Climate Change

Using a new method to track groundwater levels and greenhouse gas emissions, researchers uncover the climate impact of Southeast Asia’s peatlands.

In recent years, marathons and ultradistance endurance events have grown in popularity, and are widely regarded as beneficial to both physical and mental health. A recent study conducted by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University shows that individual personality traits play an important role in the psychological well-being derived from exercise. Contrary to common belief, individuals with higher levels of extraversion did not show a significant increase in subjective well-being as their participation in ultradistance endurance events increased. In fact, those more open to the experience were also more likely to translate such demanding trials into improved overall well-being. These findings offer new insights to people choosing exercise and activities that best suit their personalities.

More than 190 students from 13 local secondary schools will take part in a year-long programme to gain hands-on experience in preparing an extremely rare whale specimen for public exhibitions scheduled for 2027. The Environment and Conservation Fund “Sea” Through Cetacean: STEAM Student Ambassador Programme & Cetacean Conservation Exhibition, organised by the Division of Science of Lingnan University in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Cetacea Research Institute, and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, was officially launched on 1 February 2026. This initiative builds on the rare stranding of a Longman’s beaked whale in Hong Kong in 2024, providing students with a unique opportunity to assist in the preparation of skeletal specimens of one of the world’s most mysterious marine mammal species. The project also promotes cetacean conservation and will educate the public in key marine environmental issues, including plastic pollution in the oceans.

Sticky life beginnings. Precarious pitcher plant, Breaking the cobalt "cage", Toxic algae killer & “Pure-bred” stem cell medium. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus Asia Research News 2026 is out now and SciCom Coffee talk by Rachael Smith at Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Region-specific residential buildings solution optimizes energy-efficiency and thermal comfort

Scientists from City University of Hong Kong and collaborators from more than 20 countries are taking FIRST steps towards safeguarding communities most affected by climate change.

Prof Li Liangliang, Associate Professor of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) at Lingnan University, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the research and development of new materials chemistry. This honour highlights WJYSIS’s academic influence and value in promoting sustainable development through interdisciplinary innovation and real-world impact.

From icy seas to humid forests, research collaborations between the United Kingdom and Malaysia are helping to advance our understanding of diseases, develop vaccines and antibiotics, preserve precious habitats and address the challenge of plastic waste.

A new material provides high-performance conversion of heat into electricity, offering a way to make electronic devices more efficient.

A decade-long study of Northern Taiwan's cities reveals that heat risk inequality evolves with urbanisation characteristics and the connection between green space deficit and heat risk was not a general phenomenon.

Hydrogen peroxide is essential for daily life, but most of it is still made through energy-intensive industrial processes. Researchers have now developed a new computational framework to identify catalysts that can produce hydrogen peroxide directly from water and electricity, offering a cleaner alternative.

A new species of pitcher plant found only on Palawan Island is already at risk of extinction due to frequent severe weather conditions and human encroachment.

A new regional assessment shows that Southeast Asia is a major net source of greenhouse gases, with land-use change and rising fossil fuel use overwhelming natural carbon sinks, reservoirs that store carbon-containing chemical compounds for a long period.

Mutated baker’s yeast at the forefront of alternative 2,3-butanediol production methods

A Filipino-led team of international researchers has developed a physics-based algorithm that could train AI to greatly improve weather forecasts.

Brain atlas, From perfume to plastic, Stable solar power, Plant aging switch, Anti-cancer droplets, Greener gold, Extreme star factory and How research shapes sustainability policy. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Sonochemical degradation of carbon tetrachloride was found to increase in the presence of alcohols

Sea salt aerosols are an important, chemically-reactive contributor to air quality when their components interact with the already polluted city air, particularly in Metro Manila.

A commoning approach for democratic, community-centric weather modification

A first of its kind, the report from Springer Nature, in partnership with Overton, draws on more than 12 million policy documents to uncover how academic research is influencing real-world policy tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Philippines remains mired in import dependence despite years of government support.

On 20 November 2025, the Young Activists Summit (#YAS25) will honour five outstanding young people using technology to drive positive change. The event will take place at the European headquarters of the UN, in the recently renovated Assembly Hall of the historic Palais des Nations, in Geneva (Switzerland). The Summit will be webcast live and open to media participation.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs), known for their high efficiency and low manufacturing costs, are considered a revolutionary photovoltaic (PV) technology that can further reduce the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), thus promoting the development of green and renewable energy technology in order to reach our carbon reduction goals. However, state-of-the-art PSCs still face serious stability problems, especially during long-term continuous operation at high temperatures, which seriously hinder commercialisation.

More than 40% of existing and planned offshore wind farm sites in Europe and Asia are exposed to wind speeds above the maximum capacity of some turbines, highlighting the need for these energy infrastructures to adapt to extreme wind events associated with climate change.

Scientists at Tohoku University have uncovered how electric fields, surface properties, and charge dynamics work together to shape catalytic reactions. The findings reveal why pH so strongly influences reaction efficiency, and how understanding this interplay can guide the design of smarter, more sustainable catalysts.

Researchers found overlooked sources of greenhouse gas emissions in urban Osaka using mobile measurements

Tohoku University researchers dispel the “plasma effect” myth in spark plasma sintering, showing that both SPS and hot pressing achieve equally effective, rapid densification of LLZO solid electrolytes.

Ancient black holes, How good cholesterol is made, Self-healing plastic, Dengue’s genetic imprint, Korean mussel power & Space clean-up. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Researchers from China engineered a system that captures carbon dioxide from seawater and converts it into biodegradable plastic precursors at high efficiency and low energy consumption.

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a multilayer cobalt catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide with stable efficiency. The work highlights how data-driven design and molecular stacking can open new directions for carbon recycling.