A new review in Engineering explores the intricate links among food systems, climate change, and air pollution. It reveals how these elements impact one another and details strategies to mitigate their effects and build a more sustainable future for food security and the environment.

Miniaturized pumps and valves that rely on the motion of dielectric elastomeric silicone films are being created in Saarland, Germany. Not only are these devices lightweight, compact and energy-efficient, but they also work without the need for compressed air, motors or lubricants. They are cleanroom-compatible and can be continuously controlled while operating. The research team led by Professors Stefan Seelecke and Paul Motzki from Saarland University will be exhibiting a prototype film-based vacuum pump at this year’s Hannover Messe from 31 March to 4 April. Their lightweight, low-energy technology is able to pull a vacuum down to 300 millibars of pressure (30% of standard atmospheric pressure). Saarland Innovation Stand, Hall 2, Stand B10

Physicists have created a new computer code that could speed up the design of the complicated magnets that shape the plasma in stellarators, making the systems simpler and more affordable to build.

A research team led by Professor Qiang Zhang from Tsinghua University has published a comprehensive analysis of energy storage technologies critical to China’s power system decarbonization. The study, featured in Technology Review for Carbon Neutrality, examines the multifunctional roles of storage systems across grid segments, evaluates core technologies from ultrashort-duration flywheels to seasonal hydrogen storage, and projects their deployment under cost and regional constraints. The work highlights policy mechanisms to support China’s transition to a carbon-neutral energy economy by 2060.

The flourishing development of the ‘low-altitude economy’ has not only enriched the aircraft industry but also expanded the application prospects of aircraft. However, this growth has also raised higher demands for the safety and intelligence levels of these aircraft. In emergency situations involving mechanical failures, adverse weather conditions, or strong interference, it is crucial for aircraft to autonomously select a suitable landing region and land safely. This can maximize the safety of both the aircraft and its occupants while minimizing economic losses. However, there is a lack of effective technical solutions for autonomous landing guidance under emergency conditions. This research focuses on this application and proposes a new monocular vision-based measurement method for autonomous aircraft landing guidance in unknown structured environments. The method enables the aircraft to autonomously select a suitable landing region and accurately measure the relative 6D pose (3D rotation and 3D translation) between the aircraft and the landing region, providing a reliable foundation for autonomous landing guidance.

Dr. Joungho Park and his research team from the Energy AI and Computational Science Laboratory at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have conducted an economic analysis of water electrolysis, a key technology for future eco-friendly hydrogen production, and presented optimal operation strategies to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.