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Arctic extreme precipitation changes from 1980 to 2022 in response to sea ice decline and enhanced atmospheric rivers Arctic extreme precipitation (EP) broadly impacts permafrost degradation, glacier and snow cover changes, and ice sheet mass balance as well as ecosystems. However, investigation of EP spatiotemporal variations over the Arctic remains challenging, and their primary drivers are still poorly understood. Performance estimation of three state-of-the-art reanalysis products (Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis version 5 (ERA-5), and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2)) against gauge-based precipitation observations reveals that MERRA-2 outperforms other reanalysis for Arctic EP changes. Based on MERRA-2 data, both annual EP amount and occurrence days averaged over the Arctic show statistically significant positive trends during 1980–2022 (3.37 ± 1.03 mm dec−1 and 0.42 ± 0.17 d dec−1, respectively), with the most pronounced increase in the autumn. Spatial heterogeneity in annual and seasonal EP trends is found across the Arctic, with the largest positive annual trends of 30 mm dec−1 over the Bering Sea and the Denmark Strait. The significant EP increase is closely associated with intensified atmospheric rivers (ARs) and widespread decline in sea ice concentration (SIC). Specially, SIC and ARs are responsible for 12% and 50% of Arctic EP inter-annual variance, respectively, while ARs directly contribute 28.3% of the total annual EP amounts. These findings explain the mechanistic controls on Arctic EP, providing critical insights for projecting polar weather and climate extremes and their impacts on the Arctic environment.

Arctic extreme precipitation changes from 1980 to 2022 in response to sea ice decline and enhanced atmospheric rivers

10.10.2025 18:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The PeatPic project: predicting plot-scale green leaf phenology across peatlands Peatlands store approximately one-third of the world’s soil carbon (C), but their functioning is highly variable at fine spatial scales due to differences in vegetation cover and environmental conditions such as water table depth. This fine-scale heterogeneity plays a key role in carbon dynamics yet capturing it—particularly in relation to green leaf phenology (GLP)—is challenging with traditional remote sensing methods. To address this, we developed a smartphone-based methodology and community-science project called the PeatPic Project. We gathered over 3700 photographs from 27 sites across 10 countries in 2021 and 2022, representing different peatland types (bog, fen, and swamp), at 1–2 week intervals. We calculated GLP metrics, such as the data of the start of the season and end of the season, based on the red-blue-green bands from these photographs. We found that GLP metrics varied significantly across peatland types and dominant vegetation communities. Notably, peak greenness at bog sites occurring approximately 10 days later in the year compared to fen sites. Furthermore, variables relation to peatland/vegetation type and energy balance were key predictors of peatland GLP. The PeatPic Project’s readily available methodology offers low-cost opportunities for further research into peatland phenology, enabling the calculation of additional phenological indices and integration with other data types. By refining our understanding of peatland GLP, we can improve predictive C modelling and better assess the impacts of future changes on these important ecosystems.

The PeatPic project: predicting plot-scale green leaf phenology across peatlands

10.10.2025 17:07 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The physics behind why cutting onions makes us cry It’s mostly to do with knife sharpness and cutting technique The post The physics behind why cutting onions makes us cry appeared first on Physics World.

The physics behind why cutting onions makes us cry

10.10.2025 14:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Hotspots of summer heatwaves in East Asia and their associated radiative and dynamical forcing The recent heatwave events and their repercussions on ecosystems and society underscore the necessity for an in-depth understanding of the mechanism responsible for heatwave formation. Utilizing spectral clustering method to classify the daily heatwave circulation over East Asia (EA) from 1979 to 2022, this study identifies three distinct heatwave hotspots in eastern China (P1; 22%), Mongolia (P2; 47%), and northwestern EA (P3; 31%), each of which has its own unique upper-level trough and ridge structures. The formation of heatwave hotspots is associated with the tropospheric anticyclonic anomalies, which are characterized by the westward extension and enhancement of the Western Pacific Subtropical High (P1), a strong ridge over Mongolia (P2), and anomalous anticyclones over northwestern and northeast EA (P3). These anomalous anticyclones lead to decreased cloud cover and atmospheric descent, influenced by specific quasi-barotropic teleconnection wave patterns in the mid-latitudes. The quantitative attribution results from the climate feedback response analysis indicate that the cloud, water vapor, and atmospheric dynamics constitute significant heat-generating mechanisms. Cloud changes provide the largest positive contribution (P1: 7.8 K, P2: 1.6 K, and P3: 1.9 K) to the formation of all three types of heatwaves through the shortwave radiation effect. Changes in atmospheric dynamics result in temperature increases of 2.7 K, 0.5 K, and 0.9 K in P1, P2, and P3, respectively. Atmospheric dynamics of P1 are primarily attributed to adiabatic warming, while both adiabatic and horizontal advection positively influence P2 and P3. Moreover, surface processes generally have compensatory cooling effects on the overall temperature anomalies associated with heatwaves. The findings of this study yield valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of extreme heat events in EA, offering scientific support for disaster prevention and mitigation.

Hotspots of summer heatwaves in East Asia and their associated radiative and dynamical forcing

10.10.2025 12:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Earlier carbon neutrality more effectively limits heat exposure of urban populations in developing continents Achieving carbon neutrality by the 2050s, as proposed in the Paris Agreement, is imperative for mitigating climate risks and fostering a sustainable future. Here, by examining the multi-model projections under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios, we show that achieving carbon neutrality by the 2050s shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) 1-1.9 can reduce global population exposure (PE) to hot temperature extremes—defined as person-days exceeding the 30 year return value of annual maximum daily maximum temperature—by 98%, compared to the scenario of continued regional rivalry in carbon emissions (SSP3-7.0). It is also up to 7% more effective than achieving carbon neutrality by the 2070s (SSP1-2.6), with this additional benefit driven primarily by significant reductions in urban PE, 4–9 times greater than those in rural PE. The effects of earlier carbon neutrality are particularly greater in developing continents, such as Africa, Asia, and South America, than in developed continents, thereby helping to reduce the regional inequality in climate risks. This result underscores the urgency of pursuing earlier carbon neutrality to reduce climate risks, especially in developing continents.

Earlier carbon neutrality more effectively limits heat exposure of urban populations in developing continents

10.10.2025 12:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

How does urbanization process affect urban heat island effect? Interpretation of 31 cities in China based on local climate zones Urbanization has dramatically reshaped the urban landscape and intensified the urban heat island (UHI) effect in recent decades. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of UHI across 31 major Chinese cities from 2000 to 2020, using the local climate zone (LCZ) framework, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer-derived land surface temperature (LST), and machine learning models. Existing research has found significant differences in the level of UHI variation among different cities, but few studies attributing it from the perspective of urban morphology changes. We quantify urbanization processes through nine LCZ-derived indicators and assess their influence on daytime and nighttime UHI in summer. Results show that UHI intensity increased in 80.6% of cities during the day and in 77.4% at night, with over half experiencing statistically significant intensification (p

How does urbanization process affect urban heat island effect? Interpretation of 31 cities in China based on local climate zones

10.10.2025 12:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Adaptive mobility responses during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 Adaptation is crucial for minimizing the societal impacts of tropical cyclones amid climate change. Using 3.56 billion high-resolution foot-traffic records from mobile devices, we analyzed human mobility patterns during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck the southeastern United States in 2024. We observed marked differences in adaptive mobility responses across geographic regions with varying levels of historical hurricane exposure. Milton primarily impacted coastal areas with frequent hurricane exposure and prompted sharp increases in out-region travel prior to landfall and sustained elevated mobility in the post-disaster period. In contrast, Helene affected mostly inland areas, where mobility changes were modest and largely within natural variation. Within Helene-affected regions, coastal counties showed stronger mobility responses than inland counties. Our findings underscore the need for tailoring disaster preparedness and response strategies to the specific characteristics of affected populations.

Adaptive mobility responses during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024

10.10.2025 12:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A system dynamics model to evaluate historical and future trend of water scarcity in Beijing Water scarcity assessments are crucial for sustainable water management in the future. Previously, such assessments were mainly conducted through simple statistical analyses and water resource models, which apply minimal observational data on socioeconomic factors. Here, we present a data-driven method to evaluate water scarcity, and reveal the interplaying mechanisms between its key driving factors. We selected Beijing as a case study for its complex human–water system representative of other megacities. We collected annual parameters from government’s statistics and yearbooks during 2000–2021 and designed a system dynamics (SD) framework to characterize the key human–water coupling components. The framework was then used to project water demand and supply changes under different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) (2024–2050) using meteorological forcing from CMIP6. Results show that the SD framework performs reasonably in reproducing historical water supply and demand variability, showing continuously mitigated water scarcity severity due to government efforts to constrain agricultural and industrial water demand. Future projections indicate that water scarcity severity will be gradually mitigated until 2030, particularly under SSP1, SSP2, and SSP3 scenarios. After 2030, water scarcity is intensified across all scenarios except for SSP5. This is associated with increased (decreased) sectoral water demand, together with reduced (increased) total water supply under each scenario. Sensitivity analyses, by keeping key parameters constant, highlight the distinct roles of climatological and socioeconomic factors in shaping the timing and variability of water scarcity, and offer valuable policy implications. The SD framework in this study has unique strength in simulating the temporal evolutions of sectoral water demands and their complex interactions, and thus can improve the realism of water demand estimation, which is essential for water resource modeling and assessment studies.

A system dynamics model to evaluate historical and future trend of water scarcity in Beijing

10.10.2025 12:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Regime shift in extreme wildfires within northern Eurasia and their impacts Wildfires heighten the risks of ecosystem degradation and increase carbon emissions, significantly impacting ecological stability and climate change. However, changes in extreme wildfire regimes and their consequential impact on carbon emissions and burned area (BA) remain unclear. Our results indicate that extreme wildfires in northern Eurasia exhibit a latitudinal shift in intensity and frequency during 2003–2023. Within the historically fire-prone latitude band of approximately 50° N–60° N, a declining trend is observed in both intensity and frequency of extreme wildfires. Conversely, a northward shift of high-intensity extreme wildfires brings unprecedented carbon emissions and BAs to high-latitude regions that are rich in forest carbon storage and permafrost. Although extreme wildfires account for only 10% of all fire events, they contribute to over 30% of total wildfire carbon emissions and BAs across most regions of northern Eurasia.

Regime shift in extreme wildfires within northern Eurasia and their impacts

10.10.2025 11:08 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Simultaneous production and consumer efforts reduce the nitrogen load in a Japanese island’s food system Issues related to reactive nitrogen (Nr) continue to increase and have exceeded planetary boundaries. Both production- and consumer-level efforts can mitigate Nr loads and inputs. However, only independent evaluations of these efforts have been performed thus far, and the lack of comprehensive evaluations has hindered further reductions in Nr loads and inputs. Therefore, in this study, we applied the food nitrogen footprint to a subtropical island in Japan and evaluated both direct (on-island) and indirect (overseas-related, imported food/feed production) Nr loads and inputs within the food system. The following scenarios were developed: shifting diets toward grains and legumes in imported food, halving food loss and using the remainder as concentrate feed, and replacing chemical fertilizers with cattle manure produced on the island. Altering the composition of imported food, reducing food loss by half, and utilizing the remaining portion as feed effectively reduced the indirect Nr load, while using cattle manure reduced the direct Nr load. Implementing these measures in combination reduced the direct and indirect Nr loads by 15.4% and 30.9% and the direct and indirect Nr inputs by 19.8% and 18.8%, respectively. Therefore, it is essential to implement consumer and production efforts simultaneously rather than independently to optimize the global nitrogen cycle.

Simultaneous production and consumer efforts reduce the nitrogen load in a Japanese island’s food system

10.10.2025 11:08 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Motion blur brings a counterintuitive advantage for high-resolution imaging New algorithm turns structured motion into sharper images The post Motion blur brings a counterintuitive advantage for high-resolution imaging appeared first on Physics World.

Motion blur brings a counterintuitive advantage for high-resolution imaging

10.10.2025 08:04 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Hints of a boundary between phases of nuclear matter found at RHIC STAR collaboration homes in on critical point for quark–gluon plasma The post Hints of a boundary between phases of nuclear matter found at RHIC appeared first on Physics World.

Hints of a boundary between phases of nuclear matter found at RHIC

09.10.2025 15:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

From quantum curiosity to quantum computers: the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics Quantum physicist and entrepreneur Ilana Wisby on the legacy of this year’s laureates The post From quantum curiosity to quantum computers: the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics appeared first on Physics World.

From quantum curiosity to quantum computers: the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics

09.10.2025 13:53 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The power of physics: what can a physicist do in the nuclear energy industry? Six physicists in the nuclear energy industry talk about their career paths, and how a background in physics can be used across the sector The post The power of physics: what can a physicist do in the nuclear energy industry? appeared first on Physics World.

The power of physics: what can a physicist do in the nuclear energy industry?

09.10.2025 09:02 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A record-breaking anisotropic van der Waals crystal? Researchers from China have observed record-breaking in-plane optical anisotropy in a van der Waals crystal The post A record-breaking anisotropic van der Waals crystal? appeared first on Physics World.

A record-breaking anisotropic van der Waals crystal?

09.10.2025 08:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Unlocking the limits of quantum security A new theoretical approach reveals how quantum encryption keys can be more effectively extracted and verified, paving the way for safer quantum networks The post Unlocking the limits of quantum security appeared first on Physics World.

Unlocking the limits of quantum security

09.10.2025 08:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Optical gyroscope detects Earth’s rotation with the highest precision yet With further improvements, the instrument could enable direct tests of relativistic effects The post Optical gyroscope detects Earth’s rotation with the highest precision yet appeared first on Physics World.

Optical gyroscope detects Earth’s rotation with the highest precision yet

08.10.2025 16:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A health impact assessment of changes in NDVI on all-cause mortality across 1041 global cities Urban greenspaces are associated with improved health and climate resiliency. Large scale health impact assessments of urban greenspace and mortality have been limited to American and European cities. We estimated changes in mortality associated with observed differences in population-weighted greenest season normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) between 2014–2018 and 2019–2023 across 1041 global cities representing 174 countries. We used publicly available high-resolution satellite-derived estimates of NDVI and population, baseline disease rates from the Global Burden of Disease study, and a hazard ratio of the association between NDVI and all-cause mortality from an epidemiological meta-analysis. We found that urban greenspace varies substantially across cities (NDVI mean: 0.270, range: 0.072, 0.580) and by climate classification and geographic region. Despite modest global average changes in NDVI from 2014–2018 to 2019–2023, NDVI has changed by over ±20% in individual cities. Median regional changes were largest in South-eastern Asia (−0.022), Sub-Saharan Africa (−0.010) and Eastern Asia (+0.014) and most stable in arid climates (

A health impact assessment of changes in NDVI on all-cause mortality across 1041 global cities

08.10.2025 13:52 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Susumu Kitagwa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Chemistry Trio honoured for their work on metal-organic frameworks The post Susumu Kitagwa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Chemistry appeared first on Physics World.

Susumu Kitagwa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

08.10.2025 10:03 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Machine learning optimizes nanoparticle design for drug delivery to the brain Predictive model accelerates the development of nanoparticles as potential drug carriers for targeting neurodegenerative diseases The post Machine learning optimizes nanoparticle design for drug delivery to the brain appeared first on Physics World.

Machine learning optimizes nanoparticle design for drug delivery to the brain

08.10.2025 08:33 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Advances in quantum error correction showcased at Q2B25 Isabelle Dumé reports from the Q2B quantum conference in Paris, France The post Advances in quantum error correction showcased at Q2B25 appeared first on Physics World.

Advances in quantum error correction showcased at Q2B25

07.10.2025 15:04 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A low vibration wire scanner fork for free electron lasers Built on UHV Design’s Production Linear Shift Mechanism range (PLSM), new linear actuator allows heavy objects to be moved very smoothly, says UHV Design engineering director Jonty Eyres. The post A low vibration wire scanner fork for free electron lasers appeared first on Physics World.

A low vibration wire scanner fork for free electron lasers

07.10.2025 14:55 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Rapid calendar life screening of electrolytes for silicon anodes using voltage holds Join the audience for a live webinar at 5 p.m. GMT/1 p.m EST on 29 October. To learn about calendar aging challenges in next generation Si based Li-ion batteries and how to measure and improve it The post Rapid calendar life screening of electrolytes for silicon anodes using voltage holds appeared first on Physics World.

Rapid calendar life screening of electrolytes for silicon anodes using voltage holds

07.10.2025 13:52 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to IOP Fellow and team for work in quantum technology The Institute of Physics (IOP) and IOP Publishing extend their warmest congratulations to IOP Fellow John Clarke FInstP FRS, and his colleagues Michel Devoret and John Martinis, on winning the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in the development of quantum science – especially meaningful in this, the UNESCO International Year of Quantum […] The post Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to IOP Fellow and team for work in quantum technology appeared first on IOP Publishing.

Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to IOP Fellow and team for work in quantum technology

07.10.2025 12:26 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics Trio honoured for their work on quantum tunnelling The post John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics appeared first on Physics World.

John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis win the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics

07.10.2025 09:54 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Climate hazard experience linked to increased climate risk perception worldwide Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events worldwide. Using nationally representative survey data from 142 countries ( ), I found that people who have experienced a climate-related hazard are more likely to consider climate change a very serious threat than people who have not experienced any hazard within the same country. These effects are consistent across eleven hazard types, with the effect of experiencing a heatwave being comparable in magnitude to that of having a university education. The increase in risk perception among those who have experienced a climate-related hazard does not appear to be clearly amplified or attenuated by a person’s resilience, which is calculated by combining individual, household, community, and societal factors. Large differences in the effects are observed across countries for some hazards (e.g. droughts, heatwaves, and floods), whereas small differences are observed for others (e.g. hurricanes, landslides, and wildfires). At the country level, there does not appear to be an association between the proportion of people exposed to climate-related hazards and the proportion of people who perceive climate change as a threat. These results may help us anticipate public concern in a warming world and suggest promising avenues for future research.

Climate hazard experience linked to increased climate risk perception worldwide

07.10.2025 07:41 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Is materials science the new alchemy for the 21st century? Honor Powrie pays tribute to the work of materials scientists The post Is materials science the new alchemy for the 21st century? appeared first on Physics World.

Is materials science the new alchemy for the 21st century?

06.10.2025 12:04 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Perovskite detector could improve nuclear medicine imaging A lead halide material can detect and image single gamma-ray photons with both high-spatial and high-energy resolution The post Perovskite detector could improve nuclear medicine imaging appeared first on Physics World.

Perovskite detector could improve nuclear medicine imaging

06.10.2025 08:34 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Radioactive BEC could form a ‘superradiant neutrino laser’ Physicists plan to test idea in the lab The post Radioactive BEC could form a ‘superradiant neutrino laser’ appeared first on Physics World.

Radioactive BEC could form a ‘superradiant neutrino laser’

04.10.2025 12:50 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Public attitudes and community engagement in large-scale solar siting Large-scale solar (LSS) systems represent an increasing share of energy infrastructure in the United States. The number of LSS systems is expected to continue to grow, and such expansion will require support from local communities that are asked to host new projects. Here, we perform a systematic literature review of studies that evaluate: (1) the factors that shape the perception, acceptance, and opposition of LSS; and (2) the role of stakeholders and community engagement in current LSS siting conflicts. Our review of the literature finds that local communities have complex, location-specific opinions and attitudes towards solar projects. Shaped by project characteristics such as size, land use type, and project ownership type, people value local benefits such as jobs, reduced pollution, increased tax revenue, and local ownership, and are critical of highly localized burdens such as impacts to the local landscape. We further find that scholars promote early and direct communication of potential benefits and tradeoffs, as well as an inclusive decision-making process and engagement activities that reflect community values and build trust. Our review reveals that further research is needed to investigate the roles and impacts of: (1) emerging LSS configurations such as solar plus storage hybrids and LSS projects paired with transmission and substation additions; (2) evolving LSS stakeholder groups including landowners, agricultural industry, and the media; and (3) causal relationships between public perceptions, community engagement activities, and project outcomes.

Public attitudes and community engagement in large-scale solar siting

03.10.2025 18:04 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

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