Chemical Reviews published a comprehensive review on electron density-based methods, authored by an international team led by researchers from Japan, Canada, China, and the USA. This review highlights method based on the analysis of electron density topology, a theoretical chemistry concept with practical applications in understanding chemical bonds, reactions, and developing advanced computational materials science methods. The article emphasizes the role of these methods in advancing technology, particularly in electrochemical power sources like batteries. Recent advancements in methods combining electron density topology and machine learning are expected to revolutionize large-scale ab initio simulations.

In a new study,¹ led by the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics and published today (18 November) in Nature, an international group of authors who developed the science behind net zero demonstrate that relying on ‘natural carbon sinks’ like forests and oceans to offset ongoing CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use will not actually stop global warming.

The science of net zero, developed over 15 years ago,² does not include these natural carbon sinks in the definition of net human-induced CO₂ emissions. Yet governments and corporations are increasingly turning to them to offset emissions, rather than reducing fossil fuel use or developing more permanent CO₂ disposal options. Emissions accounting rules encourage this by creating an apparent equivalence between fossil fuel emissions and drawdown of CO₂ by some natural carbon sinks, meaning a country could appear to have ‘achieved net zero’ whilst still contributing to ongoing warming.