New material rivals iridium for water splitting reaction at a fraction of the cost. Discovered using megalibraries, a high-speed materials synthesis and discovery tool, along with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Findings demonstrate a faster, AI-ready approach to discover advanced, optimized materials.

From the precise movements of drone wings to the smooth opening of cabin doors, modern aircraft rely heavily on electro-mechanical actuation. But a hidden challenge – disruptive "multi-source disturbances" – can limit their performance, affecting everything from response time to positioning accuracy and efficiency. New research, focusing on a powerful control strategy called Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC), aims to conquer these disturbances, paving the way for significant advancements in aviation safety and capability.

The number of satellites, especially those operating in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), has been exploding in recent years. Additionally, the burgeoning development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software and hardware has opened up new industrial opportunities in both air and space, with satellite-powered computing emerging as a new computing paradigm: Orbital Edge Computing (OEC). Compared to terrestrial edge computing, the mobility of LEO satellites and their limited communication, computation, and storage resources pose challenges in designing task-specific scheduling algorithms.

By focusing on adaptive aerodynamics, the ice-tolerance concept with variable drooping leading edge technology could revolutionize how planes handle icing skies. An ice tolerance solution based on the variable camber leading edge of iced wings is proposed, where the leading edge adapts its camber to counter ice effects. Compared with traditional aerodynamic design for ice tolerance, this concept not only strikes a balance between safety and functionality, but also boosts efficiency even under severe icing conditions.

A research team led by Dr. Yosep Han at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has developed an eco-friendly electrochemical upcycling process that converts spent lithium manganese oxide (LiMn₂O₄) cathodes from lithium-ion batteries into high-voltage aqueous zinc–manganese redox flow batteries, without the need for high-temperature smelting or strong acid leaching typically used in conventional recycling methods.

A new global analysis reveals a critical oversight in sustainable coffee and carbon-capture initiatives. These programs incentivize the planting of new trees yet fail to reward the preservation of mature shade trees in existing agroforestry farms, despite their far greater carbon storage potential. To maximize the potential of coffee farming to fight climate change and boost biodiversity, the study authors call for creating carbon payment programs that reward protecting existing shade trees and ensuring these payments are accessible to small farms. For tree-planting efforts, researchers recommend explicitly prioritizing tree diversity in all planting initiatives to support biodiversity. Without these changes, global coffee agriculture may continue to lose carbon and biodiversity despite investments in tree planting.