EurekAlert! China News - News Releases from China

News from China

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Apr-2026 07:16 ET (8-Apr-2026 11:16 GMT/UTC)

Researchers increase understanding of brain’s default mode network

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team led by ZHANG Meichao from the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has identified an organizational principle within the default mode network that helps explain how the network supports both internal and external cognition.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Precise construction of chiral cyclic imine esters by transient binary copper co-catalysis

Chinese Chemical Society
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Recently, a collaborative team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, led by Guoqiang Yang, Wanbin Zhang, and Jianming Zhang, reported an asymmetric bimetallic synergistic CuAPS (copper-catalyzed propargyl substitution reaction) strategy. By activating the propargyl electrophile and the α-cyano ester nucleophile respectively using a chiral Cu(I)–BOX complex catalyst, and through a transient binuclear catalytic mechanism, they achieved the tandem cyclization of asymmetric propargyl substitution and the Pinner reaction to construct chiral cyclic imine esters. The article was published as an open access Research Article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

Journal: CCS Chemistry

Biochar shows promise for healthier soils and stronger forests, but careful use is key

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A growing body of research suggests that biochar, a charcoal-like material made from plant and agricultural waste, could play a major role in improving soil health and supporting more resilient forests. A new review study brings together over two decades of research to evaluate how biochar affects soil quality and tree-based crops, while also highlighting important risks and knowledge gaps.

Journal: Biochar

Biochar offers powerful solution to restore acidic soils and boost agricultural sustainability

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A growing body of research highlights a global agricultural challenge that often goes unnoticed beneath our feet: soil acidification. Affecting billions of hectares worldwide, acidic soils reduce crop productivity, disrupt soil ecosystems, and threaten long-term food security. Now, a new review study sheds light on how biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass, could provide an effective and sustainable solution.

Journal: Biochar

Biochar unlocks cleaner hydrogen production by overcoming a key fermentation barrier

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A new study reveals how a simple, low-cost material could significantly boost the production of clean hydrogen fuel from waste. Researchers have demonstrated that biochar, a carbon-rich material made from biomass, can overcome one of the biggest challenges in biological hydrogen production: product inhibition.

Journal: Biochar

How biochar and soil bacteria team up to lock away carbon

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A new study reveals how tailoring biochar with minerals and heat can influence soil bacteria and dramatically improve carbon storage in agricultural soils, offering new strategies to combat climate change.

Journal: Biochar

Biochar and beneficial bacteria team up to unlock soil phosphorus and boost sustainable agriculture

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A new study reveals how pairing biochar with beneficial soil bacteria could significantly improve phosphorus availability in soils, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers and helping support global food production.

Journal: Biochar

New research identifies how to design biochar for removing “forever chemicals” from irrigation water

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A new study shows that carefully designed biochar can effectively remove harmful “forever chemicals” from recycled water used in agriculture, offering a promising and sustainable solution to protect food systems and public health.

Journal: Biochar

Machine learning reveals how biochar can curb phosphorus pollution from farmland

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

A new study has shown that biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass, can significantly reduce phosphorus losses from agricultural soils, offering a promising solution to one of the leading causes of water pollution worldwide. By combining environmental science with machine learning, researchers have developed a powerful predictive tool to optimize how biochar is used in real-world farming systems.

Journal: Biochar

Engineered biochar and bacteria team up to lock toxic metals in polluted soils

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

Heavy metal contamination from industrial activities remains a major environmental challenge worldwide, especially at sites affected by lead and zinc smelting. Now, a new study offers a promising, low-cost strategy to stabilize multiple toxic metals in soil using a novel combination of biochar and beneficial bacteria.

Journal: Biochar

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