Phosphorus is essential for crop growth, but using it efficiently remains one of agriculture’s long-standing challenges. Farmers often apply large amounts of phosphorus fertilizer to maintain yields, yet only a small fraction is taken up by crops. The rest can become locked in soil or escape into waterways, contributing to nutrient pollution and eutrophication.

A joint research team from NIMS, the Institute of Science Tokyo, and Kochi University of Technology discovered high-performance catalysts capable of significantly reducing "boil-off losses," which had been a long-standing issue in liquid hydrogen storage and transportation. These composite catalysts, in which metallic nanoparticles, such as iron, are supported on silicon dioxide (silica) or other low-cost oxide, demonstrate significantly superior performance compared to conventional iron oxide-based catalysts. In this research, the team demonstrated a new mechanism where ortho to para hydrogen conversion is promoted, not by magnetism as in conventional mainstream mechanisms, but by an inhomogeneous electric field on the surface of the catalyst. This research result, which is expected to contribute to a hydrogen energy society, was published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters on March 12, 2026.

Scientists from Wroclaw Medical University and the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences discovered that the type of tea used in kombucha production strongly affects the drink’s chemistry, aroma, and antioxidant activity. Kombuchas made from green and oolong teas showed the highest antioxidant potential, while each tea created a distinct flavor and chemical profile during fermentation. The researchers emphasize that kombucha is not a single universal product and that further clinical studies are needed to confirm its health effects.

Early-onset intervertebral disc degeneration is partly driven by cellular senescence, yet effective disease-modifying therapies remain limited. Researchers report that the senolytic combination dasatinib and quercetin reduces senescence markers, inflammatory signaling, and degenerative tissue changes in a genetic mouse model of disc disease. In contrast, navitoclax shows no benefit. The study identifies JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling as a key pathway underlying disease progression and therapeutic response, highlighting a potential strategy for slowing spinal disc degeneration.

Sulfur-doped NiFe layered double hydroxides (S-NiFe-LDH) were synthesized via an in-situ hydrothermal approach. The resulting catalyst delivered outstanding urea oxidation reaction (UOR) activity, stemming from an optimized electronic structure and the evolution of active sites from Fe³⁺/Ni²⁺ to high-valence Ni³⁺. Sulfur incorporation markedly lowers the thermodynamic barrier, synergistically boosting reaction kinetics and enabling energy-efficient hydrogen generation. Sulfur-doped NiFe layered double hydroxides (S-NiFe-LDH) were synthesized via an in-situ hydrothermal approach. The resulting catalyst delivered outstanding urea oxidation reaction (UOR) activity, stemming from an optimized electronic structure and the evolution of active sites from Fe³⁺/Ni²⁺ to high-valence Ni³⁺. Sulfur incorporation markedly lowers the thermodynamic barrier, synergistically boosting reaction kinetics and enabling energy-efficient hydrogen generation.

A global meta-analysis shows that carbon farming, through legume cover crops or vermicompost, enhances agroecosystem multifunctionality. Soil biota abundance was strongly linked to multifunctionality and showed more frequent win–win relationships with other functions than species richness. Across agroecosystems, abundance was primarily associated with local soil properties and climate factors. The study identified site-specific management strategies that align carbon inputs with local environmental conditions in global croplands to enhance multifunctionality.

Researchers at the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore have developed a safer, more affordable all-solid-state sodium-ion battery, a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage. Led by Associate Professor Palani Balaya, the team incorporated a simple, low-cost additive called graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) into a solid polymer electrolyte, a breakthrough published in Advanced Functional Materials. This GCN additive simultaneously solves two major problems: it enhances the movement of sodium ions for better performance and provides the mechanical strength to block dendrite growth, a common failure mechanism that causes short circuits. The resulting battery demonstrated remarkable stability over thousands of hours, retained 95% of its capacity after 500 cycles, and proved its safety in real-world tests, paving a scalable path toward the commercial deployment of sodium-ion batteries for grid storage and beyond.