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Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-Jun-2026 02:16 ET (9-Jun-2026 06:16 GMT/UTC)

Biochar nanoparticles boost flowering by rewiring plant carbon flow and gene activity

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study reveals that tiny particles derived from biochar can directly enter plant tissues and significantly enhance flowering by reshaping how plants allocate carbon and regulate key genes. The findings provide a new explanation for how biochar improves crop performance, beyond its well-known effects on soil fertility.

Journal: Biochar

AI-guided biochar design offers new pathway to tackle emerging water pollutants

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and industrial chemicals are increasingly detected in water systems worldwide, raising concerns about long-term risks to ecosystems and human health. A new study highlights how artificial intelligence can transform biochar into a powerful, cost-effective solution for removing these persistent contaminants from water.

Journal: Biochar

Biochar can curb methane emissions in rice fields, but nitrogen levels make the difference

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study reveals that biochar, a carbon-rich material increasingly promoted for sustainable agriculture, can significantly reduce methane emissions from rice paddies. However, its climate benefits depend strongly on how much nitrogen fertilizer is applied.

Journal: Biochar

Wildlife-friendly landscapes dramatically boost biodiversity in fragmented forests

University of East Anglia
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A major new study has revealed that improving the landscapes surrounding forest remnants can dramatically increase their ability to retain bird species - even when the forest fragments themselves are small or isolated.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Improved catalyst enhances the conversion of ethanol to hydrogen

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Fine-tuning the processing of perovskite-type ceramic material increases system stability and reduces costs by eliminating the need for noble metals.

Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

Robots can’t feel; these sensors could change that

Penn State
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team, including Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, is using pressure sensors — tiny devices, roughly the size of a paperclip, that can measure the force applied over an area — to design a highly sensitive electronic “skin” for use alongside robots and prosthetic limbs.

Journal: Nano-Micro Letters

Bust stimulation for sustained locomotion control and autonomous navigation of terrestrial cyborg beetles

Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research paper by scientists at University of Queensland burst stimulation as an alternative to the conventional stimulation protocol to achieve more sustained responses of cyborg insects from darkling beetles (Zophobas morio)..

The research paper, published on Mar 9, 2026 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems.

Journal: Cyborg and Bionic Systems

Including AI-derived heart fat measurement improves accuracy of cardiovascular disease risk prediction

Mayo Clinic
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Mayo Clinic research identified a powerful new way to improve the prediction of a patient's long-term cardiovascular disease risk by enhancing a routinely performed imaging test with artificial intelligence (AI).

Journal: American Journal of Preventive Cardiology

With help from AI, eye images offer window into cardiovascular risk

American College of Cardiology
Reports and Proceedings

A new system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess cardiovascular risk based on images of the eye captured during eye exams demonstrated strong correlation with a standard cardiovascular risk assessment, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26). Researchers said using AI to screen for heart disease risk during routine eye exams could help more people become aware of their risk and facilitate referrals for preventative care.

Meeting: American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session