A noncontact virtual reality (VR) human-machine interface (HMI) was developed by electret-based triboelectric sensor (ETS), which is fabricated by the electrospun polylactic acid/thermoplastic polyurethane (PLA/TPU) electret nanofiber film. Integrated with a deep learningbased multilayer perceptron neural network, the ETS realizes the recognition of 18 different types of 3D gestures with a high average accuracy of 97.3%. An intelligent noncontact VR interactive system based on the ETS is further developed to manipulate game characters for performing different actions by 3D gestures. This work for the first time introduces the triboelectric 3D gesture recognition method to the VR HMIs, and could make the interaction between human and virtual environments become more efficient and fascinating.

Directly observing the atomic rearrangement in ferroelectric semiconductor In₂Se₃ paves the way for developing stable and reliable in-memory computing devices.

Electrocatalysts constantly experience structure evolution during CO₂RR, directly affecting activity, selectivity, and long-term durability. In this review, researchers explain how atomic migration, redox transitions, and surface restructuring determine catalytic performance, and highlights advanced in-situ characterization techniques for decoding these dynamic processes. Understanding such reconstruction mechanisms plays a key role in designing robust catalysts for industrial CO₂ conversion.

Forest restoration, a critical strategy for mitigating climate change and rejuvenating natural ecosystems, is a global priority, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) targeting substantial atmospheric carbon removal through these efforts. However, understanding the factors that govern the recovery of soil organic carbon (SOC) – the largest terrestrial carbon pool – has remained a complex challenge. A comprehensive global meta-analysis, led by Shan Xu and Junjian Wang from the Southern University of Science and Technology with international collaborators including Nico Eisenhauer from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, now clarifies these crucial drivers, offering vital insights for effective climate change mitigation strategies.

A team of researchers from Guizhou University has published a comprehensive review on the synthesis and application of catalysts derived from a ubiquitous and challenging source: solid waste. The paper synthesizes a vast body of research to demonstrate how materials like industrial sludge, agricultural residue, and metal-containing byproducts can be converted into valuable solid waste-derived carbonaceous catalysts (SW-CCs). This work, authored by Tao Jiang, Bing Wang, Masud Hassan, and Qianqian Zou, provides a critical overview of how these advanced materials can address pressing environmental and energy challenges, offering a viable pathway toward a circular economy.

The increasing global demand for sustainable energy and carbon materials, alongside pressing environmental concerns, necessitates innovative approaches to resource management. Biomass, a versatile renewable resource, offers significant potential for conversion into biochar, an alternative fuel and valuable carbon material. However, efficiently transforming diverse biomass types into high-quality biochar remains a challenge. A recent investigation, conducted by Zhilong Yuan, Ye Wang, Lingfeng Zhu, Congcong Zhang, and Yifei Sun from Beihang University and Hainan University, addresses this by developing a sophisticated machine-learning framework to optimize biochar production from aquatic biomass. This work bridges a crucial gap, as previous modeling efforts largely overlooked aquatic sources.

A detailed econometric analysis of Bangladesh from 1974 to 2022 offers new quantitative insights into the complex drivers behind the nation's rising carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers from the National University of Malaysia, University of Chittagong, Noakhali Science and Technology University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology examined the long-term relationships between CO₂ emissions and four key pillars of the economy: economic growth, energy consumption, financial development, and natural resource rents. The investigation confirms that while these factors are essential for national development, they currently contribute directly to environmental degradation, presenting a critical challenge for achieving sustainability goals.

Applying biochar to soil is a recognized strategy for combating climate change, primarily by locking away carbon for long periods. Yet, its broader impact is complex; under different conditions, biochar can either suppress or unexpectedly release other potent greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide and methane from the soil. This inconsistency has been a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. A new set of predictive models developed by researchers Beatriz A. Belmonte, Raymond R. Tan, and their colleagues at the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University brings clarity to this issue. The team created a system to predict how soils will respond to biochar, offering a way to tailor its application for maximum climate benefit.

Intensive monoculture farming is known to simplify the complex molecular makeup of soil organic matter, potentially compromising soil health and its ability to store carbon. Addressing this issue, a collaborative team of scientists from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Nanjing Agricultural University investigated the ecological processes that unfold when agricultural fields are left to rest. Their year-long experiment in a long-farmed paddy field explored how a natural fallow period, positioned between rice cultivation seasons, influences the diversity and composition of soil organic matter (SOM) at a molecular level. The objective was to understand the biological mechanisms behind SOM restoration in agroecosystems.