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One-step synthesis of catalysts that turn carbon dioxide into useful methane

A team of researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo has developed a novel, one-step synthesis method for producing highly active nickel-cerium oxide catalysts. These catalysts achieve outstanding methanation performance while being suitable for large-scale production, offering a practical route toward carbon-neutral fuel technologies.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalFuel·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 13, 2026

Ancient icehouse hyperthermal event offers insights into modern climate change

A 300-million-year-old event shows that volcanic activity and orbital forcing combined to trigger rapid warming. The study reveals the importance of sustained orbital forcing in triggering positive climate-carbon cycle feedbacks, leading to massive carbon release and abrupt large-scale warming.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 11, 2026

New protocol reveals the hidden climate and air pollution costs of shopping

A new study introduces a standardized method for measuring greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions generated across the entire retail journey. The protocol covers online and traditional in-store shopping and provides nationwide parameters for China from 1990 to 2023, identifying opportunities for meaningful reductions.

Mapping carbon from ABoVE

Two University of Utah-led studies aim to improve biomass mapping to better understand how Arctic and boreal forests respond to climate change. The new maps, built using satellite imagery and field measurements, capture 40 years of ecological change in unprecedented detail.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalRemote Sensing of Environment·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 1, 2026

Southeast University and Korea University researchers develop smarter copper catalysts for turning CO₂ into fuels

Southeast University and Korea University researchers developed advanced copper catalysts to convert CO₂ into valuable fuels. Their strategy integrates tandem effects, synergistic interactions, and geometric control to enhance reaction pathways, reducing energy barriers for C₂+ product formation.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalSmall Structures·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 18, 2026

EU rules could make fossil-free aviation fuels unnecessarily expensive and energy-intensive

The EU's plans for domestic production of fossil-free aviation fuels risk steering development towards more expensive and energy-intensive pathways. A study from Chalmers University of Technology found that the current regulatory framework favours combustion-based alternatives over gasification, leading to increased costs and energy use.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalFuel·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 14, 2026

New study reveals hidden role of larger pores in biochar carbon capture

A new study challenges the assumption that only small pores in biochar capture carbon dioxide, finding that larger pores significantly increase carbon capture at higher temperatures. The research suggests optimizing the full pore hierarchy of biochar could improve its performance as a carbon capture material.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2026

Jeonbuk National University researchers highlight advancements in chemical looping fluidized bed reactors

Researchers highlight advancements in fluidized bed design, oxygen carrier materials, and performance of chemical looping systems. They emphasize the importance of controlling fluidization regime and developing physical standards for oxygen carriers.

Artificial metabolism turns waste CO2 into useful chemicals

Researchers at Northwestern University and Stanford University develop a new artificial metabolism that converts waste carbon dioxide into acetyl-CoA, a universal metabolite used by all living cells. The system, called Reductive Formate Pathway (ReForm), uses engineered enzymes to perform metabolic reactions never seen in nature.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Chemical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2025

Risk to Amazon rainforest from land use and climate change

A new study estimates that the Amazon rainforest could lose up to 38% of its area by the end of the 21st century due to land use changes and climate change. The research, published in PNAS, suggests that abrupt transitions from dense forest coverage to savannah-like landscapes pose a significant risk to the ecosystem.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2025

Researchers develop high-performance biochar for efficient carbon dioxide capture

Researchers developed a novel biochar material with a high specific surface area and micropore volume, achieving a maximum CO2 adsorption capacity of 3.434 millimoles per gram at room temperature. The material's optimal mesopore proportion enabled rapid adsorption kinetics, resolving a long-standing trade-off in biochar design.

Researchers uncover previously unexplored details of mosquito’s specialized detection mechanisms

Researchers have discovered detailed visualizations of mosquito's carbon dioxide-detecting neurons, revealing anatomical adaptations designed to target human blood. The study provides key insights into the mosquito's sensing mechanisms and their unique ability to detect CO2, which contributes to their deadly status.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 29, 2025

As global warming worsens, so may space communications

Researchers at Kyushu University found that rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere may lead to disruptions in shortwave radio communications, including systems used for air traffic control and maritime communication. The ionosphere's cooling due to global warming causes a decrease in air density and accelerates wind circulation.

SourceKyushu University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2025

Layered cobalt catalyst reimagines pigment as a pathway for carbon dioxide recycling

Researchers at Tohoku University introduced a new approach for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction using multilayer cobalt phthalocyanine/carbon core-shell structures. The study demonstrated a catalyst architecture that makes CO₂ conversion into carbon monoxide both stable and efficient.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalApplied Catalysis B Environment and Energy·DateSep 26, 2025

Scientists in Saudi Arabia repurpose greenhouse gas into valuable chemical product

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a system to convert captured carbon dioxide into industrial-grade ethylene, a crucial commodity in plastics, textiles, and construction. The innovation reduces energy costs by 0.8 gigajoules per metric ton compared to existing electrolysis systems.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2025

Researchers achieve light-induced heterolytic hydrogen dissociation at ambient temperature

A research team developed a photochemical strategy to realize heterolytic H2 dissociation using gold-loaded titanium dioxide as a model photocatalyst. The reaction was driven by electron-hole pairs formed upon UV irradiation, producing reactive H2 species that selectively reduced polar functional groups.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalScience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 4, 2025

Rising carbon dioxide level disrupts insects' ability to choose optimal egg-laying sites

Insects rely on carbon dioxide emissions from host plants to identify ideal egg-laying sites. Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels interfere with this natural signal, leading to maladaptive choices that threaten insect survival. The study highlights the urgent need for both emissions reductions and innovative agricultural adaptation.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2025

Increasing solar power could lead to significant cuts in CO2 emissions

A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that increasing solar power generation in the US by 15% could lead to significant cuts in CO2 emissions. The researchers pinpointed regions where clean energy investments return the greatest climate dividends and demonstrated the value of coordinated clean energy efforts.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateJul 30, 2025

Machine learning potential-driven insights into pH-dependent CO₂ reduction

A team of researchers at Tohoku University's AIMR used machine learning potential to characterize Sn catalyst activity, identifying the most effective catalysts for CO2 reduction. The study provides novel insights into the behavior of Sn-based catalysts and could lead to more efficient fuel production.

Leading scientists: Trees and tech needed for carbon removal to help meet the 2C goal of the Paris agreement

Researchers argue that nature-based solutions like restoring forests and ecosystems are necessary for achieving global climate goals. High-tech CDR methods can complement, not compete with, these natural approaches. A balanced approach is key to meeting the Paris Agreement's temperature goal in a sustainable manner.

SourceClimate Focus·JournalClimate Policy·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 11, 2025

The era of human-guided epoxide selection in CO₂ cycloadditions is over—AI tools now take the lead

A study combines DFT and machine learning to analyze a wide range of epoxides in CO₂ cycloaddition, identifying key molecular descriptors and predicting reactivity trends. The research aims to develop predictive catalyst and substrate design for optimized CO₂ fixation, contributing to greener chemical processes.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2025