Sodium-ion batteries use more widely available materials and perform well in extremely cold conditions. Their lower energy density remains a problem, but they may become an important partner to lithium rather than a complete replacement.
Junjie Yang
Junjie Yang is an 12th-grade student at Diamond Bar High School in Southern California and a 2026 National YoungArts Award Winner in both Writing (Nonfiction) and Design. He is the founder and president of his school’s Invention Club, where he leads students in developing creative, hands-on solutions to everyday challenges. Junjie also serves as a Vice President (High School) on the student board of the STEM for Humanity Coalition, supporting student leadership efforts and helping connect mathematics and science to real-world applications and community impact. An AIME qualifier and author of research papers in chemistry and geochemistry, he is passionate about applying mathematics and engineering to analyze chemical structures and geochemical processes. Beyond STEM, Junjie enjoys writing, painting, and traveling. In 2024 he published My Travels in China, a personal travelogue that chronicles his journeys across China and reflects on how those experiences deepened his understanding of himself and the world.
Behind every AI answer is a growing environmental footprint
AI may feel almost weightless on a screen, but every answer depends on physical data centers that use electricity and water. As demand grows, the environmental cost of AI is becoming harder to ignore.
How Mexico City’s ancient lakebed shapes the World Cup around Estadio Azteca
Beneath the excitement of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico City’s ancient lakebed continues to shape daily life. Around Estadio Azteca, sinking ground and earthquake risks affect the roads, rail lines and infrastructure fans rely on.
Iron-rich weathered Earth and rock fragments
A soda can may look ordinary, but its story can begin in red earth. This piece traces how bauxite forms through weathering and why this hidden rock matters to the aluminum we use every day.
Opinion: AI video is lowering the barrier, not the stakes
AI video tools are making it easier for students and small creators to produce videos, but they also raise new questions about consent, copyright, deepfakes and trust. The real challenge is not just making videos faster, but making them honestly.
How 3D printing is changing the way we make teeth
Digital dentistry is turning crowns, aligners and dental models into products of scanning, software and materials science.
The hidden toll of E-waste in Africa – survival vs. health
Discarded electronics are piling up across West Africa, forcing families to choose between survival and toxic exposure. This article explores the hidden human cost behind the world’s fastest-growing waste stream.
Opinion: The Hidden Link Between Drinking and Cancer
Alcohol significantly increases the risk of multiple cancers through DNA damage, inflammation, and hormonal changes. Despite this, many people remain unaware of the danger. We need clearer warning labels and stronger public education to help individuals make safer choices.
Column: Biodegradable, done right: Make sustainable product choices
Microplastics can start in the kitchen. Swap short-life wipes, liners and everyday packaging for biodegradable options and match them to real home or industrial compost routes.
The semiconductor race: Why America relies on Taiwan and China wants to catch up
As global tensions rise over semiconductor supply chains, this article explores why the U.S. relies on Taiwan, China’s attempts to catch up, and the technological gaps that still exist.