Looking for a practical way to produce carbon-negative power? A new study in Engineering introduces the staged, pressurized oxy-combustion (SPOC) technology, designed to retrofit old boilers with sustainable woody biomass. It delivers higher efficiency than standard carbon capture, supports flexible grid operation, and has been successfully tested with 100% biomass firing. This low-penalty solution offers a reliable path to decarbonize power and industrial cogeneration systems.

Hydrogen is a key carbon-free energy carrier for a sustainable future, but its lean combustion often suffers from thermodiffusive instabilities that distort flames and affect emissions. A new review in Engineering summarizes latest experimental findings to reveal how turbulence interacts with these instabilities. Using advanced laser diagnostics, researchers clarify flame structure changes under different conditions, providing reliable data to optimize low-emission hydrogen combustion systems.

Aquaculture provides vital protein and omega‑3 fatty acids for people worldwide, but it faces safety risks from marine toxins, heavy metals, microplastics and pathogens. Traditional detection and removal methods are often slow and costly. A new review in Engineering shows that nanostructures, with unique physical and chemical properties, can effectively detect and eliminate these hazards. This technology brings more sensitive, rapid and sustainable solutions to improve aquaculture safety and support global food security.

Europe e-mobility transition could increase cumulative demand for cobalt from 2021 to 2050 to nearly twice the world’s known reserves, but a new 32-country analysis shows it can be changed. Advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, combined with longer battery lifetimes and a shift to smaller cars, could make a 100% Europe electrification materially feasible. This study also exposes an often-overlooked trade-off: Reusing retired EV batteries in energy storage systems cuts carbon emissions but delays those critical metals recycling.

Immune checkpoints (ICs) are receptors that regulate immune responses through both activating and inhibitory mechanisms. Inflammatory microenvironment modulates IC expression through cytokines, metabolites, and oxidative signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitors not only enhance antitumor immunity but also reshape systemic immune networks. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ICs regulate inflammatory responses and highlights their roles across diverse pathological conditions.

A bibliometric analysis of Chinese literature traces how seismic risk management research in China has evolved from historical disaster relief studies to modern themes such as emergency management, earthquake vulnerability, disaster risk management, collaborative governance, and seismic resilience. The study highlights changing research priorities and points to future directions for strengthening resilience-oriented earthquake disaster management.