Forest soils are immense reservoirs of carbon, playing a critical role in regulating the global climate. The specific sources of this carbon and the processes that stabilize it have been subjects of intense scientific inquiry. A comprehensive investigation by researchers at the Southern University of Science and Technology and Sun Yat-Sen University provides new clarity on the complex dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM). By analyzing soils from 32 natural forests across China, a team led by Guodong Sun and Junjian Wang has uncovered how different components of plant and microbial debris contribute to carbon storage at varying depths, and how these contributions are shaped by climate and geology.

A new study reveals that increasing soil salinity can significantly slow the aging of biochar, a widely used soil amendment, while also suppressing the microbial communities that help drive its environmental benefits. The findings provide important insights into how biochar performs over time in salt-affected agricultural systems.

A new scientific review highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass, could transform tea farming by restoring soil health, reducing pollution risks, and improving both yield and quality.

Improving soil health is essential for sustainable agriculture and global food security. A new study reports that hydrochar, a carbon-rich material produced from organic waste, may outperform traditional soil amendments such as biochar and crop residues in strengthening soil structure and storing carbon.

Ocean Discovery League (ODL) announces the launch of the Global Deep Sea Exploration Goals, an ambitious international effort to visually explore 10,000 strategically selected locations across the deep seafloor. When completed, this initiative will nearly double the number of unique seafloor locations ever visually observed and produce the first globally representative visual dataset of the deep ocean floor. 

The study, published in Fish and Fisheries, analyzed global aquaculture production from 1950 to 2023 and found that, since the 1980s, the industry has shifted toward a smaller number of intensively farmed species—particularly finfish—that tend to have lower overall sustainability potential.