A new vertical design for wearable health monitors is reported to permanently separate expensive electronic components from single-use fluid channels to solve the primary cost barrier in sweat tracking.

Managing the 1.7 billion tons of pig manure produced globally each year presents a dual challenge for agriculture: preventing air and water pollution while retaining valuable nutrients for fertilizer. Aerobic composting is a common solution, but the process releases significant amounts of ammonia (NH₃), an air pollutant, and nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have developed an effective and scalable solution by creating an iron-modified biochar (FeBC) that simultaneously cuts these emissions and improves compost quality.

The research team, led by Qingwen Zhang, prepared the additive by infusing biochar derived from corn stover with an iron solution. This simple modification produced a material with a 4.6-fold increase in specific surface area and a richer array of surface functional groups compared to untreated biochar. In a controlled composting experiment with pig manure, the addition of 5% FeBC dramatically reduced cumulative NH₃ emissions by 46.7% and N₂O emissions by 41.7% relative to the unamended control. The iron-fortified biochar also outperformed standard biochar, demonstrating its superior ability to lock nitrogen into the compost.

Over-reliance on chemical fertilizers to feed a growing population has often led to soil degradation and a decline in microbial diversity. Scientists are seeking sustainable alternatives that can maintain crop yields while revitalizing the soil. A new field study from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences offers a promising solution by demonstrating how biogas slurry—a nutrient-rich liquid byproduct of anaerobic digestion—can significantly enhance soil health and its ability to sequester carbon.

The investigation was conducted over three years at a dryland agriculture research station in China. Researchers compared the effects of applying biogas slurry topdressing (BST) against conventional chemical fertilizer topdressing (CFT) on maize crops. By collecting soil samples at three different depths and three distinct crop growth stages, the team performed a comprehensive analysis of soil chemistry and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to map the changes in the bacterial communities over time and space.

Upgrading raw biogas into pipeline-quality methane is a critical step for expanding renewable energy, but current purification methods can be costly and energy-intensive. A team of researchers led by scientists at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah has developed a novel solution by transforming a common agricultural waste—eggshells—into a high-performance filter that efficiently separates carbon dioxide (CO₂) from methane (CH₄). This innovative approach offers a low-cost, environmentally friendly pathway to cleaner energy.

The research focuses on creating advanced mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which combine the processability of polymers with the selective properties of filler materials. While high-tech fillers like metal-organic frameworks can be effective, their high cost limits widespread use. The Malaysian-led team turned to eggshells, an abundant and inexpensive source of calcium carbonate. By applying a simple, chemical-free heating process called calcination, they converted the eggshells into nanostructured calcium oxide (CaO) particles with a uniquely high surface area.

Evolving Zn anodes with high areal capacity at elevated depths of discharge (DOD) is crucial for scalable aqueous battery, yet plagued by dendritic growth and parasitic reactions. Here, we constructed a polymer protective layer (PDMAG@Zn) comprising hydrophobic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAA) and zincophilic cationic guar gum (CGG) via an in situ strategy. The moderately hydrophobic property of PDMAA prevents the "Grotthuss" effect on Zn surface to inhibit parasitic reactions while synergistically accelerates Zn²⁺ desolvation behavior with a molecular lubrication mechanism. Additionally, the PDMAG layer guides Zn²⁺ deposition along (100) plane for rapid stripping/plating performance. Coupled with CGG-induced interfacial stabilization, the symmetrical batteries achieve ultralong cycling of 6580 h at 1 mA cm⁻², 1 mAh cm⁻², and 300 h at 1 mA cm⁻², 15 mAh cm⁻² with 91.5% DOD_Weight. Furthermore, the Zn||V₂O₅ full battery delivers a high capacity of 335 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, underscoring superior feasibility in practical applications.

Soil salinization is one of the world’s most pressing threats to agriculture, especially in dry and semi-dry regions where salts and high pH can build up in the soil. These harsh conditions limit root growth, reduce nutrient uptake, and weaken crop productivity. Now, a new study shows that carefully designed biochar amendments can do more than improve soil chemistry. They can also guide plant metabolism and reshape beneficial microbial communities around the roots.

Soil pollution and degradation are threatening food security, crop productivity, and the long-term health of agricultural land worldwide. A new review published in Biochar suggests that one promising solution may come from pairing two powerful natural tools: biochar and beneficial microbes.

A new global analysis suggests that the climate mitigation potential of biochar could be overestimated if warming-driven carbon losses are not considered, especially in agricultural soils.

Since the introduction of the Da Vinci® robotic system, robot-assisted colon resection has gained popularity because of its the potential technical advantages.