A new Concordia study reimagines parcel delivery with robots, EVs and lockers

The innovative model could streamline last-mile logistics while prioritizing high-value customers and cutting costs

Concordia University

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A Concordia-led team of researchers has developed a groundbreaking model that rethinks the way packages are delivered in urban environments.

It’s the focus of a paper they recently published in the European Journal of Operational Research. In it, they introduce a hybrid system that integrates electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous delivery robots and self-service parcel pick-up lockers to improve delivery efficiency — particularly for priority customers like Amazon Prime members.

The study proposes a novel logistical framework that allows EVs to dispatch delivery robots or direct customers to nearby lockers, reducing time and emissions while offering more flexible service. Prime customers are prioritized for same-day delivery via robot or EV, while non-priority customers may be directed to self-pickup lockers or scheduled for next-day delivery.

It is the first study to simultaneously incorporate EVs, delivery robots, parcel lockers and priority-based customer service.

Using a customized optimization algorithm, the researchers demonstrated that this approach cuts route and vehicle use costs by up to 53 per cent compared to traditional EV-only methods. Their metaheuristic solution also outperformed existing industry tools like Gurobi on large-scale delivery simulations.

Beyond ecommerce, this research could benefit other sectors that rely on rapid, customer-centric logistics — such as health care, grocery delivery and municipal services. The model’s adaptability also makes it a valuable tool for smart city planning, especially in dense urban areas where delivery access is limited.

The paper was written by Concordia PhD candidate Nima Moradi, Chun Wang, director of the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Fereshteh Mafakheri at l’École nationale d'administration publique and Roberto Baldacci at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar.

Read the cited paper: “Robot-aided electric vehicle routing problem with lockers and prime customers prioritization.”

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Journal

European Journal of Operational Research

DOI

10.1016/j.ejor.2025.07.007 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Article Title

Robot-aided electric vehicle routing problem with lockers and prime customers prioritization

 

New research reconstructs the identity of victims from one of the earliest victory celebrations in Europe.

University of Oxford

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Fig. 1. Overhead views of late Middle Neolithic violence-related human mass deposits of the Alsace region, France, analysed in this study. A) pit 157 from Bergheim “Saulager” and B) pit 124 from Achenheim “Strasse 2, RD 45”.

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Credit: A: pit 157 from Bergheim (credit: F. Chenal); B: pit 124 from Achenheim (credit: P. Lefranc).

New research published in the journal Science Advances challenges previous theories about prehistoric conflict by offering a detailed look into the lives and deaths of victims of what could be one of the earliest victory celebrations in Europe. 

The study, ‘Multi-isotope biographies and identities of victims of martial victory celebrations in Neolithic Europe’, published in Science Advances and co-authored by Dr Teresa Fernández-Crespo and Professor Rick Schulting, used cutting-edge multi-isotope analysis to reconstruct the identities of individuals found in mass graves in Alsace, northeastern France, dating to around 4300–4150 BCE.  

The findings challenge conventional interpretations of prehistoric violence as indiscriminate or purely pragmatic. 

Excavations at the sites of Achenheim and Bergheim uncovered a grim array of remains: complete skeletons showing signs of severe, excessive violence, and pits containing severed left upper limbs. This pattern of treatment - deliberate overkill and trophy body parts - did not match typical Neolithic massacres or executions. Instead, the researchers propose a chilling reinterpretation: that these deaths formed part of structured post-conflict rituals, intended to humiliate the enemy and reinforce social unity. 

Isotopic signatures from the victims’ bones and teeth were compared with those of individuals who had received conventional burials. The results revealed that the victims had different dietary patterns and showed signs of higher mobility and physiological stress, suggesting they were outsiders.  

Intriguingly, the severed limbs - likely taken from fallen combatants - had local isotopic values, while the tortured individuals with full skeletons appear to have originated from further afield. 

This distinction supports the idea of a two-tiered ritual: local enemies killed in battle were dismembered and brought back as trophies; others, likely captives, were subjected to violent execution in what researchers describe as a form of Neolithic political theatre. 

Professor Schulting said: ‘These findings speak to a deeply embedded social practice -one that used violence not just as warfare, but as spectacle, memory, and assertion of dominance.’ 

By revealing the complex social and cultural roles that violence played in the Neolithic period, the study adds a compelling new chapter to the human story - one in which the echoes of war and ritual continue to shape our understanding of early society. 

The research was funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions individual grant from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, awarded to Dr. Fernández-Crespo. It was a collaborative effort between the CNRS, Aix Marseille University, and Minist Culture, LAMPEA in Aix-en-Provence, France; the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford, UK; the Department of Chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; the Department of Archaeology and New Technologies at Arkikus, Spain; ANTEA-Archéologie, France; the University of Strasbourg, France; UMR 7044 Archimède, University of Strasbourg, France; and Inrap Grand Est, France.

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Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adv3162 

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Multi-isotope biographies and identities of victims of martial victory celebrations in Neolithic Europe

Article Publication Date

20-Aug-2025

 

Plant diseases that changed the world—and the stories you’ve never heard

American Phytopathological Society

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Cover of "The Rest of the Story: Forgotten Stories of Plant Pathology History"

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Credit: © APS PRESS, The American Phytopathological Society

]

The Rest of the Story: Forgotten Stories of Plant Pathology History, by Robert M. Harveson (Panhandle Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln), offers a unique and engaging exploration of plant disease epidemics and their often-overlooked influence on world history. Drawing from his popular column in Phytopathology News, “Plant Pathology’s Perplexing Past,” Harveson compiles 48 short, accessible stories that blend scientific insight with compelling historical narrative.

This collection of stories shines a light on lesser-known plant diseases and the surprising roles they have played in shaping human events—stories that are rarely told yet deeply impactful. Whether it's a forgotten epidemic or a twist in a well-known outbreak, each story uncovers the hidden connections between plant pathology and historical change.

Written for both specialists and curious readers alike, Forgotten Stories of Plant Pathology History is a must-read for anyone interested in plant science or environmental history—or simply looking to explore plant pathology through a new lens.

This title was published by APS PRESS, the publishing imprint of The American Phytopathological Society, a nonprofit, international organization that adv​ances the science and practice of plant health management in agricultural, urban, and forest settings. The Society was founded in 1908 and has grown from 130 charter members to more than 3,500 scientists and practitioners worldwide.

 

Enhancing copper's role in CO2 conversion to valuable fuels

Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

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Enhancing Copper's Role in CO2 Conversion to Valuable Fuels

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Credit: © Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

Key Aspects:

• Innovative Technique: Pulsed electric potential treatments enhance copper's efficiency in converting CO2 into hydrocarbons and alcohols.
• Environmental Impact: This method provides an alternative approach for the development of greener chemical processes by closing the carbon cycle and addressing climate change.
• Scientific Insight: The study uncovers the changes in the structure and the oxidation state of the copper surface under dynamic reaction conditions that lead to improved CO2 conversion and tunable product selectivity.
• Advanced Methodology: Utilizes cutting-edge spectro-microscopy techniques to analyze the transformations undergone by copper surfaces with a combined spatial and chemical resolution

Introduction to the Challenge

The rapid industrialization and deforestation worldwide have led to a significant increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a major contributor to global climate change. Addressing this issue requires innovative solutions to reduce emissions as well as to convert the still irremediably produced CO2 into useful products. Copper has emerged as a promising catalyst for this conversion, particularly in forming valuable chemical compounds like ethylene and ethanol.

The Research Findings

The team around Dr. Thomas Schmidt and Prof. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya have applied a recently developed method using pulsed potentials in electrochemical treatments combined with in depth spectro-microscopy characterization methods (LEEM/XPEEM) to understand and ultimately tune the electro-catalytic properties of well-defined copper surfaces. By applying alternating anodic (oxidizing) and cathodic (reducing) pulses, they observed that copper surfaces undergo changes in their structure (formation of specific crystalline facets) and oxidation state (generation and stabilization of Cu(I) species) that result in a more efficient conversion of CO2 into hydrocarbons and alcohols.

Understanding the Science

The study employed advanced spectro-microscopy techniques to observe these changes at a microscopic level. The researchers found that the pulsed treatments create two kinds of unique surface structures on copper. During the anodic pulse, inverted pyramid like structures with specific side facets are formed by site-selective dissolution of copper into the electrolyte. Furthermore, at this anodic pulse (+0.6 V), the copper surface is oxidized, resulting in an about 1 nm thick film of Cu(I). Interestingly, at the following cathodic pulse (-1 V) only the topmost part of this film is reduced to metallic Cu, giving rise to a sandwich-like structure of a ~0.5 nm thick metallic copper film on a ~0.5 nm thick Cu(I) subsurface layer on the metallic copper bulk crystal. Both structures, the facets and the subsurface oxide are important for the enhanced production of ethylene and ethanol. In particular, the coexistence of metallic and Cu2O species appears to have associated an enhancement in the ethanol production, while stepped mainly metallic surfaces lead to enhanced ethylene yields.  This insight provides valuable feedback for theoretical models and helps refine the understanding of copper's catalytic behavior.

Implications for the Future

This research offers a promising avenue for developing sustainable energy solutions. By improving the efficiency of CO2 conversion, the findings could lead to more effective ways of reutilizing “climate-killer” greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide for the production of renewable fuels. The innovative use of pulsed electric potential treatments on copper surfaces represents a step forward in the quest for cleaner energy technologies

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41929-025-01387-6 

Article Title

Morphological and chemical state effects in pulsed CO2 electroreduction on Cu(100) unveiled by correlated spectro-microscopy

Article Publication Date

20-Aug-2025

Introducing New Contaminants – a new era in environmental science!

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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New contaminants: existence and knowledge gaps

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Credit: Fengchang Wu, Brett Robinson, Yanzheng Gao & Fei Dang

We proudly announce the launch of New Contaminants, a premier multidisciplinary, open-access journal dedicated to advancing research on emerging contaminants. 

Published by Maxapress, this innovative platform connects scientists worldwide to share discoveries in environmental science.

New Contaminants publish high-impact research across all facets of emerging contaminants, including:

• Novel identification methods & environmental behavior analysis.
•  Ecological/health risk assessments & mitigation technologies.
•  Micro/nano-plastics, PPCPs, EDCs, ARGs, pathogens & more.
•  Policy frameworks, waste management & predictive modeling.

Limited-Time Opportunity (2025–2027):
Publish FREE of charge! Enjoy full APC waivers for all accepted manuscripts during this launch period.

Our submission platform is NOW OPEN!
Join us in shaping the future of contaminant research.
Submit now: https://www.maxapress.com/newcontam

Read the inaugural editorial to learn about the latest research gaps, remediation strategies, and future directions.

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0025-0003

Learn more: https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0025-0003

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DOI

10.48130/newcontam-0025-0003 

Method of Research

News article

 

Long-term biochar use found to sustainably boost crop yields and cut greenhouse gas emissions

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters

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Long-term benefits of biochar application on food security and climate change mitigation

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Credit: YAN Xiaoyuan's team

Farming produces a huge amount of crop waste including straw, husks, and stalks every growing season. Unfortunately, common disposal methods—burning, plowing the waste back into the fields, using it as animal feed, and even composting—release greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to climate change and long-term risks to food security.

In contrast, biochar—a charcoal-like material made by heating agricultural waste in low-oxygen conditions (pyrolysis)—offers a promising and eco-friendly alternative, according to a new study by Chinese scientists.

The team, led by Profs. YAN Xiaoyuan and XIA Longlong from the Institute of Soil Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, showed that biochar can deliver lasting benefits for food security and climate mitigation when applied to farmland over the long term. In particular, the study showed that repeated annual applications not only sustain but also amplify biochar's positive effects on crop yield, soil health, and GHG reduction.

In this study, the researchers analyzed high-quality field experiment records from 438 studies, including consecutive annual data from 29 long-term field experiments. The results, published in PNAS, demonstrate that annual biochar application over four years or more increased global crop yields by an average of 10.8%, cut CH4 emissions by 13.5% and N2O emissions by 21.4%, and raised soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 52.5%.

While single application of biochar showed weakened effects over time due to the aging effect, the study showed it was still beneficial, with continued yields and SOC rise, and continued CH4 and N2O mitigation, though with a weakening trend.

"We wondered how significant biochar's potential could be for carbon sequestration and emission reduction in global farmlands under long-term application," said YANG Jingrui, first author of the study and a PhD student from ISSCAS.

Based on current straw and biochar management practices, the researchers estimated that converting 70% of straw into biochar for agricultural fields could boost global grain yields by 190 million tons annually and enhance carbon dioxide removal (CDR) potential by 2.01 Pg of CO2-eq annually—about 30% of China's average annual grain yield from 2018 to 2021.

After accounting for GHG emissions from biochar production (0.25 tons of CO2 per ton of biochar), the net CDR potential was still 1.84 Pg of CO2-eq per year, offsetting about 4.6% of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions.

The findings suggest that strategic deployment of biochar at multi-year intervals or with break periods between yearly applications could maintain its benefits cost-effectively while minimizing risks. Expanding field experiments and comparative trials across different soil types, climates, and cropping systems are crucial for refining application strategies, especially in determining optimal frequencies and rates.

While periodic biochar application tailored to local conditions can reduce costs and secure long-term advantages, the initial economic burden may deter risk-averse farmers.

"Since farmers are unlikely to increase input costs unless there is strong evidence it pays off, large-scale demonstration trials in major grain-producing regions such as the North China Plain and the U.S. Corn Belt are essential to prove both economic and environmental benefits," said Prof. YAN.

A cost-benefit analysis conducted by the team showed that increased yields and reduced GHG emissions could compensate for around 81% of biochar procurement costs, with greater gains possible when nitrogen loss reduction is factored in. The researchers argue that government-backed subsidies and supportive policies will be crucial to scaling biochar adoption and realizing its global potential for sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation.

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Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.250923712 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Sustained benefits of long-term biochar application for food security and climate change mitigation

Article Publication Date

21-Aug-2025