30-Mar-2026 From banana peel to diesel sponge: A new, eco-friendly method for cleaning oil spills Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University Engineers from Adamson University, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and the University of Santo Tomas have successfully converted a common kitchen scrap into a powerful tool for environmental cleanup. By transforming discarded saba banana peels into a specialized biochar, the team has created a low-cost, sustainable adsorbent capable of efficiently removing diesel oil from water. This approach not only addresses the significant challenge of hydrocarbon pollution from industrial activities and accidental spills but also provides a valuable new use for agricultural waste, aligning with the principles of a circular economy. Journal Carbon Research
30-Mar-2026 The double-edged sword of Brazilian tourism: Economic gain vs. environmental pain Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University An in-depth econometric analysis reveals the significant environmental consequences of Brazil's expanding tourism sector and economic growth. The new report, authored by Asif Raihan of the Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, examines three decades of data to untangle the complex relationship between the nation's economy, energy consumption, tourism industry, and its carbon footprint. While tourism is a vital engine for development, its reliance on energy-intensive activities poses a direct challenge to Brazil's environmental goals, including its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Journal Carbon Research
30-Mar-2026 Foundation models reshape financial engineering: New survey maps progress across three frontiers Higher Education Press Foundation models are transforming financial engineering, with specialized financial foundation models emerging to tackle domain-specific needs. Categorized into three types, they excel at text processing, time-series analysis, and visual-text integration. This survey unpacks their progress, real-world uses, and key challenges, offering a vivid roadmap for AI-driven finance innovation. Journal Engineering
30-Mar-2026 Concrete’s distinct microbial zones could change how building health is assessed Hiroshima University Concrete harbors distinct microbial zones whose signatures survive the heat of routine core sampling, a discovery researchers say could one day put structural health diagnostics within reach of general maintenance staff and even residents. Journal Case Studies in Construction Materials Funder Japan Science and Technology Agency, JCI Chugoku Branch, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
29-Mar-2026 China’s steel decarbonization faces resource constraints despite technology promise Higher Education Press China’s steel industry powers half the world’s supply but faces a decarbonization dilemma: carbon capture demands massive water and energy, while hydrogen steelmaking risks higher emissions when scaled up. Why can’t technology alone solve this climate challenge? Journal Engineering
29-Mar-2026 Making batteries from a candle constituent? Lower costs and zero environmental pollution DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology) - DGIST Professor Kim Jinsoo’s team has developed dry-electrode technology for batteries using paraffin material - Achieving a primer-free, solvent-free process… Stable charge-discharge performance for over 1,000 cycles - 95% reduction in costs compared to conventional fluorine-based binders, with a global warming potential of 0.05% Journal Nature Communications
29-Mar-2026 Unlocking designed roots for future cereal crops University of Queensland A plant signalling gene has been identified as a promising target for breeding cereal crops to produce a steeper, narrower root system architecture, but with associated yield penalties in barley. University of Queensland PhD candidate Richard Dixon said collaborative research with scientists at the Australian National University revealed the gene, known as CEPR1, has a conserved function across multiple grain crops. Journal Journal of Experimental Botany Funder University of Queensland, Australian National University, Australian Research Council
29-Mar-2026 Flowing water powers plastic-to-fuel conversion in new biohybrid system Higher Education Press Researchers have found a way to turn plastic waste into clean fuel using nothing but flowing water. By pairing special crystals with methane-producing microbes, they created a self-powered system that converts disposable cups and straws into methane gas while capturing CO₂—offering a sustainable solution to plastic pollution. Journal Engineering
