A new study reveals that adding small amounts of biochar, a carbon-rich material made from agricultural waste, can significantly improve the quality and performance of 3D-printed plastics while advancing more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Traditional electrolyte research has long centered on the solvation behavior of lithium-ions (cation), focusing on improving lithium ion transport dynamics by optimizing solvent or salt concentrations. As batteries evolve toward higher energy density, wider operation temperature ranges, and extended cycle lifespan, this “cation-centered” solvation approach has encountered limitations: unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, poor lithium-ion transport dynamics, and inadequate adaptation across broad temperature ranges. Unlike cations acting as passive charge carriers, anions become active regulators of electrolyte performance by modulating solvation structures, governing interfacial reactions, and optimizing transport mechanisms. Anion chemistry unlocks this active regulatory capability, offering more fundamental and comprehensive solutions for high-energy-density batteries electrolyte design.

Biochar is widely recognized as a promising material for improving soil health, cleaning contaminated water, and storing carbon. But scientists are increasingly focusing on a less visible feature inside biochar that may determine both its benefits and risks: persistent free radicals.

A new study reports a highly effective and sustainable material for capturing rare earth elements from water, offering a promising solution to both resource scarcity and environmental pollution.

An attosecond (10⁻¹⁸ seconds) corresponds to the natural timescale of electron motion in matter. In 2023, the Nobel Prize in Physics recognized experimental methods for generating and measuring attosecond light pulses, highlighting their ability to effectively “film” electrons in real time. The next frontier of attosecond science is extending these capabilities into the X-ray regime. X-rays provide element specificity and atomic-scale sensitivity, making them powerful probes of ultrafast dynamics in complex materials and chemical systems. However, generating high-power attosecond X-ray pulses at high repetition rates remains a major challenge.

A new study reveals that not all biochar works the same way in agriculture. The size of biochar particles can significantly influence how well crops grow, especially in salt-affected soils that challenge global food production.

A new study reveals that combining biodegradable microplastics with biochar may offer an unexpected solution to one of agriculture’s most persistent problems: toxic metal contamination in food crops.

A new study reveals that turning crop residues into biochar can significantly enhance soil carbon storage compared to simply returning straw to the field. The findings provide fresh insights into how different farming practices influence the stability of soil organic carbon, a critical factor for climate mitigation and sustainable agriculture.