Lithium-ion batteries and plastics are two of the most consumed products in modern society, yet their end-of-life disposal issues have become increasingly prominent: spent batteries contain toxic substances and cause resource waste, posing dual environmental risks; plastics, on the other hand, pose significant challenges to global recycling systems due to their massive volume and high chemical stability.

Now, researchers from Soochow University have jointly developed a novel dual-waste recycling strategy that can address both problems simultaneously. In a recent study published in Science Bulletin, they transformed spent lithium-ion batteries into catalysts for plastic recycling through an innovative dual-waste co-recycling strategy. This method not only enables high-value reuse of low-cost spent lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes but also achieves efficient depolymerization of various polyesters. This research establishes a sustainable upcycling pathway for lithium-ion battery and plastic waste, providing a blueprint for large-scale circular economy.

As cities grow denser and hotter, creating space for greenery becomes increasingly difficult. To address this challenge, researchers from Chiba University developed a data-driven framework that integrates artificial intelligence and spatial analysis to map vertical greenery across Tokyo’s 23 wards. By analyzing over 80,000 street-view images, the team identified uneven distribution patterns and proposed a vertical greening demand index to guide future urban greening initiatives and climate-resilient urban planning.

Distribution-type membrane reactors are expected to be highly promising for carbon dioxide methanation reaction. In a recent breakthrough, a group of scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has demonstrated the efficacy of these reactors and also examined the effect of membrane properties on reaction parameters. The present findings are a significant step towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.

Septic shock, a life-threatening complication of infection, has long been treated with rapid infusion of at least 30 mL/kg of intravenous fluids within three hours. But mounting evidence suggests this “one-size-fits-all” approach may harm some patients without benefiting others. An editorial by critical care specialists reviews the science and argues for individualized, dynamically reassessed fluid resuscitation instead of a rigid target. The piece reflects growing calls to update international guidelines.

A recent study published in National Science Review has introduced a policy-specific assessment framework featuring a novel Synergy Index, designed to uncover how air pollution control and carbon mitigation can move in harmony or fall out of step. Drawing on China’s on-road transportation sector as a case study, the research quantifies both the realized and untapped synergies in reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and improving air quality. The findings paint a compelling picture: from 2010 to 2020, China’s on-road transportation emission control policies achieved lower GHG emissions, cleaner air, and substantial public health benefits. However, behind this progress lies an unexpected finding showing that policy synergies have been weakening, highlighting the urgency of robust structural transitions to maintain long-term carbon and air-pollution co-control, to advance a sustainable pathway toward the Sustainable Development Goals, and to fullfil the newly announced NDC target.