A study published in Forest Ecosystems reveals Douglas-fir introduction have limited biodiversity impacts, showing no significant effect in 78.6% of cases, with only 9.4% negative outcomes. While canopy spiders benefit from its dense structure, arthropod diversity is reduced due to the distinct bark structure. Based on the limited studies retrieved by the review, it is reported that Douglas-fir inclusion has non-significant or neutral effects. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding bat populations and long-term soil impacts. The findings position this North American species as a viable climate-resilient option for European forestry, pending further research to establish safe implementation thresholds.

To answer this question: How do different operating schemes affect urban rail transit resilience? researchers at Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Ltd., The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Dalian University of Technology, constructed a passenger-train coupled network percolation model to investigate the impact of different operating schemes on urban rail transit system.

In a paper published in Mycology, an international team of scientists mainly reported the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluations of two new pairs of enantiomers, acresorcinols A and B (1a/1b and 2a/2b), and three orsellinic aldehydes, acresorcinols C−F (3−5), from the deep-sea-derived fungus Acremonium sclerotigenum LW14.

Scholars from Chongqing University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Tsinghua University, and State Grid Jiangxi Electric Power Research Institute in China has developed a novel approach to prepared ultrahigh voltage-gradient ZnO-based varistor ceramics through a hybrid cold sintering/spark plasma sintering (CSP-SPS) and post-annealing process.

A study published in Circular Economy reveals how integrated anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste in China’s Hengshui City has achieved a 64% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy and organic fertilizers. The research, led by Tsinghua University scientists and collaborators, underscores the transformative potential of circular economy models in aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

This study presents a nitrogen-doped zirconium carbide that demonstrates remarkable ablation resistance, outperforming conventional carbide ceramics. The oxidation mechanisms of this material are elucidated through experimental and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, representing the first analysis of such ultra-high melting point ceramics from the perspective of structural development during the oxidation process. Nitrogen atoms preferentially combine with zirconium atoms at temperatures below the oxide's melting point, forming robust Zr-C-N-O oxide network structures. These structures minimize oxide loss and maintain integrity during ablation, enhancing the material's performance in extreme environments.

Recent studies have shown that in addition to eukaryotic cells, archaea and bacteria also encode histones. However, the extent to which other dsDNA viruses encode histones remains largely unexplored. Here, Professor Liu's group identifies over 1,500 double-stranded DNA viral histones via metagenomic mining, including structurally and functionally diverse histone-fold proteins. This discovery greatly expands our understanding of histone diversity and highlights potential new functions of viral histones.

A recent study led by researchers from Tsinghua University and Southwest University of Science and Technology has introduced a new method to directly regenerate heavily degraded lithium cobalt oxide [LiCoO₂ (LCO)] cathodes from spent lithium-ion batteries. Using a ball milling process to convert the damaged crystalline structure into a uniform amorphous phase, the team rebuilt lithium replenishment pathways and restored electrochemical performance through high-temperature sintering. The regenerated cathodes delivered a discharge capacity of 179.10 mAh·g⁻¹—comparable to commercial materials. This approach not only sidesteps the environmental and energy drawbacks of conventional recycling but also presents a scalable and economically viable solution for the reuse of retired battery components.