A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has demonstrated ultrafast and highly reversible all-slope sodium storage using specially engineered hard carbon anodes. 

Described in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, the approach marries a soft RTV-VTES network to hierarchical ZnO roughness, cutting water uptake seven-fold and colour fading fifteen-fold compared with untreated wood. Superhydrophobic wood that laughs off desert sand, tropical humidity and peel-tape vandals has moved a step closer to outdoor reality. Chinese materials engineers have replaced the usual brittle fluorinated shell with a rubber-like silicone interlayer armoured by zinc-oxide nanorods that act as sacrificial bumpers. The dual-scale strategy keeps water contact angles above 150° after 25 sand-impingement cycles, 1000 adhesive-peel cycles and 33 days of non-stop ultraviolet light, performance previously seen only in fluorocarbon systems now on the environmental blacklist.

Hydrogen, with its carbon-free composition and the availability of abundant renewable energy sources for its production, holds significant promise as a fuel for internal combustion engines (ICEs). Its wide flammability limits and high flame speeds enable ultra-lean combustion, which is a promising strategy for reducing NOx emissions and improving thermal efficiency. However, lean hydrogen-air flames, characterized by low Lewis numbers, experience thermo-diffusive instabilities that can significantly influence flame propagation and emissions. To address this challenge, it is crucial to gain a deep understanding of the fundamental flame dynamics of hydrogen-fueled engines. This study uses high-speed planar SO2-LIF to investigate the evolutions of the early flame kernels in hydrogen and methane flames, and analyze the intricate interplay between flame characteristics, such as flame curvature, the gradients of SO2-LIF intensity, tortuosity of flame boundary, the equivalent flame speed, and the turbulent flow field. Differential diffusion effects are particularly pronounced in H2 flames, resulting in more significant flame wrinkling. In contrast, CH4 flames, while exhibiting smoother flame boundaries, are more sensitive to turbulence, resulting in increased wrinkling, especially under stronger turbulence conditions. The higher correlation between curvature and gradient of H2 flames indicates enhanced reactivity at the flame troughs, leading to faster flame propagation. However, increased turbulence can mitigate these effects. Hydrogen flames consistently exhibit higher equivalent flame speeds due to their higher thermo-diffusivity, and both hydrogen and methane flames accelerate under high turbulence conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the distinct flame behaviors of hydrogen and methane, highlighting the importance of understanding the interactions between thermo-diffusive effects and turbulence in hydrogen-fueled engine combustion.

Single-atom transition metal-nitrogen-doped carbons (SA M-N-Cs) catalysts are promising alternatives to platinum-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, enhancing their performance for practical applications remains a significant challenge. This review summarizes recent advances in enhancing the intrinsic activity of SA M-N-C catalysts through various strategies, such as tuning the coordination environment and local structure of central metal atoms, heteroatom doping, and the creation of dual-/multi metal sites. Additionally, it discusses methods to increase the density of M-Nx active sites, including chelation, defect capture, cascade anchoring, spatial confinement, porous structure design, and secondary doping. Finally, it outlines future directions for developing highly active and stable SA M-N-C catalysts, providing a comprehensive framework for the design of advanced catalysts.

A new study published in Translational Exercise Biomedicine (ISSN: 2942-6812), an official partner journal of International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), reveals that a progressive, multi-component exercise program, enhanced by wearable sensor technology, can significantly counteract the debilitating effects of frailty in older adults. The 12-week intervention led to remarkable improvements not only in physical strength and balance, but also in cognitive abilities and overall quality of life, presenting an effective and practical strategy for community health management in an aging global population.

This global study investigates the dynamic impact of Financial Technology (FinTech) on financial stability, introducing the novel dimension of green finance as a key moderating factor. Analysing panel data from 148 advanced and emerging economies (2005-2022) with advanced econometric models, the research finds that both FinTech and the overall composite of green finance significantly enhance financial stability. The study further deconstructs green finance into its core dimensions, revealing that while environmental, resource, and financial dimensions are positive drivers, the economic dimension presents a short-term challenge. Crucially, the synergy between FinTech and most green finance dimensions acts as a powerful positive force for stability. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a consistent negative spillover effect. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers to design integrated FinTech and green finance frameworks, fostering resilient financial systems and a sustainable economic future.

This study investigates the under-explored impact of banking deregulation on bank risk-taking. Analyzing China's 2009 deregulation as a natural experiment, we find that deregulated banks significantly increase their risk-taking. Mechanism analysis identifies the bank balance sheet capacity channel: deregulation boosts bank net interest margins, strengthening their financial capacity and thus their risk appetite. While this policy successfully improves long-term credit access for firms in underserved regions, especially smaller ones, it creates a critical trade-off for policymakers between supporting the real economy and safeguarding financial stability.

A new study published in Biochar reports that sulfur-modified wheat straw biochar can dramatically reduce the toxic effects of vanadium contamination in rice, offering a promising and sustainable strategy to protect global food production in polluted regions. Vanadium is a heavy metal increasingly found in agricultural soils due to mining, smelting, fertilizer overuse, and wastewater irrigation. Even moderate exposure can stunt plant growth, damage photosynthesis, and impair the antioxidant defenses that keep crops healthy.

KUALA LUMPUR / GLASGOW — As the world races to meet ambitious climate targets, nature-based strategies are gaining unprecedented traction—and biomass is stepping into the spotlight not just as renewable fuel, but as a powerful carbon sink. On December 17, 2025, leading sustainability expert Prof. Dato’ Dr. Agamutu Pariatamby FASc, Senior Professor at the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University (Malaysia), will unveil groundbreaking insights into how bio-based carbon capture can deliver up to 6.7 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent (GtCO₂e) in annual mitigation potential by 2050—according to IPCC (2022) estimates.