A systematic analysis published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts establishes functionalized microalgae as emerging composite bioproducts with transformative potential across diagnostics, therapy, and theranostics. The review categorizes physical, chemical, biotechnological, and hybrid functionalization approaches while critically addressing immunogenicity, long-term biosafety, and clinical translation challenges essential for advancing these sustainable biomaterials from laboratory innovation to patient care.

Lakes in cold-arid regions experience significant environmental shifts during their freezing periods, often leading to an enrichment of nutrients that can precipitate harmful algal blooms and pose risks to aquatic ecosystems. A critical component of these nutrients is dissolved organic matter (DOM), which plays a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle. Despite its importance, the intricate mechanisms governing DOM transfer between ice and water, especially under microbial influence, have remained largely obscure. A recent investigation focused on two distinct lakes in China's Yellow River Basin—the saline Daihai Lake and the grassy Wuliangsuhai Lake—to illuminate these hidden processes.

A new comprehensive review compiles extensive evidence demonstrating the transformative potential of food waste biochar as a sustainable solution for agricultural enhancement and environmental remediation. Researchers from Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the University of Canterbury meticulously analyzed existing literature, consolidating knowledge on how diverting food waste into carbon-enriched soil amendment can address pressing global challenges related to waste management, food security, and climate change. This work underscores the critical role of food waste valorization in fostering a circular bioeconomy.

The growing prevalence of intelligent manufacturing and autonomous vehicles has intensified the demand for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction under complex illumination conditions (including complex reflection and transmission). Traditional structured light techniques rely on inherent point-to-point triangulation, and is unable to decouple complex illuminations, resulting in errors in depth reconstruction. Parallel single-pixel imaging (PSI) has demonstrated unprecedented superiority under extreme conditions. However, a complete theoretical model has not yet been reported to adequately explain its underlying mechanisms and quantitatively characterize its performance. This hinders the effective application of the technology and its ability to accurately address practical needs. In this study, a comprehensive theoretical model for the PSI method is proposed, including imaging and noise models. The proposed imaging model describes light transport coefficients under complex illumination, elucidating the intrinsic mechanisms of successful 3D imaging using PSI. The developed noise model quantitatively analyzes the impact of environmental noise on measurement accuracy, offering a framework to guide the error analysis of a PSI system. Numerical simulations and experimental results validate the proposed models, revealing the generality and robustness of PSI. Finally, potential research directions are highlighted to guide and inspire future investigations. The established theoretical models lay a solid foundation for PSI and bring new insights and opportunities for future application in more demanding 3D reconstruction tasks.

The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, and the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Xiang Zhang, have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (March 31) to establish a co-operation framework for advancing research and practical applications of cutting-edge construction technologies in public housing projects. This partnership will leverage the research prowess of a global top university alongside the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)'s full-cycle functions - from planning and design through construction and operations management to maintenance - and its comprehensive practical scenarios, bringing world-class innovations to local construction practices to pioneer industry leadership and accelerate Hong Kong's construction sector toward higher quality, more intelligent, and sustainable practices.

The “Action for Earth” Summit, one of the flagship events of Hong Kong Climate Week 2026, is being held today at Rayson Huang Theatre, The University of Hong Kong. The Summit brought together representatives from the United Nations, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Hong Kong SAR Government, the business sector, and leading international academic institutions to examine policy pathways, frontier research and actionable strategies for climate adaptation—reflecting the growing international consensus to shift the focus from “mitigation” to proactive “adaptation”.

A new analysis from the Ise-Ekiti Forest Reserve in Southwestern Nigeria provides a nuanced look at how human activities affect the carbon-storing capabilities of tropical forests. Researchers from the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies and the Department of Botany at Obafemi Awolowo University investigated the intricate connection between biomass, carbon stock, and potential CO₂ emissions in woody plants. The work compares sections of the forest with minimal human interference to areas impacted by activities like logging and agricultural expansion, offering critical data for conservation and climate change mitigation strategies.