As cities continue to expand and face rising environmental pressure, scientists are seeking innovative solutions that can help urban areas become cleaner, greener, and more resilient. A new perspective paper highlights biochar, a carbon rich material made from organic waste, as a transformative tool that could significantly improve the environmental future of cities around the world.

A common, charcoal-like material made from plant waste could become an unexpected ally in making nuclear technology cleaner and safer, according to a new review in the journal Biochar. The study highlights how “biochar” can help trap radioactive elements, improve radiation shielding, and support cleaner nuclear processes, all while storing carbon in the ground.

In an exciting exploration of environmental sustainability, researchers at Zhaoqing University, China, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the carbon dynamics of waterlogged pond fields. Led by Dr. Guodong Yuan from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Studies and Low-Carbon Agriculture in Peri-Urban Areas and the Guangdong Technology and Equipment Research Center for Soil and Water Pollution Control, this study, titled "Unveiling Carbon Dynamics in Year-Round Waterlogged Pond Fields: Insights into Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation and Sustainable Management," offers a fresh perspective on how these unique ecosystems can contribute to carbon sequestration and sustainable land management.

The Satsuma mandarin is one of the world's most widely cultivated citrus fruits, prized for its seedlessness, sweetness, and adaptability. 

Stroke often results in significant upper limb impairment, affecting patients' ability to perform daily activities. Robotic therapy for individuals after stroke has been proven as evidence-based practice in rehabilitation because it allows high frequency and intensity of training to the individual with guided movement and standardized behavioural protocols. However, current rehabilitation methods are often limited by access to clinical facilities and high cost of robotic therapies.

Researchers from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, China have developed a twisted double-layer graphene plasmonic metasurface that achieves unprecedented confinement of terahertz waves into nanoscale volumes, theoretically enabling fingerprint detection of molecular monolayers as thin as 1 nm. This system overcomes the critical challenge in terahertz sensing where the long wavelength (hundreds of micrometers) weakly interacts with nanoscale molecules. By engineering acoustic plasmon nanocavities through precise twist angles between graphene layers, the team demonstrated a mode volume as small as 10⁻¹³λ₀³ and sensitivity 48 times higher than conventional single-layer graphene and non-twist double-layer graphene structures. The platform provides a new insight for ultra-strong light-matter interaction at terahertz frequencies and opens possibilities for single-molecule spectroscopy and on-chip biosensing applications.

Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) have become a transformative force in biomedical engineering, playing a pivotal role in advancing next-generation drug delivery systems. These tiny propulsion systems are categorized by their actuation mechanisms, with gas-driven MNMs standing out due to their ability to harness chemically generated micro/nano-scale thrust for autonomous motion. By leveraging their dynamic self-propulsion and unique bio-interactive behaviors, gas-driven MNMs can efficiently navigate complex biological barriers, offering groundbreaking therapeutic solutions for cancer treatment, thrombolysis, and targeted drug delivery. This review first examines the fundamental propulsion mechanisms of gas-driven MNMs, then highlights their latest breakthroughs in overcoming physiological obstacles. Finally, it evaluates their future potential and clinical advantages, providing critical insights to drive innovation and accelerate their translation into real-world medical applications.

Currently, the development of low-reflection electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composite materials for mitigating secondary electromagnetic wave pollution has become a major research focus. However, achieving thinness, high toughness, low reflectivity, and multifunctionality in flexible EMI shielding films remains a challenge. To address this issue, Benliang Liang and Luting Yan from Beijing Jiaotong University, in collaboration with Lan Zhang from Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, have introduced a "magnetic-electric" Janus structure EMI shielding composite film composed of MXene nanosheets, carbonized ZIF67 (CZIF67) nanoparticles and aramid nanofibers (ANF), balancing thinness(80 μm), high-strength-toughness composite film (110±7 MPa tensile strength, 21% strain, 14.91±0.9 MJ·m⁻³ toughness), (4.3–4.5 dB in 8.2–9.6 GHz) with 44.8 dB SET in the X-band. In addition, This multifunctional material simultaneously integrates electrothermal/photothermal conversion, fire-alarm response, and infrared stealth capabilities, demonstrating exceptional potential for next-generation wearable electronics and harsh-environment applications.