New Horizon Press Limited, an independent open access academic publisher, has joined NISO as a Voting Member, enabling it to shape standards and practices for academic publishing. This membership will help New Horizon Press journals maintain metadata, article markup, and discoverability practices aligned with industry standards.
Researchers developed a nano-magnesium oxide modified pyro-hydrochar material from invasive plant biomass, achieving high fluoride adsorption capacity and stability across a broad pH range. The material combines electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and hydrogen bonding mechanisms to capture fluoride ions.
Researchers used machine learning to map biomass variations of Chinese milk vetch in southern China, identifying key climate and geography factors that impact its growth. The study found nonlinear climate thresholds, with optimal biomass accumulation between 533-877 mm rainfall and 10.7-13.7°C temperatures.
A new approach to aquatic pathogen surveillance combines automated sampling, pathogen concentration, and rapid signal detection for real-time monitoring of multiple pathogens. The proposed framework complements traditional methods, improving biosafety and early warning systems.
Researchers discovered a distinctive pattern in DNA polymerase genes from China's Napahai plateau wetland, suggesting the unique geography and environmental conditions of the wetland contribute to the genetic diversity of microbial communities. This finding raises the possibility that DNA polymerase genes could serve as biogeographical...
Researchers found that pelletized straw reduces cumulative nitrous oxide emissions by up to 45.7% in saline-alkali soil. The study also shows that straw application alters ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities, with a shift from Nitrosospira to Nitrosovibrio.
Piezocatalysis, a process that converts mechanical energy into chemical driving forces, can break down biomass's complex lignocellulosic structure under mild conditions. The review highlights the potential of piezocatalysis to drive cleaner biomass conversion, with promising applications in fuels, resins, and biodegradable polymers.
Researchers developed an AI framework that can represent complex three-dimensional hydraulic conductivity fields more efficiently and use monitoring data to improve predictions of PFOA movement in groundwater. The framework, VA-LSGAN, compressed complex fields into a smaller set of variables while preserving important spatial patterns.
Researchers have developed a defect-engineered metal-organic framework catalyst that converts glucose into lactic acid with substantially improved efficiency. The catalyst showed activity toward raw biomass feedstocks, producing a 62.8% lactic acid yield at 170°C after four hours when corn cobs were used directly as a biomass feedstock.
A new review highlights the need for stronger evidence before claiming microplastics affect aquatic offspring through maternal transfer. The study proposes an evidence classification framework to distinguish true maternal particle transfer from intergenerational and transgenerational toxicity.
Researchers propose combining AI with environmental digital twins to create a framework for predicting risks, testing interventions, and supporting adaptive decisions. These systems could connect real-time observations, physical and data-driven models, AI algorithms, and decision feedback in a continuously evolving loop.
A new review highlights sex-specific effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on reproductive health, including testicular damage and ovarian function disruption. Oxidative stress is identified as a central mechanism connecting many of these effects.
Researchers developed a multitask deep learning framework to predict how strongly a material adsorbs sulfur gases and how effectively it senses them. The approach accelerated the discovery of materials for gas detection and purification, highlighting specific material candidates with strong sensing responses to toxic gases.
Researchers have developed a fluorescent sensing platform that can detect uranyl ions at very low concentrations while producing a color change that can be analyzed with a smartphone. The probe achieves ratiometric detection with built-in self-calibration, providing accurate quantification of uranium contamination in water.
A two-year field study found that moderate biochar application improves soil quality, strengthens microbial activity, and helps vegetable crops make better use of nitrogen fertilizer. Biochar application rates above 20 t ha⁻¹ did not produce additional yield benefits and could disturb nutrient balance or microbial conditions.
A new review suggests that microplastics can act as mobile carriers for antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes, creating hotspots where resistance can persist and spread. The review calls for integrated treatment methods to control microplastics, antibiotics, and resistance genes.
The conference highlighted the shift from AI being a publishing tool to a condition of the workflow, with incomplete metadata increasingly determining article discoverability. NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED is developing its website and publishing policies to incorporate machine-readable metadata and AI policies.
Large language models can support environmental research through systematic literature screening, relational knowledge mining, and quantitative data extraction. These approaches can transform unstructured scientific literature into structured information that can be reused in databases, models, risk assessments, and environmental decis...
The new composite material combines strong electromagnetic shielding, high absorption, improved toughness, and electrothermal performance through a carefully engineered layer-by-layer structure. Its fracture toughness reached 2.68 MJ m⁻³, representing a 173% improvement compared to conventional materials.
Researchers propose sediment electron exchange capacity as a quantitative measure of aquifer sediments' reactivity, influencing contaminant transformation and remediation performance. EEC can help predict and optimize groundwater cleanup, improving efficiency and sustainability.
A new study reveals that rare bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining microbial community stability, while core bacteria organize complexity. Climate and soil conditions shape distinct bacterial groups, with rare bacteria responding to soil properties and core bacteria influenced by environmental selection.
A study of 13 drinking water sources in China's Poyang Lake region reveals that river-type sources carry higher risks from antibiotics and resistant bacteria than reservoir-type sources. The findings highlight the importance of considering water source type when designing monitoring and pollution-control strategies.
Microplastics act as pollutant shuttles, carrying chemicals, pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes through water, soil, food webs and environmental boundaries. A three-tiered framework identifies conditions for dominant ecological risks, highlighting the need for realistic risk assessment and unified global governance.
A new review suggests slow pyrolysis can reduce environmental risks while recovering materials, metals, and energy from contaminated agricultural biomass. The process involves controlled heating, producing biochar, bio-oil, and gases, with potential applications in soil amendment, water treatment, and metal recovery.
AI has evolved from an ambitious idea to a powerful force in science, medicine, industry, and environmental protection. Emerging co-scientist systems can generate hypotheses, evaluate ideas, and refine research directions, pointing toward a future of AI as a digital scientific collaborator.
Microplastic pollution in dryland dumpsites accelerates due to intense sunlight, heat, wind, and open burning, transforming plastics into smaller, more reactive particles that spread through soil, air, water, and food systems. Aging microplastics increase metal adsorption and organic pollutant partitioning, posing emerging biological r...
Researchers found that aging microplastics can increase the binding of fluorinated pesticides like fluensulfone in agricultural soils. The smallest aged particles showed the strongest effects, with 30-35% of retained fluensulfone bound to PVC microplastics.
AI agents, such as ERA and The AI Scientist, are increasingly taking autonomous actions, expanding scientific discovery. However, serious limitations, including hallucinated citations and outputs that are difficult to reproduce, highlight the need for human oversight and responsible development.
A three-year field study found that deeper straw incorporation reduced maize ear rot and mycotoxin contamination while improving soil health and microbial communities. The study suggests that optimizing straw management strategies could turn a familiar practice into a more effective tool for soil health and food safety.
Zebrafish models can help scientists understand contaminant toxicity, but translating these findings to wild species is a major challenge. A new framework, Z-PATH, proposes a four-tiered approach to connect molecular effects with whole-organism performance and population-level consequences.
Research estimates a sevenfold increase in tire-derived 6PPD emissions in China from 2000 to 2020, with soil and rural road networks playing major roles. The study projects that emissions could reach 0.15 million metric tons per year by 2060.
Researchers developed a synthetic community of native soil bacteria that reduces acid stress and improves nutrient cycling, leading to healthier plant growth. The microorganisms increase soil pH, promote lateral root development, and enhance nutrient availability.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze elemental composition of biochar and found hydrogen-to-carbon ratio and oxygen content to be key predictors of persistent free radicals concentration and radical type. The study provides a data-driven framework for linking elemental properties to biochar reactivity and environmental risks.
Researchers discovered that natural leaf coatings on hydrochar can act as a protective surface layer, improving its ability to retain carbon in soil. The coating strengthens hydrochar stability, promoting its capacity for soil carbon sequestration.
A nationwide analysis of 192 commercial tea samples reveals differences among tea varieties and regions. The study found measurable PCBs in all samples, but health risk calculations indicated that PCB exposure from drinking Chinese tea is currently unlikely to pose an appreciable health risk to consumers.
A team of researchers developed a reusable magnetic sensing platform combining surface-enhanced Raman scattering with machine learning to detect trace uranyl ions. The system maintained its detection limit even in complex aquatic environments, with strong selectivity and resistance to interference.
Carefully controlled sulfidation boosts supercapacitor electrode performance by guiding distinct structural phases and revealing a heterojunction composition that delivers enhanced energy storage. NCF-S95 achieves high specific capacity and cycle stability, showing promise for next-generation supercapacitor materials.
Combining biochar and dicyandiamide in organic fertilizer reduces cumulative ammonia losses by 27.1% compared to conventional urea fertilization, maintaining crop productivity despite reduced mineral nitrogen input. The treatment also supports economic returns through reduced nitrogen-related environmental and health costs.
A new study reveals that carefully controlled pore structure and surface chemistry can transform nuisance seaweed into an efficient and reusable CO2 adsorbent. Researchers developed a porous biochar from Sargassum tenerrimum, achieving high CO2 adsorption capacity and rapid uptake.
Researchers found that ultraviolet irradiation and ozonation increased anti-androgenic activity in treated wastewater, exceeding an effect-based risk threshold. The study suggests balancing pollutant removal efficiency with assessment of transformation products' combined biological effects.
Long-term straw incorporation improves soil organic carbon by activating two mechanisms: physical protection in stable aggregates and chemical stabilization via iron-organic carbon associations. Straw return strengthens soil structure, promoting longer-term carbon storage.
Researchers developed a fishbone-derived catalyst that turns low-density polyethylene agricultural film into olefin-rich liquid products with yields up to 89.32 wt.% and olefin selectivity of 84.03%. The catalyst, combined with phosphoric acid and iron, promotes carbon-carbon bond cleavage and regulates dehydrogenation reactions.
Pyrogallol's toxicity in aquatic organisms has been linked to oxidative stress and damage across multiple biological systems. The analysis identifies the need for broader environmental surveillance, long-term ecological studies, and improved exposure assessment to determine its effects on human health.
Researchers have discovered that surface hydroxyl groups on platinum catalysts are crucial for controlling the conversion of methanol into hydrogen. The study found that hydroxyl-rich oxide supports can improve platinum-based methanol reforming catalysts, leading to higher hydrogen production rates.
A study of 426 university students in Nigeria found a clear association between reported chemical exposure frequency and reported symptoms, with frequent exposure linked to oxidative stress-related symptoms. The researchers also highlight the importance of laboratory safety practices and healthy dietary habits.
A comprehensive review of nanobiochar reveals its potential to address multiple agricultural challenges simultaneously, including nutrient retention, water holding capacity, and stress tolerance. The study highlights the need for careful risk assessment and regulatory frameworks to ensure safe deployment in sustainable farming systems.
The co-occurrence of biochar and microplastics in agricultural soils can alter soil carbon storage and inflate estimates of carbon sequestration. The review proposes an evidence-tiered measurement framework to accurately evaluate soil carbon storage.
Researchers developed a photocatalyst combining cellulose-derived carbon quantum dots and cadmium sulfide to improve light harvesting and electron movement. The optimized composite produced significantly more hydrogen per gram than unmodified CdS.
Researchers developed a machine learning framework that predicts microbial contamination and estimates potential public health risks from routinely measured water quality indicators. The approach, called ML-QMRA, achieved high accuracy in predicting pathogen concentrations and their associated health risks.
A new study suggests that shifting U.S. agricultural exports from animal feed to animal-derived foods could reduce global nitrogen loss by 38% and greenhouse gas emissions by 17%. The change could also increase U.S. trade revenue by $10.5 billion, while improving nutrient recycling and manure management.