Global Challenges最新文献

The 21st century faces a planetary crisis, where biodiversity loss, climate change, resource depletion (caused by human activities), technological disruptions, and economic inequality intersect to challenge sustainable development.^{[1, 2]} These interconnected issues have brought sustainability to the forefront as a critical concept.^[3] What began as a focus on environmental issues has evolved into a rich, multidimensional concept, and sustainability now integrates economic and social considerations alongside ecological concerns, giving rise to a broad and dynamic range of sustainability discourses. Sustainability has become a central ambition across policy, business, and academia, with a substantial and enduring influence that continues to shape national and international agendas and drive action across sectors.^[4]

Sustainability and sustainable development emphasise that human development and economic growth should occur without threatening people, animals, ecosystems, or the Earth's stability.^[5] However, current indicators starkly challenge this ideal. In 2024, Earth Overshoot Day, marking the date when resource consumption exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources, fell on August 1, highlighting the ongoing ecological deficit.^[6] Further, as of 2023, six of the nine planetary boundaries have been transgressed, placing humanity outside the Earth's safe operating space. These include climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater use, land change, biogeochemical flows, and novel entities.^[2]

Tackling these sustainability challenges is complex, and it requires collaboration across fields, as no single discipline can fully grasp or resolve these systemic issues and develop innovative, viable, and practical solutions. Despite the recognised need for interdisciplinary approaches to help solve these complex problems, the integration of different disciplines remains bound to barriers and challenges.^{[7, 8]}

In the context of research and academia, the concept of sustainability appeared in the mid-1980s.^[9] However, disciplines such as business, economics, law, science, design, and engineering have traditionally operated within distinct silos, with limited potential for cross-disciplinary synergy. As a result, the interest and focus of these fields often differ, with each discipline prioritizing unique questions to shape their approach to sustainability. For instance, business scholars focus on sustainability through the lenses of management, economics, international business, strategy, organizational and consumer behavior, and econo

In this work, the applicability of surgical glove waste pyrolysis oil (SGWPO) combined with pentanol and nano-additives (silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and nano-graphene) as a substitute fuel for a 5.2 kW-diesel engine is experimentally conducted, aiming to analyze the test engine's performance and emission characteristics. Neat SGWPO could reach 8.6% less BTE, 32.24%, 18.27%, 36.17%, and 9.72% higher NOx, smoke, CO, and HC emissions than diesel at full load. However, blending SGWPO with 25% pentanol by volume and 100 ppm of SiO₂ nanoparticles or 100 ppm of nanographene could improve the engine results. The obtained results of the nanographene-included SGWPO/pentanol blend are lower than SiO₂-included SGWPO/pentanol blend compared to neat SGWPO. Indeed, the nano-SiO₂-added SGWPO/pentanol blend demonstrated 9.72% higher BTE and 36.81%, 29.1%, 33.06%, and 25.67% reduced NOx, smoke, CO, and hydrocarbon emissions, respectively, compared to neat SGWPO. Therefore, nano-SiO₂-included SGWPO/pentanol is recommended as an alternative fuel for diesel engine operation without any modifications. The recommended nanofuel blend usage in engines simultaneously supports much higher engine performance along with reduced emissions, showing the dual benefits of the waste-to-wealth strategy of surgical glove waste.

Due to their high energy density, thionyl chloride technology are used in a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry. These cells consist of a lithium metal anode and a SOCl₂ liquid cathode. The safety problems posed by these cells received particular attention in the 70 and 80s. However, the generation of shock waves during thermal runaway has never been demonstrated. In this article, for the second time, aerial shock waves are characterized for cells composed of lithium metal. Although the TNT equivalent of thionyl chloride cells is widely dispersed between 0.008 and 0.3 g. Its impact on the mechanical structures of the battery module should not be neglected, nor should its impact on people.

The heightened spread of pathogens due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change presents significant health challenges, exacerbated by high transmission, virulence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and novel variants. Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) affect 1 in 31 hospitalized patients, costing $28.4 billion annually. This study introduces a novel approach to pathogen control by integrating copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles into 3D printed Stereolithography (SLA) materials. The 3D impregnated material demonstrates reproducibility and efficacy across different 3D platforms, showcasing complete bactericidal/fungicidal effects against twelve diverse species and a 4 log virucidal activity on eight clinically relevant viral species within 2 h. No significant cytotoxicity is observed in primary human keratinocytes after 2 h of contact. The material maintains its antipathogenic activity after a year of accelerated ageing, suggesting enhances stability and performance over time. This method addresses the limitations of conventional cleaning and surface spraying, which often fall short in efficacy and longevity; for the first time, the incorporation of commercially available nanoparticles into 3D printable materials offers a versatile long-lasting antipathogenic and biocompatible solution for high-contact surfaces in public and clinical settings, reducing the need for cleaning surfaces while limiting infection rates, the threat of AMR, and other future infectious outbreaks.

This study investigates the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability of the Kesikköprü Dam Lake Basin, a critical drinking water source for Ankara, Central Anatolia Türkiye. The DRASTIC model is applied within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework, using seven hydrogeological parameters to generate a vulnerability map. Results indicate that most of the basin falls within “very low” and “low” vulnerability zones, with “medium” vulnerability observed in localized recharge-prone areas. Model validation is conducted using nitrate and total organic carbon concentrations, which represent pollution from agricultural and domestic wastewater sources. The spatial correlation between these indicators and DRASTIC output supports the model's reliability. Importantly, this research also integrates anthropogenic influences by evaluating the spatial distribution of agricultural, wastewater, and mining activities relative to vulnerability zones. While natural conditions suggest low contamination potential, the cumulative and long-term effects of these activities highlight significant risks in certain areas. To the best of the knowledge, this is the first study to validate a DRASTIC-based vulnerability map for the Kesikköprü Basin while addressing anthropogenic pressures. The findings offer a practical decision-making tool for land-use planning and sustainable groundwater management, both regionally and in similar hydrogeological contexts worldwide.

Global Challenges, 2024, 8, 2400151

DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202400151

When we submitted the article, we listed the funder in the EM system, but that does not appear in the article itself.

Please add funding acknowledgement:

Funding: The research reported in this publication was supported by the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council project [NPRP14C-0920-210017]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council.

The cover image is based on the article A Ray of Hope: Gamma Radiation for Microplastic Remediation by Dhanalakshmi Vadivel etal. https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500117

The growing demand for green energy and global concern about environmental issues raise the demand for alternative, environmentally friendly energy sources. Electrochemical hydrogen devices are widely investigated as a potential solution for clean and renewable energy. Proton-conducting oxides (PCOs) used as an electrolyte are required in electrochemical devices to transport protons. Chemical stability and proton conductivity are essential properties to evaluate a suitable electrolyte for these devices. Doped cerate-based materials exhibit excellent proton conductivity and chemical stability, making them suitable as electrolyte materials for hydrogen devices. Techniques including doping, co-doping, sintering aid, and different fabrication processes enhance the proton conductivity and mechanical stability of proton-conducting materials. This paper highlights the current development of cerate-based PCOs used as an electrolyte in electrochemical devices named hydrogen pumps, hydrogen isotope separation systems, tritium recovery systems, and hydrogen sensors, which could be used in the nuclear fusion reactors, among other electrochemical hydrogen devices. The center part of this review paper summarizes the most recent research studies on these applications and offers a thorough understanding of the impact of doping, different synthesis methods, sintering aids, and operating environments on the composition, morphology, and performance of cerate electrolyte materials. The challenges and prospects of proton-conducting cerates are also discussed. This paper provides an insightful pathway for the researcher to further research in this field.

The Carbon quantum dots (CQD) is prepared from ascorbic acid, and the photophysical, structural, and metal sensing behavior of the CQD is investigated in detail. The negatively charged CQD, along with the vibrant functional groups, can absorb the positive charge ferric ion (Fe³⁺) and copper(II) ion or cupric ion (Cu²⁺) ions with the help of electrostatic attractive forces. In this process, the aggregation of CQD around the Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions results in confirmation that CQD is a fluorescence sensor probe that forms a metal complex, CQD-Fe³⁺ and CQD-Cu²⁺. The composite structural and functional group properties are investigated by the different analytical techniques. Moreover, the copper ferrite (CuFe²O⁴–CQD) electrochemical performances are evaluated in three and two-electrode systems by Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The CuFe²O⁴–CQD electrode's specific capacitance value is 410 F g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ with 100% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles. Moreover, the methylene blue dye degradation efficiency of CuFe²O⁴–CQD is 91% in 120 min. The CuFe²O⁴–CQD composite has a synergistic effect between the CQD and CuFe²O⁴, which delivers a higher photocatalytic effect because which reduced recombination and enhancing charge transport.

Efficient thermal management of high-power lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) is critical for ensuring safety, longevity, and performance in electric vehicles (EVs). Battery thermal management systems (BTMS) play a crucial role in regulating temperature, as LiBs are highly sensitive to thermal fluctuations. Excessive heat generation during charging and discharging can degrade battery performance, reduce lifespan, and pose safety risks. Traditional cooling methods, such as air and liquid cooling, often require additional power and complex components, making them less effective for high-energy–density batteries. As a result, recent advancements focus on immersion, indirect, and hybrid cooling solutions. Among these, phase change material (PCM)-based BTMS has emerged as a promising passive cooling approach. PCMs efficiently absorb and store heat, maintaining optimal battery temperature without external power. Their thermal performance is further enhanced by integrating expanded graphite (EG) fillers, metal foams, or fins, improving heat dissipation. This review examines recent progress (2019–2024) in BTMS technologies, with a particular focus on PCM applications in fast-charging conditions. It also discusses BTMS performance under extreme environments, such as high temperatures, sub-zero conditions, and abuse scenarios. Future research directions are highlighted to optimize BTMS for next-generation EVs, ensuring improved battery safety, efficiency, and thermal stability.