It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Groundbreaking strategies boost productivity and genetic quality of key Chinese pine species
Credit: Chengcheng Zhou, Fan Sun, Zhiyuan Jiao, Yousry A. El-Kassaby, Wei Li
A collaborative study published in Forest Ecosystems, led by researchers from Beijing Forestry University and the University of British Columbia (Canada), presents groundbreaking methods to significantly enhance the genetic quality and productivity of Pinus tabuliformis, a vital tree species in northern China. The research compared two advanced breeding strategies, revealing a clear advantage for direct selection – focusing solely on outstanding individual trees – over combined selection (selecting top families and individuals).
Analyzing an extensive dataset of 42 half-sib and 76 full-sib families, the team discovered that direct selection, particularly within half-sib families, delivered a remarkable performance boost: a 7.72% gain in diameter, an 18.56% increase in height, and an impressive 31.01% surge in volume.
"Direct selection captures elite individuals that might otherwise be missed," explains Wei Li, lead author of the study. "However, it also increases inbreeding risks, which we've addressed with advanced seed orchards design tools."
Addressing Inbreeding: A Novel Solution
To counter the potential for increased inbreeding associated with direct selection, the researchers developed the Improved Adaptive Genetic Programming Algorithm (IAPGA). This innovative strategy optimizes seed orchard layouts, strategically placing genetically distant clones to minimize inbreeding while maximizing genetic gains. The IAPGA approach achieved a significant 14.36% reduction in the average inbreeding coefficient compared to traditional methods, ensuring greater genetic diversity in future generations.
Global Implications for Sustainable Forestry
The study’s adaptable methods provide a blueprint for sustainable forest management worldwide, offering a pathway to improve seed orchard designs and boost both ecological resilience and economic returns. By enhancing seed orchard designs, this research directly supports China's ambitious afforestation goals.
By effectively merging advanced seed orchard design with traditional breeding insights, this research establishes a new benchmark for forest genetic improvement, paving the way for healthier, more productive forests in China and beyond.
Funding: This vital research was financially supported by the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project (2023ZD0405806) and the National Key R&D Program for the 14th Five-Year Plan in China (2022YFD2200304).
As part of its industry-supported H2-ICE consortium, SwRI developed a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicle.The Class-8 H2-ICE vehicle gives the trucking industry an alternative for near-zero CO2 emissions without sacrificing commercial viability and performance. H2-ICE2 will run through December 2026.
SAN ANTONIO — March 25, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has launched the newest iteration of its industry-supported Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine consortium, H2-ICE2.
In 2024, SwRI’s H2-ICE consortium completed construction of a Class 8, heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicle, following 18 months of targeted development. The demonstration vehicle achieves ultra-low nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions without sacrificing commercial viability. The consortium’s next iteration — “H2-ICE2” — will build on its prior success by enhancing and refining the vehicle’s overall performance and efficiency.
H2-ICE2 gathers transportation industry leaders to advance sustainable mobility through innovative hydrogen engine technology. The consortium will continue to prove the potential for H2-ICE vehicles to complement other zero-emission vehicle technologies while supporting engine and truck manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and providers of fuels and lubricants with a realistic roadmap to decarbonization.
“We have been developing internal combustion engines for more than 100 years. H2-ICE is a particularly attractive solution because industry can leverage the production lines and component suppliers that are already in place worldwide to manufacture trucks,” said Daniel Stewart, vice president of SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division. “H2-ICE is a viable, zero-emission solution that is available today.”
In 2024, SwRI’s H2-ICE truck toured the country, sharing with the long-haul trucking industry an alternative heavy-duty vehicle option that produces zero greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing performance. After it launches, H2-ICE2 will spend the next two years refining the demonstration vehicle’s overall performance and efficiency with enhanced testing and systems refinement.
“The first H2-ICE consortium focused on developing the hydrogen-fueled engine and showing what you can do with it in terms of performance and emissions,” said Ryan Williams, a manager in SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division. “With H2-ICE2, the team wants to show people that the truck is more than just a showpiece. It’s a functional and practical piece of equipment ready to meet their needs.”
Between now and December 2026, the H2-ICE2 consortium will investigate the vehicle’s capacity to maintain performance, manage heat and sustain efficiency under various real-world conditions.
The consortium will also evaluate vehicle performance during cold starts, continuous ascent, low-demand or no-load operations, and other conditions commercial trucking vehicles experience. SwRI plans to test and improve the vehicle’s performance without developing a new engine or significantly changing the hardware.
“This is very much a holistic, vehicle-based consortium, not just an engine research consortium,” said Edward M. Smith III, a principal engineer with SwRI’s Powertrain Systems Engineering Department and H2-ICE2 program manager. “We plan to exercise the existing vehicle to identify challenges and opportunities unique to operating an H2-ICE powered vehicle and engineer their solutions.”
On March 27, SwRI will hold a free launch meeting for current and prospective members to learn more about H2-ICE2’s goals and overarching vision. Visit the H2-ICE2 consortium webpage to register to attend at SwRI in San Antonio.
“It’s the perfect time for members to join,” Smith added. “We already have seen several aspects of the vehicle that we can adjust or improve. For instance, we are considering strategies for improved torque response and how to institute a rapid warm-up mode to reduce emissions even further. The combined knowledge of our consortium’s membership can help us advance development and overcome technical hurdles, paving the road to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Southwest Research Institute has launched the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine 2 (H2-ICE2) consortium to help the automotive and transportation industries understand and address technical challenges in developing clean and efficient hydrogen vehicles. The consortium’s kick-off meeting will be on March 27, 2025, at SwRI’s headquarters in San Antonio.
Credit
Southwest Research Institute
Chemical water-assisted electrolysis: a new frontier for clean hydrogen production
Perspectives for chemical-assisted water electrolysis provide valuable insights into innovative catalyst design strategies and outline future directions for achieving low-voltage and high-efficiency hydrogen production.
Credit: Ho Won Jang, Seoul National University, South Korea.
To address climate change and environmental pollution, clean hydrogen production technologies are gaining attention. In particular, water electrolysis is considered a promising technology that can produce hydrogen without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but there is a problem of reduced energy efficiency due to high operating voltage.
Chemical water-assisted electrolysis is emerging as a promising solution to address these challenges. This technology produces hydrogen at low voltage by substituting the water oxidation reaction (OER) with various chemical oxidation reactions, such as ammonia, alcohol, urea, and hydrazine. Moreover, it offers the potential to simultaneously enhance energy production and promote environmental improvement by generating high-value products or eliminating pollutants. A team of researchers introduced various chemical water-assisted electrolysis systems in this study and systematically analyzed the latest catalyst design strategies to address the high overpotential issues of each reaction. Their work was published on February 24, 2025, in Industrial Chemistry & Materials.
"Chemical water-assisted electrolysis technology represents an innovative approach to overcoming the limitations of conventional water electrolysis, enabling clean hydrogen production with enhanced energy efficiency,” said Ho Won Jang, a Professor at Seoul National University. “This study systematically compiles the latest catalyst design strategies and demonstrates their potential for improving the energy efficiency of various chemical water-assisted electrolysis reactions."
However, there are still many technical challenges for chemical water-assisted electrolysis to replace conventional water electrolysis. Key issues include maintaining catalyst durability and achieving low-voltage operation, which is being actively addressed through electrochemical reaction mechanism studies and AI-driven catalyst design.
For industrial applications, high current density (A cm-2) and long-term stability (>10,000 hours) are required. Recently, researchers have been working on membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which is a direct assembly of anode, membrane, and cathode, to reduce electrical resistance and mass transfer losses while achieving high current density. Additionally, fuel cell-type devices that operate under high-temperature conditions for high performance are also being developed, along with efforts to develop self-powered hydrogen production systems.
"The main goal of this review is to quickly and accurately provide readers with the latest research trends and catalyst design strategies in this field, and to outline a comprehensive blueprint for industrial applications," Jang said.
The research team includes Jiwoo Lee, Sol A Lee, Tae Hyung Lee, and Ho Won Jang from Seoul National University in South Korea.
This research is funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00405016 and RS-2024-00421181).
Industrial Chemistry & Materials is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) with APCs currently waived. ICM publishes significant innovative research and major technological breakthroughs in all aspects of industrial chemistry and materials, especially the important innovation of the low-carbon chemical industry, energy, and functional materials. Check out the latest ICM news on the blog.
A recent study usingMulti-Model Large Ensemble (MMLE) framework reveals thatemperor penguins meet the criteria for uplisting to a status ranging from Vulnerable toEndangered under the IUCN guidelines
Woods Hole, Mass. (March 24, 2025) – Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), in collaboration with international partners, have developed a novel approach to addressing uncertainties in ecological and environmental projections, providing a more robust assessment of extinction risk for emperor penguins. The study, which accounts for the unique life history and critical dependence of emperor penguins on the Antarctic environment, reveals that emperor penguins meet the criteria for uplisting to a category ranging from Vulnerable to Endangered under the IUCN guidelines on risk and uncertainty (IUCN, 2024). This represents a significant and urgent change from their current classification of Near Threatened, highlighting the elevated risk emperor penguins face due to future changes in their Antarctic habitat.
The study applies a Multi-Model Large Ensemble (MMLE) framework, which is a collection of earth system simulations run using comprehensive models. This allows researchers to better understand the range of potential environmental outcomes and assess the uncertainties associated with environmental projections. Combining information from diverse models, including variability within each model, allows researchers to better understand future risks and uncertainties.
“There are quantifiable uncertainties in projections of future environmental conditions” added Jenouvrier. “Incorporating this uncertainty in ecosystem projections allows for a more complete and robust assessment of potential extinction risk.”
For this study, the team combined different types of data to create three distinct ecological models of emperor penguin populations: decades of detailed observations of individual penguins, long-term times series of chick and adult numbers, and 10 years of satellite images tracking the size of 50 colonies. They also included information on how colonies move and change over time, drawn from genetic and population data.
Using multiple research methods marks a significant advancement in ecological forecasting, setting a new standard for assessing species extinction risks under various scenarios including extreme environmental events and long-term change. Research from penguin scientists remains key for informing national and international policy related to protections for the emperor penguin. This novel multi-model research can play a critical role in the reassessment of the emperor penguin on the IUCN Red List.
Prof Phil Trathan, an author on the paper and formerly Head of Conservation Biology at the British Antarctic Survey, said “Emperor penguins are vital indicators of ecosystem health in the Antarctic, they also help inform us about wider changes in the earth system. Therefore, harnessing robust models that increase our understanding about uncertainty and risk are vital, if we are to better conserve and protect this and other species”. Trathan added “Ultimately, humans depend upon the natural world, so developing better projections of the future earth system are essential for ensuring human health and wellbeing. The tools used in this study should now help us all”.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) plays a critical role in informing conservation strategies for species like the emperor penguin through scientific assessments and the Red List framework. These assessments can influence conservation policies within international governance frameworks such as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
“The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting serves as a key forum for decision-making on Antarctic conservation. This new IUCN Red List assessment provides critical scientific support for strengthening protections for emperor penguins under the Antarctic Treaty System. It also strengthens the case for establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, particularly in vital regions like the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea, which could serve as crucial refugia for emperor penguins.” concluded Jenouvrier.
###
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2037561. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
This research was carried out with the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Grant No. 80NSSC20K1289 and 80NSSC21K1132. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.
About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in fundamental and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of ocean data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge to inform people and policies for a healthier planet. Learn more at whoi.edu.
A recent study using Multi-Model Large Ensemble (MMLE) framework reveals thatemperor penguins meet the criteria for uplisting to a status ranging from Vulnerable to Endangered under the IUCN guidelines
A recent study using Multi-Model Large Ensemble (MMLE) framework reveals thatemperor penguins meet the criteria for uplisting to a status ranging from Vulnerable toEndangered under the IUCN guidelines.
Worcester, Mass.—March 25, 2025—A chemical engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has received an $800,000 award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to study the recovery of critical minerals like uranium from industrial wastewater—work spurred in part by a growing demand for nuclear fuel as the world’s capacity for nuclear power increases.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s “high case scenario” estimates world nuclear power capacity will increase by 2.5 times the current level by 2050. Given the momentum of this global growth, researchers are working to identify unconventional sources of uranium, like highly toxic industrial wastewater from mining and milling operations. The efforts are intended not only to recover uranium for use, but also to minimize the amount of uranium in the environment.
“Being able to extract uranium from uranium-bearing mining wastewater will improve the health of ecosystems while addressing uranium security for the nation’s needs,” said Xiaowei Teng, the James H. Manning Professor of Chemical Engineering.
The current uranium separation process, called adsorption, is costly and has limited capacity. Teng will focus instead on understanding how heavy metal ions interact with electrode materials to design an electrochemical system capable of recovering uranium from wastewater. Ultimately, the methods Teng and his team will examine could result in a more efficient process that yields more uranium and produces less toxic wastewater.
“We want to move away from reliance on trial-and-error methods and instead figure out the key features that help us extract uranium from wastewater more effectively and efficiently,” Teng said. “Part of this study will be to develop new materials for electrodes that can be used repeatedly and are designed to recover important elements in an environmentally responsible way.”
The three-year grant is administered by the Separation Program at the Office of Basic Energy Sciences at DOE. Teng is the principal investigator on the grant and will work with subaward principal investigator Özgür Çapraz, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
About WPI
WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier STEM research university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPI’s pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 18 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. www.wpi.edu
