Climate Change

A daily mismatch between temperature and humidity, observed in certain mountain and waterside regions, helps regulate atmospheric dryness. However, this protective effect may weaken under global warming.

Improved production of compounds from methanol and Komagataella phaffii yeast achieved through DNA alteration

A world-first multi-sensor detection of an intense gamma-ray flash has been observed by researchers from The University of Osaka, when two lightning leaders collided. Observations across a wide radiation spectrum enabled precise measurement of the electric current produced during this extreme event, and demonstrated that the gamma-ray flash preceded the collision of the lightning leaders between the thundercloud and the ground.

A research team has developed a unified theoretical framework to better predict the performance of single-atom catalysts for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.

Identification of plant species at high risk of extinction in climate-sensitive alpine ecosystems.

With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increasing environmental challenges, global catastrophic risks have gone beyond traditional natural disasters to raise controversial ethical issues. In view of this, the Hong Kong Catastrophic Risk Centre (HKCRC) of Lingnan University has introduced a new, free, online bilingual self-learning course on Ethics and Global Catastrophic Risks, taught by international authorities in philosophy and ethics. Designed to help people understand and cope with the complex landscape of global disaster risks through eight modules, the new programme, launched in late February this year, incorporates in-depth, real-life examples in AI, the environment, and the sciences, and has already attracted more than 8,000 participants from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Asia, the US, and Europe. It is now open to the public at no charge.

Smart neural electrode, "Rhinoceros beetle" robot, Halting the thief of sight, Together at last & Lighting hardy plants. Plus latest SciCom Coffee talk. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

The Expert Report on the Fifth National Assessment Report on Climate Change Hong Kong and Macao Special Report, organised by the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21 (ACCA21) and co-hosted by Lingnan University, was held on Lingnan campus on April 26. Attendees included Vice President Lan Yujie of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Deputy Director Zhang Yongtao of ACCA21; Deputy Director Yan Jinding of the National High-tech R&D of NSFC; President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science Prof S. Joe Qin; Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Prof Gong Peng, Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning) of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Prof Jimmy Fung, as well as representatives from relevant departments and experts from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Researchers have developed a mesoporous Co₃O₄ catalyst doped with atomically dispersed iridium (Ir) for efficient acidic OER. This unique structure boosts Ir efficiency, minimizes metal leaching, and maintains performance for over 100 hours at just 248 mV overpotential.

Colder temperatures are linked with increased risk of diarrhea among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for climate-sensitive health strategies in refugee settings.

Professor Carlos M. Duarte, Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor of Marine Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), has been awarded the Japan Prize. Second time a KAUST scientist receives the award.

Lingnan University has achieved a historic milestone at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, winning a record-breaking number of five awards. A total of six groundbreaking inventions from Lingnan were showcased at the exhibition, earning one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury―the first time the University has achieved this honour―along with two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals, making the number of Lingnan University's participating and winning projects a record high.

Large-scale multidisciplinary ecological survey reveals long-term changes in the eastern Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

A genomic study of hydrogen-producing bacteria has revealed entirely new gene clusters capable of producing large volumes of hydrogen.

Enhanced westerly winds associated with global warming will strengthen the clockwise circulations and heat transport to the ice sheet in the East Antarctic coastal area.

A recent study evaluating garnet-type solid electrolytes for lithium metal batteries finds that their expected energy density advantages may be overstated. The researchers posited that composite or quasi-solid-state electrolytes may be more viable alternatives.

Key Insights and Actionable Solutions from GDC 2024 Parallel Session on Research Systems

For International Women's Day, we have prepared a list of women experts who have agreed to share their expertise with journalists. Their expertise include AI, astronomy, medicine and public health, sustainability, women’s rights, and more.

Lingnan University held its inaugural Technology Transfer Forum today, 28 February, at the Qianhai International Talent Hub in Shenzhen. Supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission, the forum focused on “Building a Smart Future for Sustainability”. It brought together over 160 government officials, leading scholars, and industry pioneers from Hong Kong and Mainland China to explore the latest research and practical applications in the four cutting-edge technological areas of New Energy, New Material, New Data, and New Humanity.

LES with an idealized terrain configuration reveals the effect of convection-environment interactions in extreme rainfall over mountainous islands.

Species distribution models (SDMs) help scientists monitor biodiversity by predicting where species are located based on environmental variables. However, many new tools designed for SDMs are becoming increasingly complex, and researchers often struggle with choosing the right statistical package. This challenge has been eased by a recent paper from an associate professor at Tohoku University. The paper introduces a meta-package called sdmverse, which catalogs available packages and provides handy visualizations to illustrate how they relate to one another.

Duke University and Duke-NUS Medical School are proud to announce the recipients of their latest Research Collaboration Pilot Project grants, totalling more than S$1 million.

Because of climate change, harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency and intensity. New science helps demystify the frequent harmful algal blooms in the Pacific off the coast of Chile by studying how algae species interact with each other and their environment.

Detailed study of a Greenland glacier’s flow rate reveals the impact of environmental conditions.

Tsuyoshi Watanabe uses corals to understand the environment of the past and what it can tell us about people living then.

A research team led by National Taiwan University used geochemical indicators from deep-sea sediments to reconstruct the upper ocean zonal gradients in the tropical Pacific during the last glacial period, providing valuable constraints for future climate projections.

Accidental clogging in geothermal wells reveals need for monitoring to ensure long-term usability

Seed grants have been awarded to six applicants with high quality and well-outlined proposals to organize workshops promoting science advice at an institutional or national level in their respective countries in 2025.

This annual event will bring together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world to spotlight groundbreaking advancements in sustainable energy and green technology.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are an AI model trained on ‘plant-speak’, how greedy groundwater use is making cities sink, and a lidar system that could find a needle in a very large haystack.