Many next-generation materials for solar cells, batteries, and quantum devices are so sensitive that they degrade instantly in air—and even the electron microscopes used to study them can destroy their atomic structure. Researchers at Southern University of Science and Technology have developed a complete workflow that solves both problems. By continuously protecting materials from air—from preparation through imaging—and using ultra-low electron doses combined with advanced image processing, they have achieved atomic-resolution images of materials previously considered impossible to study.

Environmental and sustainability compliance reporting is getting increasingly dependent on geospatial data and workflows. However, understanding of the connection between new European Union (EU) regulations and existing Earth Observation (EO) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies is limited. A new review study highlights how close alignment of law, data, and corporate practices can ensure that the geospatial workflows are fit for purpose in environmental and sustainability compliance reporting.