Research & science

Research & science Nano/Micro‐Engineered Hydrogel Carriers for Sustainable Agriculture: Bridging Structural Form to Field Performance (Adv. Sustainable Syst. 7/2026) Advanced Sustainable Systems, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2026. Advanced Sustainable Systems (Wiley) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Batteries From Reused, Recycled, and Surplus Materials Advanced Sustainable Systems, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2026. Advanced Sustainable Systems (Wiley) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Issue Information Advanced Sustainable Systems, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2026. Advanced Sustainable Systems (Wiley) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Surface‐Engineered Filters for Wettability‐Driven Collection of Airborne Fungal Spores Global Challenges, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2026. Global Challenges (Wiley) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Scientists reveal what really happens when water is trapped in tiny spaces A decades-old puzzle about water has finally been unraveled. Researchers found that water trapped in tiny nanoscale spaces is not inherently more reactive. Instead, the intense pressures created inside these microscopic gaps explain most of the effect, while the surrounding material can further enhance water's chemistry if it interacts with the reaction products. ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science A critical review of geochemical contributions, anthropogenic emissions and environmental impacts of iron ion in coal seam from antiquity to the present . Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology (Taylor & Francis) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Scientists create quantum sound device that could transform communications A new quantum device can generate precisely controlled bursts of sound-like particles, or phonons, by forcing electrons through an ultra-thin crystal at extremely low temperatures. The surprising behavior pushes beyond the limits predicted by current theories, suggesting scientists need to rethink how energy moves through advanced materials. In the future, the breakthrough could lead to phonon … ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Sun-powered sponges may generate 11% of tropical coral reef productivity In marine environments, sponges tend to eat other organisms to get their nutrients. But a study published in Functional Ecology by researchers at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), demonstrates how sponges may also use photosynthesis, just like plants. This phenomenon can help with productivity—the amount of energy and food produced—in tropic… Phys.org — recycling search feed · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Increased dengue transmission following highway paving in the Peruvian Amazon Nature Sustainability · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Global managed aquifer recharge potential as a solution to water scarcity Nature Water (Nature Portfolio) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Life cycle assessment of molded pulp containers and packaging as a sustainable alternative to plastics This study evaluates the environmental performance of molded pulp as a substitute for fossil-based plastic container packaging through life cycle assessment (LCA). Four molded pulp products—egg carton, fruit tray, plate tray, and cushioning material—were compared with PET, PSP, PPF, and EPS counterparts. Environmental impacts assessed included global warming, fossil fuel consumption, urban area… Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Springer) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science A systematic literature review of supply chain management for electric vehicle battery recycling The rapid development of electric vehicles has made end-of-life electric vehicle battery (EVB) recycling an urgent supply chain management challenge. Existing studies have examined EVB recycling from engineering, energy, environmental, and policy perspectives, but the linkage between macro-environmental conditions and supply chain decision-making remains insufficiently synthesized. This study s… Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Springer) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science A methodology for integrating toxic emission from building materials during the use stage into building life cycle assessment Purpose This paper develops a reproducible calculation procedure to integrate human toxicity from construction material emissions during the use stage into building LCA, focusing on the indoor air emissions stage (module B1 under EN 15978). The research evaluates whether a building inventory (elements, materials and product documentation) can be translated into a substance‑resolved emission inv… The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (Springer) · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Green logistics and export competitiveness: a sustainable supply chain perspective from agro-exporting firms in Peru This study examines the role of green logistics in enhancing international competitiveness within agro-export supply chains, focusing on oregano-exporting firms in Tacna, Peru. In the context of increasing global pressure for sustainable production and environmentally responsible trade, green logistics has emerged as a strategic driver of both environmental performance and market competitivenes… Frontiers in Sustainability · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Evidence for urban heat island reduction through forestation across multiple regions Urban growth contributes to urban heat islands (UHIs), disproportionately impacting low-income communities as climate change advances. In response, green infrastructure has emerged as a promising nature-based solution. Urban forests, in particular, offer multiple co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation and increased climate resilience. However, the ability of urban forests in mitigatin… Frontiers in Sustainability · 2 Jul 2026 Research & science Towards sustainable wastewater treatment in Central America: a multi-criteria decision analysis Centralized wastewater treatment systems can improve wastewater management in urbanizing tropical ecotourism communities. The urban center of Monteverde, Costa Rica, faces numerous challenges in handling increasing wastewater loads resulting from population growth and tourism, which can overwhelm existing septic systems. Additionally, Monteverde stakeholders desire to integrate the recovery of … Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (IOP) · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Evaluating the suitability of the GlobalBuildingAtlas for digital urban infrastructure analysis in India Accurate and spatially consistent digital representations of the built environment are essential for urban infrastructure analysis, sustainability assessment, and planning, particularly in countries experiencing rapid urbanisation, such as India. GlobalBuildingAtlas (GBA) is a recently released open-access global dataset that provides individual building footprints, building heights, and level … Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (IOP) · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science A multi-level framework for climate adaptation of critical infrastructure: flood risk in railway networks Background. Infrastructure systems are threatened by extreme weather events, such as river flooding. Climate change increases the frequency and severity of flooding, resulting in more repairs and operational disruptions. While this explains a clear need to adapt to changing hazards, it is often difficult to compare all adaptation options that infrastructure can benefit from in a coherent way. O… Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (IOP) · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science NC State (and America) the Beautiful As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, discover how NC State has contributed to its prosperity, defense, culture and more. NC State University News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Why Getty Images v Stability AI got secondary copyright infringement wrong - UCL | University College London UCL News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science One amino acid may signal the 'point of no return' in dying leaves Before a leaf dies, plants recover nutrients that the rest of the plant can reuse for growth and survival. Researchers at Umeå Plant Science Center have now identified a metabolic "point of no return" linked to the amino acid arginine. The study suggests that plants use arginine as a signal to determine whether recovery remains possible or whether cells should commit to death, a discovery that … Phys.org — recycling search feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Dateline Rice for July 1, 2026 - Rice University Rice University News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Researchers Create Moisture-Driven Tech That Powers Green Batteries – and Dissolves Spy Gear A non-toxic, stretchable battery operates by extracting moisture from the ambient environment – even in climates as dry as the desert. NC State University News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science You’ve never heard of these glaciers, but they’re becoming critical climate havens as America’s iconic mountain glaciers and their water fade They’re called rock glaciers, and they might not look like much, but they’ll continue to provide meltwater after the world’s iconic white glaciers are gone. The Conversation US — Environment · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Single-atom catalyst turns lignin into valuable chemicals with near-complete conversion Researchers at The University of Manchester and Hebei University of Technology have identified how a new class of catalyst can break down lignin into useful chemical building blocks, offering a more sustainable route to replace fossil-based materials. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Ammonia from wastewater: How we're turning a pollutant into fertilizer and clean fuel Ammonia rarely makes headlines, but much of modern life depends on it. The compound of nitrogen and hydrogen is the key ingredient in the fertilizers that help feed roughly half of the world's population. It is also attracting serious attention as a carbon-free fuel for ships, power plants and heavy industry. TechXplore — 'recycling' search feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Spider fangs are one of their scariest features – new fossils reveal their origins The 500 million year old shrimp-like Urokodia had pincer-like limbs emerging next to its eyes. The Conversation UK — Environment · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Why Poland’s president is invoking wartime history in a dispute with Volodymyr Zelensky This row is more about domestic Polish politics than any diplomatic incident. University of Nottingham — The Conversation institution feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Reliably Detecting and Clearly Explaining Deepfake Images Artificial intelligence can now generate images that are virtually indistinguishable from real ones. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB have developed RealorRender, a tool that not only specifically detects such deepfakes but also explains why an image is classified as real or AI-generated. The new hybrid approach significantly … Fraunhofer Research News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Safe Use of Electronic Devices on Planes Lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices (PEDs) such as laptops, smartphones, powerbanks and electronic cigarettes can pose a serious safety risk in air travel. Damaged or overheated batteries can combust or ex-plode. In the LOKI-PED project, the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP cooperated wi… Fraunhofer Research News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Adressing the Shortage of Skilled Workers With LARS LARS is designed to enable safer, more efficient and faster logistics processes. The laser-based projection system that was developed by researchers from Fraunhofer uses light to guide workers through warehouses in real time. The visual guidance system is particularly helpful for new and un-skilled workers. Fraunhofer Research News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Spent EV batteries get second life as higher-performance battery material A new approach to battery recycling could turn today's electric vehicle waste into the building blocks of tomorrow's higher-performing batteries. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an environmentally friendly method to upcycle cathodes from used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries into a more powerful battery material known as lithium manganese iron phosphate … TechXplore — 'recycling' search feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Connecting the Loops; A Systems Thinking Analysis and Identification of Process Shifts and its Consequential Costs in Swedish Circular Construction - Chalmers ODR Chalmers University of Technology News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Making the Most of Multifunctional Materials Research that's pushing the limits of advanced ceramic materials has received funding for its potential national defense and security applications. But the fundamental findings could eventually lead to many game-changing civilian technologies, too. NC State University News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Scientists discover how algae colonized corals — a symbiosis that fueled the growth of the world’s reefs UC Berkeley biologists uncovered clues to how the symbiosis between algae and corals evolved using a new state-of-the-art lab devoted to year-round genetic experiments on spawning coral. UC Berkeley News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Smarter diagnostics could extend the lives of silicon EV batteries Electric vehicle batteries could last twice as long, preventing costly replacement, with a new approach to heating and cooling the batteries, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. General Motors and Imperial College London also contributed to the study, which was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. University of Michigan News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science The joy of pests: study reveals why rat catchers are so happy in their work Would you be happier checking mouse traps than emails? University of Southampton — The Conversation institution feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Study finds climate change missing from stories shaping modern culture - Rice University Rice University News · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science Reading Homer’s Iliad feels like scrolling through TikTok The Iliad does not unfold as a smooth, continuous narrative. Instead, it advances through a succession of micro-episodes. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 1 Jul 2026 Research & science From policy to practice: Advancing a gender-responsive, low-emission food system in Vietnam by Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Kim Hong Tang, Thi Minh Duyen Ngo This paper examines Vietnam’s efforts to develop a gender-responsive, low-emission food system, focusing on the gap between policy design and practical implementation. Drawing on stakeholder perspectives, including government agencies, women, men, and youth, the analysis examines the effectiveness and implementation of national policies ai… PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · 1 Jul 2026