Environmental sciences articles from across Nature Portfolio

Emissions data and machine learning are used to compile a global inventory of industrial chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from 11 sectors across 184 countries in 2018. Emission hotspots are concentrated in Oceania, East Asia and Latin America, with iron ore sintering identified as the dominant source, accounting for about 86% of total emissions.

Overcoming the trade-off between the aesthetic requirements and cooling efficiency of passive radiative cooling materials is challenging. Now, composites that use the photoluminescence of rare-earth-doped phosphors to achieve efficient sub-ambient cooling and vibrant colours are demonstrated.

Recent advancements in mercury bioremediation highlight the potential of engineered organisms to transform toxic mercury into less harmful forms. Two pioneering studies demonstrate the ability of genetically modified animals and bacteria to mitigate mercury toxicity. However, these approaches face challenges, including intracellular toxicity and limited bioconversion efficiency.

Household air pollution has long been overlooked in environmental health policy, yet the evidence now makes clear that our homes, particularly in low and middle-income countries, are often the most significant sites of exposure to airborne pollutants. This “Household Air Pollution” collection brings together six recent studies that investigate emissions from common household activities, characterize pollutant concentrations in domestic environments, and assess associated health risks. This multidisciplinary research – spanning environmental engineering, aerosol science, epidemiology, and public health – demonstrates that improving household air quality is both necessary and feasible. Together, they highlight the urgent need for integrated strategies, policies and standards that prioritize indoor environments as a key determinant of health and developing health-centered design, source control, and public awareness to improve indoor air quality where it matters most: in our homes. We are grateful to the authors for their insightful contributions, the reviewers for their expertise, and the Scientific Reports editorial team for their support. We hope this Collection serves as a valuable resource and a call to action for scientists, public health officials, architects, and policymakers alike.

Standardized quantitative emissions benchmarking is essential for corporate climate accountability, yet recent literature has critiqued this approach. We argue for structured pluralism with budget compliance — balancing methodological flexibility while preserving the disciplining power of carbon budgets.

Researchers unpick the neural mechanisms of how hunger and hormones lead to aggressive behaviours in mice — plus, what gen-AI could mean for universities and students’ education.

Emissions data and machine learning are used to compile a global inventory of industrial chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from 11 sectors across 184 countries in 2018. Emission hotspots are concentrated in Oceania, East Asia and Latin America, with iron ore sintering identified as the dominant source, accounting for about 86% of total emissions.

Matthew Kim learnt how to conduct research while studying in a small Canadian town for a semester.