• Energy Research
• 2025-2025close
• Closed Access close
• Restricted close
• Open Source close
• Embargo close
• AU close

The increase of energy in the climate system caused by anthropogenic climate change is expected to disrupt predictable weather patterns and result in greater temperature extremes.1,2 As a result of these climate shifts, El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which drives predictable periods of hot/dry and cool/wet across the Pacific, is expected to increase in variability and magnitude.3 These changes will significantly impact ectotherms, whose performance across a range of behaviors is dependent on local environmental temperatures.4 As such, we must understand the way individuals experience climate conditions and how changes in their body temperature (Tb), whether through climate or modification of their thermoregulatory mechanisms,5 affect their performance. Laboratory studies have shown that estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) diving and swimming performance is reduced above 32°C-33°C,6,7,8 temperatures commonly exceeded across their natural range. By monitoring Tb and diving activity in 203 free-ranging estuarine crocodiles over 15 years, we show that the Tb of crocodiles has increased alongside rising air temperatures since 2008, reflecting the climatic shifts caused by the ENSO cycle. As ambient temperatures rose, crocodiles experienced more days close to critical thermal limits (32°C-33°C), at which temperatures the duration of dives was reduced and the prevalence of active cooling behavior was elevated. This study demonstrates that crocodiles are susceptible to multi-year fluctuations in ambient temperature, which requires them to undertake concomitant changes in behavior. They are already close to their physiological thermal limit, but the impact of future predicted rises in temperature remains unknown.

The increase of energy in the climate system caused by anthropogenic climate change is expected to disrupt predictable weather patterns and result in greater temperature extremes.1,2 As a result of these climate shifts, El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which drives predictable periods of hot/dry and cool/wet across the Pacific, is expected to increase in variability and magnitude.3 These changes will significantly impact ectotherms, whose performance across a range of behaviors is dependent on local environmental temperatures.4 As such, we must understand the way individuals experience climate conditions and how changes in their body temperature (Tb), whether through climate or modification of their thermoregulatory mechanisms,5 affect their performance. Laboratory studies have shown that estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) diving and swimming performance is reduced above 32°C-33°C,6,7,8 temperatures commonly exceeded across their natural range. By monitoring Tb and diving activity in 203 free-ranging estuarine crocodiles over 15 years, we show that the Tb of crocodiles has increased alongside rising air temperatures since 2008, reflecting the climatic shifts caused by the ENSO cycle. As ambient temperatures rose, crocodiles experienced more days close to critical thermal limits (32°C-33°C), at which temperatures the duration of dives was reduced and the prevalence of active cooling behavior was elevated. This study demonstrates that crocodiles are susceptible to multi-year fluctuations in ambient temperature, which requires them to undertake concomitant changes in behavior. They are already close to their physiological thermal limit, but the impact of future predicted rises in temperature remains unknown.

Abstract This paper investigates the forced convection of alumina-water nanofluids within helical tubes, maintaining a constant wall temperature and assuming thermal equilibrium between the nanoparticles and the base fluid. The nanofluid model incorporates the effects of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticle volume fraction, diameter, and temperature on thermophysical properties. The governing equations are solved using the Forward-Time Central-Space Finite Volume method in conjunction with the simple algorithm. Numerical results are validated against experimental data, demonstrating high accuracy. The study explores the effects of pitch size, curvature ratio, nanoparticle volume fraction, nanoparticle diameter, and Reynolds number on velocity contours, temperature profiles, secondary flow, thermophysical properties, friction coefficient, and heat transfer rate. Additionally, the figure of merit evaluates the impact of these parameters on the thermal performance of the system. The results indicate that an increase in Reynolds number and nanoparticle diameter negatively affects thermal performance, while higher nanoparticle volume fraction, curvature ratio, and pitch size enhance it. Furthermore, incorporating nanoparticles in straight tubes proves to be more advantageous compared to helical tubes. This study tested volumetric ratios of 1%, 2%, and 4%, which resulted in increases in heat transfer coefficients of 21%, 32%, and 43%, respectively, compared to pure water under similar conditions, such as Reynolds number and coil pitch.

Abstract This paper investigates the forced convection of alumina-water nanofluids within helical tubes, maintaining a constant wall temperature and assuming thermal equilibrium between the nanoparticles and the base fluid. The nanofluid model incorporates the effects of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticle volume fraction, diameter, and temperature on thermophysical properties. The governing equations are solved using the Forward-Time Central-Space Finite Volume method in conjunction with the simple algorithm. Numerical results are validated against experimental data, demonstrating high accuracy. The study explores the effects of pitch size, curvature ratio, nanoparticle volume fraction, nanoparticle diameter, and Reynolds number on velocity contours, temperature profiles, secondary flow, thermophysical properties, friction coefficient, and heat transfer rate. Additionally, the figure of merit evaluates the impact of these parameters on the thermal performance of the system. The results indicate that an increase in Reynolds number and nanoparticle diameter negatively affects thermal performance, while higher nanoparticle volume fraction, curvature ratio, and pitch size enhance it. Furthermore, incorporating nanoparticles in straight tubes proves to be more advantageous compared to helical tubes. This study tested volumetric ratios of 1%, 2%, and 4%, which resulted in increases in heat transfer coefficients of 21%, 32%, and 43%, respectively, compared to pure water under similar conditions, such as Reynolds number and coil pitch.

We developed an innovative high-temperature shock (HTS) technique to synthesize uniformly coated materials, resulting in enhanced surface structures, improved cycling stability, and pouch cells retaining over 70% capacity after 700 cycles.

We developed an innovative high-temperature shock (HTS) technique to synthesize uniformly coated materials, resulting in enhanced surface structures, improved cycling stability, and pouch cells retaining over 70% capacity after 700 cycles.

Over the past billion years, the fungal kingdom has diversified to more than two million species, with over 95% still undescribed. Beyond the well-known macroscopic mushrooms and microscopic yeast, fungi are heterotrophs that feed on almost any organic carbon, recycling nutrients through the decay of dead plants and animals and sequestering carbon into Earth's ecosystems. Human-directed applications of fungi extend from leavened bread, alcoholic beverages and biofuels to pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and psychoactive compounds. Conversely, fungal infections pose risks to ecosystems ranging from crops to wildlife to humans; these risks are driven, in part, by human and animal movement, and might be accelerating with climate change. Genomic surveys are expanding our knowledge of the true biodiversity of the fungal kingdom, and genome-editing tools make it possible to imagine harnessing these organisms to fuel the bioeconomy. Here, we examine the fungal threats facing civilization and investigate opportunities to use fungi to combat these threats.