In the complex world of soil and water chemistry, certain minerals act like microscopic sponges, soaking up pollutants and keeping our environment safe. Among the most dangerous of these pollutants is hexavalent chromium—Cr(VI)—a highly toxic and mobile substance often found at industrial and mining sites. Now, a groundbreaking study published in Carbon Research has identified the specific "superstar" minerals that are best at neutralizing this threat while simultaneously locking away organic carbon.

The research, led by Professor Bin Dong from Tongji University, focuses on the interaction between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and various iron (oxyhydr)oxides. The team discovered that low-crystallinity minerals, specifically ferrihydrite, are far more effective at managing chromium than their more "perfect" crystalline cousins like goethite and hematite. This work represents a major collaborative effort centered at the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University and the Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, with support from the YANGTZE Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center and Guilin University of Technology. "Nature has a built-in filtration system, but not all minerals are created equal," says Professor Bin Dong. "By understanding the molecular handshake between organic matter and iron minerals, we can design smarter, nature-based solutions to clean up heavily contaminated mine soils while helping the planet store more carbon."

The technology used to predict sand and dust storm (SDS) severity has for decades systematically over-estimated when and where sediment is transported across the Earth’s surface, a new study shows.

Nations around the globe are grappling with a massive dual challenge: maintaining economic momentum while drastically slashing carbon outputs. Many policymakers have placed their bets on the digital economy as a modern solution for climate change. However, the exact mechanics of how data and connectivity actually clean up our air have remained somewhat murky. Now, a comprehensive evaluation of 259 Chinese cities cuts through the noise, mapping exactly how digital transformation drives environmental progress.

Recently, the team led by Professor Xin Xu from the School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University published a short communication in Science Bulletin entitled “Complex Terrain Causes Global Model Prediction Biases of 21.7 Zhengzhou Extreme Precipitation”. The study reveals that the orographic gravity wave drag triggered by complex terrain can cause significant location and intensity biases of the “21.7” Zhengzhou extreme precipitation in global numerical weather prediction (NWP) models.

Previous measurements of lightning on Jupiter were from dark-side optical observations and yielded conflicting conclusions about the power they release. A UC Berkeley scientist used new data from Juno’s microwave detector to calculate the power in 613 pulses, concluding they range from Earth size to hundreds of times Earth’s bolts, and perhaps even greater. The strength helps to understand convection on the planet, which creates long-lasting storm clouds 10 times higher than those on Earth.