In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers used a carefully tuned femtosecond laser under water immersion to etch nanogratings just 46 nanometers apart with groove widths near 13 nanometers onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). It addresses a long-standing challenge: fabricating uniform structures smaller than 100 nanometers.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the US space agency NASA have made an unexpected discovery that challenges one of the basic rules of chemistry and provides new knowledge about Saturn’s enigmatic moon Titan. In its extremely cold environment, normally incompatible substances can still be mixed. This discovery broadens our understanding of chemistry before the emergence of life. 

Researchers have discovered a powerful synergy between gold, manganese, and copper that could transform the way we produce valuable chemicals. By supporting tiny gold nanoparticles on a specially designed perovskite material (LaMn_0.75Cu_0.25O₃), the team achieved an impressive 95% yield of acetaldehyde from ethanol at just 225 °C, a major step toward cleaner, more efficient chemical processes. The secret lies in the smart use of copper. A small amount of Cu dramatically improves the catalyst by creating active sites that speed up the toughest step in the reaction. But there’s a catch: too much copper destabilizes the system, reducing efficiency. This delicate balance highlights the importance of atomic-level design in next-generation catalysts for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Radiative cooling systems (RCSs) possess the distinctive capability to dissipate heat energy via solar and thermal radiation, making them suitable for thermal regulation and energy conservation applications, essential for mitigating the energy crisis. A comprehensive review connecting the advancements in engineered radiative cooling systems (ERCSs), encompassing material and structural design as well as thermal and energy-related applications, is currently absent. Herein, this review begins with a concise summary of the essential concepts of ERCSs, followed by an introduction to engineered materials and structures, containing nature-inspired designs, chromatic materials, meta-structural configurations, and multilayered constructions. It subsequently encapsulates the primary applications, including thermal-regulating textiles and energy-saving devices. Next, it highlights the challenges of ERCSs, including maximized thermoregulatory effects, environmental adaptability, scalability and sustainability, and interdisciplinary integration. It seeks to offer direction for forthcoming fundamental research and industrial advancement of radiative cooling systems in real-world applications.

Researchers from NUS have pioneered a photocatalytic atom-swapping transformation that converts oxetanes into a variety of four-membered saturated cyclic molecules, which are key scaffolds in medicinal chemistry. By introducing a new synthetic blueprint for these prized drug motifs, this discovery could potentially streamline the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and complex drug analogues that would otherwise require multi-step routes. 

Turning agricultural and organic waste into biochar could help store more carbon in the soil and slow climate change, according to a new study published in Biochar. Researchers from Prairie View A&M University reviewed recent findings showing that biochar improves soil health, boosts microbial diversity, and captures carbon that would otherwise enter the atmosphere as greenhouse gases.

In a significant stride towards enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production, researchers are exploring the role of lignin-derived carbon Co-based composites in overcoming photocorrosion in CdS photocatalysts. The study, titled "Overcoming Photocorrosion in CdS Photocatalysts: The Role of Lignin-Derived Carbon Co-Based Composites in Hydrogen Production," is led by Prof. Xueqing Qiu and Prof. Yanlin Qin from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery at Guangdong University of Technology in Guangzhou, China, in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Chemistry and Fine Chemical Engineering Jieyang Center and the Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development. This research offers critical insights into improving the stability and performance of CdS photocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.