This narrative review examines the emerging field of synthetic mangrove systems for capillary-driven desalination, a biomimetic strategy inspired by the natural salt-exclusion mechanisms of mangrove roots. By integrating principles of plant hydraulics with advanced materials science, researchers have developed engineered systems that replicate key mangrove adaptations—including suberin-like barriers, aquaporin-mediated transport, and transpiration-driven negative pressure—to enable passive, energy-efficient freshwater production. Recent innovations in nanoporous membranes, biomimetic hydrogels, and artificial water channels have demonstrated the ability to generate capillary pressures sufficient to overcome osmotic pressures exceeding 400 bar, facilitating the desalination of hypersaline and contaminated water sources without external pumping. This review synthesizes recent advancements, highlighting the design and performance of leaf-, xylem-, and root-inspired components, while critically addressing persistent challenges, such as cavitation, membrane fouling, durability, and scalability. This review uniquely bridges recent, often disparate advancements across materials science, fluid dynamics, and biomimicry into a cohesive framework for the design of next-generation desalination systems. Emerging solutions—including gas-entrapping microtextured surfaces, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces, and modular system architectures—are evaluated for their potential to enhance operational stability and real-world applicability. A novel set of six design rules is proposed, distilling biological principles into actionable engineering guidelines. The relative importance and design complexity of the three core functional components—roots, xylem, and leaves—are critically assessed, identifying the leaf as the fundamental engine and the root as the most design-intensive component. Although current implementations remain largely confined to laboratory settings, synthetic mangrove systems offer a promising pathway toward sustainable, decentralized water purification, particularly for off-grid and resource-limited environments. However, this promise must be tempered with realism: current operational lifespans are measured in hours to days, far short of the years required for industrial application, and substantial barriers in cavitation mitigation, scalability, and cost remain unresolved. By bridging biological insight with engineering innovation, this technology represents a transformative approach to next-generation desalination, aligning with global goals for water security and energy sustainability.

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is revolutionizing the design and production of high-performance components across the aerospace sector. This narrative review examines recent research on gas turbine propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a particular focus on the transformative role of metal additive manufacturing (MAM) in enabling lighter, more efficient, and more complex engine architectures. The study analyzes the operating principles, performance characteristics, and applications of turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop engines while highlighting key technological advances in hybridization, cycle optimization, and advanced manufacturing. Particular attention is given to MAM of high-temperature alloys (e.g., Inconel, titanium aluminides) and the integration of topology-optimized lattice structures, internal cooling channels, and monolithic rotors. Recent studies on additive manufacturing (AM) for drone components—including metal-doped plastics, composite filaments, and high-performance polymers—provide complementary insights into material selection, structural integrity, and functional integration that are directly relevant to gas turbine development. The study also incorporates the emerging roles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in evaluating environmental sustainability and the use of machine learning for advanced fault diagnostics. Drawing on thermodynamic analyses, experimental studies, and modelling efforts, this review identifies current challenges and future directions in MAM for UAV propulsion, and briefly discusses potential cross-fertilization with biomedical AM, where similar challenges in process control, microstructure optimization, and post-processing are being addressed.

This paper contends that the accelerating planetary crisis of continental freshwater depletion is fundamentally driven by enduring colonial logics of extraction. Integrating recent satellite data revealing Northern-Hemisphere “mega-drying” zones with political-economic analysis, we demonstrate how water-intensive extractive systems, fossil fuel production (notably enhanced oil recovery), export-oriented industrial agriculture, and resource-hungry “green transition” technologies, are underpinned by neocolonial power structures. We critically examine how purported climate solutions, such as carbon capture enabling continued extraction and green finance mechanisms reinforcing debt dependencies, often perpetuate colonial frameworks prioritizing resource appropriation over ecological integrity and social justice. By exposing the coloniality embedded within energy, agriculture, and climate finance regimes, this work reframes freshwater depletion as a core consequence of global political-economic power imbalances, not merely an ecological issue. We conclude that averting hydrological collapse necessitates a paradigm shift toward radical water sovereignty, grounded in decolonial praxis, ecological justice, and systemic transformation beyond colonial-capitalist frameworks.

Abstract This perspective critically synthesizes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature on solar‐powered hydrogen production, evaluating environmental sustainability and proposing an integrated Circular Economy LCA (CE‐LCA) framework. While solar electrolysis offers zero operational emissions, the environmental footprint is overwhelmingly “front‐loaded” in manufacturing infrastructure, with Global Warming Potential ranging from 0.37 to 14.2 kg CO 2 ‐eq/kg H 2 depending on technology and manufacturing energy mix. Carbon‐centric LCAs are inherently subjective, failing to capture broader environmental damage, resource depletion, social inequalities, and “green colonialism.” The manuscript makes three contributions: critically synthesizing green colonialism within the hydrogen transition, showing how carbon‐focused LCAs render extractive injustices invisible; proposing a CE‐LCA framework incorporating material circularity indicators; and combining prospective LCA with supply chain vulnerability analysis, demonstrating that technological learning alone is insufficient without circular strategies. Emerging pathways (photoelectrochemical, thermochemical) achieve GWP below 2.5 kg CO 2 ‐eq/kg H 2 but require iridium, platinum, and rare earths with significant supply chain risks. Water consumption ranges 9–35 L/kg H 2 , maritime transport can contribute up to 95% of life cycle emissions, and dynamic electrolyzer operation with intermittent renewables reduces efficiency 5–15% and increases degradation 20–40%. Embedding circularity via material passports, urban mining, industrial symbiosis, and design for disassembly can substantially mitigate these trade‐offs. We advocate for dynamic, prospective LCA integrated with multi‐objective optimization and circular economy indicators to guide a hydrogen economy that is low‐carbon, resource‐efficient, economically viable, socially responsible, and circular.

The extensive water ice deposits within Mars' Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) represent a critical in-situ resource for enabling sustainable human habitation. This article reviews the existing literature and details a systems engineering approach to identifying and conceptually addressing operational challenges within the conceptual Mars Habitat Integrated Greenhouse System (MHIGS), a proposed closed-loop agricultural framework vital for life support on Mars. We evaluate the implications of the processes involved: the extraction of water ice from beneath significant overburden, purification to remove hazardous contaminants like perchlorates, efficient distribution for irrigation, robust recycling to minimize losses, and atmospheric humidity control. The system incorporates water recycling and atmospheric water recovery mechanisms to enhance resource closure and operational margins. Electrolysis of a portion of processed water provides supplemental oxygen (O-2) for the habitat and hydrogen (H-2) for power or chemical synthesis, contributing to a potentially self-sustaining H2O-O-2 balance supporting primary life support functions. This integrated water management system is designed to operate synergistically with CO2 and nutrient cycles to ensure long-term crop viability and crew well-being. Despite significant challenges including ice extraction hazards, water purification risks, potential system failures in a closed environment, and the harsh Martian operational context, this systems approach demonstrates how MFF-derived water, managed with stringent protocols, could underpin the viability of advanced life support systems like MHIGS, which are pivotal for establishing a reliable and enduring human presence on Mars. This conceptual review article synthesizes prior work on ISRU and life support systems, focusing on conceptual management strategies for these identified hazards rather than providing a detailed assessment, given the conceptual nature of the proposed system. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety.

Radiative cooling (RC) is a compelling passive thermal strategy, dissipating heat via thermal radiation to outer space (≈3 K) without energy input, being useful across subambient to above‐ambient temperatures. Recent nanophotonics and metamaterials breakthroughs significantly enhance RC, enabling subambient cooling even under sunlight. This requires tailored spectral properties: high solar reflectivity (0.3–2.5 μm) to minimize heat gain, and high atmospheric window emissivity (8–13 μm) to maximize heat loss. However, widespread deployment faces hurdles in scalability, durability, cost, and adaptability. This review synthesizes recent progress in RC materials (polymers, photonic structures, paints), system designs, and applications like building thermal regulation, personal comfort textiles, and enhancing photovoltaic/electronic efficiency. It incorporates fundamental thermodynamics governing heat exchange, quantifying cooling power via relevant equations, and life‐cycle sustainability considerations. Drawing from current literature, the review critically evaluates commercialization barriers, including the lack of performance standardization, long‐term degradation, and manufacturability, and proposes research directions for robust, scalable, and viable RC technologies. Emphasis is placed on recent quantitative performance gains and the engineering challenges (atmospheric effects, parasitic heat gains, and material degradation) in translating lab‐scale results to real‐world deployments for a sustainable future.

ABSTRACT Critical infrastructure investment decisions must balance reliability, cost, and decarbonization. Australia has committed AUD 42 billion to Snowy 2.0, a pumped hydro storage project that delivers 2.2 GW of power with 350 GWh of storage at 70% round‐trip efficiency. For a similar or lower cost, China is building 12.5 GW of nuclear baseload capacity, which provides approximately 11.9 GW of continuous, reliable power. It is acknowledged that pumped hydro storage and nuclear baseload serve fundamentally different functions within an electricity system: storage provides flexibility and grid balancing, while nuclear provides firm, dispatchable generation. However, the comparison is justified by the comparable scale of capital investment and the shared policy objective of decarbonization, as well as the opportunity cost of committing such a large sum to a single project. Snowy 2.0 is a net consumer of electricity over a full charge–discharge cycle and can supply only about 0.9 GW of average baseload—just 7.5% of the output of an equivalent nuclear investment. This inherent inefficiency is not a unique weakness of pumped hydro—all storage systems with less than 100% round‐trip efficiency are net consumers of electricity over a complete cycle. The central policy question is whether Snowy 2.0 represents the most cost‐effective way to achieve grid stability and decarbonization compared to alternative investments. The project cannot fully buffer existing wind and solar fleets, which continue to rely on fossil‐fuel peaker plants for grid stability. Despite Australia's vast uranium resources and its role as a major uranium exporter, the country has committed to an expensive, high‐cost storage project whose policy justification may be questionable on techno‐economic grounds. While acknowledging the significant political, regulatory, and social barriers to nuclear deployment in Australia, this paper argues that the choice between nuclear baseload and pumped hydro storage warrants careful examination on critical infrastructure grounds: China builds real baseload nuclear for a fraction of the cost, while Australia subsidizes a project that has been subject to significant cost overruns and whose ability to secure reliable, zero‐carbon electricity is questionable. The analysis demonstrates that even when accounting for the distinct system roles of storage and generation, the scale of the Snowy 2.0 investment—approximately AUD 42 billion—merits comparison with alternative approaches to decarbonization, including nuclear baseload. Policy implications for national infrastructure planning are discussed as tentative considerations rather than definitive conclusions.

Methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved certified power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) approaching 24 % (with alloyed variants exceeding 26 %), rivaling established photovoltaic technologies. However, their path to commercialization is blocked by a persistent "defect-stability double bind": reversible defects (e.g., iodine vacancies, undercoordinated Pb2*) cause non-radiative recombination and performance variability, while environmental instability leads to rapid degradation under moisture, light, and heat. Current passivation strategies, including organic molecules, 2D perovskites, and alkali doping, invariably sacrifice one key parameter for another. This perspective articulates a transformative solution: the integration of metal chalcogenide nanostructures (e.g., ZnSe, MoSe2) as a versatile, bifunctional platform. We synthesize experimental and computational evidence demonstrating that these materials simultaneously passivate defects through strong chalcogenide-Pb2* coordination and provide robust environmental shielding via nanostructured barriers. For instance, champion ZnSe-doped MAPbI3 devices achieve a PCE of 23.1 % (a 12.7 % improvement) and a 3.5 pound increase in operational lifetime (T80 1/4 520 h). Critically, this approach is scalable and cost-effective, with material costs as low as $15-30/g. We further project that this platform can unlock PCEs beyond 27 % and lifetimes exceeding 1000 h, while also enabling high-performance tandem cells and reducing lead leakage. By fundamentally resolving the efficiency-stability trade-off, metal chalcogenide nanostructures are positioned as a cornerstone technology for the commercialization of next-generation perovskite photovoltaics.

The global energy transition is being hindered by a Western-centric narrative that dismisses the necessity of baseload power, thereby undermining the industrial aspirations of the Global South. This perspective champions intermittent renewables while marginalizing proven, scalable zero-carbon sources like nuclear energy. Such a stance not only ignores the grid stability challenges inherent in renewables but also perpetuates a form of "energy colonialism." This dynamic is characterized by the continued extraction of resources from developing nations to fuel the green transition in developed countries. A truly just and effective global energy transition must be technologically inclusive, recognizing that for the majority of the world, dispatchable baseload power and long-duration energy storage, such as hydrogen, are not luxuries but prerequisites for sustainable development and energy sovereignty.

This paper investigates vertical land motion (VLM) along the South Korean coastline by integrating relative sea level rise (RSLR) data from tide gauges with publicly available linear velocity estimates from Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. Analyzing long-term tide gauge records and comparing RSLR trends with vertical velocities from proximate GPS stations, this study highlights the significant spatial variability of VLM and critically evaluates the consistency between the two measurement techniques. Acknowledging the challenges of disentangling eustatic sea level rise (ESLR) from local effects, this preliminary analysis suggests a complex pattern of both subsidence (negative VLM) and uplift (positive VLM). The findings indicate regionally variable VLM rates, potentially influenced by tectonic processes, post-glacial isostatic adjustments, sediment compaction, and anthropogenic activities. However, the comparison also exposes significant inconsistencies at several sites, leading to geophysically implausible local sea level estimates. These discrepancies are shown to stem from the use of standard, "off-the-shelf" GPS velocity products that do not account for non-linear signals from major seismic events, equipment changes, or other site-specific issues. The key finding is not a definitive set of VLM rates, but a clear demonstration of when and why the consistency between tide gauge and standard GPS data breaks down. Consequently, this paper does not provide new, corrected VLM rates, but rather serves as a methodological critique demonstrating the unsuitability of standard global GPS velocity estimates for this region. This study underscores the critical need to account for VLM within its specific geological and geodetic context in assessing coastal vulnerability and developing effective sea level rise adaptation strategies for South Korea, emphasizing the importance of integrating geological knowledge while addressing the severe limitations in standard geodetic data products.

While elevated CO2 levels have been shown to initially enhance photosynthesis, the long-term global effects on photosynthesis rates are influenced by a complex set of interacting factors. Although theoretical thresholds exist where further increases in CO2 could potentially reduce photosynthesis, current research suggests that these levels remain far off. Contrary to recent reports suggesting a decline in water use efficiency (WUE) in plants, a review of the latest literature indicates that plants are, in fact, using water more efficiently while continuing to absorb atmospheric CO2. This analysis highlights that rising CO2 concentrations are contributing to improved WUE in plants, reflecting an adaptive response rather than a decline in functionality.

The European Union (EU) has positioned itself as a global leader in climate action, advancing ambitious net-zero strategies centered on sophisticated hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) infrastructure. While technoeconomic models, such as that presented by Hofmann et al., provide blueprints for internal cost-optimization and energy system integration, they often embody a Eurocentric perspective that neglects the profound global consequences of these plans. This paper argues that this narrow focus risks perpetuating historical patterns of colonial exploitation. This perspective article critically examines how the EU's pursuit of climate neutrality-underpinned by initiatives like the European Green Deal and the Critical Raw Materials Act-is deeply reliant on resource extraction from the Global South, externalizes environmental and social costs, and promotes unequal trade dynamics. Through a critical analysis of policy documents and academic literature, drawing on insights from decolonial theory, political ecology, and energy justice, we interrogate the disconnect between Europe's green rhetoric and the material realities of its transition. We find that the burgeoning demand for critical minerals and the promotion of green hydrogen imports create new forms of dependency, constituting a 'green colonialism.' The paper highlights the significant gap between the EU's ambitious infrastructure targets and the slow pace of actual implementation, revealing a structural dependence on external resources. Ultimately, we conclude that a truly just and sustainable global energy transition requires a fundamental decolonial shift in EU policy, moving beyond internal optimization to embrace equitable resource governance, genuine technology partnerships, and reparative justice to dismantle the inequalities embedded within its climate ambitions.

Thermal management systems have become increasingly important in addressing the critical challenges associated with lithium-ion battery operation. Proper temperature regulation is essential for maintaining safety, optimizing electrochemical performance, and extending cycle life. This review provides a comprehensive and structured analysis of the latest developments in battery thermal management systems (BTMS), encompassing foundational commercial systems and advanced active, passive, and hybrid cooling strategies. The discussion integrates insights from materials science, thermodynamics, systems engineering, and artificial intelligence-based control strategies. Among the most significant advancements are phase change materials (PCMs) with enhanced thermal conductivity, such as graphene-reinforced paraffin composites, which improve heat absorption and dissipation. Another key innovation is the use of microchannel liquid cooling systems, particularly those optimized through advanced topological design techniques, enabling more efficient heat transfer. Additionally, intelligent control mechanisms, including digital twin-assisted thermal management systems, allow for real-time monitoring and adaptive cooling strategies. The review critically examines the trade-offs between cooling performance, energy efficiency, and cost considerations, evaluating technologies based on key performance indicators. It also highlights several transformative developments, including self-healing thermal interface materials, 3D-printed microchannel cold plates, radiative cooling surfaces, and smart, self-regulating materials. Looking ahead, emerging frontiers such as digital twin-assisted thermal control, blockchain for lifecycle management, and quantum-optimized design are identified as promising next-generation solutions with potential to enhance scalability and sustainability. These innovations have the potential to significantly improve thermal management in both electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage applications, ensuring safer and more reliable battery operation.

Realizing a sustainable human presence on Mars demands pioneering approaches to in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and the development of supporting infrastructure. A pivotal development is the confirmation of vast ice-rich deposits in Mars' Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF), offering a significant potential water source, particularly near the equator. This MFF ice represents a reservoir for essential life support resources (H2O, O2) and, critically, the hydrogen (H2) vital as a fuel or for feedstock in hydrocarbon production through methods such as the Sabatier reaction. Central to achieving sustainability is the concept of an integrated H2O-H2-O2+CO2-C-O2 global cycle, powered by locally generated energy (e.g., nuclear, solar). Despite formidable challenges-including high energy demands, achieving efficiency under Martian conditions, material limitations, the difficulties of deep ice extraction and processing, ensuring energy provision and system reliability, and mitigating potential atmospheric gas loss-this holistic view underscores the strategic necessity of coupling atmospheric carbon processing with MFF water ice exploitation. This work delves specifically into harnessing the abundant CO2 in the Martian atmosphere, a prime ISRU opportunity. It examines carbon extraction and conversion technologies, namely CO2 electrolysis, the Sabatier reaction, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, to yield essential hydrocarbons, advanced materials for construction, and effective energy storage systems. These capabilities are foundational for creating radiation-shielded habitats, durable infrastructure, and a sustainable fuel economy, thereby lessening dependence on Earth-based resupply. Furthermore, the investigation considers hydrogen storage solutions employing carbon-based materials. Ultimately, by positioning atmospheric carbon utilization within this comprehensive, integrated ISRU strategy that links CO2 and H2O resources, the path toward enhanced Martian self-sufficiency and long-term interplanetary exploration becomes significantly more viable.

This narrative review explores the potential of metal hydrides (MHs) for hydrogen storage, a key technology in advancing renewable energy applications. Hydrogen, valued for its high energy density and zero-emission combustion, faces substantial storage challenges due to its low volumetric density in gaseous form. Currently, physical storage methods, including compressed hydrogen gas and cryogenic liquid storage, are the primary commercially viable options, while material-based storage solutions remain in research phases. Metal hydrides, with their high volumetric capacity and thermal management capabilities, show promise for addressing the limitations of traditional storage methods. This review assesses the current development of MH technology, examining its thermodynamic and kinetic properties, and evaluates recent advancements in alloying and nano structuring techniques that improve MH performance. Despite the advantages of MHs, particularly in terms of energy density and safety, technical challenges in desorption temperature and reaction kinetics continue to hinder large-scale application. Future research should focus on optimizing these properties to advance MHs closer to commercial viability and support the transition to a sustainable hydrogen economy.