As the world races to meet ambitious climate targets, scientists are turning to an unlikely ally in the fight against global warming: biochar. A new study highlights how artificial intelligence can dramatically improve the ability of this carbon-rich material to capture and store carbon, offering a powerful pathway toward carbon neutrality.

A new comprehensive review highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass, could transform the cement industry by reducing emissions while improving the performance of construction materials.

A new study reveals that adding small amounts of biochar, a carbon-rich material made from agricultural waste, can significantly improve the quality and performance of 3D-printed plastics while advancing more sustainable manufacturing practices.

The combination of extreme weather conditions, like atmospheric rivers, and aging infrastructure is putting increasing pressures on Canadian highways, bridges and tunnels—many of which are almost 100 years old.

UBC Okanagan researchers caution that these systems are facing hazards they weren’t considered in their original design, and this increases their vulnerability to failure. This growing strain is putting significant pressure on local governments, which must secure funding to upgrade and maintain these critical transportation networks, says UBC Okanagan School of Engineering postdoctoral researcher Dr. Alaa Al Hawarneh.

University of Houston professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology Weihang Zhu is spearheading an effort to redefine offshore safety, releasing a new roadmap designed to identify and close critical gaps in international crane operations. 

A research team led by Professor Hyun Ghang Jeong from the Department of Psychiatry at Korea University College of Medicine (Korea University Guro Hospital), in collaboration with the research team at Geovision Inc., has published the results of a large-scale validation study investigating the feasibility of early detection of self-harm behavior using artificial intelligence (AI) in psychiatric wards. The study was published in the internationally renowned journal Scientific Reports.

Traditional electrolyte research has long centered on the solvation behavior of lithium-ions (cation), focusing on improving lithium ion transport dynamics by optimizing solvent or salt concentrations. As batteries evolve toward higher energy density, wider operation temperature ranges, and extended cycle lifespan, this “cation-centered” solvation approach has encountered limitations: unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, poor lithium-ion transport dynamics, and inadequate adaptation across broad temperature ranges. Unlike cations acting as passive charge carriers, anions become active regulators of electrolyte performance by modulating solvation structures, governing interfacial reactions, and optimizing transport mechanisms. Anion chemistry unlocks this active regulatory capability, offering more fundamental and comprehensive solutions for high-energy-density batteries electrolyte design.