Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a highly toxic, non-biodegradable, and carcinogenic heavy metal. Its continuous release into aquatic ecosystems demands efficient, low-cost adsorbents. In this study, orange peel and peanut shell residues were thermally modified at 250 °C to enhance Cr(VI) remediation. Structural characterization confirmed that low-temperature calcination transforms raw agroindustrial wastes into functional biochars with a chemical architecture primed for cooperative Cr(VI) removal. N₂ physisorption revealed a hierarchical mesoporous network with average pore diameters of 30.6 nm (calcined orange peel) and 15.4 nm (calcined peanut shell), despite low specific surface areas. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that removal kinetics reached equilibrium within 5 min for the modified biochars. Isotherm modeling showed that the adsorption process was best described by the Freundlich and Sips models. The calculated Sips heterogeneity factors (β_S > 1) provided evidence of a cooperative multi-layer adsorption mechanism, attributed to the induced mesoporosity: initial chemisorption at high-energy sites facilitates the continuous anchoring of additional Cr(VI) ions without premature saturation. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that low-temperature calcination is a viable strategy to transform agricultural waste into kinetically efficient, cooperative adsorbents for wastewater treatment.

This systematic review aims to describe the current state of research on soil remediation utilizing digestates inoculated with fungi, as a cost-effective alternative. This study was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and nine papers were finally selected for review. The application of digestates augments the soil microbial community in terms of bacterial strains, mycorrhizal colonization, and enzymes. Digestates inoculated with fungi have notable impacts on soil stabilization. Some authors reported an improvement of up to 100% in plant growth when using digestates. HM removal rates of 17% for Si, 40% for Cd, and up to 80% for Pb have been achieved. Antibiotics and PFCAs showed low or no accumulation. The biomass source used for anaerobic digestion has a very important impact on the resulting digestate’s quality and effect in soils: the use of cattle manure resulted in an increase in biomass yield from 9% up to 100% when compared to manure co-digested with organic wastes. The fungal strain, environmental conditions, and existing contaminants must be considered with respect to the specific practical application. These insights can contribute to the management of environmental risks and the prevention of negative impacts on human health, ecosystems, and the economy.

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar los avances logrados por Neuralink en la tecnología de interfaces cerebro-computadora durante los últimos cinco años, mediante una revisión sistemática realizada conforme a la metodología PRISMA 2020. Se identificó y evaluó la literatura científica publicada entre enero de 2020 y noviembre de 2025. Los resultados mostraron que los primeros ensayos en humanos permitieron el control de dispositivos digitales a través de la actividad cerebral voluntaria, lo que representa un avance significativo para las personas con limitaciones motoras o trastornos neurológicos. Sin embargo, se observaron complicaciones como el desplazamiento de los electrodos e incertidumbres respecto a la estabilidad del implante a largo plazo, junto con desafíos técnicos, clínicos y éticos persistentes relacionados con la manipulación directa de los datos cerebrales. La revisión concluyó que los progresos recientes de Neuralink constituyeron un paso importante hacia tecnologías capaces de restaurar funciones neurológicas y ampliar la interacción humano-máquina, al tiempo que destacó la necesidad de mejorar la seguridad, la durabilidad y la regulación ética antes de alcanzar una implementación clínica generalizada. Estos hallazgos indicaron que, aunque la tecnología permanece en una etapa temprana, su evolución tiene el potencial de transformar el manejo clínico de diversas afecciones neurológicas.

While mining provides critical raw materials for modern infrastructure and the energy transition, it leaves behind severe environmental damages, such as soil mercury (Hg) contamination. In the present study, we present the first study evaluating the relationship of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus arhizus with Trifolium repens (white clover) as a novel nature-based mycoremediation strategy for mercury-stressed soils. Through a controlled 2 × 2 factorial experiment over six months, we demonstrate that P. arhizus significantly enhances both plant biomass and heavy-metal tolerance. Inoculation achieved a 9.53% reduction in soil Hg and drove a dramatic 53% increase in stem growth under Hg stress (compared to 36% in non-contaminated conditions) once the extraradicular mycelial network was established. Furthermore, we report novel soil-chemistry dynamics under Hg stress, including a 16% shift in electrical conductivity alongside unexpected increases in the available potassium (+9%) and phosphorus (+3%). These findings present first results for a novel approach of mycoremediation by incorporating P. arhizus into T. repens co-cultivation as a viable remediation strategy, prior to field-scale remediation.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a growing global threat, facilitated by the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, compiles the risks associated with ARGs, as well as the factors that promote horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and the technologies applied for their removal. The literature shows that WWTPs act as reservoirs, where biological treatment conditions and the presence of sub-inhibitory contaminants (antibiotics, metals, and pharmaceuticals) accelerate HGT. Although conventional methods (chlorination, ozonation, UV) are effective at eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), their ability to degrade persistent genetic material is insufficient. Therefore, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) emerge as a key solution, with the photo-Fenton process standing out due to efficiently generating hydroxyl radicals, achieving the degradation of ARGs, an essential step to mitigate the spread of AMR into the environment.

The need to research cost-effective alternatives for soil remediation has become an important topic in the recent years. Pollutants like heavy metals or pharmaceuticals are constantly being accumulated in soils, becoming hazardous for the environment, espe-cially if they reach human or animal food-chain. On the other side, the accumulation of anaerobic digestate resulting from the biogas production process, could also represent a latent risk, due to its discharge as biofertilizers, whereas high quantities of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) contained are accumulated. Digestate inoculation by means of fungi represents a cost-effective alternative to treat both, contaminated soils and anaerobic digestate. Through the present systematic review, scientific researches per-formed during the past ten years were summarized. Focus of this research was to un-derstand the impacts of fungi and anaerobic digestate as soil amendment, for contam-inant removal and plant growth. Soil stabilization and remediation showed to have a higher impact than plant growth itself. The origin of the biomass used for anaerobic digestion is very important to determine digestate quality and effect in the soil, being cattle manure more suitable for remediation purposes. Fungal strain, pH, temperature, and existing contaminants must be considered before a successfully practical applica-tion takes place.