Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press roundup (February 22, 2026), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges.
In brief:
— Press Release —
Seashells and coconut char: A coastal recipe for super-compost
In the lush landscapes of tropical agriculture, two waste products – oyster shells from the sea and coconut shells from the trees – are being combined to solve a major headache for farmers: how to turn animal manure into high-quality compost faster and more effectively.
A study recently published in Carbon Research reveals that a unique “Ca-modified biochar” can act as a powerful catalyst for the composting process. Developed by a research team at Hainan University, this new material helps transform pig manure and rice straw into stable, nutrient-rich humus, significantly boosting the quality of the final fertilizer.
The research was spearheaded by corresponding authors Shanshuai Chen and Pingshan Fan. Their work bridges the College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry and the School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication) at Hainan University. By utilizing local agricultural and fishery byproducts, the team has created a circular economy solution that is both practical and environmentally friendly.
“Composting is nature’s way of recycling, but it can be slow and inefficient,” explain the researchers. “By adding biochar modified with oyster shells, we are essentially giving the beneficial microbes a high-performance workspace. This leads to more stable organic matter and a product that is much safer and more beneficial for plants.”
The Driver of Humification:
- The Perfect Blend: The team pyrolyzed coconut shells and oyster shells together at 600 °C. This process allowed calcium from the shells to bond with the carbon structure, creating a material rich in carboxyl and carbonyl groups that help hold the compost together.
- Better for Seeds: Compost treated with this modified biochar saw a nearly 19% increase in the Seed Germination Index (GI). This means the resulting compost is less toxic to young plants and more effective at supporting growth.
- Microbial Super-Boost: The addition of the modified biochar led to a 107% increase in specific bacteria like Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. These “specialized microbial communities” are experts at breaking down tough materials like lignin and converting them into stable humus.
- Chemical Transformation: Spectroscopy and matrix analysis showed that the biochar helped shift protein-like molecules into stable humic acids, increasing the overall humification of organic matter by about 5% compared to standard composting.
This innovation from Hainan University is particularly significant for tropical regions where agricultural waste management is a priority. By improving the “humification“ process – the conversion of raw waste into stable soil organic matter – this research helps prevent nitrogen loss and reduces the environmental footprint of livestock farming.
The findings provide a scalable and sustainable blueprint for industrial-scale composting facilities. As the world moves toward greener farming practices, the work of Shanshuai Chen, Pingshan Fan, and their colleagues at Hainan University demonstrates that the best solutions for the land often come from a creative mix of the land and the sea.
Journal Reference:
He, J., Li, L., Shi, Y. et al., ‘Oyster shell-functionalized biochar enhanced compost humification during the co-composting of pig manure with rice straw’, Carbon Research 5, 7 (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s44246-025-00249-x
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Biochar Editorial Office | Shenyang Agricultural University (SYAU)
— Press Release —
Bird poop powers rise of ancient Peruvian kingdom, analysis shows
The sociopolitical and economic expansion of the Chincha Kingdom in southern Peru was fueled by a surprising secret: the systematic use of seabird guano as a high-powered fertilizer.
A new study published in PLOS One provides the strongest evidence yet that Indigenous communities used marine fertilizers to supercharge maize production as early as 1250 CE, long before the Inca and Spanish empires dominated the region.
Researchers at the University of Sydney and Texas A&M University led the study; a critical component of this discovery took place at the University of California, Merced, directed by Professor Beth Scaffidi of the Department of Anthropology and Heritage Studies.
Scaffidi and her team used the Skeletal and Environmental Isotope Laboratory (SEIL) to prepare and analyze late pre-Hispanic maize cob fragments. By measuring chemical fingerprints in this ancient organic material, the UC Merced team reconstructed agricultural practices from nearly a millennium ago. Robin Trayer, technical director of UC Merced’s core isotope analysis lab, assisted SEIL in its analysis.
To determine if ancient farmers were using guano, they analyzed stable carbon, nitrogen and sulfur ratios from maize cobs recovered from 26 tombs across 14 cemeteries in the Chincha Valley. Seabird guano is exceptionally rich in nitrogen. When farmers applied it to their fields, the plants absorbed this distinct isotopic signature.
The UC Merced also processed human hair from these archaeological sites and found similar isotopes. The team analyzed the remains of ancient cormorants, boobies, and pelicans – the primary guano producers – to establish a regional baseline for what “marine-enriched” nitrogen looks like in the Chincha environment.
The findings were definitive. The analysis revealed:
- Thirteen of the maize samples exhibited values at or above +20, a level no natural process or terrestrial fertilizer can achieve besides seabird guano. Some samples reached nitrogen levels as high as +27.4, confirming these crops were treated heavily with marine resources.
- These high nitrogen levels coincide with the Late Intermediate Period (1000–1400 CE), suggesting the Chincha Kingdom used guano to sustain a dense population of at least 30,000 people and a complex economy of farmers and merchants.
- Sulfur levels in the maize were consistent with experimental data from guano-fertilized plants, further supporting the conclusion that marine nutrients were the driving force behind coastal agricultural success.
The study concludes that seabird guano was not just a fertilizer but a catalyst for social change. It allowed the Chincha Kingdom to transform a desert landscape into one of the most productive riverine valleys in Peru. This agricultural sustainability likely made the region an attractive and valuable partner – and eventually a target – for the expanding Inca Empire.
“This research is important not only because it tells us when people started to intensify guano fertilizer usage, but because it can begin to tell us whether ancient people practiced resilient agriculture,” Scaffidi said
For example, she said, overuse of guano fertilizers can quickly strip soil of its nutrients and burn crops. In addition, mining for guano is toxic to miners and ocean animals in the vicinity, Scaffidi said.
Ancient Peruvians would have had to balance crop yield with risks from overuse of guano. “We’re only now starting to able to address how successful they were at that,” Scaffidi said.
Studying ancient cultures like the Chincha is vital because it offers a perspective on how societies adapt to environmental challenges. Understanding how past civilizations managed resources such as guano to achieve food security provides modern researchers with a blueprint for sustainable agricultural practices and a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity of Indigenous technologies.
Journal Reference:
Bongers JL, Milton EBP, Osborn J, Drucker DG, Robinson JR, Scaffidi BK, ‘Seabirds shaped the expansion of pre-Inca society in Peru’, PLoS One 21 (2): e0341263 (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341263
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by University of California – Merced (UC Merced)
— Press Release —
Waste neem seeds become high-performance heat batteries for clean energy storage
As renewable energy expands worldwide, one challenge remains stubbornly unresolved: how to store heat efficiently and sustainably when the sun is not shining or demand fluctuates. A new study published in Biochar shows that agricultural waste, specifically discarded neem seeds, can be transformed into a powerful and environmentally friendly thermal energy storage material.
Researchers have developed a biochar based phase change material that can capture, store, and release heat with high efficiency while also locking carbon away. The work demonstrates how the temperature used to produce biochar strongly controls its ability to store thermal energy, offering a new pathway for low cost and carbon negative energy storage technologies.
The team converted neem seed waste into biochar by heating it under low oxygen conditions at two different temperatures, 300 and 500 degrees Celsius. The resulting porous carbon material was then infused with lauric acid, a fatty acid commonly used in thermal energy storage. This combination creates a shape stabilized phase change material that can absorb heat as it melts and release heat as it solidifies, without leaking.
“Our goal was to turn an underused biomass waste into something that directly supports clean energy systems,” said one of the corresponding authors. “By carefully tuning the biochar production temperature, we were able to dramatically improve how much heat the material can store and how stable it remains over time.”
The difference between the two biochars was striking. Biochar produced at 500 degrees Celsius developed an exceptionally high internal surface area, more than 600 square meters per gram. This sponge like structure allowed much more lauric acid to be held securely inside the pores. As a result, the high temperature biochar composite stored nearly twice as much latent heat as the material made from lower temperature biochar.
Laboratory tests showed that the optimized composite could store almost 95 joules of heat per gram, while maintaining stable melting and solidification behavior over hundreds of heating and cooling cycles. Importantly, leakage tests confirmed that the phase change material remained locked inside the biochar matrix even when heated above its melting point.
“This kind of stability is essential for real world applications,” the researchers noted. “Thermal energy storage materials must perform reliably for years without degrading or leaking, especially in buildings, solar energy systems, and industrial heat recovery.”
Beyond performance, sustainability is a central advantage of this approach. Neem seeds are widely available agricultural residues in many tropical regions and are often discarded after oil extraction. Converting them into biochar not only adds value to waste biomass but also sequesters carbon that would otherwise return to the atmosphere.
Unlike conventional energy storage technologies that rely on mined materials or complex manufacturing, biochar based thermal storage can be produced at relatively low cost using locally available feedstocks. This makes it especially attractive for decentralized energy systems and regions seeking affordable clean energy solutions.
The researchers emphasize that their findings highlight the importance of controlling biochar production conditions to tailor materials for specific energy applications. With further development, biochar based phase change materials could play a key role in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
Journal Reference:
Mandal, S., Mendhe, A.C., Park, T. et al., ‘Temperature-modulated surface features of neem seed biochar for sustainable thermal energy storage applications’, Biochar 8, 9 (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s42773-025-00510-x
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Biochar Editorial Office | Shenyang Agricultural University (SYAU)
Other science articles published this week
Temperature extremes contribute to suicide-related help-seeking through multiple pathways: Evidence from crisis hotline data (2019–2023)
Ryan SC, Sugg MM, Schwandt V, Crespo S, Lindzey S, Runkle JD (2026) | PLOS Mental Health | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000501
Stable isotope evidence of anthropocene disruption in African softshell turtle foraging
de Kock W, van der Meer MTJ, van Bommel R, Taurozzi AJ, Von Tersch M, Allentoft ME, et al. (2026) | PLOS One | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0339589
Projecting spatiotemporal changes in Soil Organic Carbon stocks in Mexico under coupled socioeconomic and climate scenarios
Wang Y, Li X, Liu S (2026) | PLoS One | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343012
Coevolutionary dynamics of cooperation, risk, and cost in collective risk games
Wang L, Hua S, Liu Y, Zhang L, Liu L, Szolnoki A (2026) | PLoS Computational Biology | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013512
Confidence and uncertainty: Small-scale, direct-marketing vegetable farmers’ relationship with climate change adaptation and mitigation
Webb KR, Ismach A, Spiker ML, Rabotyagov S, Collier SM (2026) | PLOS Climate | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000647
Impacts of climate change on basin vegetation based on Biome-BGC model: A case study with the Jialing River Basin
Wu C, Hou X, Zhang S, Zhou W, Zhou Y (2026) | PLoS One | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335685
Narrative and quantitative analysis of democratic principles in the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
Xexakis, G., Spatharidou, D., Bala, I. et al. (2026) | npj Climate Action | DOI: 10.1038/s44168-026-00351-9
Integrated physiological, biochemical and hormonal traits determine drought tolerance and yield stability in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)
Mog, B., Harsha, S.G., Sharma, L. et al. (2026) | Scientific Reports | DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-39321-w
Assessment of climatic parameter variation and its impact on sustainable agriculture in Dir Upper Pakistan with mitigation and adaptation strategies
Khan, R., Alwabel, A.S.A., Ahmad, A. et al. (2026) | Scientific Reports | DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-24940-6
Severe rapid indian monsoon weakening due to emissions from extreme Canadian wildfires
Roșu, IA., Mourgela, RN., Kasoar, M. et al. (2026) | npj Natural Hazards | DOI: 10.1038/s44304-026-00184-w
Warming overwhelms CO₂-driven drought mitigation in alpine vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Lyu, H., Zhang, X., Su, J. et al. (2026) | Communications Earth & Environment | DOI: 10.1038/s43247-026-03308-2
Emergence of Antarctic mineral resources in a warming world
Lucas, E.M., Richards, F.D., Cederberg, G. et al. (2026) | Nature Climate Change | DOI: 10.1038/s41558-026-02569-1
Global warming drives an increase in pre-monsoon tropical cyclone activity over the North Indian Ocean
Shan, K., Song, F., Lin, Y. et al. (2026) | Nature Communications | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69818-x
Functional composition and structural diversity enhance mangrove forest resilience in the Sundarbans
Rahman, M.M., Zimmer, M., Rahman, M.S. et al. (2026) | Communications Earth & Environment | DOI: 10.1038/s43247-026-03305-5
Depth-resolved carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in 522 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs worldwide
Rabaey, J.S., Lewis, A.S.L., Attermeyer, K. et al. (2026) | Scientific Data | DOI: 10.1038/s41597-026-06751-0
Featured image credit: Freepik (AI Gen.)
