Palm oil mill effluent (POME) represents a major environmental burden due to its exceptionally high organic load and complex pollutant profile. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a distinctive waste-to-energy platform capable of simultaneously treating POME while recovering electrical energy through microbial metabolism. This study evaluates the performance of POME-fed MFCs across three interrelated dimensions: wastewater treatment efficiency, electrochemical energy recovery, and electron loss mechanisms that constrain system performance. Reported chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies range from approximately 40% to over 90%, with the highest values typically achieved in hybrid configurations incorporating sorptive or redox-active materials. Power densities span several orders of magnitude, from below 2 mW m⁻² to above 600 mW m⁻² under highly optimized laboratory conditions; however, most POME-fed systems operate within a much narrower and more practically relevant range of roughly 10–500 mW m⁻², reflecting substrate complexity, mass-transfer limitations, and competing microbial pathways. Coulombic efficiencies (CE) are generally low, commonly below 50%, indicating that a substantial fraction of substrate-derived electrons is diverted to methanogenesis, aerobic respiration, biomass synthesis, and other non-electrogenic sinks rather than current generation. Collectively, the available evidence demonstrates that while POME-MFCs can achieve substantial organic removal, sustained electrical output remains constrained by fundamental biological and electrochemical trade-offs, underscoring the need for integrated reactor design, microbial management, and process control to improve practical viability.

High Temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (HT-ATES) is a promising sustainable energy storage solution, capitalizing on the stable and continuous nature of geothermal energy. Research has advanced significantly since the pioneering field tests in the 1970s. Existing field studies demonstrated high storage capacity and heat recovery efficiency (> 60%). Recent well-defined laboratory-scale experiments enhanced our understanding of thermal behavior and storage efficiency utilizing advanced techniques. Numerical simulations are now crucial, evolving from single-physics models to comprehensive multi-physics coupling frameworks (Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical (THM), Thermal-Hydraulic-Chemical (THC) or even Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC)), which are essential for simulating heat transfer, fluid flow, rock deformation, and chemical reactions. High-performance computing platforms boosted the efficiency and accuracy of simulations, especially for the characterization of dynamic reservoir permeability and porosity changes. Furthermore, integrating machine learning with these multi-physics models contributed to effectively improving predictive accuracy and optimizing HT-ATES system design. Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly in accurately capturing complex fractured reservoirs, mitigating thermal losses, ensuring long-term stability, and reducing high operational costs. Moving forward, overcoming these challenges through continued advancements in experimentation, in sophisticated multi-physics modeling, and in technological innovation is vital for establishing HT-ATES as a key component of global sustainable energy storage solutions. This review uniquely synthesizes advances in multi-physics coupling models and machine learning for HT-ATES, addressing gaps in previous reviews that overlooked system optimization and fractured reservoir studies.

Rapid renewable capacity additions are widely interpreted as evidence of power-sector decarbonization, yet observable renewable growth frequently coexists with fossil persistence. For climate mitigation governance, transition monitoring must distinguish between capacity additions and physical asset displacement. Using unit-level asset data from the Global Integrated Power Tracker (2010–2026), we develop an auditable, stock-based monitoring framework for characterizing the operating-stock dimension of the global power transition. By explicitly separating realized changes in operating assets from forward-looking pipeline orientation, we show that these dimensions often diverge. Although global development pipelines are broadly renewable-tilted (median renewable pipeline share = 0.828), realized stock reallocation remains sharply polarized across subregions. Fossil persistence remains widespread even under substantial renewable expansion: among subregions with net positive stock reallocation, 12 of 14 remain expansion-led, and among the highest-ranking subregions on this stock-based measure, 80% exhibit renewable additions layered onto a non-contracting fossil asset base. These findings show that tracking renewable additions alone is insufficient for monitoring stock-level transition progress. The framework is intended to diagnose structural change in the operating asset base rather than generation displacement or emissions reduction directly. Credible climate mitigation governance therefore requires a diagnostic approach that separately tracks renewable build-out, fossil operating-stock persistence, and pipeline orientation, while strengthening retirement transparency as a core component of phase-out monitoring.

Mitigating agricultural nitrate and phosphorus losses is crucial for pollution control and food security. While many studies focus on scenario analysis of mitigation potential, few are grounded in observational evidence. To address this gap, we synthesized results from 488 global in-situ measures, identifying six effective strategies that could reduce China’s farmland nitrate and phosphorus losses to water by 20.6-49.7% in 2030. We reveal that nitrate loss reduction is primarily driven by technological improvement, with optimized fertilization (e.g., rate and management) achieving 43.0% reduction. In contrast, phosphorus mitigation relies mainly on agronomic interventions, where rotation and irrigation yield 49.0% reduction. Effective management in China could achieve net annual benefits of USD11.5-13.6 billion via ecosystem preservation, improved human health, and energy savings based on 2030 projections. Agriculturally intensified zones, such as the North China Plain, could generate higher environmental benefits than coastal developed regions, while the latter show greater potential health benefits due to their higher population density. Therefore, tailoring mitigation measures to specific regions and pollutants, coupled with coordinated eco-compensation across scales, will enhance non-point source pollution control and optimize mitigation benefits.

Calcination was used to oxidize and reduce the sulfur content of pyrite-rich coal gangue (PCG). The resultant ash (CCG) was used as the main compound (95–100%) of Technosols. A balance was produced using composted urban solid waste (USW) as the organic matter (OM) source. Ecotoxicological assessments were performed by monitoring antimicrobial activity in Escherichia coli, growth and dry biomass production of Avena strigosa Schreb, and the avoidance behavior and feeding activity of Eisenia fetida. Calcination increased the pH from 2.67 in PCG to 4.88–5.87 in formulated Technosols, reducing the potential for acid mine drainage (AMD) formation and its consequences. Al, Fe, and Mn availabilities were reduced from 187.4, 826, and 6.2 mg·L^− 1 to values above the detection level. The leachates from the presented Technosols did not demonstrate an inhibitory effect, whereas those from PCG considerably inhibited E. coli activity (25 ± 3). An ANOVA test for A. strigosa resulted in an F-value of 102.73 with a p-value of 5.01 × 10^− 22 for growth, an F-value of 25.7 with a p-value of 3.04 × 10^− 5 for dry biomass production; the ANOVA for E. fetida testes resulted in F-value of 7.76 and p-value of 9.39 × 10^− 3 for avoidance behavior, and F-value of 96.53 and p-value of 6.02 × 10^− 8 for feeding activity. These results indicated that elevated pH and OM content are essential for improving the quality of Technosols. This study highlights the importance of integrating physicochemical and biological approaches to develop sustainable solutions for mitigating the environmental impacts of mining.