Environment

Researchers from China, France and the USA have evaluated China’s success in stemming emissions from its coal-fired power plants (CPPs).

Do you have new research to share about anthropology, archeology, paleontology, sociology, climate change or endangered species? You could win the opportunity to highlight your research in Asia Research News 2020.

Variations in the depth of snow cover in the Arctic region from late winter to spring determines the summer temperature pattern in Eurasia, according to Hokkaido University researchers. In particular, deeper-than-usual snow cover in Western Russia enhanced the likelihood of summer heat waves in Europe and Northeast Asia in recent years.

Japanese scientists have found a new way to successfully detect the efficiency of crystal semiconductors. For the first time ever, the team used a specific kind of photoluminescence spectroscopy, a way to detect light, to characterize the semiconductors. The emitted light energy was used as an indicator of the crystal's quality. This method potentially culminates in more efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar cells. Additionally, it could usher in several other advances in electronics.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has successfully proven the presence of invasive crayfish in almost all the small streams around Lake Akan in Japan, suggesting that eDNA analysis is an efficient and highly sensitive method to assess the distribution of aquatic organisms.

UK Research and Innovation and its partners are funding 13 research programs, building collaborations across 10 countries, including Japan, China, Singapore and India.

Now in its 12th edition, the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) is a premier platform in Asia for energy insights, partnerships and dialogues, which brings together the world’s leading conferences, exhibitions and roundtables in one week, one location.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the signing of a collaborative framework agreement with Wuyi University (WYU). The two universities will join hands for research on the development of green and healthy textile materials over a span of three years.

Researchers at Convergence Research Center for Solar Energy at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea, have achieved the confirmed highest single-junction cell efficiency in the world. Expects to be commercialized by using low cost, ecofriendly materials.

The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) (PolyU) organised an international forum, titled “Translational Research Forum on Sustainable Urban Development in the Greater Bay Area” on 26 and 27 April 2019

Using advanced computer models, researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) found that intercropping enables higher productivity in crops with less synthetic fertilizers and hence reduces the air pollutants being volatilized from the cropland soil.

A one-step method enables scalable and more environmentally friendly production of plant-derived plastic monomers, paving the way towards the mass production of a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based materials.

The composition of mixed brominated/chlorinated dibenzofurans (PXDFs) and diphenyl ethers in soils from an e-waste site in Ghana suggests a formation of PXDFs through condensation of the flame retardant PBDEs and subsequent bromine-to-chlorine exchange. PXDFs were substantial contributors of toxic equivalents among dioxins from e-waste burning.

Evidence of historic marine life present in Alaskan permafrost is helping scientists reconstruct ancient changes in the ice cover over the Arctic Ocean.

WorldFish, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) signed a five-year tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today.

Glaciers extending into freshwater lakes can form long, submerged terraces that menacingly rise above the surface when icy chunks fall into the water.

New research found that some man-made chemicals bind more easily to a key protein receptor in Russia's Baikal seals than it does in humans, in part because of the physical structure of the chemical.

Stimulate the global phenomenon of rapid development of cities into the future

Ocean colour could serve as a reliable proxy for salinity, opening the door for more frequent and detailed measurements.

Indigenous bacteria show promise for cleaning up pollution.

Protected areas play an important role in sustaining dhole populations in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.

Scientists are investigating the potential of non-toxic materials to replace lead in perovskite solar cells.

Laboratory experiments at extreme pressures and temperatures lead to precise measurements of the sound velocity of CaSiO3 perovskite which is one of the important constituent minerals in the Earth's mantle. The measurements suggested the accumulation of the subducted oceanic crust beneath the 660 km discontinuity.

The 2019 issue of Asia Research News magazine features fascinating advances in medicine, technology, social sciences, space and environment from across Asia.

A combined treatment may help tackle the rise of E. coli PI-7 in Saudi Arabia’s wastewater systems.

Two students, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have been honored with the 2018 Talent Award of Korea.

Simulations reveal that green walls filled with coconut peat could absorb storm water running off buildings, mitigating flash floods.

The primary component of natural gas, methane, is itself a potent greenhouse gas. A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has unveiled a high performance catalyst for methane conversion to formaldehyde.

A safe and sustainable chemical reagent could aid cost-efficient development of new materials and medicines.

A recent technology transfer by Dongho Jeon in the School of Urban and Environmental Engineering at South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) is estimated to be worth KRW 100 million.