Adapting urban water supply infrastructure and policies for wildfire in the 21st century, Porse, Erik, Pierce, Greg, Kearns, Faith, de Guzman, Edith, Salcedo, Camilo, Hauptman, Hope

Having more antimatter could help solve profound mysteries of physics The post Sympathetic cooling gives antihydrogen experiment a boost appeared first on Physics World.

Corrigendum: The economics of a circular urban water system (2025 Environ. Res. Lett. 20 094024), Whittington, Dale, Chandrasekaran, Maya

Dense and widespread tropical rainforests across Southeast Asia are crucial for the global carbon cycle. A new generation geostationary satellite, Himawari-8/9, and onboard sensor, the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI), enables hyper-temporal vegetation monitoring in this cloud-prone region. However, AHI’s fixed viewing geometry varies spatially, making consistent vegetation monitoring challenging across a wide area at a seasonal scale. This study evaluated four different sun-target-sensor geometry conditions using two-band enhanced vegetation index (EVI2) to achieve near-uniform geometry and enhance the ability to monitor vegetation activities: (i) nadir condition, which used nadir viewing and solar geometry at local solar noon; (ii) local solar noon (LSN) condition, which used pixel-by-pixel fixed viewing and solar geometry at local solar noon; (iii) temporally-constant scattering angle (T-CSA) condition, which used pixel-by-pixel fixed viewing and solar geometry corresponding to the scattering angle which meets the criterion (Gao et al 2024 Remote Sens. Environ.315 114407); and (iv) spatially-constant scattering angle (S-CSA) condition, which used pixel-by-pixel fixed viewing and solar geometry corresponding to a uniform scattering angle of 140°. Among these, the S-CSA condition most effectively mitigated angular artifacts. The derived EVI2 showed higher correlations with tower-based gross primary productivity (GPP), indicating it better captured seasonal variations in vegetation activity. It also demonstrated spatially consistent temporal variations, least affected by AHI’s unique observation geometry. Applying a near-uniform sun-target-sensor geometry based on the S-CSA condition improves monitoring capability in Southeast Asia and enhances our understanding of vegetation dynamics.

China dominates global coking production with a 70% proportion, making the decarbonization of this highly energy- and emission-intensive industry critical for resource and environmental benefits. Despite discussions of decarbonization potential at the regional level, plant-specific co-benefits and technologically driven pathways remain unclear. Here, we integrate detailed data from 329 individual Chinese coking plants—characterizing their location, capacity, technology, and age—with national carbon neutrality scenarios to develop optimized, multi-criteria retirement pathways. Plants mainly located in Shanxi are first phased out before 2030 in a business-as-usual scenario, while retirements are proportional across provinces in the low coke production scenario. Considerable co-benefits are observed, 53.4%–57.1% of water saving and emission mitigation toward 2060. Trade-offs exist due to ascending coal use if there is higher technical penetration of dry quenching. Our analysis quantifies the distinct contributions of demand reduction (driven by steel industry transformation) and structural efficiency improvements within the coking sector itself. These results provide the first granular, data-driven roadmap for managing China’s critical coking transition, offering crucial insights for maximizing environmental gains during industrial decarbonization globally.

To limit global warming to below 1.5 °C–2 °C, more than 140 countries have pledged carbon neutrality. However, many less-developed countries and regions face economic constraints and often suffer from severe ecosystem degradation, which jointly hinder their ability to meet these commitments. Here, we use the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), a less-developed region that has experienced ecosystem degradation, as a case study. We use a novel multi-scenario modeling framework to assess the impact of different combinations of natural climate solutions (NCS) and carbon emission reduction policies (CERPs) on carbon neutrality and associated costs. Our findings show that carbon neutrality was achieved on the QTP by 2020, with a surplus of 18.16 MtCO2 yr−1. However, without CERPs, carbon emissions on the QTP are projected to increase fivefold by 2060 compared with 2020 levels. Even with stringent NCS, a shortfall of nearly 375.34 ± 99.05 MtCO2 yr−1 in maintaining carbon neutrality remains in 2060. If CERPs are implemented without NCS, the cost of maintaining carbon neutrality in 2060 is estimated at USD 199.07 ± 25.96 billion during 2020–2060. Notably, integrating NCS with CERPs reduces costs by nearly half (USD 111.51 ± 21.48 billion). Furthermore, the integration of aggressive CERPs and NCS on the QTP could contribute a further additional surplus by 2060 toward national carbon neutrality goals at a pretty low carbon price. Our research highlights that combining NCS with CERPs yields greater climate benefits at significantly lower costs, providing potential pathways for financially constrained regions to enhance climate mitigation, especially when supported by international climate finance and cooperative mechanisms.

Fires have a significant impact on the regional carbon budget, the ecosystem, and public health. We analyzed the fire dynamics and its impact on carbon flux across three fire prone regions in South Asia, Region-1 (southwestern Nepal, Uttarakhand), Region-2 (central India), and Region-3 (northeast India) from 2010 to 2021, with a focus on the significant fire season of February, March, and April (FMA) of 2021. We find high burned areas (5000–10 000 km2), and fire carbon emissions (0.3–4 TgC season–1) across these regions in FMA, 2021, as compared to a climatological mean from 2010–2020. Each of the three regions shows distinct drivers that preceded the fires. In Region-1, snow-induced soil moisture deficits drive fire activity, leading to a subsequent decline in gross primary production . In Region-2, human activities, likely cropland burning, contributed to the forest fire. In Region-3, the scattered distribution of burned areas hints that human activity is the likely cause of the forest fire. During FMA, 2021, fire carbon emission in Region-1 (∼4 TgC) were almost twice of the fossil fuel emissions (∼2.2 TgC), while in Region-2 (∼3.8 TgC), it remained below fossil fuel emissions (∼16 TgC). In both regions, emissions from forests and croplands contributed equally to the total fire carbon emissions. In Region-3, fire carbon emissions exceeded fossil fuel emissions in 2012 (∼4.7 TgC), 2013 (∼6.18 TgC), and 2014 (∼9.75 TgC) but remained lower in 2021 (∼3.37 TgC), with most emissions originating from forests. This analysis highlights the critical role of forest fires in the carbon budget, the ecosystem and the need for better forest carbon management.

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a critical natural nitrogen input that sustains terrestrial carbon cycling, yet it remains poorly represented in terrestrial ecosystem models (TEMs). Here, we refine the nitrogen cycle representation in a TEM by incorporating free-living and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) processes along with atmospheric nitrogen deposition effects. Our updated model provides a new assessment of present-day and future global natural ecosystem BNF rates and their spatial distribution. We estimate that present-day (1981–2020) free-living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) contributes to 36 Tg N yr−1, ranging from 33 to 38.5 Tg N yr−1 and SNF is 88 Tg N yr−1 with a range of 80–95 Tg N yr−1, resulting in a total BNF 124 Tg N yr–1, ranging from 112 to 134 Tg N yr−1. Under the SSP5-8.5 warming scenario, our projections indicate that total BNF could increase to 178 Tg N yr−1 by the end of the 21st century. Our model results highlight that the FLNF plays a dominant role in low-temperature environments, and plant functional type emerges as the primary factor for both symbiotic and FLNF pathways, thus precise global vegetation classification is highly necessary for N2 fixation simulation. Our refined model advances global nitrogen cycle modeling and will improve future quantification of both global carbon and nitrogen cycles.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, climate policies without progressive redistribution risk exacerbating poverty, potentially undermining the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) while striving to meet Paris Agreement goals. The concept of ‘just transitions,’ which integrates both environmental and social interventions, is essential for advancing climate and poverty reduction objectives. Both climate change impacts and climate action may exacerbate existing inequalities, underscoring the urgency of addressing both environmental and social justice concerns. Equally, developmental aspirations may threaten to aggravate environmentally detrimental patterns. To this end, the paper examines how domestic efforts balance climate and poverty priorities in the governance of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. It develops a conceptual framework that links the governance of climate and poverty to justice outcomes within the global political economic context, using the illustrative case of Kenya. Kenya presents a compelling case due to its relevance to the conceptual framework amidst high dependence on climate-sensitive economic sectors; aspirations both to act as a climate leader and reach middle-income status; and its high financial dependence on development partners and transnational capital. By connecting political economy dynamics to justice outcomes, the framework contributes to a deeper understanding of governance efforts that aim to link climate and poverty objectives but do not necessarily deliver a just transition. Through the case of Kenya, the paper illustrates the challenges and opportunities faced by Sub-Saharan African countries in managing the interdependence between climate and poverty reduction objectives, contributing to ongoing debates on just transitions in the global South.

Fluvial floods characterized by either large volume or prolonged duration severely impede the sustainable development of socio-ecological systems, which may intensify with global warming. However, the co-evolution dynamics of joint fluvial flood characteristics and their socioeconomic implications under different global warming targets are poorly understood. Here, we combine a deep learning (DL)-constrained hybrid model, a statistical approach and climate models to evaluate future flood occurrence within a bivariate framework (i.e. volume and duration) across 8735 catchments. After evaluating the performance of the DL-constrained hybrid model, we project a doubling of bivariate fluvial flood hazard under 3.0 °C warming. We assess the uncertainty of fluvial flood projections and reveal that the global climate models and coupled factors are the major uncertainty sources. Global warming from 1.5 °C to 3.0 °C tends to amplify flood exposure of gross domestic product, population and agricultural area, by ∼97%, ∼46%, and ∼67% under a medium emission scenario (SSP370), respectively.

Manufactured home communities in the US Mountain West face increasing amounts of exposure to wildfire smoke, magnifying existing environmental health disparities. This study explores a co-creation approach to air quality messaging that is grounded in social cognitive theory and draws from environmental communication research. We examined how manufactured home community experiences, across eight distinct communities, shape the development of localized air quality information, and how self-efficacy and outcome expectations influence information-sharing behaviors. Through a series of focus groups (n = 23) during the 2024 wildfire smoke season, we found co-creation strengthened community engagement by incorporating trusted communication networks and culturally relevant messaging. However, message fatigue and climate burnout presented challenges, highlighting the need for adaptive communication strategies. We discuss implications for designing sustainable and locally relevant air quality communication.

 New multi-temperature coronal mass ejection observations might help us better understand how life emerged and evolved on Earth The post Plasma bursts from young stars could shed light on the early life of the Sun appeared first on Physics World.

Finding brings us a step closer to solving the mystery of dark matter, say astronomers The post Flattened halo of dark matter could explain high-energy ‘glow’ at Milky Way’s heart appeared first on Physics World.

Do Aliens Speak Physics? author Daniel Whiteson is our podcast guest The post Talking physics with an alien civilization: what could we learn? appeared first on Physics World.

Physics World and Physics Magazine launch a quantum competition for delegates at the 2025 World Conference of Science Journalists The post International Quantum Year competition for science journalists begins appeared first on Physics World.

Topological kagome tubes isolate vibrations to one end, keeping the other end safe The post New cylindrical metamaterials could act as shock absorbers for sensitive equipment appeared first on Physics World.

Condensed natter: Physics World editors give their compressed verdicts on top new books The post Breakfast physics, delving into quantum 2.0, the science of sound, an update to everything: micro reviews of recent books appeared first on Physics World.

Peering into a near future where quantum science blends with AI. What are the implications for science, society and the arts? The post Quantum 2.0: Paul Davies on the next revolution in physics appeared first on Physics World.

By tuning the work function of PEDOT:PSS electrodes, researchers enhance photodetector efficiency and adaptability, advancing the future of optoelectronic systems The post Flexible electrodes for the future of light detection appeared first on Physics World.

A research team from China have proposed a new, experimentally feasible, method to encrypt messages using the principles of quantum mechanics The post Quantum cryptography in practice appeared first on Physics World.

Superconducting germanium could find application in a new generation of quantum devices The post Scientists realize superconductivity in traditional semiconducting material appeared first on Physics World.

The author of Physics Around the Clock is our podcast guest The post Better coffee, easier parking and more: the fascinating physics of daily life appeared first on Physics World.

Sarah Wild talks to astronomers across the world who are on a hunt for a subtle hydrogen signal that could confirm or disprove our ideas on the universe’s evolution The post Cosmic dawn: the search for the primordial hydrogen signal appeared first on Physics World.

Each ion is uniquely entangled with a photon The post Ten-ion system brings us a step closer to large-scale qubit registers appeared first on Physics World.

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a key driver of global climate variability, and its impact on phytoplankton concentrations in the eastern equatorial Pacific via nutrient supply changes is well established. However, the extent to which phytoplankton feedback influences ENSO remains unclear. Chlorophyll in phytoplankton warms the upper ocean by absorbing solar radiation, and this effect weakens during El Niño and strengthens during La Niña, yet its overall impact is not well quantified. Using a simple nitrogen-based Nitrate–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton–Detritus pelagic model, here we show that phytoplankton concentration anomalies significantly dampen ENSO by cooling sea surface temperature by 0.69 °C during El Niño development and warming it by 1.09 °C during La Niña, with mean amplitudes of 1.71 °C and 1.42 °C, respectively. This may partially contributes to the amplitude asymmetry of ENSO, and accounts for 16.8% of total shortwave radiation-related damping during El Niño and 17.4% during La Niña. Our offline modeling approach successfully isolates this direct heating effect by excluding indirect dynamical effects of phytoplankton to physical variables.