A material that catches sunlight well can also lose its useful electrical charges quickly. Oxford and Wuhan researchers report that bismuth sulfide can combine strong absorption with slower charge loss.

The team studied thin films using short laser pulses. Its explanation is an unusual arrangement of energy levels that temporarily shelters charges before they recombine.

At room temperature, the researchers estimate a roughly 75% reduction in the rate of charge loss compared with conventional materials that absorb light as strongly. That does not mean a 75% more efficient solar panel. The study demonstrates a physical mechanism; turning it into a better working solar cell requires further research.

Source published October 28, 2026

A new assessment from FAO, UNEP and the Convention on Biological Diversity reports 252 million hectares under restoration across 149 countries. The agencies describe it as the largest documented global effort so far.

Under restoration means work is underway. It does not mean every hectare has recovered. The assessment draws on government-endorsed submissions and information reported by restoration initiatives.

The progress gives people something concrete to build on, while the remaining work is substantial. Freshwater, marine and coastal recovery lags, and limited reporting leaves gaps in the picture. The report calls for much greater financing and sustained effort through and beyond 2030.

That is a useful kind of good news: evidence of people making repairs, with the unfinished parts still in view.

Source published October 29, 2026