This study developed a new real-time prediction method for September Arctic sea-ice extent, based on the interannual increment and stepwise regression approaches

A recent comprehensive analysis highlights the transformative potential of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)—highly porous, tunable materials—in pharmaceutical research. The review concludes that MOFs can dramatically improve drug loading, enable targeted release to disease sites, and enhance the stability of delicate therapeutics, paving the way for more effective and precise treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to pulmonary diseases.

Flower color in ornamental plants not only enhances their aesthetic appeal but also reflects complex evolutionary histories. 

Intelligent optical sensing systems that integrate wavefront control with adaptive responses are emerging as key enablers for next-generation LiDAR technologies. Scientist in China developed a dual-mode LiDAR system using cascaded geometric and propagation phase metasurfaces. By modulating the polarization of incident light, the system can dyanmically switch between a high-accuracy beam-scanning mode , featuring tunable angular resolution via micro-actuator, and a high-efficiency flash illumination mode. Integrated with an adaptive 3D reconstruction algorithm, the dual-mode LiDAR can intelligently adjust detection modes and resolution based on target complexity and environmental demands. The work demonstrates a self-adaptive and reconfigurable metasurface platform, bridging the performance gap between scanning and flash LiDARs, and opening the door to compact, energy-efficient 3D perception systems for diverse application scenarios.

Professor Zhongkui Zhao of Dalian University of Technology, in collaboration with Professor Riguang Zhang of Taiyuan University of Technology, Researcher Yuefeng Liu of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Ting Zhang of Qingdao University, and Professor Chunshan Song  of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, constructed a single-atom Cu-N₂O₁ site with axial oxygen coordination on C₃N₄. Through the polar activation of the CH bond by the polar Cu-O bond, they successfully pioneered a new photocatalytic methane upgrading strategy independent of reactive oxygen species. This strategy not only significantly increased the rate of photocatalytic methane conversion to ethanol by 226  μmol/g/h under mild conditions, but also achieved an ethanol product selectivity as high as 98%. This achievement not only greatly advances the basic understanding of photocatalytic methane conversion to ethanol, but also creates a new paradigm for photocatalytic methane upgrading, successfully solving the seesaw dilemma between the liquid fuel generation rate and its selectivity in the photocatalytic methane conversion process, and providing new ideas and methods for the innovative development of future photocatalytic methane conversion. The article was published as an open access research article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

Ambient-air, moisture-assisted annealing is widely used in fabricating perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the inherent sensitivity of perovskite intermediate-phase to moisture—due to fast and spontaneous intermolecular exchange reaction—requires strict control of ambient humidity and immediate thermal annealing treatment, raising manufacturing costs and causing fast nucleation of perovskite films. We report herein a self-buffered molecular migration strategy to slow down the intermolecular exchange reaction by introducing a n–butylammonium bromide shielding layer, which limits moisture diffusion into intermediate-phase film. This further endows the notably wide nucleation time and humidity windows for perovskite crystallization in ambient air. Consequently, the optimized 1.68 eV-bandgap n-i-p structured PSC reaches a record-high reverse-scan (RS) PCE of 22.09%. Furthermore, the versatility and applicability of as-proposed self-buffered molecular migration strategy are certified by employing various shielding materials and 1.53 eV-/1.77 eV-bandgap perovskite materials. The n-i-p structured PSCs based on 1.53 eV- and 1.77 eV-bandgap perovskite films achieve outstanding RS PCEs of 25.23% and 19.09%, respectively, both of which are beyond of the state-of-the-art ambient-air processed PSCs.

The insightful Carbon Research Webinar, "Fossil-Free Graphite from Biomass for Greener Process Industries," is now available on-demand on YouTube!

Scientists have identified practical fertilizer strategies that can help rice farmers in Myanmar boost their profits, protect the environment, and improve food security. Recent research, led by an international team including experts from the University of Melbourne and local partners, provides new recommendations for nitrogen fertilizer use, aiming for a balance between high yields and low environmental costs.

A team of researchers from Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University has designed a new, affordable sensor to detect toxic perchlorate in water, paving the way for better environmental monitoring and healthier communities. The sensor, inspired by porphyrin molecules and costing less than two US dollars, offers rapid and highly accurate detection of perchlorate, a harmful pollutant that often escapes into rivers and drinking water through fireworks manufacturing and industrial operations.

Third-generation solar cell technology is advancing rapidly. An engineering research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved a breakthrough in the field of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs), focusing on addressing challenges that include improving efficiency, stability and scalability. The team has conducted a comprehensive analysis of TSC performance and provided strategic recommendations, which aim to raise the energy conversion efficiency of this new type of solar cell from the current maximum of approximately 34% to around 40%. The team hopes to accelerate the commercialisation of perovskite/silicon TSCs through industry-academia-research collaboration, while aligning with the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality and promoting the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence through renewable energy.