Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is especially challenging for developing countries, even more so for those relying heavily on foreign aid. Recently, researchers from Japan developed a theoretical framework to show that zero-emissions policies can be compatible with sustainable growth in such nations. Their findings highlight the critical role of foreign aid, clean technologies, and effective tax policies in helping countries reach the minimum income threshold per person needed to effectively implement zero-emissions strategies.

2H-NbO₂—a novel van der Waals oxide synthesized by researchers from Japan—exhibits strongly correlated electronic properties with two-dimensional flexibility. By chemically extracting lithium ions from the layered sheets of LiNbO₂, the researchers transformed a three-dimensional oxide into a two-dimensional material—unlocking unique properties like Mott insulating states and superconductivity. Bridging transition metal oxides and 2D materials, the discovery paves the way for realizing advanced quantum materials in next-generation electronic devices.