In a cluttered research lab in eastern China, a new kind of garbage disposal sits humming quietly. It doesn’t grind or incinerate. Instead, it farms millions of writhing black soldier fly larvae that consume rural food waste and transform themselves into high-protein animal feed. The contraption might sound like something from a science fiction novel, … Read more
Most people assume that when solar technology breaks, it becomes expensive waste. A team of Chinese researchers has just shattered that assumption with a new type of transparent solar concentrator that can be melted down and rebuilt multiple times without losing its power-generating abilities. The breakthrough centers on a peculiar material called ETP2SbCl5, which sounds … Read more
A powerful new AI tool is uncovering the fine details of storms that traditional weather models miss. Researchers from Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, working with collaborators in Poland and California, have developed the first deep learning framework capable of generating high-resolution GNSS tomography of the atmosphere. Their method, published in Satellite Navigation … Read more
A sweeping new analysis of UNESCO World Heritage sites reveals that four out of five cultural treasures worldwide are already suffering from climate-induced damage, with ancient wooden structures facing particularly severe threats from temperature swings and moisture extremes. The comprehensive study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, examined 938 cultural heritage sites across the globe … Read more
A research team in Shenzhen has found a surprising new energy source hiding in our city sewage. By recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater, the team has developed a cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable way to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, crucial components in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems. The new method transforms … Read more
Chinese researchers have unveiled a powerful new tool for Earth observation: a 30-meter resolution Landsat composite data cube covering every year from 1985 to 2023. The seamless dataset, described in the Journal of Remote Sensing, offers the first annual “Leaf-On” season satellite imagery for all of China. By solving long-standing issues with cloud cover, sensor … Read more
Scientists have discovered two viruses closely related to the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses lurking in bat kidneys near villages in China’s Yunnan province. The findings raise urgent concerns about potential spillover to humans through contaminated fruit, as these bats inhabit orchards where they could spread the pathogens through urine. The comprehensive study, published in … Read more
Chinese researchers have developed a microbial system that transforms steel industry waste into useful construction materials while simultaneously capturing carbon dioxide from cement plant emissions. The technology addresses two major environmental challenges with a single biological solution. The study, published in Engineering, demonstrates how bacteria can accelerate the conversion of steel slag—a massive industrial byproduct—into … Read more
Hong Kong’s Kowloon Peninsula might be one of the most studied urban climate zones on Earth, yet it continues heating up at an alarming rate. New research reveals why standard cooling solutions—from ventilation corridors to energy-efficient buildings—have failed to stop rising temperatures in dense cities. The study, published in City and Built Environment, shows that … Read more
A simple industrial chemical acting as molecular “superglue” has helped Chinese researchers achieve record-breaking efficiency in large-scale, printable solar panels. The innovation addresses one of the final hurdles blocking perovskite solar technology from moving out of labs and onto rooftops worldwide. Scientists from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed a technique using tetramethylammonium … Read more