Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (June 25, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges.
In brief:
A new, detailed analysis of the benefits and trade-offs of urban street trees in Las Vegas
Earth is hotter than it has been in 125,000 years, scientists say, and Las Vegas continues to break temperature records. The extreme heat claimed more than 500 lives in southern Nevada last year alone, and scientists and city officials are clamoring for solutions. Planting and preserving the city’s street trees is one method that brings many benefits, from the cool air of their shade to their ability to store carbon. Now, a new study takes a deeper look at just how much trees can offer Sin City, as well as the water tradeoffs inherent in growing trees in a desert.
The study, published in Environmental Research: Climate, uses advanced computer simulations of the city to conduct a detailed analysis of how trees impact temperatures. Led by DRI’s Juan Henao and John Mejia, the research found that street trees can create small oases from the desert sun by creating shaded spots that are nearly 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than their surroundings. A large effort to plant drought-tolerant tree species could also cool citywide nighttime air temperatures by around 3 degrees Fahrenheit (aprox. 1.7°C), while the benefit for daytime temperatures is limited due to the trees’ adaptations to the dry desert air.
“Trees can really improve our thermal comfort, because when we go under a tree, we can feel the difference,” said Juan Henao, Postdoctoral Researcher in Atmospheric Modeling at DRI. “But this comfort is due to more than temperature — we’re also feeling the difference in the amount of solar radiation that is reaching us. I think one important finding of this research is that air temperature is not the only variable that matters.”
Las Vegas’ location in the middle of the Mojave Desert means that trees are rarely native away from natural waterways, so identifying trees that offer cooling benefits without requiring significant water is important for the region. Detailed computer simulations like the one used in this study offer a way to examine how different tree species will perform under the local climate and can inform urban forestation efforts.
Research in other cities has shown a larger citywide air temperature decrease resulting from transpiration, or the way that trees release water vapor from leaves (the process is somewhat similar to sweating in mammals). However, in the extremely dry desert air, the study found that many trees will close their stomata, or the pores of their leaves, to conserve water; this limits their air-cooling benefits beyond shading. The finding is consistent with other research that found hot, dry areas receive 40% less evaporative cooling from trees than more temperate environments.
“I think there is some consensus, and we confirmed it here, that in hot, arid climates, shade is the most important benefit of trees, and not necessarily the cooling they provide by transpiration,” Henao said. “Whereas in other regions, the transpiration is a very important factor as well.”
The water transpired from leaves is first taken up by the tree’s roots, making tradeoffs for water conservation efforts important to consider. The study examined different tree species and found that Cherry trees offered a more significant air cooling benefit, more than three times that offered by Bur Oak, with a modest daytime cooling of about 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit (aprox. 0.39°C). However, the Cherry trees also required three times more water to produce this cooling effect.
The study authors note that the study is limited to the computer simulations conducted, which examined citywide forestation of one tree species at a time. The research can offer insight, however, into the benefits and tradeoffs of urban street trees in the hot and arid climate of Las Vegas. Knowing that the largest benefit of urban street trees is their shading can help tree-planting efforts prioritize locations like high-traffic sidewalks, bus stops, and other sunny places with pedestrians.
“Urban trees are not a silver bullet for cooling our cities, particularly for desert cities like Las Vegas,” Henao said. “But they provide significant shade and of course other benefits. I know that I prefer to see trees, and they can help store carbon. We just need to remember that in order to cool the air, they need to release water vapor, and we need to give them enough water to do that. Any hot, dry city will need to consider these tradeoffs and really do their research to identify the right species for planting efforts.”
“Street trees are an important part of the solution to urban overheating,” said John Mejia, climatologist at DRI who co-led the study with Henao. “However, to equip practitioners with a more comprehensive set of tools, our ongoing research is also investigating a wider range of heat mitigation strategies, including reflective materials for rooftops, walls, and pavements; green roofs; and improved energy efficiency in buildings.”
Journal Reference:
Juan J Henao, John F Mejia, E Scott Krayenhoff, Timothy Jiang and Alberto Martilli, ‘Effectiveness of street trees in reducing air temperature and outdoor heat exposure in Las Vegas’, Environmental Research: Climate 4, 025015 (2025). DOI: 10.1088/2752-5295/ade17d
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Desert Research Institute (DRI)
Editorial for the special issue on carbon capture, utilization, and storage
Global climate change has become one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. As anthropogenic CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption and industrial processes continue to disrupt Earth’s carbon cycle, atmospheric CO2 concentrations have reached unprecedented levels – exceeding 420 parts per million (ppm) in 2023 compared to pre-industrial 280 ppm. This rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases has resulted in measurable consequences including rising global temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.
As global decarbonization efforts intensify, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is poised to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between energy demand and climate imperatives. Geological storage formations, including deep saline aquifers, oil reservoirs, and basalt formations, exhibit a global storage capacity that far surpasses cumulative anthropogenic carbon emissions generated since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. For example, China’s sedimentary basins possess storage potential sufficient to sequester the nation’s projected carbon emissions for multiple decades.
Despite the demonstrated potential of geological storage technology in synergistic energy – carbon management, its widespread deployment faces persistent challenges including reservoir integrity assurance, uncertainty in dynamic storage capacity estimation, leakage risks, and the interrelated complexities of long-term monitoring and material degradation in geological carbon sequestration systems.
CCUS-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology is the most feasible CCUS technology demonstrating dual benefits of enhance energy production and carbon reduction. Rui et al. comprehensively describe the key influencing factors governing CO2-EOR and geological storage process, such as reservoir properties, fluid characteristics, and operation parameters. Furthermore, systematically analyzes the coupling relationship among various factors for influencing performance of enhanced energy production and storage. Based on multi-objective optimization, considered lifecycle, multi-scale technical-economic evaluation method was proposed to fully evaluate CCUS-EOR project performance.
Song et al. propose a novel method for EOR by thickened supercritical CO2 (scCO2) flooding in high-water cut mature reservoirs. Using molecular dynamics simulation to design optimal synthetic routine, a copolymer without fluorine or silicon is synthesized by modifying vinyl acetate with maleic anhydride and styrene, and conducted to clarify the underlying mechanism of EOR by thickened scCO2 flooding. Du et al. develop a novel dispersed particle gel suspension for high-temperature profile control, which presents a highly promising solution for profile control in high-temperature CCUS applications.
Carbon storage has greater potential for sequestration in CCUS. Chai et al.’s study quantifies mineralization-driven permeability reduction in CO2 storage through feldspar dissolution and kaolinite precipitation, as evidenced by integrated experimental and microanalytical characterization of reactive multiphase flow in mineralogically complex sandstones. This study establishes a foundational reference for geological carbon storage in sandstones characterized by heterogeneous mineral compositions.
Wang et al. propose that CO2 storage in reservoirs across large timescales undergoes the two storage stages of oil displacement and well shut-in. The study delineates the multi-stage evolution of CO2 storage mechanisms (stratigraphic, residual, solubility, and mineral trapping) in low-permeability tight sandstones, revealing dynamic shifts from dominance of structural/residual trapping to solubility-driven storage and long-term mineral sequestration across continuous injection and water–gas alternation scenarios.
Meng et al.’s investigation delves into the contribution of adsorption and diffusion of CO2 storage in shale reservoirs. It also predicts the future CO2-storage potential of the Gulong shale oil reservoir in Daqing Oilfield. Zhao et al.’s work quantifies cyclic CO2 injection’s dual carbon sequestration potential in fractured unconventional reservoirs, achieving 48.3% long-term storage over ten years through integrated multigeomechanically–geochemical modeling.
The safety issues of CO2 storage in reservoirs are also worth considering. Fan et al. underscore that wellbore integrity in geological CO2 storage is critically threatened by accelerated steel-cement corrosion in scCO2–brine environments, with microbial-influenced corrosion rates reaching 0.5 mm·a−1 under acidic conditions. Their analysis identifies scCO2’s high reactivity and multiphase interactions as primary drivers of material degradation, while current predictive models fail to account for century-scale stress-microbial synergies.
To address these gaps, Fan’s team advocates for Cr-Ni-Mo alloy optimization, calcium–silicate–hydrate-based self-healing cements, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven corrosion forecasting integrating real-time geochemical monitoring data to achieve > 50 year infrastructure durability.
CO2 utilization and storage is critical pathway for a CCUS chain development. Wang et al. develop CO2-mineralized backfill materials from coal wastes, achieving 14.9 MPa compressive strength and 14.4 kg·t–1 CO2 sequestration via 15% CO2 treatment. Composite waste reduces emissions by 1.23 Mt·a−1 in China, leveraging waste-specific reactivity (carbide slag > red mud > fly ash). The Yellow River Basin’s 8.16 Gm3 goafs could store 0.18 Gt CO2, demonstrating scalable integration of industrial decarbonization, waste valorization, and secure geological storage.
This special issue aims to catalyze impactful discourse and inspire targeted research to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the field. While challenges persist, collective efforts can drive meaningful progress. We extend our gratitude to contributing authors for their scholarly work, editors for their stewardship, and reviewers for enhancing article rigor through constructive critique.
Journal Reference:
Gensheng Li, Jinsheng Sun, Zhangxin Chen, Zhenhua Rui, ‘Editorial for the Special Issue on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage’, Engineering 48, Pages 1-2 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.004
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Higher Education Press | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Bioplastic breakthrough: Sustainable cooling film could slash building energy use by 20% amid rising global temperatures
The bioplastic metafilm – that can be applied to buildings, equipment and other surfaces – passively cools temperatures by as much as 9.2°C during peak sunlight and reflects almost 99% of the sun’s rays.
Developed by researchers from Zhengzhou University in China and the University of South Australia (UniSA), the new film is a sustainable and long-lasting material that could reduce building energy consumption by up to 20% a year in some of the world’s hottest cities.
The material is described in the latest issue of Cell Reports Physical Science.
UniSA PhD candidate Yangzhe Hou says the cooling metafilm represents a breakthrough in sustainable materials engineering that could help combat rising global temperatures and hotter cities.
“Our metafilm offers an environmentally friendly alternative to air-conditioning, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions,” says Hou, who is also from Zhengzhou University.
“The material reflects nearly all solar radiation but also allows internal building heat to escape directly into outer space. This enables the building to stay cooler than the surrounding air, even under direct sunlight.”
Notably, the film continues to perform even after prolonged exposure to acidic conditions and ultraviolet light – two major barriers that have historically hindered similar biodegradable materials.
Constructed from polylactic acid (PLA) – a common plant-derived bioplastic – the metafilm is fabricated using a low-temperature separation technique that reflects 98.7% of sunlight and minimises heat gain.
“Unlike conventional cooling technologies, this metafilm requires no electricity or mechanical systems,” says co-author Dr Xianhu Liu from Zhengzhou University.
“Most existing passive radiative cooling systems rely on petrochemical-based polymers or ceramics that raise environmental concerns. By using biodegradable PLA, we are presenting a green alternative that offers high solar reflectance, strong thermal emission, sustainability, and durability.”
In real-world applications, the metafilm showed an average temperature drop of 4.9°C during the day and 5.1°C at night. Field tests conducted in both China and Australia confirmed its stability and efficiency under harsh environmental conditions. Even after 120 hours in strong acid and the equivalent of eight months’ outdoor UV exposure, the metafilm retained cooling power of up to 6.5°C.
Perhaps most significantly, the simulations revealed that the metafilm could cut annual energy consumption by up to 20.3% in cities such as Lhasa, China, by reducing dependence on air conditioning.
“This isn’t just a lab-scale success” says co-author Professor Jun Ma from the University of South Australia.
“Our film is scalable, durable and completely degradable,” he says.
“This research aims to contribute to sustainable development by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exploring feasible pathways to improve human comfort while minimising environmental impact.”
The discovery addresses a major challenge in the field: how to reconcile high-performance cooling with eco-friendly degradation.
The researchers are now exploring large-scale manufacturing opportunities and potential applications in buildings, transport, agriculture, electronics, and the biomedical field including cooling wound dressings.
Journal Reference:
Hou, Yangzhe et al., ‘A structural bioplastic metafilm for durable passive radiative cooling’, Cell Reports Physical Science 102664 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102664. Also available on ScienceDirect.
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by University of South Australia (UniSA)
Mapping barriers to natural climate solutions
Conservation, restoration, and ecosystem management can reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon dioxide sequestration, in what frequently are referred to as “natural climate solutions.” Such natural climate solutions have gained global attention in recent years as they could provide over one-third of the climate mitigation required to keep global warming under 2°C (3.6°F) by 2030.
The authors mapped social, political, informational, and economic roadblocks that prevent implementation of natural climate solutions around the world, drawing on data from 352 peer-reviewed papers. The study presents a global, country-level analysis of a comprehensive set of constraints on natural climate solution implementation. The most common roadblock is lack of funding.
Other common barriers include insufficient information on how to manage ecosystems for climate mitigation, ineffective policies, and disinterest or skepticism. However, the constellation of barriers varies by natural climate solution and country. Protecting or restoring wetlands, a complex task, is most often limited by lack of knowledge rather than lack of funds.
Reforestation is often limited by concerns over negative equity impacts: For subsistence farmers, reforestation may make farmland less available, threatening livelihoods and food security. On the other hand, protecting existing forests faces barriers from lack of enforcement. Given the multiple constraints on natural climate solutions in every studied country, the authors suggest that the full benefit of such solutions is unlikely to be achieved in the near to medium term and that unlocking their full potential will require collaborations across sectors and disciplines.
According to the authors, their maps can be used to improve estimates of the near-term feasible climate mitigation potential of natural climate solutions and inform equitable solutions for reducing the implementation gap through context-specific, integrated solutions.
Journal Reference:
Hilary Brumberg, Margaret Hegwood, Waverly Eichhorst, Anna LoPresti, James T Erbaugh, Timm Kroeger, ‘Global analysis of constraints to natural climate solution implementation’, PNAS Nexus 4, 6, pgaf173 (2025). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf173
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by PNAS Nexus
Featured image credit: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
