2026-09-15
Tao Yin, Tao Wan, Ziheng Feng, Mengyao Li, Chao Liu, Jinbo Wang, Fandi Chen, Jiajun Fan, Long Hu, Tao Cao, Dawei Su, Jianbo Tang, Zhaojun Han, Zhi Li, Yunjian Liu, Haolan Xu, Qin Li, Dewei Chu
Solar interfacial evaporation is a promising solution for water purification. Here this work addresses the bottleneck of slow kinetics of water molecule desorption by constructing a dual-phase heterostructure that achieves a superior evaporation rate with excellent durability.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01934-42026-09-15
Shuai Guo, Zhen Yu, Swee Ching Tan
Efficient evaporation is crucial for solar-powered water purification, resource recovery and energy utilization, yet boosting evaporation without using more energy remains challenging. Here, a smart surface on which water binds weakly, thereby enabling rapid solar evaporation, makes clean, sustainable water production more efficient.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01843-62026-09-14
Matt Clark, Cosima Fröhner, Andreas Christ Sølvsten Jørgensen, Thomas Pienkowski, Sibabalo Yekela, Aamirah Isaacs, Olivia Crowe, Jeffrey Andrews, Paul E. Smaldino, Iacopo Tito Gallizioli, Gina Arena, Morena Mills
Changing rainfall patterns and intensity make adaptation a necessity for African pastoralists. Paired weather forecasting and risk smoothing help manage the trade-offs inherent to these adaptations.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01938-02026-09-10
Tom Matthews, Tom Wood, Hebe Nicholson, Jenix Justine, S. J. Beard, Radley M. Horton, Frans Berkhout, Joe P. L. Davidson, Maria Vittoria Gargiulo, Constantin W. Arnscheidt, Gordon Woo, Engielle Mae R. Paguican, Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries, Pauline Sophie Heinrichs, Robin Noyelle, Viktor Roezer, Faith Taylor, Nausheen H. Anwar, Emma Moffett, Daoping Wang, Pengfei Yuan, Luke Kemp
Extreme weather is becoming more common as Earth’s climate changes. This Perspective argues that the most catastrophic extremes, beyond what has been previously recorded, must be considered and prepared for to avoid drastic impacts.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01929-12026-09-09
Mario A. Soriano Jr., Joshua L. Warren, Yingcan Cathy Wang, David van Velden, Shuqi Lin, Reed M. Maxwell, James E. Saiers
Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are a core part of the US domestic energy economy, particularly in the Appalachian region. However, surface spills occurring in areas of high hydrologic vulnerability could pose a risk to the drinking-water sources of more than 120,000 local residents.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01933-52026-09-09
Fanran Meng, Luke Cullen, Philip Mitchell, Phillip Christopher, André Cabrera Serrenho, Eric Masanet, Anthony J. Ryan, Rick Lupton, Jonathan M. Cullen
The petrochemical sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet a consistent facility-level emissions inventory is missing, hindering effective sectoral decarbonization. This study fills the gap through a bottom-up and detailed assessment of 37,379 facilities globally.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01931-72026-09-07
J. Serra, L. Lassaletta, G. H. Ros, M. Quemada, F. Giannini-Kurina, E. Aguilera, M. Graversgaard, C. S. C. Marques-dos-Santos, M. R. Cameira, W. De Vries, A. Dobermann, X. Zhang, J. Rahimi, T. Dalgaard, K. Butterbach-Bahl
Irrigation is typically overlooked as a source of reactive nitrogen to cropland. However, nitrate-rich irrigation water constitutes a substantial portion of the global agricultural nitrogen budget that should be accounted for in fertilizer application and irrigation strategies.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01930-82026-09-07
Yinuo Liu, Huilin Wan, Jiaojiao Niu, Enlei Liang, Xuezhuang Liu, Chunfang Chao, Bibek Bamanu, Yiwen Liu, Yindong Tong, Guanyi Chen, Yingxin Zhao
Nitrate accumulation limits the sustainability of anammox-based nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment. This study shows that 3D-bioprinted engineered living materials with spatial confinement enable complete nitrogen removal by enhancing cross-feeding between anammox bacteria and denitrifiers.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01921-92026-07-23
Dilek Fraisl
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01899-4 Developing indicators, and the methodologies behind them, should make space for participatory approaches if we are to shape interventions equitably and effectively, argues Dilek Fraisl.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01899-42026-07-23
Elze Porte
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01903-x Absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) — child diapers, adult incontinence products and period products — are a major source of plastic waste. This Perspective highlights the materials and societal complexity of AHP waste and identifies opportunities for scientists to help address the unfolding AHP crisis.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01903-x2026-07-21
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01910-y Cement and concrete underpin modern societies, yet their true resource demands and the dynamics that govern their efficient use remain poorly understood. Two recent studies suggest that the most powerful levers for change may not lie inside the cement plant at all.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01910-y2026-07-16
Manuel Prieto
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 16 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01850-7 Assessing whether returning land to Indigenous communities delivers on its environmental promise requires evidence that goes beyond titling of continuously occupied lands. A study now uses three decades of satellite data on Mapuche land restitution in Chile to show how restitution reshapes landscapes, but opens space to ask what such evidence can and cannot see.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01850-72026-07-14
Hongyi Xie
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01894-9 Scaling up electrolytic hydrogen is central to deep decarbonization, but its substantial water needs clash with growing water scarcity. A study mapping 2,853 Chinese county-level cities shows that using reclaimed water can unlock 99% of water-constrained carbon mitigation at only 20% higher cost.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01894-92026-07-10
Xin Liu
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 10 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01904-w Author Correction: Strong and recyclable bio-derived poly(ester amide) hot-melt adhesive]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01904-w2026-06-29
Yaoqing Zhang
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 29 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01884-x Radenka Maric, the president of the University of Connecticut (UConn), talks to Nature Sustainability about her institution’s transition towards a sustainable campus, highlighting the critical roles of governance structures, infrastructure projects, and educational initiatives fostering sustainability literacy.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01884-x2026-06-26
Rayees Ahmed
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01873-0 Outburst floods from small alpine lakes pose a growing risk to mountain communities, which are often already marginalized and lack adaptation options. Cryosphere degradation accelerates these threats, adding urgency to integrate small high-mountain lakes into climate and disaster policy.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01873-02026-06-26
Lan Wu
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01881-0 The disproportionate risks of crop damage and food insecurity from temperature anomalies affecting female smallholders are hard to measure. Estimating yield responses to temperature variation across sub-Saharan Africa, this study shows significantly higher losses to female than male smallholders.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01881-02026-06-26
Seth Kane
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01883-y Enormous consumption of concrete is straining planetary boundaries, yet it remains unclear how to reduce resource burdens while sustaining human development. A study now finds that concrete demand in rapidly developing economies has driven increased resource use over the past three decades, and production improvements have only marginally reduced resource burdens.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01883-y2026-06-23
Chang-Xin Zhao
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01871-2 This work identifies dynamic solvent exchange as the governing kinetic descriptor for desolvation, enabling a dual-anion electrolyte design that overcomes traditional trade-offs to achieve fast-charging, all-climate battery performance.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01871-22026-06-23
Sonya Ahamed
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01838-3 Meeting the increasing demand for water, energy and food of the global population in a just and sustainable manner is an urgent challenge. A study now maps how these essential, interdependent systems are leveraged in international trade, quantifying both physical and virtual flows across countries.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01838-32026-06-15
Wilson H. McNeil
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01869-w Postcombustion carbon capture and storage (CCS) at power plants can lower CO2 emissions, but the health benefits may depend on the solvents used and control of related NH3 emissions. The authors assess the climate and health impacts of CCS adoption at coal and natural gas combined cycle power plants in the USA.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01869-w2026-06-15
Linlin You
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01854-3 Matching rooftop solar output with electric vehicle charging demand remains a barrier to scaling solar-powered transport. A study now evaluates this across 40 global cities, showing that solar generation can meet the demand projected for 2050 with substantial economic and decarbonization benefits.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01854-32026-06-05
Filip Struzik
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01847-2 The self-cross metathesis of oleic acid esters enables synthesis of valuable, fully biosourced chemicals, but its productivity is thermodynamically limited to 50%. Here the authors overcome this limit to double the reaction yield by using a reactive distillation set-up.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01847-22026-06-05
Peter McNeice
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01852-5 The shift towards renewable carbon for producing everyday chemicals hinges on innovative strategies to utilize sustainable feedstocks. By synergizing catalysis and reaction engineering, scientists can now incorporate renewable fatty acids into high-value end products, enhancing the potential of a circular bioeconomy.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01852-52026-06-04
Yuanjun Chen
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01849-0 Electrochemical carbon monoxide (CO) reduction offers a viable approach to sustainable ethylene production, but remains challenging under low CO availability. This study shows how to achieve efficient and selective ethylene synthesis in a CO-starved environment.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01849-02026-06-03
Buchun Si
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01848-1 Decarbonizing aviation is critical for global sustainability. The authors show a circular hydrothermal refinery transforming food waste into a 100% drop-in sustainable aviation fuel rich in cycloalkanes.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01848-12026-06-02
Silke Bauer
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01853-4 Renewable wind energy can aid decarbonization efforts; however, the impacts of wind turbines on migrating birds remain unclear. The authors study the potential risks of wind energy installations on migrating bird populations across Western Europe and assess potential trade-offs between wind energy and conservation.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01853-42026-06-01
Constantin Eisen
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 01 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01840-9 As materials with highly versatile and tunable architectures and functionalities, metal–organic frameworks offer precise control over catalyst structures. We discuss how their sustainable and economically viable use depends on balancing activity, stability and scale through improved metrics and informed material design.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01840-92026-06-01
Hongtak Lee
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 01 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01824-9 Future food demand is expected to drive cropland expansion, but emerging agricultural workforce shortages, contributing to local cropland abandonment, might limit food production. This study models the future impacts of labour constraints on cropland use under socioeconomic and climate scenarios.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01824-92026-05-28
Caiyi Liu
Nature Sustainability, Published online: 28 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01856-1 As a low-cost by-product of biodiesel production, glycerol is an attractive feedstock for the sustainable manufacturing of high-value chemicals. This study demonstrates a method to convert glycerol into sorbose, a valuable sugar used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.]]>
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-026-01856-1