Tech & Engineering
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 31-Mar-2026 20:15 ET (1-Apr-2026 00:15 GMT/UTC)
From waste to water purifier: Rice straw accelerates pesticide breakdown in paddy fields
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural UniversityReturning rice straw to the soil after harvest is a globally recognized strategy to enhance soil fertility and reduce agricultural waste. A new field investigation led by scientists at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, now provides a detailed picture of how this practice affects the chemistry of paddy water. The team examined the influence of straw returning on the natural, light-driven degradation of imidacloprid, a widely used insecticide. Their findings reveal that while straw helps cleanse the water of the parent pesticide, it also leads to the formation of new, potentially more hazardous compounds.
- Journal
- Carbon Research
- Funder
- National Key Research and Development Program of China, The National Natural Science Foundation of China, The 145 Program of Institute of Soil Science
Climate change could make unhealthy air a routine reality by 2100
University of WaterlooPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Environmental Science & Technology
Optimizing soil carbon storage: Manure outperforms straw and fertilizers across diverse climates
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural UniversitySoil organic carbon (SOC) is an indispensable component of terrestrial ecosystems, integral to global carbon cycling and soil health. Despite its recognized importance, the differential responses of various SOC pools to long-term agricultural amendments across diverse climate-soil gradients have remained largely uncharacterized. A recent comprehensive study, published in Carbon Research, addresses this knowledge gap by examining the efficacy of long-term mineral and organic amendments on six distinct SOC sub-pools across three contrasting zonal soils in China, offering crucial insights for sustainable land management.
- Journal
- Carbon Research
- Funder
- National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangxi Natural Science Fundation of China, Jiangxi Natural Science Foundation of China, Strategic Academic Leadership Program "Priority 2030" of the Kazan Federal University, RUDN University Strategic Academic Leadership Program
From wood waste to watts: Unlocking the potential of biomass for greener sodium-ion batteries
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural UniversityA team of researchers from the Guangdong University of Technology and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has published a comprehensive perspective on creating next-generation battery components from an abundant and sustainable resource: lignocellulose. This work addresses a critical need for cost-effective energy storage by focusing on sodium-ion batteries, a promising alternative to lithium-ion technology. The authors, including Wenli Zhang, Zongyi Huang, Husam N. Alshareef, and Xueqing Qiu, detail how to transform plant-based biomass into high-performance hard carbon anodes, a key component for the commercial viability of these batteries.
- Journal
- Carbon Research
Cow manure digesters really cut methane — unless they leak
University of California - RiversidePeer-Reviewed Publication
A new study shows that systems designed to capture methane from cow manure, called dairy digesters, are highly effective. But on the rare occasions they fail, the leaks are large enough to offset their climate benefits.
- Journal
- Environmental Research Letters
Forging a greener future: New review outlines path to decarbonize the global steel industry
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural UniversityA comprehensive review published in Carbon Research provides a critical analysis of the global steel industry's role in greenhouse gas emissions and charts a strategic course toward sustainable production. The work, authored by a team including Yibo Qian of the University of Auckland and Yuanzhe Li from the National University of Singapore, examines the essential steps for accurate emissions accounting, the transition to green steel technologies, and the importance of credible verification to ensure environmental integrity.
- Journal
- Carbon Research
- Funder
- Enerstay Sustainability Pte Ltd (Singapore)