In a comprehensive meta-analysis that delves into the environmental benefits of biochar, researchers are exploring its impact on reducing N2O emissions from fertilized cropland soils. The study, titled "Biochar Reduces N2O Emission from Fertilized Cropland Soils: A Meta-Analysis," is led by Prof. Xingliang Xu from the Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, and the College of Resources and Environment at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Huairou District, Beijing, China. This research provides a detailed examination of how biochar can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural settings.

Farmers in northwestern Colorado have long used flood irrigation, channeling water from the White River across their fields instead of relying on sprinklers. A new Colorado State University study shows that about 75% of this water eventually returns to the river through groundwater, while also supporting wetlands important for wildlife and recreation. The findings, published in the Journal of Hydrology, provide insights that can guide future water management and planning in the face of changing climate and water needs.

A study in Forest Ecosystems revealed that Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Europe partly originated in a 17th-century practical agroforestry innovation, and not exclusively in a 19/20th-century academic debate as previously thought. The research into forestry history traced the development of CCF all the way from early agroforestry, through individual-based silviculture, and eventually to the later academic debate, offering historical insights for modern sustainable forest management.

A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that two closely related evergreen oaks (Quercus aquifolioides and Quercus spinosa) in the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountains adapt to different climates through adjustments in leaf trait integration and modularity, with the high-altitude species having flexible traits for harsh conditions and the lowland one showing tightly coordinated traits for efficiency. It also notes the findings’ value for conservation and understanding species’ responses to climate change.

Today, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists announced the Finalists for the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards. Three will be named Laureates and receive a $250,000 prize at a Gala Ceremony in New York City on October 7, 2025. These Finalists include:

LIFE SCIENCES

Daniele Canzio, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (Neuroscience)

Kaiyu Guan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Agriculture & Animal Sciences)

Philip J. Kranzusch, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School (Microbiology)

Elizabeth Nance, PhD, University of Washington (Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology)

Tomasz Nowakowski, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (Neuroscience)

Samuel H. Sternberg, PhD, Columbia University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

 

CHEMICAL SCIENCES

Song Lin, PhD, Cornell University (Organic Chemistry)

Joseph Cotruvo, Jr., PhD, The Pennsylvania State University (Biochemistry & Structural Biology)

Frank Leibfarth, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Polymer Chemistry)

Ryan Lively, PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology (Chemical Engineering)

Leslie M. Schoop, PhD, Princeton University (Inorganic & Solid-State Chemistry)

Yogesh Surendranath, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Inorganic & Solid-State Chemistry)

 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

Charlie Conroy, PhD, Harvard University (Astrophysics & Cosmology)

Nathaniel Craig, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara (Theoretical Physics)

Matthew McDowell, PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology (Materials Science & Nanotechnology)

Prateek Mittal, PhD, Princeton University (Computer Science)

Elaina J. Sutley, PhD, University of Kansas (Civil Engineering)

Zhongwen Zhan, PhD, California Institute of Technology (Physical Earth Sciences)