Academic publications

Search or filter publications

Search publications Search

Filter by type:

Filter by publication type

• Book
• Book chapter
• Conference paper
• Journal article
• Other
• Patent
• Poster
• Report
• Scholarly edition
• Software
• Thesis dissertation
• Working paper

Filter by year:

Filter from 20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989 to Filter to 20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989

---

Search results

• Journal article
  Moss B, Liang C, Carpenter A, Verga LG, Scott S, Jones RJR, Manthiram K, Walsh A, Rao RR, Stephens IEL, Durrant JRet al., 2026,

  Publisher Correction: Operando ultraviolet–visible optical spectroelectrochemistry of surfaces (Nature Reviews Methods Primers, (2025), 5, 1, (73), 10.1038/s43586-025-00445-4)

  , Nature Reviews Methods Primers, Vol: 6

  Correction to: Nature Reviews Methods Primershttps://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-025-00445-4, published online 20 November 2025. In the version of the article initially published, Reshma R. Rao and Ifan E. L. Stephens were incorrectly listed with affiliation 1 when it should have been affiliation 2 (Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London, UK). In the “Collimation, colour balancing and light guides” section, the equation N=fD should have read N≈Df. In Fig. 1a, the label “σα(λ)” should have read “∆α(λ)”. In Fig. 5c, the colours in the key were switched and should have been a green dot for “PD — IRM” and the blue line should have been “J<inf>cat</inf>”. In Fig. 6a, the bottom label “Redox transition 3” should have been “Redox transition 1”. These corrections have been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Konstantinoudis G, 2026,

  Socioeconomic and geographical disparities in heat-related mortality in Italy: a nationwide small-area study

  , The Lancet Regional Health. Europe, ISSN: 2666-7762
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Sodano B, Gascoigne C, Xi D, Chen X, de Donato F, Vineis P, Konstantinoudis Get al., 2026,

  Socioeconomic and geographical disparities in heat-related mortality in Italy: a nationwide small-area study

  , The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, Pages: 101885-101885, ISSN: 2666-7762
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Bouckley ER, Lewin SF, Lefauve A, 2026,

  Early onset of secondary shear instability in Kelvin–Helmholtz braids at high Reynolds number

  , Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol: 1043, ISSN: 0022-1120

  <jats:p> We study the onset of two-dimensional secondary shear instability (SSI) in the braid regions connecting primary Kelvin–Helmholtz billows in stratified shear flows. While strain induced by the billows stabilises the braids, it also compresses their tilted isopycnals, enhancing baroclinic shear that enables rapid perturbation growth. By modifying the classical analysis of Corcos &amp; Sherman (1976 <jats:italic>J. Fluid Mech.</jats:italic> 73, 241–264) in braid-aligned coordinates and adding an instability criterion based on the ratio of strain rate to shear, we develop an inviscid, time-dependent model for the braid evolution and the onset of SSI. We show that the criterion for instability can be achieved significantly earlier than the saturation of the primary billow at sufficiently high initial Richardson number <jats:inline-formula> <jats:alternatives> <jats:inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" mime-subtype="png" content-type="simple" xlink:href="S0022112026120126_inline1.png"> <jats:alt-text content-type="machine-generated">italic Ri</jats:alt-text> </jats:inline-graphic> <mml:math xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext mathvariant="italic" class="MJX-tex-mathit">Ri</mml:

  • Abstract
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Goerlitzer ESA, Wu Z, Crookes A, Hu S, Arul R, Sibug-Torres SM, de Nijs B, Rao RR, Ryan MP, Demetriadou A, Baumberg JJet al., 2026,

  Optically TrackedReversible Single-Atomic-MonolayerRedox in Plasmonic Nanocavities

  , Nano Letters, ISSN: 1530-6984

  <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Controlling redox reactions at the atomic scale is key to enabling next-generation low-power memristive and neuromorphic devices. Ultrathin metallic layers, such as atomic monolayer palladium (Pd), offer tunable redox behavior well suited for switchable components in nanoscale electronics. Here, we present an in situ plasmonic-electrochemical platform that probes redox processes within subnanometer gaps using a nanoparticle-on-mirror (NPoM) geometry. Atomically thin Pd layers are grown by underpotential deposition, and their redox is monitored via surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, revealing reversible transformations between metallic and dielectric Pd redox states. This confined plasmonic cavity enhances sensitivity to vibrational and electronic changes, allowing nondestructive optical readout of redox switching behaviors. By reducing the active switching volume to the monolayer limit while maintaining precise geometric control, this work establishes a powerful platform for probing redox dynamics at the atomic scale and points toward highly energy-efficient nanoswitches based on redox-active ultrathin materials.</jats:p>

  • Abstract
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Bao M, Zhan S, Zhou W, Gao Y, Yao Y, Jiang M, Cao XE, Gao W, Gong X, He Yet al., 2026,

  Breaking the Activity-Stability Trade-Off in Dry Reforming of Methane via Heteroenergetic Support Engineering

  , Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Vol: n/a, ISSN: 1433-7851

  ABSTRACT Nickel-based catalysts are promising for dry reforming of methane (DRM) owing to their high C─H bond activation ability and low cost, while highly susceptible to coke deposition and sintering. Here, we report a heteroenergetic Ce0.75Ti0.25O2-x support that simultaneously regulates Ni nanoparticle stabilization, DRM activity, and oxygen-mediated carbon removal. Neural-network-based molecular dynamics (NN-MD) simulations and electron microscopy show that partial Ti substitution in CeO2 transforms the strong Ni-CeO2 interaction and weak Ni-TiO2 interaction into an intermediate wetting regime with a Ni-support contact angle close to 90°, suppressing both particle migration/coalescence- and Ostwald ripening-induced sintering while preserving a coupled population of active interfacial and metallic Ni sites. Characterizations and Bader charge analysis further reveal that Ce0.75Ti0.25O2-x moderates Ni-support electronic coupling and improves oxygen vacancy concentration and lattice oxygen mobility. These coupled structural and chemical effects facilitate methane activation and transient carbon removal through synergistic Mars-van Krevelen and Langmuir-Hinshelwood pathways. As a result, Ni/Ce0.75Ti0.25O2-x achieves highly competitive DRM performance with near-equilibrium CH4 and CO2 conversions of 93.8% and 94.3%, respectively, at 750°C and remains stable over 120 h without noticeable deactivation. This work establishes heteroenergetic support engineering as an effective strategy that reconciles high activity with long-term stability in thermally demanding catalytic reactions.

  • Abstract
  • Author Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Bao M, Zhan S, Zhou W, Gao Y, Yao Y, Jiang M, Cao XE, Gao W, Gong X, He Yet al., 2026,

  Breaking the Activity‐Stability Trade‐Off in Dry Reforming of Methane via Heteroenergetic Support Engineering

  , Angewandte Chemie, ISSN: 0044-8249

  <jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Nickel‐based catalysts are promising for dry reforming of methane (DRM) owing to their high C─H bond activation ability and low cost, while highly susceptible to coke deposition and sintering. Here, we report a heteroenergetic Ce <jats:sub>0.75</jats:sub> Ti <jats:sub>0.25</jats:sub> O <jats:sub>2‐x</jats:sub> support that simultaneously regulates Ni nanoparticle stabilization, DRM activity, and oxygen‐mediated carbon removal. Neural‐network‐based molecular dynamics (NN‐MD) simulations and electron microscopy show that partial Ti substitution in CeO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> transforms the strong Ni‐CeO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> interaction and weak Ni‐TiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> interaction into an intermediate wetting regime with a Ni‐support contact angle close to 90°, suppressing both particle migration/coalescence‐ and Ostwald ripening‐induced sintering while preserving a coupled population of active interfacial and metallic Ni sites. Characterizations and Bader charge analysis further reveal that Ce <jats:sub>0.75</jats:sub> Ti <jats:sub>0.25</jats:sub> O <jats:sub>2‐x</jats:sub> moderates Ni‐support electronic coupling and improves oxygen vacancy concentration and lattice oxygen mobility. These coupled structural and chemical effects facilitate methane activation and transient carbon removal through synergistic Mars‐van Krevelen and Langmuir‐Hinshelwood pathways. As a result, Ni/Ce <jats:sub>0.75</

  • Abstract
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Report
  Clarke B, Zachariah M, Davies B, Hock R, Immerzeel W, Jha R, Robinson TR, Keeping T, Barnes C, Otto F, Pandey S, Vahlberg M, Uprety M, Singh R, Arrighi J, Lord A, Ganguly S, Dhakal M, Rodriguez L, Saeed F, Ullah A, Pokhrel A, Baumgart N, Raju Eet al., 2026,

  Rapid warming in the himalaya exacerbates geohazard cascades beyond adaptation limits

  • Cite
• Report
  Keeping T, Zachariah M, Clarke B, Bergin C, Kimutai J, Barnes C, Allen T, Harmsen E, Herrera D, Jiménez-González H, Jones J, McDowell W, Miller P, Ramseyer C, Spence-Hemmings J, Stephenson T, Taylor M, Arrighi J, Baumgart N, Izquerido K, Raju E, Santos Vega M, Young A, Vahlberg M, Singh R, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Climate change is reducing early wet season rainfall in Puerto Rico and Jamaica

  • Cite
• Report
  Sucharitakul G, Jennings N, Howe C, 2026,

  Nature Positive Futures. Event report

  , Publisher: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Konstantinoudis G, Riou J, 2026,

  Excess mortality attributable to the 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout

  , Nature Communications, Vol: 17, ISSN: 2041-1723

  On 28 April 2025, a widespread power outage affected mainland Portugal and Spain for around ten hours, causing major disruptions and eight reported deaths.Health impacts of blackouts range from direct effects, such as medical equipment failure, to indirect effects such as disrupted healthcare. Here we show that the 2025 Iberian blackout is associated with increased mortality in Spain, but not in Portugal. We find little evidence of excess mortality on the day of the event itself. In Spain, however, mortality rises over the next two days (+167 deaths; 95% credible interval: +28 to +300; +2.4% relative increase), particularly among women aged 85+. We also observe regional differences, but their drivers remain uncertain and may include variation in outage severity, underlying vulnerabilities, or local health-system and infrastructure conditions. These findings highlight the underestimated health burden of blackouts and the need for improved preparedness in a changing climate.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Report
  Bergin C, Clarke B, Barnes C, Gregory C, Dahl K, Bouassa B, Frölicher T, Bruno J, Vahlberg M, Meija A, Boyer C, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Climate change is driving unprecedented European ocean temperatures, with severe impacts for marine life

  • Cite
• Report
  Zachariah M, Chaithra ST, Mondal A, Bose T, Gulzar A, Pinto I, Kimutai J, Vahlberg M, Moran M, Suchismita G, Ogra A, Raju E, Singh R, Ganguly S, Boyer C, Kadhasanoglu A, Meyer R, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Flood impacts in Assam driven by high exposure and structural vulnerability, amid uncertain rainfall trends

  , Flood impacts in Assam driven by high exposure and structural vulnerability, amid uncertain rainfall trends
  • Cite
• Report
  Yan H, Pawlack J, Sivakumar A, Agyeman S, Wang H, Hernandez JB, Qadrdan M, Dehghan S, Walker S, Ramirez-Mendiola J, Torriti J, Munoz CCet al., 2026,

  Unlocking heat pump flexibility to deliver low-carbon heating and support the electricity grid

  , Publisher: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London

  Heating our buildings accounts for around 20% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, so decarbonising heat is essential for achieving net zero. Heat pumps and heat networks are proven, scalable options for cutting emissions but there are concerns that electrifying heating will worsen winter peaks in electricity use and make power system operation more challenging.This brief explores how far heat pump flexibility can be unlocked to deliver smarter, lower-carbon heating for homes while supporting energy networks. A suite of research studies funded by the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) examined how tariffs, controls, and technology choices affect heat pump demand, system impacts and comfort.The research found that carefully designed tariffs, used with sensible scheduling, could bring part of space-heating and hot water demand forward in the afternoon to take pressure off evening peaks. At a neighbourhood scale, borehole fields with water-to-water heat pumps as part of a district heating system can supply efficient, shared, low-carbon heat and act as thermal storage. Where heat pumps are used in district heating systems, the thermal inertia of buildings, pipework and thermal energy storage allows short-term demand-side flexibility. However, acceptable temperature ranges still limit how far, and how often, systems can be shifted.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Wang Y, Ender E, Kumar S, Tseng C, Yang G, Ye B, Liang C, Yu Y, West N, Chauhan I, Ng JH, Halder S, Ji SG, Held G, Ryan MP, Moore KL, Walton AS, Rao RRet al., 2026,

  Active Phase of Nickel Electrocatalysts Driving Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

  , Adv Mater

  Nickel-based cathodes are widely used in alkaline water electrolysis, yet the nature and stability of the active surface under operating conditions remains unclear. In particular, the role of metal/oxo-hydroxo interfacial structures in governing hydrogen evolution activity is not well understood. Here, we employ a multimodal, depth-sensitive approach combining operando Ni L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, depth-sensitive X-ray absorption measurements in total electron yield and Auger electron yield modes, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, isotopically labeled nano secondary ion mass spectrometry, and online electrochemical mass spectrometry to directly track the evolution of Ni/NiOxHy interfaces during the hydrogen evolution reaction. Using well-defined sputtered Ni thin films as a model system, we show that progressive reduction of near-surface oxide/hydroxide species is accompanied by a gradual loss of hydrogen evolution activity. Depth-resolved measurements reveal a predominantly metallic outermost surface under cathodic bias, while NiOxHy forms on the surface upon relaxation to open-circuit conditions. Importantly, mild anodic pre-conditioning regenerates subsurface NiOxHy species, resulting in a sustained increase in hydrogen evolution activity upon subsequent cathodic polarization. These results establish the crucial role of metal/oxo-hydroxo interfaces as active phases for hydrogen evolution and provide a framework for engineering robust, Earth-abundant HER cathodes capable of operating under dynamic, real-world electrolysis conditions.

  • Abstract
  • Author Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Su Q, Halder S, Liang C, Utsunomiya T, Kondo Y, Celorrio V, Yamada Y, Rao R, Katayama Yet al., 2026,

  Tuning Interactions between Layered Manganese Oxide and Intercalated Cations to Enhance Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity

  , ACS Applied Energy Materials, Vol: 9, Pages: 9943-9951

  Layered manganese dioxide (MnO<inf>2</inf>) stands out for its ability to act as a host for cation intercalation, which can significantly enhance its performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the role of intercalated cations in enhancing this reaction remains unknown. Herein, by systematically investigating various cation-intercalated (K⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺) layered manganese oxides, we demonstrate that the intercalated transition metal cations serve as the primary active sites. We find that the oxidation state of cations within the MnO<inf>2</inf> layers is determined by their relative Lewis acidity compared to the host Mn. This correlation between OER activity and the resulting electronic redistribution suggests that relative Lewis acidity of intercalated cations can determine the electronic redistribution between intercalated cations and MnO<inf>2</inf> layers, which in turn regulates the oxidation of both components. Therefore, we propose that relative Lewis acidity serves as a descriptor for OER activity. This work highlights the critical role of host-imposed electronic limits, establishing a rational design principle for future layered material-confined systems.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Ender E, Wang Y, Tseng C, Taylor HE, Dwyer L, Li K, Becker H, Felisari L, Haigh SJ, Rao R, Moore KL, Walton ASet al., 2026,

  Surface Memory in Nickel HER Catalysts: Hydroxide Formation at Open-Circuit Potential

  , ACS Catalysis, Vol: 16, Pages: 14196-14204

  Grid-coupled electrolyzers must keep up with the variable nature of renewable power, placing nickel-based alkaline HER catalysts under rapidly changing potentials. Yet the surface chemistry of nickel-based electrodes during transitions between biased operation and open-circuit potential (OCP) remains poorly resolved. Here we resolve the morphological and chemical evolution of Ni electrodes during cycling between reductive bias and OCP. We combine in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with isotopically labeled NanoSIMS, complemented by microscopy methods, to map morphological and chemical evolution under controlled cycling. We find that reductive bias generates a transient surface that undergoes rapid hydroxylation upon return to OCP; the Ni(OH)<inf>2</inf> observed at OCP therefore reflects the preceding electrochemical history rather than serving as a direct degradation product or mechanistic intermediate. This “memory effect” links surface speciation to prior bias conditions and identifies OCP transitions as a critical regime for hydroxide growth and irreversible surface transformations. More broadly, the results underscore the need to account for non-steady-state operation when designing and benchmarking alkaline electrocatalysts for grid-coupled water electrolysis.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
  • Citations: 1
• Report
  Barnes C, Hampe A, Ribeiro AFS, García-García D, Turco M, Mouillot F, Keeping T, Zachariah M, Colette A, Mejía-Silva A, Singh R, Arrighi J, Raju E, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Climate change increases likelihood of compounding drivers of severe wildfire conditions in France and Spain

  • Cite
• Report
  Biermann O, Lawrance E, Jennings N, Massazza A, Nalawade N, Parks R, Stewart-Ruano Aet al., 2026,

  Protecting mental health from extreme heat: recommendations for policy and action

  , Publisher: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Lamb C, Thompson E, Hardisty A, Sperazza S, Deng XA, Toumi R, Leckebusch GC, Whitaker Det al., 2026,

  Event Report - Understanding Research Priorities in Natural Catastrophe Insurance

  , Journal of Catastrophe Risk and Resilience, Vol: 04

  <jats:p>On the 11th of June, the Royal Meteorological Society, the Lighthill Risk Network and UCL hosted an afternoon workshop, focused on identifying and compiling the research interests of the natural catastrophe insurance community. The event was primarily organised by Conor Lamb, in his capacity as the Science Engagement Fellow for Insurance with the Royal Meteorological Society. In this article, the authors share valuable insight into the topics, questions, and discussions from the day's sessions.</jats:p>

  • Abstract
  • Publisher Web Link
  • Cite
• Report
  Kew S, Zachariah M, Schumacher D, Seeber S, Hirschi M, Breinl K, Haslinger K, Lehner S, Humphrey V, Mohammed H, Lakatos M, Kovacs A, Molnar ZE, Cheval S, Dumitrescu A, Moderc A, Vlahovic Z, Blazic P, Fruhauf C, Bromser A, Rustemeier E, Zandersone D, Oldrich R, Dullart J, Pinto I, Clarke B, Keeping T, Garcia-Garcia D, Singh Ret al., 2026,

  Increasingly hot Europe faces more severe droughts and growing challenges for water and land management

  • Cite
• Report
  Kimutai J, Keeping T, Kiswedsida G, Sidiki Alare R, Kouakou E, Mumo L, Nying'uro P, Masambaya F, Pinto I, Singh R, Vahlberg M, Ganguly S, Pundeer V, Koren G, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Climate Change and urban pressures intensify flood risk on the Gulf of Guinea coast

  • Cite
• Report
  Barnes C, Clarke B, Bergin C, McCarthy M, Lott F, Zachariah M, Keeping T, Konstantinoudis G, Rayner A, Mistry M, Gasparrini A, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Climate change increases heat-health risks from 2026’s May and June heatwaves

  , Publisher: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London

  Climate change added between 3-4°C to maximum temperatures and is estimated to be responsible for about 42% of the deaths across both heatwaves.More than 2,700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes during the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. Of those, it’s estimated that 42% died as a result of the extra heat caused by human-induced warming.Researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine used historical mortality records and established peer-reviewed methods to model fatalities during both heat spikes. As Scotland and Northern Ireland were not impacted by such extreme temperatures, they focused on England and Wales.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Konstantinoudis G, 2026,

  Attributing heatwave mortality to human-induced climate change in Greece: a case-crossover and attribution analysis for 2000–2019

  , Environmental Health, ISSN: 0340-0131

  BackgroundHeatwaves increasingly threaten public health in the Mediterranean region, and Greece is among the hardest hit countries. Yet evidence on long-term adaptation, spatial vulnerability, and the contribution of human-induced climate change to heatwave-related mortality in Greece remains limited. MethodsWe analysed 2,144,957 all cause deaths in Greece (2000-2019) in people older than 65 years using a time stratified case crossover design. We derived population weighted daily maximum temperatures at NUTS3 level from ERA5 reanalysis and WorldPop. We applied six heatwave definitions (HD1–HD6) varying by duration (≥2 or ≥3 days) and thresholds (90th, 95th, 99th percentiles).We fitted Bayesian hierarchical Poisson models to estimate heatwave-mortality associations varying by space and time. We additionally adjusted for relative humidity and national holidays. We then combined these estimates with probabilistic climate attribution methods to quantify the number and proportion of heatwave-related deaths attributable to human induced climate change. ResultsHeatwaves raised mortality consistently, with relative risks from 1.08 (95% CrI (Credible Interval): 1.07–1.09; HD1) to 1.15 (1.12–1.19; HD6). Risks increased with heatwave intensity and duration, with particularly high risks observed among females and older adults. We did not detect a consistent temporal decline in risk or marked spatial heterogeneity. Human induced climate change accounted for 46-80% of heatwave related deaths across definitions. The proportion attributable to climate change rose over time. ConclusionsHeatwaves already impose a major mortality burden in Greece, with more than half driven by anthropogenic climate change and little evidence of population level adaptation. These findings call for rapid emissions reductions and targeted adaptation, including stronger heat health warning systems and protection of vulnerable groups.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Li Y, Zhao J, Cao XE, Li Set al., 2026,

  A large language model-based multi-agent methodology for intelligent materials screening: A case study on MOFs for CO2 capture

  , Separation and Purification Technology, Vol: 394, ISSN: 1383-5866

  Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hold significant potential for CO2 capture owing to their tunable structures, large surface areas, and versatile chemistries. However, current screening strategies are often limited to specific application scenarios and overlook the intrinsic properties of materials, thereby limiting the transferability of findings. Here, an intelligent evaluation framework was proposed that leverages large language models (LLMs) to integrate semantic reasoning with numerical performance metrics. The approach combines molecular structure, elemental composition, and synthetic feasibility with molecular simulations and process modeling to optimize the design. Adsorption behavior is obtained from atomistic simulations, while cyclic performance is assessed through equilibrium-based process simulations. Notably, energy utilization efficiency is explicitly incorporated as a central performance indicator and assigned higher weighting, thereby emphasizing practical deployment considerations. These numerical indicators are further combined with semantic scores derived from an LLM-based multi-agent system, enabling a balanced, interpretable ranking of candidate MOFs. This dual-level strategy reconciles rigorous optimization with engineering feasibility, safety, and compliance. By aligning numerical robustness with semantic interpretability, the methodology addresses the scenario-dependence of conventional screening methods and provides a scalable pathway for intelligent material evaluation. Beyond CO2 capture, the framework is readily extensible to diverse adsorption processes and evaluation metrics, highlighting its potential as a next-generation paradigm for material screening and decision support.

  • Abstract
  • Author Web Link
  • Cite
• Journal article
  Lefauve A, Bassett C, Plotnick DS, Lavery AC, Geyer WRet al., 2026,

  The Structure and Lifecycle of Stratified Mixing by Shear Instabilities in Continuously Forced Flows

  , Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, Vol: 131, ISSN: 2169-9275

  The turbulent energy cascade of ocean mixing remains poorly understood at geophysically large Reynolds numbers ((Formula presented.)). Here we propose a new conceptual model for the structure of small-scale mixing grounded in high-resolution multibeam echosounding observations from the mouth of the Connecticut River, a shallow salt-wedge estuary. Tidal forcing and bottom topography slope the pycnocline, sustaining interfacial shear and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities well below the marginal instability threshold on a vertical scale of order 1 m. Acoustic backscatter, used here as a proxy for salinity microstructure dissipation, provides time-resolved two-dimensional imagery of the structure and evolution of turbulent mixing. At (Formula presented.), we find that mixing is dominated not by the collapse of slowly evolving billow cores as at (Formula presented.), but instead by fast turbulence within the (Formula presented.) m thin, shallow-sloping braids that connect them, energized by baroclinic shear. We interpret these observations using two-dimensional direct numerical simulation at field-matched parameters, which predicts the emergence of secondary Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities and turbulence within the braids, pre-empting further steepening and primary overturn. We then estimate turbulent dissipation and scalar variance dissipation at the pycnocline and braid scales using physics-based scalings involving only the local slope, shear and layer thickness. Laboratory experiments in an inclined duct, an analog of the turbulent braid regime, visualize mixing down to dissipative scales, where it remains organized in myriad thin, sheared, intense filaments rather than overturns. We conclude that high- (Formula presented.) mixing hotspots with sustained shear forcing follow fundamentally different dynamics than previously thought.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
  • Citations: 1
• Journal article
  Zhao J, Konstantinoudis G, Heydari S, 2026,

  England-wide injury-severity analysis of e-scooter riders using a Bayesian spatial field model.

  , Accid Anal Prev, Vol: 232

  As electric scooter (e-scooter) use has expanded, understanding the factors associated with e-scooter rider injury severity has become increasingly important for road safety policy. This study analyses 2,128 crashes involving e-scooters and motor vehicles across England (2020-2023) to identify factors associated with severe and fatal injuries to e-scooter riders. Using the geographic coordinates of crashes, we developed a Bayesian spatial field model implemented via the Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) approach for fast Bayesian estimation. Our approach accounts for spatial unobserved heterogeneity (area-level "context" effects) often overlooked in injury severity studies. Results indicate that severe or fatal injuries are more likely among older riders, male riders, and in crashes occurring in darkness, on single carriageways, on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher, involving heavy vehicles, at night or early morning, or with e-scooter skidding/overturning, frontal impacts, e-scooters entering main roads, or opponent vehicles moving straight. Conversely, motor vehicles performing moving-off manoeuvres are linked to lower odds of severe injuries. Importantly, the presence of authorised e-scooter trials was not found to be associated with rider injury severity outcomes. Our spatial analysis reveals higher odds of severe injury in parts of north-western and south-eastern England relative to the national average. Our research highlights the importance of vehicle kinematics, road environment, and spatial context in shaping injury severity and support targeted, evidence-based interventions, including infrastructure measures and vehicle-based safety technologies such as blind-spot detection.

  • Abstract
  • Author Web Link
  • Cite
• Report
  Hewitt C, Allen R, Gambhir A, Jennings N, Ledesma-Amaro R, Muûls M, Oluleye G, Shah N, Theokritoff E, Vineis Pet al., 2026,

  The seventh carbon budget inquiry

  , Evidence submission, Publisher: Grantham Institute, Imperial College London

  We welcome the Climate Change Committee (CCC)’s recommendations on the 7th carbon budget. Our submission assesses key assumptions, technology choices, and economic implications and finds the CCC's approach to reasonable and well-evidenced.

  • Abstract
  • Cite
• Report
  Keeping T, Barnes C, Clarke B, Bergin C, Pinto I, Vahlberg M, Pereira Marghidan C, Raju E, Haro P, Otto Fet al., 2026,

  Fossil fuel emissions have rapidly worsened European heatwaves in just a few decades

  • Cite
• Journal article
  Ding T, Liu X, Yang X, Xu Y, Cao XEet al., 2026,

  Solar-driven device resilience in extreme terrestrial environments

  , Cell Reports Physical Science, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2666-3864

  Summary Solar-driven chemical conversion systems offer scalable solutions for energy storage and water purification, yet their performance remains constrained by the controlled laboratory conditions in which they are tested. Deployment in extreme terrestrial environments (ETEs), characterized by thermal extremes, intermittent light, and fluctuations in photon flux, requires a shift from material-centric optimization to holistic device resilience. Herein, we propose a framework based on three core principles: kinetic decoupling, temporal bridging, and operational intelligence. When flexibly integrated, these strategies enable hybrid platforms to reach DTI 3–4 and chart a path toward scalable deployment (DTI-5). We advocate standardized translational metrics to quantify robustness and highlight future integration across terrestrial, marine, and extraterrestrial domains.

  • Abstract
  • Author Web Link
  • Cite

This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.