UEXdo/OpenDataHub huggingface dataset:
Position- and scale-invariant object-centered spatial localization in monkey frontoparietal cortex dynamically adapts to cognitive demand
Authors: Taghizadeh, B.; Fortmann, O.; Gail, A.
Journal: Nature Communications (2024)

Abstract
                  Egocentric encoding is a well-known property of brain areas along the dorsal pathway. Different to previous experiments, which typically only demanded egocentric spatial processing during movement preparation, we designed a task where two male rhesus monkeys memorized an on-the-object target position and then planned a reach to this position after the object re-occurred at variable location with potentially different size. We found allocentric (in addition to egocentri
Just Energy Transition Partnerships and the future of coal
Authors: Ordonez, J.; Vandyck, T.; Keramidas, K.; Garaffa, R.; Weitzel, M.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

AbstractRecent climate diplomacy efforts have resulted in Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) with South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, mobilizing financial support for ambitious decarbonization targets. Here, to assess JETPs’ alignment with global climate targets, we conduct a model-based assessment of JETPs’ energy and emissions targets. Results show greater alignment with a global 1.5 °C trajectory, indicating a promising route for international collaboration to keep Paris Agreement g
Model-based financial regulations impair the transition to net-zero carbon emissions
Authors: Gasparini, M.; Ives, M.; Carr, B.; Fry, S.; Beinhocker, E.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

Abstract
                  Investments via the financial system are essential for fostering the green transition. However, the role of existing financial regulations in influencing investment decisions is understudied. Here we analyse data from the European Banking Authority to show that existing financial accounting frameworks might inadvertently be creating disincentives for investments in low-carbon assets. We find that differences in the provision coverage ratio indicate that banks must acco
Assessing the impacts of fertility and retirement policies on China’s carbon emissions
Authors: Tang, L.; Yang, J.; Zheng, J.; Sun, X.; Cheng, L.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

AbstractThe gradual adjustment of fertility and retirement policies in China has social benefits in terms of coping with population aging. However, the environmental consequences of these policies remain ambiguous. Here we compile environmentally extended multiregional input–output tables to estimate household carbon footprints for different population age groups in China. Subsequently, we estimate the age-sex-specific population under different fertility policies up to 2060 and assess the impac
Offshoring emissions through used vehicle exports
Authors: Newman, S.; Schulte, K.; Morellini, M.; Rahal, C.; Leasure, D.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

AbstractPolicies to reduce transport emissions often overlook the international flow of used vehicles. We quantify the rate at which used vehicles generated CO2 and pollution for all used vehicles exported from Great Britain—a globally leading used vehicle exporter—across 2005–2021. Destined for low–middle-income countries, exported vehicles fail roadworthiness standards and, even under extremely optimistic ‘functioning-as-new’ assumptions, generate at least 13–53% more emissions than scrapped o
Feasible deployment of carbon capture and storage and the requirements of climate targets
Authors: Kazlou, T.; Cherp, A.; Jewell, J.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

Abstract
                  
                    Climate change mitigation requires the large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Recent plans indicate an eight-fold increase in CCS capacity by 2030, yet the feasibility of CCS expansion is debated. Using historical growth of CCS and other policy-driven technologies, we show that if plans double between 2023 and 2025 and their failure rates decrease by half, CCS could reach 0.37 GtCO
                    2 
                    yr
Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries
Authors: Nielsen, K.; Bauer, J.; Debnath, R.; Emogor, C.; Geiger, S.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2024)

AbstractExtensive research highlights global and within-country inequality in personal carbon footprints. However, the extent to which people are aware of these inequalities remains unclear. Here we use an online survey distributed across four diverse countries: Denmark, India, Nigeria and the USA, to show widespread underestimation of carbon footprint inequality, irrespective of participants’ country and income segment. Of the 4,003 participants, within each country, 50% of participants were sa
Energy input and food output: The energy imbalance across regional agrifood systems
Authors: Rasul, K.; Bruckner, M.; Mempel, F.; Trsek, S.; Hertwich, E.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Biomass was the principal energy source in preindustrial societies; their agriculture provided more energy than it required. Thus, the energy return on energy investment (EROEI) needed to be &amp;gt;1. Recent studies have indicated that this may not be the case for modern industrialized agrifood systems (AFSs). Although the green revolution radically improved agricultural yields, it came at the expense of increased energy inputs, mainly in the form of fossil fuels. AFSs r
Ubiquitous filter feeders shape open ocean microbial community structure and function
Authors: Thompson, A.; Nyerges, G.; Lamberson, K.; Sutherland, K.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               The mechanism of mortality plays a large role in how microorganisms in the open ocean contribute to global energy and nutrient cycling. Salps are ubiquitous pelagic tunicates that are a well-known mortality source for large phototrophic microorganisms in coastal and high-latitude systems, but their impact on the immense populations of smaller prokaryotes in the tropical and subtropical open ocean gyres is not well quantified. We used robustly quantitative techniques to me
Biologically generated turbulent energy flux in shear flow depends on tensor geometry
Authors: Si, X.; Fang, L.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               It has been proposed that biologically generated turbulence plays an important role in material transport and ocean mixing. Both experimental and numerical studies have reported evidence of the nonnegligible mixing by moderate Reynolds number swimmers, such as zooplankton, in quiescent water, especially at aggregation scales. However, the interaction between biologically generated agitation and the background flow, as a key factor in biologically generated turbulence that
Data-driven discovery of Tsallis-like distribution using symbolic regression in high-energy physics
Authors: Makke, N.; Chawla, S.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               The application of atificial intelligence (AI) in fundamental physics has faced limitations due to its inherently uninterpretable nature, which is less conducive to solving physical problems where natural phenomena are expressed in human-understandable language, i.e. mathematical equations. Fortunately, there exists a form of interpretable AI that aligns seamlessly with this requirement, namely, symbolic regression (SR), which learns mathematical equations directly from d
The role of advanced nuclear reactors and fuel cycles in a future energy system
Authors: Kornecki, K.; Wise, C.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Nuclear power has been an important part of the US electricity system since the 1950s and continues to be a major source of low-carbon electricity today. Despite having low emissions, high grid reliability, and an excellent track record of safety, nuclear power also demands significant time and upfront capital to deploy, can struggle to compete economically with other generation sources, has intrinsic proliferation risk by relying on fissile material for fuel, and generat
Storm and tidal interactions control sediment exchange in mixed-energy coastal systems
Authors: Georgiou, I.; FitzGerald, D.; Hanegan, K.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Storms can have devasting effects on shorelines, causing flooding and the destruction of property and infrastructure. As global warming and the frequency and magnitude of tropical storms increase, barrier islands comprising 10% of the world's coast may undergo significant change caused by beach erosion, loss of dunes, and formation of washovers and tidal inlets. Understanding how storms affect sediment transport at tidal inlets is an understudied subject that directly inf
Effective data-driven collective variables for free energy calculations from metadynamics of paths
Authors: Müllender, L.; Rizzi, A.; Parrinello, M.; Carloni, P.; Mandelli, D.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               A variety of enhanced sampling (ES) methods predict multidimensional free energy landscapes associated with biological and other molecular processes as a function of a few selected collective variables (CVs). The accuracy of these methods is crucially dependent on the ability of the chosen CVs to capture the relevant slow degrees of freedom of the system. For complex processes, finding such CVs is the real challenge. Machine learning (ML) CVs offer, in principle, a soluti
An energy and information analysis method of logic gates based on stochastic thermodynamics
Authors: Ge, X.; Ruan, M.; Peng, X.; Xiao, Y.; Yang, Y.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               To reduce the energy consumption of logic gates in digital circuits, the size of transistors approaches the mesoscopic scale, e.g. sub-7 nanometers. However, existing energy consumption analysis methods exhibit various deviation for logic gates when the nonequilibrium information processing of mesoscopic scale transistors with ultra-low voltages is analyzed. Based on the stochastic thermodynamics theory, an information energy ratio method is proposed for the energy consum
Quantifying energy transition vulnerability helps more just and inclusive decarbonization
Authors: Shen, Y.; Shi, X.; Zhao, Z.; Grafton, R.; Yu, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               The COP28 agreement signals “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, calling on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner. While a quantitative assessment of country's vulnerability in energy transition is a prerequisite for national and international policy makers to ensure a just and inclusive transition, it is notably absent in the existing research. Here, we develop a
Microphase iron particle growth promoted by solar wind implantation in lunar soils
Authors: Lu, X.; Chen, J.; Cao, H.; Fu, X.; Zeng, X.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Lunar soils record the history and spectral changes resulting from the space-weathering process. The solar wind and micrometeoroids are the main space-weathering agents leading to darkening (decreasing albedo) and reddening (increasing reflectance with longer wavelength) of visible and near-infrared spectra. Nevertheless, their relative contributions are not well constrained and understood. In this study, we examine the near-infrared spectral variation as a function of lu
Effects of firebricks for industrial process heat on the cost of matching all-sector energy demand with 100% wind–water–solar supply in 149 countries
Authors: Jacobson, M.; Sambor, D.; Fan, Y.; Mühlbauer, A.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

AbstractRefractory bricks are bricks that can withstand high temperatures without damage to their structures. They have been used to insulate kilns, furnaces, and other hot enclosures for thousands of years. Firebricks are refractory bricks that can, with one composition, store heat, and with another, insulate the firebricks that store the heat. Because firebricks are made from common materials, the cost per kilowatt-hour-thermal of a firebrick storage system is less than one-tenth the cost per
Food–energy–water nexus optimization brings substantial reduction of urban resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Zhang, P.; Zhang, L.; Hao, Y.; Xu, M.; Pang, M.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Urban sustainability is a key to achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Secure and efficient provision of food, energy, and water (FEW) resources is a critical strategy for urban sustainability. While there has been extensive discussion on the positive effects of the FEW nexus on resource efficiency and climate impacts, measuring the extent to which such synergy can benefit urban sustainability remains challenging. Here, we have developed a systematic and
Prioritizing social vulnerability in urban heat mitigation
Authors: Fung, K.; Yang, Z.; Martilli, A.; Krayenhoff, E.; Niyogi, D.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               We utilized city-scale simulations to quantitatively compare the diverse urban overheating mitigation strategies, specifically tied to social vulnerability and their cooling efficacies during heatwaves. We enhanced the Weather Research and Forecasting model to encompass the urban tree effect and calculate the Universal Thermal Climate Index for assessing thermal comfort. Taking Houston, Texas, and United States as an example, the study reveals that equitably mitigating ur
A mirror-image experiment: Sorting carbon nanotubes by L-DNA
Authors: Zheng, M.; Sha, R.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               DNA has found increasing applications in molecular engineering, yet its chiral property has rarely been utilized. Here, we report a mirror-image experiment using naturally occurring D-DNA and its enantiomer L-DNA to sort a chiral mixture of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We find that parity conservation leads to a robust experimental outcome: changing DNA chirality results in handedness inversion of the purified nanotube. This finding provides a straightforward so
Astronomy’s climate emissions: Global travel to scientific meetings in 2019
Authors: Gokus, A.; Jahnke, K.; Woods, P.; Moss, V.; Ossenkopf-Okada, V.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Travel to academic conferences—where international flights are the norm—is responsible for a sizeable fraction of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with academic work. In order to provide a benchmark for comparison with other fields, as well as for future reduction strategies and assessments, we estimate the CO2-equivalent emissions for conference travel in the field of astronomy for the prepandemic year 2019. The GHG emission of the international astronomical
Leakage of old carbon dioxide from a major river system in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Dasari, S.; Garnett, M.; Hilton, R.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               The Canadian Arctic is warming at an unprecedented rate. Warming-induced permafrost thaw can lead to mobilization of aged carbon from stores in soils and rocks. Tracking the carbon pools supplied to surrounding river networks provides insight on pathways and processes of greenhouse gas release. Here, we investigated the dual-carbon isotopic characteristics of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool in the main stem and tributaries of the Mackenzie River system. The radi
Incorporating platinum circular economy into China’s hydrogen pathways toward carbon neutrality
Authors: Wang, P.; Wang, C.; Li, J.; Hubacek, K.; Sun, L.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Hydrogen is gaining tremendous traction in China as the fuel of the future to support the country’s carbon neutrality ambition. Despite that hydrogen as fuel largely hinges on the supply of platinum (Pt), the dynamic interlinkage between Pt supply challenges, hydrogen development pathways, and climate targets in China has yet to be deeply analyzed. Here, we adopt an integrated assessment model to address this important concern and corresponding strategies for China. The r
Disruption of the bacterial OLE RNP complex impairs growth on alternative carbon sources
Authors: Lyon, S.; Wencker, F.; Fernando, C.; Harris, K.; Breaker, R.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Ornate, large, extremophilic (OLE) RNAs comprise a class of large noncoding RNAs in bacteria whose members form a membrane-associated ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. This complex facilitates cellular adaptation to diverse stresses such as exposure to cold, short-chain alcohols, and elevated Mg2+ concentrations. Here, we report additional phenotypes exhibited by Halalkalibacterium halodurans (formerly called Bacillus halodurans) strains lacking functional OLE RNP complexe
Robust capital cost optimization of generation and multitimescale storage requirements for a 100% renewable Australian electricity grid
Authors: Shaikh, R.; Vowles, D.; Dinovitser, A.; Allison, A.; Abbott, D.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Transitioning from a fossil-fuel-dependent economy to one based on renewable energy requires significant investment and technological advancement. While wind and solar technologies provide lower cost electricity, enhanced energy storage and transmission infrastructure come at a cost for managing renewable intermittency. Energy storage systems vary in characteristics and costs, and future grids will incorporate multiple technologies, yet the optimal combination of storage
Cocaine diminishes functional network robustness and destabilizes the energy landscape of neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Borzou, A.; Miller, S.; Hommel, J.; Schwarz, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               We present analysis of neuronal activity recordings from a subset of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats before and after the administration of cocaine. Using an underlying modern Hopfield model as a description for the neuronal network, combined with a machine learning approach, we compute the underlying functional connectivity of the neuronal network. We find that the functional connectivity changes after the administration of cocaine with both functional-ex
A biospecies-derived genomic DNA hybrid gel electrolyte for electrochemical energy storage
Authors: Mitta, S.; Kim, J.; Rana, H.; Kokkiligadda, S.; Lim, Y.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Intrinsic impediments, namely weak mechanical strength, low ionic conductivity, low electrochemical performance, and stability have largely inhibited beyond practical applications of hydrogels in electronic devices and remains as a significant challenge in the scientific world. Here, we report a biospecies-derived genomic DNA hybrid gel electrolyte with many synergistic effects, including robust mechanical properties (mechanical strength and elongation of 6.98 MPa and 997
China's progress in synergetic governance of climate change and multiple environmental issues
Authors: Yang, J.; Zhao, Z.; Fang, W.; Ma, Z.; Liu, M.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Advancing the synergetic control of climate change and environmental crisis is crucial for achieving global sustainable development goals. This study evaluates synergetic governance levels over climate change and four environmental issues at the provincial level in China from 2009 to 2020. Our findings reveal significant progress in China's coordinated efforts to mitigate carbon emissions, reduce air pollutants, and conserve water resources. However, there remains room fo
Catch the wind: Optimizing wind turbine power generation by addressing wind veer effects
Authors: Gao, L.; Milliren, C.; Dasari, T.; Knoll, A.; Hong, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Wind direction variability with height, known as “wind veer,” results in power losses for wind turbines (WTs) that rely on single-point wind measurements at the turbine nacelles. To address this challenge, we introduce a yaw control strategy designed to optimize turbine alignment by adjusting the yaw angle based on specific wind veer conditions, thereby boosting power generation efficiency. This strategy integrates modest yaw offset angles into the existing turbine contro
Deciphering the variability in air-sea gas transfer due to sea state and wind history
Authors: Yang, M.; Moffat, D.; Dong, Y.; Bidlot, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Understanding processes driving air-sea gas transfer and being able to model both its mean and variability are critical for studies of climate and carbon cycle. The air-sea gas transfer velocity (K660) is almost universally parameterized as a function of wind speed in large scale models—an oversimplification that buries the mechanisms controlling K660 and neglects much natural variability. Sea state has long been speculated to affect gas transfer, but consistent relations
Enhancing molecular oxygen activation by nitrogen-doped carbon encapsulating FeNi alloys with ultra-low Pt loading
Authors: Zhu, D.; Huang, Y.; Shi, X.; Li, R.; Wang, Z.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Modulating the electronic structure of noble metals via electronic metal–support interaction (EMSI) has been proven effectively for facilitating molecular oxygen activation and catalytic oxidation reactions. Nevertheless, the investigation of the fundamental mechanisms underlying activity enhancement has primarily focused on metal oxides as supports, especially in the catalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds. In this study, a novel Pt catalyst supported on nitr
Release of ballast material during sea-ice melt enhances carbon export in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Swoboda, S.; Krumpen, T.; Nöthig, E.; Metfies, K.; Ramondenc, S.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Globally, the most intense uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) occurs in the Atlantic north of 50°N, and it has been predicted that atmospheric CO2 sequestration in the Arctic Ocean will increase as a result of ice-melt and increased primary production. However, little is known about the impact of pan-Arctic sea-ice decline on carbon export processes. We investigated the potential ballasting effect of sea-ice derived material on settling aggregates and carbon exp
An integrated experimental–modeling approach to identify key processes for carbon mineralization in fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks
Authors: Neil, C.; Yang, Y.; Nisbet, H.; Iyare, U.; Boampong, L.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2024)

Abstract
               Controlling atmospheric warming requires immediate reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as the active removal and sequestration of CO2 from current point sources. One promising proposed strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels is geologic carbon sequestration (GCS), where CO2 is injected into the subsurface and reacts with the formation to precipitate carbonate minerals. Rapid mineralization has recently been reported for field tests in mafic and ultramaf
Outsourced carbon mitigation efforts of Chinese cities from 2012 to 2017
Authors: Xia, C.; Zheng, H.; Meng, J.; Shan, Y.; Liang, X.
Journal: Nature Cities (2024)

AbstractOutsourced carbon mitigation between cities means that some cities benefit from the carbon mitigation efforts of other cities more than their own. This problem conceals the recognition of cities’ mitigation contributions. Here we quantify local and outsourced carbon mitigation levels from 2012 to 2017 and identified ‘outsourced mitigation beneficiaries’ relying on outsourced efforts more than their own among 309 Chinese cities by using a city-level input–output model. It found that the s