all-in-one radiation-scattering RIS. A unified and efficient theory for integrated radiation-scattering manipulation was established, along with a corresponding physical platform. This framework encompasses multi-dimensional electromagnetic properties—including phase, polarization, amplitude, waveform, frequency, and time—enabling the on-demand design of RIS. This approach provides a novel technological paradigm for the era of 6G communications and the Internet of Everything in wireless sensor networks.

Seawater is not just a source of salt and water; but it contains a rich variety of ions that benefit to electrocatalytic reactions. This review article provides a timely appraisal of how ions in seawater can be harnessed to drive and enhance electrochemical processes. It identifies key mechanic insights, material design strategies, and future research directions to accelerate the transition from laboratory scale seawater electrocatalysis to real-world electrochemical applications.

Based on six years data from high energy particle detectors developed by Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS, onboard the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES), the scientists analyze comprehensively the evolution characteristics of the geomagnetic field and high-energy protons in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) from 2019 to 2024. The results show that both the magnetic field minimum and the proton flux center of the SAA drift northwestward, while the overall area of the SAA exhibits a shrinking trend. In addition, the spatiotemporal evolution of the SAA shows a certain correlation with solar activity.This marks the capability of China's autonomous and controllable high-quality satellite data to conduct precise and comprehensive monitoring of the space environment, significantly enhancing the country's space exploration capabilities.