Climate change is releasing ancient antibiotic resistance genes from glaciers into rivers and lakes that supply drinking water, posing a significant risk to human health. The 'glacier continuum' concept highlights the need for monitoring programs and early-warning frameworks to track resistance gene spread.
A study published in Biochar found that optimized biochar application could reduce China's cropland nitrous oxide emissions by as much as 50 percent. The researchers analyzed data from over a decade of field studies across China and identified optimal biochar strategies to deliver substantial climate benefits.
A new study uses digital building models to calculate carbon emissions from material production, transportation, operation, and demolition. The approach demonstrates how targeted reduction strategies can be identified before construction begins, highlighting the importance of local material sourcing and clean heating technologies.
A study published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes reveals that soil warming during heatwaves does not lead to an increase in arsenic levels in rice grains. Rice physiology and seasonal factors play a bigger role than previously thought in determining the risks of food safety under climate extremes.
Researchers developed high-performance biochar filters that capture both ammonia and tiny plastic particles from water, removing up to 64% of dissolved ammonia and over 97% of polystyrene microplastics. The study provides a practical way to clean polluted water while recycling agricultural waste and locking away carbon.
Researchers have combined molecular imprinting technology with biochar to create materials that can selectively target specific molecules, achieving high adsorption capacity and selectivity. These smart sorbents show promise for efficient pollution control in complex mixtures and at low concentrations.
A new multi-omics framework proposes a proactive, predictive, and integrative approach to invasive species management. The framework uses advanced technologies to detect, track, and manage invasive species with unprecedented precision.
A recent study reveals that the specific genetic identity of rice plants determines which microbes they host and how those microbes function. The research found that differences among rice genotypes strongly shape microbial communities in both soil and on leaf surfaces, influencing nutrient cycling, plant health, and soil carbon storage.
The journal Biological Diversity is seeking experts in various disciplines to address the global biodiversity crisis. The editorial board will comprise senior scholars, while the youth editorial board will include early-career researchers. The dual structure aims to combine strategic wisdom and innovative energy.
A comprehensive review reveals the therapeutic effects of Borago officinalis, a plant with diverse compounds targeting inflammation and metabolic pathways. The study highlights its potential in treating cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Certain microbes can act as community protectors by breaking down antibiotics and stabilizing entire microbial ecosystems. Antibiotic degraders create safer microenvironments, allowing sensitive microbes to survive.
Researchers provide a comprehensive framework for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater through advanced oxidation processes. Key findings highlight the importance of understanding reaction pathways to optimize treatment systems.
Climate change is altering the global nitrogen cycle, affecting food security, water quality, and biodiversity. The review finds that elevated CO2 boosts plant growth but dilutes protein quality, while rising temperatures reduce yields and increase nitrogen losses.
A new review highlights how converting biomass into gaseous fuels like hydrogen, methane, and syngas can play a critical role in the global transition to low-carbon energy systems. Biomass-based gaseous fuels can be used for electricity generation, industrial heat, transportation, and as building blocks for chemicals and synthetic fuels.
A comprehensive review outlines how ammonia disrupts biogas production and identifies practical strategies to prevent system failure. Emerging solutions include the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into digester monitoring.
A new study found that fine rubber crumbs from recycled tires can release high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment, contaminating soil and water. The smallest particles released the most toxic chemicals, posing risks to organisms, plants, and potentially human health.
A new review reveals microwave-assisted pyrolysis can produce advanced carbon materials from biomass and waste in a fraction of the time, with improved performance and sustainability. This technology offers a powerful alternative for building next-generation materials needed for carbon neutrality.
New study reveals that viruses living on plastics can act as drivers of antibiotic resistance dissemination by transferring genetic material between bacteria. Environmental context is crucial in understanding the risks of plastic pollution on public health.
Researchers developed a chitin-based carbon aerogel to stabilize phase change materials and improve their performance for energy applications. The material achieved high thermal storage density, durability, and improved thermal conductivity compared to pure stearic acid.
Researchers traced nitrate pollution in the Yangtze River Delta using an integrated multi-tracer approach. Manure was identified as a dominant source of nitrate in traditional agricultural areas, while aquaculture effluent emerged as a main pollutant in industrialized zones.
A five year field study shows biochar can boost sugarcane growth while reshaping soil life around the roots and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the field for years without additional fertilization. The treatment improved soil fertility, nutrient use efficiency and beneficial bacterial groups in the rhizosphere.
Research shows that a liquid byproduct from wastewater sludge can recycle nutrients for agriculture, but high concentrations of this byproduct may disrupt key ecological processes. The study found that periphyton communities retained ability to remove pollutants even at high exposure levels.
A new study reveals urban tributaries play a significant role in driving phthalate pollution in the Yangtze River, with higher concentrations found during seasonal changes. The research highlights the need for targeted monitoring and management strategies to address this environmental risk.
A new study reveals a simple two-stage catalytic system using corn straw, biochar, and nickel-based catalysts can more than double the hydrogen content of gas produced during biomass pyrolysis. The addition of biochar as a pre-catalyst further increases hydrogen yield.
New bioimaging tools follow nanoscale pollutants from entry to accumulation in organs, enabling real-time tracking and early detection of subtle effects. AIE-based probes distinguish nanoplastics or metal nanoparticles' behavior in cells, tissues, and organs.
A new global climate webinar recording highlights biomass-based carbon capture as a scalable and cost-effective solution for achieving net-zero emissions. Biomass pathways, including bioenergy with carbon capture and soil amendments, offer up to 6.7 gigatonnes of annual mitigation potential by 2050.
Free-living amoebae are becoming a major public health threat due to their ability to survive harsh conditions and act as 'Trojan horses' for other harmful microbes. Climate warming is expected to worsen the problem, with recent outbreaks linked to recreational water use raising global concern.
Researchers found that adding biochar with beneficial microorganisms like Trichoderma significantly reduced cadmium stress in crops while improving soil health. The combination restored photosynthetic capacity, biomass production, and enzyme activity, making it a promising solution for sustainable agriculture and soil remediation.
A team of engineers at Universiti Sains Malaysia has developed a novel surface-imprinted polymer grafted onto ordered mesoporous silica, which achieves high selectivity for chloramphenicol removal. The adsorbent demonstrated excellent reusability and thermodynamic properties, making it an efficient solution for water purification.
A new international study discovers that combining biochar with straw can reduce carbon emissions, boost soil health, and encourage microbes to work together. The research bridges Moscow and Guangzhou, delivering one of the clearest pictures yet of how organic amendments shape the hidden world beneath our feet.
The Third Symposium on New Contaminant Control highlighted emerging pollutants like persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics as a global challenge. The event emphasized the need for collaborative research and technology deployment to protect public health and environmental quality in China and beyond.
The article introduces the concept of an Energy and Environment Nexus as a web linking energy services, human well-being and environmental health. It proposes four imperatives of energy: power intensity, energy density, cost and scale to determine practical and sustainable energy systems.
Animal manure biochar effectively removes hazardous pollutants such as dyes, antibiotics and heavy metals from wastewater. The material's surface chemistry and mineral content support mechanisms like electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding and ion exchange.
A comprehensive review reveals that antibiotic resistance genes are ancient features of microbial life shaped by millions of years of evolution. Human activities such as agriculture, wastewater discharge, and global trade are accelerating the spread of these genes into disease-causing bacteria.
Researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia have developed a life cycle-verified roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in laser powder bed fusion. The study provides a tiered, cumulative action plan that factories can adopt incrementally, making measurable progress towards sustainability.
Researchers developed three process designs that capture higher value hydrocarbons during LNG regasification using seawater, with one configuration delivering strong economic performance. The study also highlights environmental advantages by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and improving overall efficiency.
A new study reveals that maize roots can absorb CO2 from the soil atmosphere, contributing to plant biomass and challenging traditional views on carbon balances in croplands. The root system plays an active role in regulating carbon flows between soil, plants, and the atmosphere.
A new review highlights how high and extreme temperatures influence the ability of microorganisms to degrade microplastics. The study shows that heat can both accelerate and suppress microbial breakdown, depending on conditions and organisms involved.
Researchers discovered complex viral communities in wastewater treatment plants, interacting with bacteria to influence treatment efficiency and health risks. The study found that viruses can act as reliable biological indicators of treatment performance, while also potentially promoting the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
This webinar discusses the potential of bio-based carbon capture to deliver up to 6.7 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent mitigation annually by 2050. It explores how biomass can transform climate mitigation, offering scalable and equitable pathways to net-zero.
New research reveals biochar's impact on autotrophic soil microbes that fix carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. In paddy soils, these microbes are active capturing carbon dioxide, while in upland soils, microbial biomass and labile carbon pools play a larger role.
China's Ecological Protection Redline system has identified 32% of the nation's land as crucial ecological space, safeguarding major ecosystems and wildlife species. Recognizing these areas as 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs) could close the remaining gap to achieving 30x30 without creating new parks.
A new perspective highlights emerging household contaminants that may increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and developmental problems. The authors emphasize the need for systematic monitoring and research to inform next-generation indoor air standards.
Microplastics leak a complex mixture of dissolved organic chemicals that evolve over time, especially under sunlight. The study provides the most detailed molecular-level view to date of how this microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter forms and transforms in natural waters.
A new study evaluates four microbial aerosol samplers and finds that membrane filtration produces the highest collection efficiency for particles at or below one micrometer. The study suggests that choosing the right sampler is crucial for accurate airborne pathogen detection.
Researchers found that adding formic acid to traditional UV-based oxidation systems boosts PFOA defluorination rates from 27% to 89%, leveraging reductive radicals for efficient degradation. Acidic conditions and oxygen-free environments enhance performance.
A new seaweed-based carbon catalyst has been developed that can rapidly break down antibiotic norfloxacin in water without using toxic metals or sulfur chemicals. The catalyst, made from kappa carrageenan and doped with nitrogen and sulfur, shows high specific surface area and degrades antibiotics through non-radical pathways.
PFOS is accumulating in soils and agricultural plants across Africa at levels that may pose ecological and public health risks. The study highlights contamination hotspots in Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, and calls for urgent investment in monitoring, regulation, and research capacity.
A new review highlights how complex microbial communities, including those in the human gut and environment, drive antimicrobial resistance evolution. The study identifies five pathways of horizontal gene transfer that enable bacteria to share resistance genes within communities.
Researchers found that natural humification processes in soil can influence microbial communities and ecological risks. Artificial humic substances added to paddy soil showed a strong enrichment of genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting microbes quickly mobilize additional carbon.