A sticky, toxic by-product that has long plagued renewable energy production may soon become a valuable resource, according to a new review published in Biochar.

What if we told you that one of nature’s simplest materials—biochar, the black gold of sustainable tech—can do more than just soak up pollution? Spoiler: it can actually destroy it directly, like a microscopic superhero with an electric punch. And the best part? This isn’t sci-fi. It’s real science, just published on July 10, 2025, in Carbon Research—led by Dr. Yuan Gao from the Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology at Dalian University of Technology, China. This team didn’t just study biochar—they redefined it.

Yuanyuan Wang and Wenlei Zhu's group at Nanjing University, China, and Yuehe Lin at Washington State University, USA, recently reported the development of a three-dimensional ordered mesoporous carbon skeleton with Ni single atom support using the superlattice blotting strategy for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Firstly, they derived an ordered mesoporous framework based on finite element simulation, which is of great significance for promoting uniform gas distribution, stabilizing the gas-liquid-solid interface of nanoscale hydrophilic surfaces, and enhancing mass transfer kinetics. Then, the proposed superlattice blotting strategy integrated confined oxidation to achieve thermal stability, ligand carbonization to maintain superlattice-derived porosity, acid etching to improve hydrophilicity, high-temperature graphitization to enhance conductivity, and in-situ heteroatom doping to optimize Ni coordination for the successful preparation of a three-dimensional ordered mesoporous carbon skeleton with Ni single atom support. The resulting Ni-N₂S₂ and Ni-N₃P catalysts exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity, reaching overpotents of 239 mV (OER, 20 mA cm⁻²) and 90 mV (HER, 10 mA cm⁻²), respectively. Ni-N₂S₂⁽⁺⁾Ni-N₃P^(-) electrolysis pairs can achieve stable electrolysis performance for more than 100 hours. This work, published in CCS Chemistry, introduces a finite element simulation guidance framework to customize three-phase equilibrium, as well as confined oxidation pathways to design highly active and durable single-atom electrocatalysts. 

A reanalysis of a one-million-year-old human skull found in China is challenging the established timeline of human evolution, and suggests a new branch of the human family tree, as well as a possible link to the mysterious Denisovans.

The synergistic system of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ and acetic acid enables efficient lignin depolymerization to monophenols under mild oxygen pressure (0.1 MPa O₂). H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ delivers dual acidic/oxidative functions, while acetic acid enhances lignin solubility, stabilizes catalyst complexes, and promotes oxygen activation. Crucially, this system stabilizes C_α-hydroxyl groups to inhibit recalcitrant C–C bond formation. This work establishes an industrially promising strategy for lignin valorization through oxidative cleavage under exceptionally mild conditions.

Simultaneously suppressing primary CO₂ formation through the stabilization of phase-pure iron carbides and secondary CO₂ generation via hydrophobic surface engineering and graphene confinement has emerged as a promising strategy in iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. These approaches effectively mitigate side reactions such as the water-gas shift and CO disproportionation, enhance active phase stability, and ultimately improve carbon efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions, and promote selective formation of long-chain hydrocarbons under realistic FTS conditions.

Gene editing in plants remains challenging, with the traditional non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ) repair pathway often hindering precision. 

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause about one in three deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 19.8 million CVD deaths in 2022, roughly 32% of all deaths. Care remains reactive and generic.

AI-powered integration of multi-omics and genomic data improves risk prediction and speeds diagnosis beyond traditional tools, study shows. With the support of advanced genetic technology, clinician can choose the right therapy to the right person, thus easing the burden on patients and health systems.

Tiny, three-dimensional organoid models are reshaping cancer research by recreating the intricate architecture and diversity of human tumors.