Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessContinuous and low-carbon production of biomass flash graphene
It is challenging to produce biomass FG continuously due to the lack of an integrated device. Here, we create an integrated automatic system with energy requirement-oriented allocation to achieve continuous biomass FG production with a much lower carbon footprint.
- Xiangdong Zhu
- , Litao Lin
- & Yong-Guan Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessGlobal energy use and carbon emissions from irrigated agriculture
The global energy and carbon footprint of irrigation remain uncertain. Here, the authors show that energy consumption and carbon emissions from irrigation are primarily driven by groundwater pumping and are significant in major agricultural nations.”
- Jingxiu Qin
- , Weili Duan
- & Lorenzo Rosa
-
Article
| Open AccessMeta-analysis indicates better climate adaptation and mitigation performance of hybrid engineering-natural coastal defence measures
This meta-analysis compares the performance of hard, hybrid, soft and natural coastal defence measures. Results show that all measures have a positive economic return over 20 years yet hybrid measures perform best for climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Lam Thi Mai Huynh
- , Jie Su
- & Alexandros Gasparatos
-
Article
| Open AccessThe effect of a political crisis on performance of community forests and protected areas in Madagascar
The effectiveness of community-based land protection compared to traditional top-down protection is debated. Here, the authors show that both community-managed forests and traditional protected areas in Madagascar experienced deforestation during a political crisis but the former were especially vulnerable in the post-crisis period.
- Rachel A. Neugarten
- , Ranaivo A. Rasolofoson
- & Amanda D. Rodewald
-
Article
| Open AccessDefect-induced triple synergistic modulation in copper for superior electrochemical ammonia production across broad nitrate concentrations
Converting nitrate to ammonia in wastewater with a wide range of nitrate concentrations remains a challenging task. Here the authors report defect-rich Cu nanowire electrocatalyst which can achieve 50 to 1100 mA cm−2 and over 90% Faradaic efficiency using 1–100 mM nitrate wastewater.
- Bocheng Zhang
- , Zechuan Dai
- & Genqiang Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessGrave-to-cradle photothermal upcycling of waste polyesters over spent LiCoO2
The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers.
- Xiangxi Lou
- , Penglei Yan
- & Jinxing Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessSubstantially reducing global PM2.5-related deaths under SDG3.9 requires better air pollution control and healthcare
Reducing PM2.5 air pollution from biomass burning, transport, energy, and manufacturing, in combination with improvements in healthcare, especially in emerging economies like India and China, will be crucial to meeting SDG3.9
- Huanbi Yue
- , Chunyang He
- & Brett A. Bryan
-
Article
| Open AccessNitrogen and phosphorus trends in lake sediments of China may diverge
Nutrient levels in Chinese lakes have rapidly increased since 1950 but future trends in lacustrine nitrogen and phosphorus across China will differentiate, according to projections up to 2100.
- Panpan Ji
- , Jianhui Chen
- & Fahu Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessAccounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration
Restoring tree cover is a prominent climate solution but can cause global warming due to changes in albedo. This paper maps albedo and carbon changes from restoring tree cover to highlight where the greatest net climate benefits can be achieved.
- Natalia Hasler
- , Christopher A. Williams
- & Susan C. Cook-Patton
-
Article
| Open AccessTreeline displacement may affect lake dissolved organic matter processing at high latitudes and altitudes
Shifts in the treeline may induce changes in organic matter composition of lakes at high altitude and latitude. Here, the authors experimentally unravel effects of soil-derived DOM for lake carbon biogeochemistry and bacterial carbon use efficiency.
- Núria Catalán
- , Carina Rofner
- & Hannes Peter
-
Article
| Open AccessField-scale crop water consumption estimates reveal potential water savings in California agriculture
This study introduces a novel framework for generating high-resolution, in-situ estimates of agricultural evapotranspiration (ET) using satellite-based ET data combined with machine learning. This approach is leveraged to assess the water-saving potential of various management strategies and in calculating irrigation efficiency across California’s Central Valley.
- Anna Boser
- , Kelly Caylor
- & Tamma Carleton
-
Article
| Open AccessAtmospheric isoprene measurements reveal larger-than-expected Southern Ocean emissions
High atmospheric concentrations of isoprene have been observed in the Southern Ocean. The authors investigate their potential marine sources and show how these emissions impact the modelling of atmospheric processes and composition in remote environments.
- Valerio Ferracci
- , James Weber
- & Neil. R. P. Harris
-
Article
| Open AccessThe potential of urban irrigation for counteracting carbon-climate feedback
This study shows that urban irrigation is capable of achieving the environmental co-benefit of heat mitigation and carbon neutrality and has the potential to counteract the climate–carbon feedback loop in the U.S. urban environment.
- Peiyuan Li
- , Zhi-Hua Wang
- & Chenghao Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessMechanistic insight into the competition between interfacial and bulk reactions in microdroplets through N2O5 ammonolysis and hydrolysis
The authors report a computational strategy to simulate the hydrolysis and ammonolysis of N2O5 in aerosols using high-level quantum chemical methods. The computational results reveal a complete picture of the reactive uptake of N2O5 by atmospheric aerosols with or without NH3.
- Ye-Guang Fang
- , Bo Tang
- & Wei-Hai Fang
-
Article
| Open AccessTrade-offs in land-based carbon removal measures under 1.5 °C and 2 °C futures
This study demonstrates how land-based carbon removals and the market-mediated responses are sensitive to mitigation policy strength and scope, illustrating that, despite trade-offs, both forestation and BECCS are integral to cost-effective 2 °C pathways.
- Xin Zhao
- , Bryan K. Mignone
- & Haewon C. McJeon
-
Article
| Open AccessDouble charge flips of polyamide membrane by ionic liquid-decoupled bulk and interfacial diffusion for on-demand nanofiltration
Currently polyamide membranes fabricated by interfacial polymerization are limited by inherently negative charge as well as narrow charge tailoring window restricting the application of these membranes. Here, the authors report a facile ionic liquid-decoupled bulk/interfacial diffusion strategy to fabricate polyamide membranes which can transform on-demand from inherently negative to highly positive and near-neutral charge.
- Bian-Bian Guo
- , Chang Liu
- & Zhi-Kang Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessAn exposome atlas of serum reveals the risk of chronic diseases in the Chinese population
Current studies have provided limited knowledge on real-world chemical exposures and related risks. Here, the authors show serum exposure characteristics of humans in different regions and age groups, revealing diverse risk relationships with multiple chronic diseases.
- Lei You
- , Jing Kou
- & Guowang Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessPopulation exposure to multiple air pollutants and its compound episodes in Europe
European population exposure to most air pollutants has been reduced significantly, however for PM2.5 and O3, single pollutant and compound events remain a threat, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe
- Zhao-Yue Chen
- , Hervé Petetin
- & Joan Ballester
-
Article
| Open AccessCost-effectiveness uncertainty may bias the decision of coal power transitions in China
China’s use of coal is complex to establish a clean and low-carbon transition for the country. With an uncertainty assessment framework, this study displays the risks of missing opportunities in obtaining cumulative positive net benefits and identifying an optimal transition strategy.
- Xizhe Yan
- , Dan Tong
- & Yu Lei
-
Article
| Open AccessElectronic structure modulation of iron sites with fluorine coordination enables ultra-effective H2O2 activation
Electronic structure modulation of active sites is critical important in Fenton catalysis. Herein, the authors report that the iron oxyfluoride involving fluorine coordination to iron sites, can effectively activate H2O2 into •OH for water treatment.
- Deyou Yu
- , Licong Xu
- & Jinming Luo
-
Article
| Open AccessStable hydrogen evolution reaction at high current densities via designing the Ni single atoms and Ru nanoparticles linked by carbon bridges
Understanding the sustained stability of alkaline hydrogen evolution at high current densities is crucial. Herein, the authors synthesize Ni single atoms, modified with ultra-small Ru nanoparticles with a defective carbon bridging structure, capable of running steadily for 100 h at 3 A cm−2.
- Rui Yao
- , Kaian Sun
- & Jinping Li
-
Article
| Open AccessLight-responsive and ultrapermeable two-dimensional metal-organic framework membrane for efficient ionic energy harvesting
With porous structure and photothermal conversion performance, Cu-porphyrin framework membranes exhibit high efficiency in the extraction of electrical energy from salt solutions, opening avenues for renewable energy.
- Jin Wang
- , Zeyuan Song
- & Lei Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessCirculation of hydraulically ponded turbidity currents and the filling of continental slope minibasins
Gravity currents transporting particulates down continental slopes can encounter large depressions. Current interactions with confining topography induce horizontal circulation cells that control deposition of sediment in depressions and reduce their capacity to trap particulates.
- J. Kevin Reece
- , Robert M. Dorrell
- & Kyle M. Straub
-
Comment
| Open AccessPlastic pollution amplified by a warming climate
Climate change and plastic pollution are interconnected global challenges. Rising temperatures and moisture alter plastic characteristics, contributing to waste, microplastic generation, and release of hazardous substances. Urgent attention is essential to comprehend and address these climate-driven effects and their consequences.
- Xin-Feng Wei
- , Wei Yang
- & Mikael S. Hedenqvist
-
Article
| Open AccessWood-inspired metamaterial catalyst for robust and high-throughput water purification
Continuous industrialization and human activities have led to severe water quality deterioration. Here, a structure-function integrated system is developed by Douglas fir wood inspired metamaterial catalysts with robust and high throughput water purification performances.
- Lei Zhang
- , Hanwen Liu
- & Jian Lu
-
Article
| Open AccessSustained growth of sulfur hexafluoride emissions in China inferred from atmospheric observations
Atmospheric measurements show that China’s emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, sulfur hexafluoride, grew rapidly between 2011 and 2021. This rise could offset some of China’s progress towards its greenhouse gas emission reduction goal.
- Minde An
- , Ronald G. Prinn
- & Matthew Rigby
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: Field experiments show no consistent reductions in soil microbial carbon in response to warming
- Guillaume Patoine
- , Nico Eisenhauer
- & Carlos A. Guerra
-
Article
| Open AccessImpact of population aging on future temperature-related mortality at different global warming levels
This study reveals that population aging intensifies heat- and cold-related deaths, more so than climate change, in 50 countries. At 1.53 °C global warming, aging contributes to rising heat-related deaths, offsetting declines in cold related death.
- Kai Chen
- , Evan de Schrijver
- & Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera
-
Article
| Open AccessChemoenzymatic indican for light-driven denim dyeing
Conventional blue denim dyeing has both environmental and health-related consequences. Here, Bidart et al. use enzyme engineering to develop a viable method for the bulk production of indican and demonstrate dying processes which could significantly reduce the negative consequences of this billion-dollar industry.
- Gonzalo Nahuel Bidart
- , David Teze
- & Ditte Hededam Welner
-
Article
| Open AccessHerbicide leakage into seawater impacts primary productivity and zooplankton globally
Herbicides used in terrestrial environments pollute coastal ecosystems. Here, the authors analyse the presence of 32 herbicides at 661 bays and gulfs worldwide from 1990 to 2022, showing how under current herbicide stress, phytoplankton primary productivity was inhibited by more than 5% at 25%.
- Liqiang Yang
- , Xiaotong He
- & Yongyu Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessModern anthropogenic drought in Central Brazil unprecedented during last 700 years
Speleothems from the Savanna region in Brazil documents the occurrence of an unprecedented long-term drought driven by anthropogenic forcing. Staring in the 1970´s the current drought is the most severe that has struck the region in the past 700 years.
- Nicolas Misailidis Stríkis
- , Plácido Fabrício Silva Melo Buarque
- & Valdir Felipe Novello
-
Article
| Open AccessCCl4 emissions in eastern China during 2021–2022 and exploration of potential new sources
The Montreal Protocol globally phased out ozone-layer depleting CCl4 by 2010. However, atmospheric measurements show eastern China emitted ~7.6 gigagrams/year in 2021–2022. Further, industrial sources of ongoing CCL4 emissions are identified.
- Bowei Li
- , Jiahuan Huang
- & Xuekun Fang
-
Article
| Open AccessReactive aldehyde chemistry explains the missing source of hydroxyl radicals
Hydroxyl radicals (OH) determine the tropospheric self-cleansing capacity. This study reveals that reactive aldehyde chemistry plays an important role in OH formation and helps narrow the gap between ambient OH observations and model simulations.
- Xinping Yang
- , Haichao Wang
- & Yuanhang Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessPhotocured room temperature phosphorescent materials from lignosulfonate
It is elusive to manufacture room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials through effective and ambient processing approaches. Here the authors report the production of photocured RTP materials using lignosulfonate to act as RTP chromophore and photoinitiator, achieving easy preparation, low cost and good performance.
- Hongda Guo
- , Mengnan Cao
- & Zhijun Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessLong-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, particulate constituents and hospital admissions from non-respiratory infection
The study evaluated the impact of PM2.5 and its constituents on hospital admissions from non-respiratory infection. Here, the authors showed that nonrespiratory infections are an under-appreciated health effect of PM2.5 while Sulfates contributed the largest weights in the observed associations
- Yijing Feng
- , Edgar Castro
- & Joel Schwartz
-
Article
| Open AccessReal-world time-travel experiment shows ecosystem collapse due to anthropogenic climate change
Over 13 years, coastal Louisiana’s wetlands have been endangered by a sea-level rise rate comparable to what is expected later this century. While the rate may not persist over the next few decades, this natural experiment indicates a 75% drowning of these wetlands by 2070 under current carbon emissions.
- Guandong Li
- , Torbjörn E. Törnqvist
- & Sönke Dangendorf
-
Article
| Open AccessSustainable conversion of alkaline nitrate to ammonia at activities greater than 2 A cm−2
Alkaline nitrate electroreduction to ammonia is restricted by insufficient H+ supply. Here, the authors propose a halogen-mediated H+ feeding strategy, by triggering dangling O-H water dissociation and fast *H desorption for *NO intermediate hydrogenation, to enhance the formation of ammonia.
- Wanru Liao
- , Jun Wang
- & Min Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessHuman-triggered magnification of erosion rates in European Alps since the Bronze Age
Using a lake sediment core taken from the European Alps and combining a source-sink approach with isotope geochemistry, it has been established that the effects of human activities have outweighed those of climate on erosion for more than 3800 years.
- William Rapuc
- , Charline Giguet-Covex
- & Fabien Arnaud
-
Article
| Open AccessA triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution
Here the authors find one third of global sub-basins will face severe clean water scarcity in 2050. Nitrogen pollution aggravates water scarcity in >2,000 sub-basins thus 3 billion more people will be posed with severe water scarcity in 2050.
- Mengru Wang
- , Benjamin Leon Bodirsky
- & Maryna Strokal
-
Article
| Open AccessAvoiding ecosystem and social impacts of hydropower, wind, and solar in Southern Africa’s low-carbon electricity system
Avoiding the most damaging land use and freshwater impacts of solar PV, wind, and hydropower development while halving carbon emissions by 2040 in the Southern Africa region is not only possible but incurs only modest (3-6%) system cost increases.
- Grace C. Wu
- , Ranjit Deshmukh
- & Kudakwashe Ndhlukula
-
Article
| Open AccessNominally identical microplastic models differ greatly in their particle-cell interactions
Microplastics research is often based on commercial model particles. Here, the authors show that nominally identical particles may differ significantly in their properties and thus in their interactions with cells.
- Simon Wieland
- , Anja F. R. M. Ramsperger
- & Holger Kress
-
Article
| Open AccessNanoconfinement-triggered oligomerization pathway for efficient removal of phenolic pollutants via a Fenton-like reaction
Traditional mineralization of organic pollutants requires an excessive input of chemicals and causes undesirable carbon emissions. Here, authors report a nanoconfinement strategy to alter the carbon transfer pathway of phenol removal from ring opening route to oligomerization route.
- Xiang Zhang
- , Jingjing Tang
- & Bingcai Pan
-
Article
| Open AccessA rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery
The development of practical Ca metal batteries has been hindered by the cathode chemistry. Here, the authors report a rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery, which involves the reversible cathode redox reaction between CaCl2 and Cl2.
- Shitao Geng
- , Xiaoju Zhao
- & Hao Sun
-
Article
| Open AccessSustainable biomimetic solar distillation with edge crystallization for passive salt collection and zero brine discharge
Conventional desalination processes generate clean water and reject brine to sea, which is harmful to the aquatic life. Here, the authors propose a low- cost scalable and foldable mangrove-mimetic device for solar thermal distillation and passive salt collection without brine discharge.
- Mohamed A. Abdelsalam
- , Muhammad Sajjad
- & TieJun Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessConsistent stoichiometric long-term relationships between nutrients and chlorophyll-a across shallow lakes
Nutrient limitation is a well-known control of phytoplankton growth, but predicting specific responses in individual lakes based on nutrient data alone has proven challenging. Here, the authors show that long-term signals of chlorophyll-a dynamics in shallow lakes can be captured based on stoichiometric effects of N and P concentrations along a continuum of total N:total P ratios.
- Daniel Graeber
- , Mark J. McCarthy
- & Thomas A. Davidson
-
Article
| Open AccessMicrobial decomposition of biodegradable plastics on the deep-sea floor
It is unclear whether microbes can efficiently degrade biodegradable plastics in the extreme environmental conditions of the seafloor. Here, Omura et al. show that biodegradable plastics can be degraded by the action of microorganisms on the deep-sea floor, although with much less efficiency than in coastal settings.
- Taku Omura
- , Noriyuki Isobe
- & Tadahisa Iwata
-
Article
| Open AccessGreenhouse gas emissions from US irrigation pumping and implications for climate-smart irrigation policy
This study demonstrates the energy use of US pump irrigation produced 12.6 million tonnes CO2e in 2018, with spatial variability modulated by water source and fuel choice. These county-level estimates can inform strategic irrigation expansion and emissions reduction efforts.
- Avery W. Driscoll
- , Richard T. Conant
- & Nathaniel D. Mueller
-
Article
| Open AccessScattered tree death contributes to substantial forest loss in California
Tree mortality due to climate change and other disturbances is on the rise. Here, the authors use high-resolution remote sensing data, ground observations and deep learning to quantify individual dead trees and potential drivers across California in the year 2020, encompassing 91.4 million dead trees.
- Yan Cheng
- , Stefan Oehmcke
- & Stéphanie Horion
-
Article
| Open AccessThermal responses of dissolved organic matter under global change
The response of organic molecules to climate change is linked to warming, nutrient loading, and greenhouse gas emissions, according to an indicator developed to quantify the aggregated thermal response of individual organic molecules.
- Ang Hu
- , Kyoung-Soon Jang
- & Jianjun Wang