As the world tries to curb human-caused climate change and not run dry of water, every online query is increasing our environmental footprint and exacerbating the problem.

Cities hold the key to accelerating the transition to electric freight and boosting energy security, new analysis from C40 Cities, University of Exeter and Arup reveals.

It is the second day of a massive heat wave. Across the region, thermostats are cranked, air conditioners are laboring, and wind turbines have gone still. Without warning, a summer storm moves in, and the solar generation energy markets were counting on vanishes behind clouds. The heat saps the efficiency of conventional generators, too, and blackouts begin rolling through neighborhoods. People look up from their phones, annoyed and sweating, and wonder: Why isn't there enough power? Can't they just make more?

The active involvement of citizens, stakeholders and municipalities is essential for the success of the energy transition. Digital participation platforms promise broader access to planning processes. However, a new study, published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, calls for a fundamental shift in how digital participation is implemented, arguing that it should be conceived as a comprehensive infrastructure supporting the entire planning process, rather than simply a collection of communication tools.

Since the early 2000s, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the predominant rechargeable power source for many mobile devices, electric vehicles, renewable-energy storage grids and more. But the Li-ion batteries in commercial use carry both safety risks and limitations. Julia R. Greer, the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics and Medical Engineering at Caltech, whose lab has been working to improve Li-ion batteries, has now established a new path toward making them less dangerous and more environmentally friendly while also boosting performance.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday called on artificial intelligence companies to release information about the carbon pollution they create, along with the water and land used to power their operations.

A new study from Cornell researchers has revealed an unexpected obstacle to improving charge transport in hybrid perovskites, a promising class of semiconductor materials used in energy conversion and electronic devices. The research, published in Advanced Energy Materials, shows that certain conjugated organic molecules, long thought to enhance electrical conductivity in layered perovskites, can instead trap charge carriers and dramatically reduce conductivity. The findings could help guide the design of next-generation perovskite materials for applications ranging from thermoelectric energy conversion to optoelectronics.

An ingredient that gives ice cream a creamier texture could make natural earthen materials like clay and sand easier to 3D print into durable structures, according to new research led by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The global shortage of freshwater has become a critical challenge. Conventional water treatment relies heavily on fossil fuels and associated infrastructure, which can make it unsuitable for remote and harsh regions. In contrast, solar thermal evaporation is a promising alternative, but its application is limited by material performance and production constraints.

The aviation industry accounts for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Biobased, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can mitigate climate impacts, but transitioning to SAF faces critical supply chain constraints. A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a method to produce jet-grade fuel from food waste, contributing to a circular bioeconomy. In a paper published in Nature Sustainability, they focus on technical and economic considerations.