Researchers from China developed the FI-R model, a novel flowering spectral index for the fine-scale extraction of angiosperms over large areas in complex multi-regional backgrounds, using rapeseed as an example. FI-R shows low sensitivity to background complexity and rapeseed varieties, and it has good applicability to multiple multi-spectral sensor images.

This study employs advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) and Dynamic Topic Modeling to quantitatively analyze nearly 290,000 hydrology-related publications from 2000 to 2023. By intelligently parsing hundreds of thousands of global hydrology publications, the research overcomes the limitations of traditional bibliometric methods. It maps the field's trajectory, revealing a crucial thematic shift from traditional water resource management to eco-hydrology. The findings highlight the surging focus on climate change, the widespread use of the hydrological models, and the intense scientific attention on the Yangtze and Yellow River basins. This study provides a comprehensive overview of how the discipline has evolved to meet complex environmental challenges.

Selective recovery of lithium from spent cathode is an attractive means to promote the green and efficient recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, current technologies face numerous challenges including high reagent consumption, limited method versatility and significant secondary pollution. In this study, we found that intermediate phase formed during the leaching process had high stability, which hindered the further leaching of Li⁺ and led to more reagent and energy consumption. Simple mechanical activation strategy was utilized to change the intermediate phase through activating spent cathode without grinding additives. As a result, the method shows a high utilization efficiency of H⁺ (>97%) for the recycling of Li⁺ from most of spent cathode, and obviates the need for auxiliary reagents, and substantially reduces secondary pollutant generation.

KAIST Develops Electrode Technology Achieving 86% Efficiency for Converting CO₂ into Plastic Precursors

In the process of converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals such as ethylene—a key precursor for plastics—a major challenge has been the flooding of electrodes, where electrolyte penetrates the electrode structure and reduces performance. KAIST researchers have developed a new electrode design that blocks water while maintaining efficient electrical conduction and catalytic reactions, thereby improving both efficiency and stability.

KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 6th of April that a research team led by Professor Hyunjoon Song from the Department of Chemistry has developed a novel electrode structure utilizing silver nanowire networks—ultrafine silver wires arranged like a spiderweb—to significantly enhance the efficiency of electrochemical CO₂ conversion to useful chemical products.

In electrochemical CO₂ conversion processes, a long-standing issue has been flooding, where the electrode becomes saturated with electrolyte, reducing the space available for CO₂ to react. While hydrophobic materials can prevent water intrusion, they typically suffer from low electrical conductivity, requiring additional components and complicating the system.

To overcome this, the research team designed a three-layer electrode architecture that simultaneously repels water and enables efficient charge transport. The structure consists of a hydrophobic substrate, a catalyst layer, and an overlaid silver nanowire (Ag NW) network, which acts as an efficient current collector while preventing electrolyte flooding.