A team of scientists at Northwest A and F University has developed a data-driven framework that can accurately predict the characteristics of an enigmatic substance within biochar known as persistent free radicals (PFRs). Biochar, a charcoal-like material produced from biomass, is widely used to improve soil fertility and remove environmental contaminants. Its effectiveness is tied to PFRs, which can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. This new predictive capability allows for the design of customized biochar, ensuring its optimal performance for specific applications.

Initiated and hosted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality (ICCN), Hong Kong Climate Week 2026 marks its opening today under the theme “From Mitigation to Adaptation — Bridging Global Consensus and Local Implementation.” The week-long event aims to harness Hong Kong’s unique strengths as an international financial centre and a global connectivity hub to accelerate a just, inclusive and resilient net-zero transition. It also underscores Hong Kong’s role as a “two-way bridge,” connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world, advancing the deployment of climate technology, and channelling green finance.

A team of scientists has provided new insights into the complex interactions between nanoplastics and naturally occurring iron oxide nanomaterials in water. The investigation, led by researchers at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, details how factors like particle charge, natural organic matter, and the presence of common ions determine whether these tiny particles clump together—a process called heteroaggregation—or stay dispersed. These findings have significant implications for understanding the transport and ecological risk of nanocontaminants in aquatic systems.

The HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (HKU IDS) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will host the Hong Kong Global AI Governance Conference 2026 on 10–11 April at the Rayson Huang Theatre. The Conference will bring together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss emerging issues in artificial intelligence governance.

The terrestrial environment, a vast and complex reservoir, is experiencing an alarming influx of microplastic pollution, accumulating at rates significantly exceeding marine environments. New research, published in Carbon Research, synthesizes a wealth of existing literature to meticulously examine how these pervasive plastic fragments interact with soil, altering its fundamental properties, influencing the soil carbon pool, and affecting the performance of terrestrial plants. This extensive review underscores the urgent need to understand and mitigate the subtle yet profound ecological transformations driven by microplastics.

A team of scientists has developed a highly efficient method for reclaiming phosphorus from wetland plant waste, addressing the dual challenges of global phosphate resource depletion and water pollution. The research, led by investigators at Tianjin University, demonstrates how a modified chemical process can convert nutrient-laden biomass into a P-enriched hydrochar, a charcoal-like substance with significant potential for soil improvement and sustainable agriculture. This approach offers a way to close the nutrient loop, returning phosphorus from polluted waters back to the land where it is needed.

Constructed wetlands are effective at removing excess nutrients like phosphorus from eutrophic water bodies, but this process generates large volumes of plant waste. If left to decay, this biomass can re-release phosphorus, causing secondary pollution. The direct application of this plant matter to soil is also risky due to the high content of water-soluble phosphorus, which can easily leach away. The work by Junxia Wang, Xiaoqiang Cui, and their colleagues sought to stabilize this phosphorus in a useful, solid form.

Free-electron lasers can be tuned to operate over a wide range of wavelengths, but they conventionally require large-scale facilities. Researchers from The University of Osaka show that laser wakefield acceleration can dramatically miniaturize this technology by improving plasma stability and electron beam quality. Their study demonstrates such lasers in the extreme ultraviolet, with the ultimate goal of further refining the technology to operate at x-ray wavelengths.