Researchers achieve breakthrough efficiency for CZTSSe solar cells using novel strategy
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Apr-2026 14:15 ET (3-Apr-2026 18:15 GMT/UTC)
Solutions to the plastic waste crisis are often pitched using words that can skew value judgements, new research argues.
The paper, authored by the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at The University of Manchester, explores the consequences of terminology choices on end-of-life solutions for plastic waste. While recycling has long been touted as a solution for plastic sustainability - it comes in many forms, and can sometimes serve as a smokescreen for genuine discussions around sustainability.
HSE researchers evaluated the accuracy of technology forecasts in the transportation sector over the past 50 years and found that the average accuracy rate does not exceed 25%, with the lowest accuracy observed in aviation and rail transport. According to the scientists, this is due to limitations of the forecasting method and the inherent complexities of the sector. The study findings have been published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change.
Green hydrogen is considered to be an important part of the global climate transition, especially as a fuel and energy carrier for heavy transport and industry. However, large-scale green hydrogen production requires sustainable ways of managing water resources to avoid giving rise to water shortages and conflicts with agriculture over access. This has been shown in a unique study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, that connects local water supply with a range of scenarios for future hydrogen needs in Europe.
Gold nanoparticles with surface functionalization are vital to improve their stability, bio-compatibility to engineer them to be suitable candidates in advanced bio-medical technologies, including drug delivery systems, biosensors, bioimaging, photothermal cancer therapy etc. They are also being exploited in catalysis and energy applications. Their performance in these applications depends strongly on how their surfaces interact with the surrounding medium, particularly the interfacial water, at the nanoscale. Therefore, understanding the thermodynamics and intermolecular structure of the interfacial water is crucial in the design process.