In a comprehensive review published in Earth and Planetary Physics, researchers from Wuhan University synthesize recent advances in the climatological variations and complex driving mechanisms of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ). The study highlights how the daytime EEJ responds to E-region conductivity, atmospheric tides, and intense mid- and high-latitude electrodynamic disturbances.

Masahiro Tatsumisago, Former OMU President and current Executive Advisor at Osaka Metropolitan University, has been selected for the NIMS Award 2026 from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS).

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed a light-driven method for synthesizing Davis reagents that generates the hazardous oxidant mCPBA only on demand and consumes it immediately. Kinetic analysis showed no detectable accumulation of the oxidant, improving process safety. The reaction proceeds at room temperature in non-halogenated solvents and can use sunlight or LEDs, offering a safer, greener, and scalable alternative for pharmaceutical-related synthesis.

A research team led by Prof. Zhen Gao at Southern University of Science and Technology has achieved the first experimental observation of the three-dimensional (3D) photonic quantum Hall effect of Fermi arcs and its hallmark feature, the one-sided chiral hinge states, in a 3D inhomogeneous magnetic Weyl photonic crystal.

Degraded soils and the burgeoning challenge of agricultural waste pose significant hurdles to global food security. A recent study, published in Carbon Research, unveils a promising solution: using solar radiation to enhance hydrochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass, to create a more effective soil amendment. This innovative approach offers a low-energy pathway to transform materials like pig manure and mandarin peels into powerful tools for soil remediation.

The research team prepared hydrochars under varying hydrothermal carbonization temperatures (180 °C and 260 °C), then subjected them to simulated solar aging for 200 hours, including periodic wetting. Comprehensive characterization using advanced techniques such as FTIR, XPS, 3D-EEM, and ESI-FT-ICR MS was employed to track changes in the hydrochar's physicochemical properties and the composition of its dissolved organic matter (DOM). Soil microcosm experiments further evaluated the impact of these modified hydrochars on paddy soil for 45 days, assessing changes in soil properties and microbial communities.

Managing agricultural waste presents a dual challenge: controlling harmful ammonia (NH₃) emissions and preventing the spread of toxic metals from manure. Scientists have now devised a sustainable approach that converts coal tailings, a common industrial byproduct, into a highly effective adsorbent. This innovative material, created through a catalytic oxidation process using silver and titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO₂), simultaneously captures ammonia and neutralizes hazardous metals, offering a cost-effective solution for sustainable farming.

A team from The University of Melbourne, Australia, pioneered the method, modifying coal tailings at a modest 250 °C. Unlike conventional high-temperature treatments, this catalytic process is exothermic, generating its own heat, which significantly reduces energy consumption and leads to lower CO₂ emissions. The core material harnesses Ag/TiO₂ to produce reactive oxygen species that functionalize the coal tailings, creating a network of ultramicropores and oxygen-containing chemical groups on its surface.