Five early-career scientists have been named recipients of the 2026 BioOne Ambassador Award, an annual honor recognizing early-career scientists who excel at communicating their work to broader audiences, fostering public understanding and appreciation of science.

Now in its ninth year, the award highlights rising talent within the BioOne community of 157 scientific societies and publishing partners. BioOne Ambassadors are nominated by BioOne publishing partners, and each winning author receives a $1,000 award and has their work recognized in the BioOne Ambassador Award showcase.

Researchers have investigated fabrication and interface engineering strategies for lithium-ion solid-state batteries, comparing sulfide-based and oxide-based solid electrolyte systems for sustainable transportation and green energy applications. The study examines how processing choices, ionic conductivity, and interfacial resistance shape the performance of next-generation batteries.

Researchers have reviewed the research status of bidirectional wireless power transfer technology, focusing on the systems that allow energy to flow in both directions between wireless charging devices. The review examines bidirectional capacitive power transfer, typical conversion topologies, resonant networks, power control strategies, application scenarios, and future research directions.

Researchers have published a comprehensive review of configuration and parameter design for electrified propulsion systems in three-dimensional transportation, or TDT, covering air, ground, and sea applications. The review reorganizes the design space for electrified propulsion and proposes six design stages to guide future research on propulsion configuration, sizing, screening, and co-optimization.

Scientists warn that over the next 50 years, global warming caused by the emission of greenhouse gases will accelerate to a pace that is 5,000 times faster than rice has ever had to contend with at any time during its evolutionary history.

The University of Rhode Island’s Camilo Villouta has been awarded a USDA grant to study hydroponic spinach cultivation in controlled-environment agriculture. Indoor vertical farms have become prominent due to their ability to maximize space usage and maintain precise control over environmental variables. This is Villouta’s first time receiving an award from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and his first award of this size.

ORNL researcher David Cullen has been named a Fellow of the Microscopy Society of America for significant contributions to microscopy. His work advances electron microscopy techniques that reveal materials and catalysts at the nanoscale, helping speed progress in energy-related and other technology research.