A study published in Circular Economy reveals how integrated anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste in China’s Hengshui City has achieved a 64% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy and organic fertilizers. The research, led by Tsinghua University scientists and collaborators, underscores the transformative potential of circular economy models in aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

This study presents a nitrogen-doped zirconium carbide that demonstrates remarkable ablation resistance, outperforming conventional carbide ceramics. The oxidation mechanisms of this material are elucidated through experimental and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, representing the first analysis of such ultra-high melting point ceramics from the perspective of structural development during the oxidation process. Nitrogen atoms preferentially combine with zirconium atoms at temperatures below the oxide's melting point, forming robust Zr-C-N-O oxide network structures. These structures minimize oxide loss and maintain integrity during ablation, enhancing the material's performance in extreme environments.

Recent studies have shown that in addition to eukaryotic cells, archaea and bacteria also encode histones. However, the extent to which other dsDNA viruses encode histones remains largely unexplored. Here, Professor Liu's group identifies over 1,500 double-stranded DNA viral histones via metagenomic mining, including structurally and functionally diverse histone-fold proteins. This discovery greatly expands our understanding of histone diversity and highlights potential new functions of viral histones.

A recent study led by researchers from Tsinghua University and Southwest University of Science and Technology has introduced a new method to directly regenerate heavily degraded lithium cobalt oxide [LiCoO₂ (LCO)] cathodes from spent lithium-ion batteries. Using a ball milling process to convert the damaged crystalline structure into a uniform amorphous phase, the team rebuilt lithium replenishment pathways and restored electrochemical performance through high-temperature sintering. The regenerated cathodes delivered a discharge capacity of 179.10 mAh·g⁻¹—comparable to commercial materials. This approach not only sidesteps the environmental and energy drawbacks of conventional recycling but also presents a scalable and economically viable solution for the reuse of retired battery components.

Magnetic soft robots, providing excellent flexibility and precise control, are transforming fields from surgery to environmental exploration. Focusing on the relationship between structural configurations and locomotion modes of magnetic soft robots, a new review article in FlexTech systematically summarizes the material composition, fabrication methods, locomotion modes, and applications of existing magnetic soft robots. Furthermore, this article also analyzes and discusses the current challenges and future development directions of structured magnetic soft robots.

A research team led by Professor Xiaonan Wang from Tsinghua University has published a comprehensive review on AI-enhanced multi-scale smart systems for decarbonizing the chemical industry. The study, featured in Technology Review for Carbon Neutrality, explores innovations from micro-level materials discovery to macro-level industrial park optimization, highlighting how intelligent approaches enhance efficiency, sustainability, and carbon neutrality. It also examines cross-scale modeling for complex chemical processes and identifies key challenges such as data management and industrial integration. The review concludes with future research directions, advocating interdisciplinary strategies to drive the industry toward a greener and more efficient future.