Scientists have shown how a plasma-based approach, using non‑thermal plasma can prevent catalyst deactivation in a key hydrogen‑production reaction, maintaining stable performance for 30 hours. 

Scientists in China have proposed a generalized Doppler effect framework by constructing vector-polarized dual-vortex light fields via spin–orbit coupling. A single reflection generates four independent frequency-shift signals, with mixed signals offering an order-of-magnitude improvement in measurement accuracy and unambiguous motion direction discrimination. This technique unifies linear, rotational, and vector Doppler methods for precision velocimetry and medical imaging.

Janus 2D materials, named after the two-faced Roman god, boast bottom surfaces composing two different elements. This asymmetry gives them unique properties, and Janus two-dimensional semiconductors are becoming more common. While scientists have long known how to produce Janus 2D materials, they have yet to grasp the underlying physics behind the process. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have solved the mystery. 

As the world searches for better ways to manage waste biomass and clean up polluted environments, a growing body of research is focusing on biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating organic waste in low-oxygen conditions. A new review published in Biochar offers a comprehensive comparison of conventional pyrolysis and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, two major routes for producing biochar, and explains how the choice of heating method can shape biochar’s structure, chemistry, and pollution-removal performance.

Alex Botts of the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory received the 2026 Young Energy Professional of the Year Award for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. Region by the Association of Energy Engineers.

West Virginia University researchers are developing new laser-based techniques to observe plasma behavior in unprecedented detail, opening a window into interactions that shape technologies ranging from computer chips and spacecraft engines to next-generation fusion energy systems.