20-Apr-2026 New insights into “forever chemicals” reveal how biochar could help clean up persistent pollution Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, widely known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” have become a growing global concern due to their persistence, toxicity, and widespread presence in water, soil, and even food. A new review study highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass, could play a key role in addressing this environmental challenge. Journal Biochar
20-Apr-2026 New USF study: Chatbot empathy can worsen customer reactions University of South Florida When a service encounter goes south, customers expect empathy. Hearing an employee say, “I share your frustration,” can calm tensions and rebuild trust. But new research from the University of South Florida suggests that when a chatbot tries the same tactic, it can backfire. Journal MIS Quarterly
20-Apr-2026 Global study reveals latitudinal diversity patterns of mixed-species bird flocks linked to environmental factors South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences A comprehensive global analysis quantifies the α and β diversity of mixed-species bird flocks (MSBFs) worldwide, uncovering strong latitudinal gradients and key environmental drivers that shape their distribution, with implications for community-focused biodiversity conservation. Journal Biological Diversity Funder Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Projects of the Guangdong Forestry Bureau, DFGP Project of Fauna of Guangdong
20-Apr-2026 Botanic gardens: indispensable engines for delivering the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanic gardens are uniquely positioned to drive global plant conservation, ex situ safeguarding, and ecological restoration to fulfill the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Journal Biological Diversity
20-Apr-2026 Oman’s mountain goats reveal genetic secrets to surviving extreme environments Sultan Qaboos University A genomic study of goats in Oman’s Al Jabal Al Akhdar reveals strong genetic diversity that supports survival in harsh mountain conditions. Despite some inbreeding, key adaptive traits linked to metabolism and stress resilience remain intact. The findings highlight the value of conserving local breeds to support climate-resilient livestock systems. Journal Biology
18-Apr-2026 Interfacial modification strategy by lead chloride post-treatment enables 8.05% efficient Sb2S3 solar cells Tsinghua University Press Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a competitive photovoltaic material, especially for tandem solar cells. However, the quasi-intrinsic carrier concentration and deep work function of Sb2S3 cause serious extraction problem at Sb2S3/hole-transport-layer (HTL) interface. In this study, Professor Tang Jiang's Research Group at Huazhong University of Science and Technology proposed an efficient strategy to modify the Sb2S3/HTL interface by lead chloride (PbCl2) post-treatment. Their results demonstrated that Cl can passivate the defect of VS and SbS, and Pb enabled effective p-type doping at the Sb2S3 interface with the help of VS removal. And the synergistic effect of Pb and Cl elements matched well with HTL energy level, facilitated hole extraction and enhanced the interface conductivity. By employing PbCl2 treatment, the resulting devices obtained a high fill factor (FF) of 66.02%, and a top power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.05%. Journal Nano Research
17-Apr-2026 N2Onet: a global collaborative network facilitating advances in measurement, modeling, and mitigation of agricultural soil nitrous oxide emissions University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Nitrogen (N) fertilizer supports global agriculture but its use and overuse drive emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent and long-lived trace gas. In a study led by the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), researchers identified major scientific uncertainties underlying the understanding of N2O flux drivers. To reduce these uncertainties, they proposed the concept of N2Onet, a global collaborative initiative to accelerate advances in N2O measurement, analysis, and mitigation. Journal Environmental Research Letters Funder U.S. Department of Energy
17-Apr-2026 Reimagining modern botanic gardens: From nature-culture-science hubs to healing physic gardens South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences New research redefines the role of botanic gardens as vital healing spaces for human health and planetary conservation. Journal Biological Diversity
17-Apr-2026 Fighting malaria more effectively with climate data Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) In many parts of East Africa, small pools of water that form after heavy rainfall are ideal breeding sites for the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have analyzed how such environmental conditions affect the effectiveness of mosquito nets. They combined high-resolution climate and hydrology models with malaria data from Kenya to enable better assessments of when and where the nets are especially effective at preventing infections. Their results have been published in Scientific Reports. (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-33539-w) Journal Scientific Reports
