It begins as a trickle high on the Tibetan Plateau—icy, remote, and pure. By the time it reaches the Three Gorges, the Yangtze River has grown into a force of nature, carrying not just water, but the chemical fingerprint of an entire continent. Now, a groundbreaking study from Peking University reveals the invisible story hidden in the river’s flow: the molecular evolution of dissolved organic matter (DOM) along a 3,500-kilometer stretch of the upper Yangtze—the world’s third-longest river. Published on August 11, 2025, in Carbon Research as an open-access original article, this research was led by Dr. Dongqiang Zhu from the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and the Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Earth Surface Processes at Peking University, Beijing. Using a powerful suite of analytical tools—including fluorescence spectroscopy, lignin phenol markers, and ultra-high-resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS)—Dr. Zhu’s team traced how organic carbon changes as it travels from the river’s high-altitude headwaters to its densely populated downstream reaches. And what they found is a dynamic, ever-changing mosaic of carbon chemistry shaped by glaciers, grasslands, wildfires, forests, and sunlight.

Researchers led by Prof. GAO Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Prof. QIU Jinlong from the Institute of Microbiology of CAS have developed a new system that enables rapid and scalable directed evolution of diverse genes directly in plant cells.

For children with severe lung diseases, transplantation can be the last hope for survival, yet its practice has remained extremely rare worldwide. 

CAS Academician, Prof. Jihong Yu, and her team from Jilin University developed a post-treatment strategy based on metal replacement reaction using commercial ZSM-5 zeolite as a carrier, and successfully encapsulated a highly active PtCu alloy catalyst in the pores of the zeolite. In the study, Cu²⁺ ions were first introduced into the pores of the zeolite through ion exchange, and then reduced at high temperature to form a Cu@MFI intermediate; then the Pt component was introduced through a metal replacement reaction, and a PtCu alloy was formed in the pores of the zeolite through high temperature reduction. The prepared PtCu₅@MFI-K (Pt/Cu=1/5) showed excellent catalytic performance in the propane dehydrogenation reaction, with a propane conversion rate of 49.7%, a propylene selectivity of more than 90%, and good cyclic stability. This study provides a new low-cost and efficient synthesis strategy for the development of high-performance alloy@zeolite catalysts. These results were published as an open access article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

A team of researchers has found that hardy native plants could play a surprising role in transforming one of the aluminum industry’s most stubborn waste products into the beginnings of fertile soil.

Excessive use of fertilizers has fueled global food production, but it has also left behind a serious problem: nitrate pollution in soil and water. High nitrate levels threaten drinking water safety, aquatic ecosystems, and public health. Now, a new review published in Biochar highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating plant or waste biomass, could provide an effective, low-cost, and sustainable solution.

When it comes to clean energy, solar and wind often dominate the headlines. But in the lush, river-rich landscapes of Southeast Asia, another renewable powerhouse is quietly making waves—hydropower. A major new study published on August 4, 2025, in Carbon Research proves that hydropower isn’t just a side player in the region’s energy mix—it’s a leading force in cutting carbon emissions, with the potential to reshape the future of sustainable development.

Proper maintenance of underground infrastructure is crucial for a city’s sustainable development. However, with its high-density underground utilities, such maintenance work is particularly challenging in Hong Kong. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has leveraged advanced underground exploration technologies to develop underground utilities inspection systems that support early detection of urban infrastructure anomalies, including voids and pipe leakages, for enhanced urban management.

Potato tuber dormancy and sprouting are pivotal to crop yield, storage, and market value.