Quantum tunneling allows particles to pass through energy barriers instead of climbing over them, influencing how organic reactions actually proceed ⚛️🧪 This phenomenon helps explain reaction rates that seem impossible by classical chemistry alone.
In synthetic organic chemistry, tunneling is especially important in proton and hydrogen transfer reactions ✨ It affects kinetic isotope effects, reaction selectivity, and temperature-dependent behavior observed in many catalytic systems.
Understanding quantum tunneling enables chemists to design smarter catalysts and more efficient reaction pathways 🌱⚗️ It opens doors to faster, greener syntheses with improved control over molecular transformations.
Farm size plays a crucial role in how agricultural landscapes contribute to public goods like habitat conservation 🌾🌱. Using an agent-based model, researchers simulate farmers’ decisions to understand how land management choices shape biodiversity outcomes. These models capture real-world interactions between farms, policies, and ecological processes 🧠📊.
The findings suggest that larger and smaller farms respond differently to conservation incentives 🐝💡. Large farms may achieve conservation more efficiently through scale, while smaller farms can collectively deliver strong habitat benefits when supported by well-designed policies. This highlights the importance of tailored approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions 🌍🚜.
Ultimately, agent-based modeling offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to balance food production and environmental protection 🌿⚖️. By considering farm size diversity, governments can design smarter incentives that encourage sustainable practices and long-term public goods provision across agricultural landscapes 🌾🌍.
Annular thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) are emerging as powerful energy-harvesting devices 🔥⚡. To truly understand their behavior, a fully coupled thermal–fluid–electric–mechanics multiphysics numerical model integrates heat transfer, fluid flow, electrical conversion, and structural response into one unified framework.
This advanced model captures real operating conditions by simulating temperature gradients 🌡️, fluid dynamics 🌊, electrical output ⚙️, and mechanical stresses 🔧 simultaneously. Such coupling reveals complex interactions that single-physics models miss, leading to more accurate efficiency and durability predictions.
By enabling comprehensive performance evaluation, the model supports optimal design, material selection, and system reliability 🚀. It helps engineers maximize power generation, minimize thermal losses, and ensure long-term stability, making annular thermoelectric generators more practical for real-world applications 🌍.
Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature publish the new results in The State of Open Data 2025: A Decade of Progress and Challenges
London | New York | Berlin, 26 January 2026
The 10th anniversary edition of the State of Open Data report, published by Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature, shows that open data has become strongly embedded into research practice with FAIR[1] awareness now widely recognised, AI is reshaping research workflows, and support for openness remains high.
The report, now in its 10th year, is the longest running study into open research behaviour and attitudes. Combining survey data from more than 4,700 responses across 151 countries with global expert perspectives from researchers, librarians and policy leaders, it provides an unprecedented insight into the challenges and opportunities around open research, helping to outline progress and priorities for the next decade.
Key findings include:
Open research practices are widely supported: 88.1% endorse open access; 80.9% back open data; 75.7% favour open peer review. Researchers value openness and now need practical workflows to make it sustainable.
Progress has been made despite persistent barriers: Awareness of FAIR has nearly doubled from 2018, with familiarity with FAIR principles nearly tripling from 15.2% in 2018 to 40.6%. However, recognition for data sharing remains insufficient, 69.2% of researchers report they receive too little credit for sharing data. Rewarding data sharing in research assessment is key to sustaining progress.
Regional and disciplinary variationfor national mandates remains: Support for national mandates still varies widely and disciplinary disparities persist, showing that early consensus is adjusting as real-world experience builds. Australia (63.2% support for mandates in 2016 dropped to 27.4% in 2025) and Brazil (64.7% in 2016 and 39% in 2025) saw the steepest year-on-year decline, while India (59.8% in 2016 and 54.7% in 2025) remained stable. This points to the importance of pairing policy with the day-to-day support and infrastructure that make sharing practical and reusable.
Use of AI to support practice is increasing: Active use of AI for data processing rose from 22.1% in 2024 to 31.9% in 2025 and metadata creation jumped from 16.1% to 25.1%. AI and interoperability will be pivotal in making openness seamless, automated, and trusted, while ethics, research security and clear standards will shape future frameworks.
Mark Hahnel, VP of Open Research at Digital Science and Founder of Figshare, reflects on the decade of change:
“Ten years of data show that open research is no longer an aspiration—it’s embedded practice. But progress doesn’t stop here. Researchers need systems that reward openness and workflows that make sharing effortless. Reforming research assessment and aligning incentives will be key to sustaining progress.”
Graham Smith, Director Research Data Innovation at Springer Nature, adds: “Collaborations like this enable us to put researchers at the centre of what we do. Their insights are essential to ensuring that open science policies, infrastructures and tools are relevant, practical and effective in reducing researcher burden and improving data quality. Beyond this, we recognise that openness delivers the greatest value when combined with quality and clear evidence of benefits. That is why Springer Nature continues to with partners and initiatives across the industry – including theState of Open Data Report,PathOSandMake Data Count, among others – to help shape standards, develop practical solutions and drive measurable impact for the research community.”
Download the full report via thislinkand discover more findings from the report: stateofopendata.com
Join the conversation at #StateOfOpenData and register for our webinar on 11 February 2026here.
The State of Open Data 2025: A Decade of Progress and Challenges, published by Digital Science, Springer Nature and Figshare.
About Springer Nature
Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.
About Digital Science
Digital Science is an AI-focused technology company providing innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by researchers, universities, funders, industry and publishers. We work in partnership to advance global research for the benefit of society. Through our brands – Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, metaphacts, Overleaf, ReadCube, Symplectic, and Writefull – we believe when we solve problems together, we drive progress for all. Visit digital-science.com and follow Digital Science on Bluesky, on X or on LinkedIn.
Crop diversification over the long term 🌾🌱 plays a critical role in improving soil health within tropical agroecosystems. By rotating and intercropping crops, farmers enhance soil structure, boost organic matter, and support beneficial microbes 🦠, creating healthier and more productive soils.
Sustained yield benefits 📈🌽 emerge as diversified systems reduce pest pressure 🐛, improve nutrient efficiency, and lower dependency on chemical inputs. Over time, crops perform more consistently, helping farmers manage risks associated with pests, diseases, and market fluctuations.
Resilience in tropical agroecosystems 🌍💪 is strengthened through diversification, enabling farms to better withstand climate extremes such as droughts ☀️ and heavy rainfall 🌧️. Diverse cropping systems promote biodiversity 🐝 and long-term sustainability, supporting food security and ecosystem stability.
High nature value farmlands🌾🌿 play a vital role in sustaining biodiversity by combining traditional farming practices with rich natural habitats. These landscapes support diverse species while maintaining productive agriculture, making them essential for resilient agroecosystems.
Identifying crucial agroecosystems 🔍🌍 helps conservationists prioritize areas that benefit multiple taxa, including plants 🌱, insects 🐝, birds 🐦, and soil organisms. Mapping and monitoring these farmlands guide smarter land-use planning and conservation strategies.
Protecting and promoting high nature value farmlands 🤝♻️ balances food production with ecological health. Policies, farmer incentives, and community engagement ensure long-term conservation, supporting both livelihoods and multi-taxa biodiversity across agricultural landscapes.
🌾 Straw-retained agroecosystemsplay an important role in sustainable farming, but they also influence the spread of antibiotic resistance in soils. Seasonal changes affect how antibiotic resistance genes emerge, persist, and interact within complex soil microbial communities 🦠🌦️.
📊 Studying seasonal dynamics and risk assessmenthelps researchers understand when and where antibiotic resistomes pose the greatest ecological and health risks. By tracking variations across seasons, scientists can identify critical periods for intervention and improved residue management 🌱🔬.🌍 Assessing antibiotic resistome risks supports safer agricultural practices and environmental protection. These insights guide policy, promote responsible straw management, and help balance productivity with public health and ecosystem sustainability 🌾✨.
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