Report The Panel agreed on the outline of the 2027 IPCC Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Additional guidance) at its 63rd Session held in Lima, Peru from 27-30 October 2025 (Decision IPCC-LXIII-6). The report will be a single Methodology Report comprising an Overview Chapter and six volumes consistent with the format of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The structure of the Methodology Report is consistent with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines so as to make it easier for inventory compilers to use this Methodology Report with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. Topics that will be addressed include: Transport, injection and sequestering of CO2 in relation to enhanced oil, gas, and coal-bed methane recovery Production of products containing or derived from captured and/or removed CO2 Carbonation of cement and lime-based structures Soil carbon sinks and related emissions enhanced through biochar and weathering and other elements Coastal wetlands carbon dioxide removal types not in previous IPCC Guidelines as well as additional information on mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass in coastal waters Durable biomass products Carbon dioxide capture from combustion and process gases Direct air capture Carbon dioxide utilisation Carbon dioxide transport including cross border issues Carbon dioxide injection and storage CO2 removal through direct capture of CO2 from water already processed by inland and coastal facilities; and related elements across the range of categories of the IPCC Guidelines. The national greenhouse gas inventory includes sources and sinks occurring within the territory over which a country has jurisdiction. Over 150 experts are expected to participate in the writing process, which will be completed by 2027. The participants will be selected by the Task Force Bureau taking into account scientific and technical expertise, geographical and gender balance to the extent possible in line with Appendix A to the Principles Governing IPCC Work. The First Lead Authors’ meeting will be held in Rome, Italy, in April 2026. Preparatory Work The decision by the Panel to prepare this Methodology Report was informed by the work of experts at the scoping meeting held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 14-16 October 2024. Prior to the scoping meeting, an expert meeting was held at Vienna, Austria 1-3 July 2024. These meetings considered Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) methods mentioned in the AR6 WGIII Report as a starting point for discussion and noted that several CDR activities have been already covered by the existing IPCC Guidelines. More Information The IPCC Secretary has written to national government focal points inviting nominations of authors by 12 December 2025.

Fast Facts Medicaid programs that cover prescription drugs are generally required to cover drugs that are (1) FDA approved and (2) made by a manufacturer that participates in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. 13 Medicaid programs didn’t cover Mifeprex and its generic equivalent, Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, when required. These drugs are used for medical abortion. We recommended the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ensure Medicaid programs comply with federal requirements for covering Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg. We also reiterated our 2019 recommendation on Mifeprex, which hasn’t been implemented. White pills spilling from a pill bottle. Skip to Highlights Highlights What GAO Found Medicaid programs that choose to cover outpatient prescription drugs are required to cover all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs for their medically accepted indications when those drugs are made by a manufacturer that participates in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP), except as outlined in federal law. The FDA has approved two drugs—Mifeprex in 2000 and its generic equivalent in 2019, referred to as Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg—for the medical termination of an intrauterine pregnancy, known as a medical abortion. Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro are the exclusive manufacturers of Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, respectively, and both manufacturers participate in the MDRP. Medicaid programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico cover prescription drugs and participate in the MDRP. According to officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—the federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responsible for ensuring Medicaid programs’ compliance—none of the MDRP’s statutory exceptions apply to Mifeprex or Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg. Thus, these 52 Medicaid programs must cover these drugs when prescribed for medical abortion in circumstances eligible for federal funding, such as when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. GAO identified gaps in Medicaid programs’ coverage of Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg. Officials from 35 of the 49 programs who responded to GAO questions said their programs covered Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg for medical abortion, as of December 31, 2024. In contrast, officials from 13 programs told GAO their programs did not cover either drug for medical abortion. An official from the remaining program did not specify the medical indications for which its program covered the drugs. Medicaid Programs’ Coverage of Danco Laboratories’ Mifeprex and GenBioPro’s Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, as of December 31, 2024 Note: For more details, see fig. 1 in GAO-25-107911. State officials’ responses to GAO’s questions indicated that some states may not be complying with the MDRP requirements for covering Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg. However, CMS has not determined the extent to which states comply with the MDRP requirements for these drugs. CMS officials told GAO they were not aware of the following: Nine programs did not cover Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg for any medical indication, as of December 31, 2024; GAO reported four of these programs did not cover Mifeprex in 2019. Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg was not available at the time of GAO’s 2019 report. Four additional Medicaid programs did not cover either drug when prescribed for medical abortion, as of December 31, 2024. CMS was not aware of these coverage gaps, in part, because it had not implemented GAO’s 2019 recommendation to take actions to ensure Medicaid programs comply with MDRP requirements to cover Mifeprex. CMS also has not taken actions related to the coverage of Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, as of August 2025. Without such actions, CMS lacks assurance that Medicaid programs comply with MDRP requirements and Medicaid beneficiaries may lack access to these drugs when appropriate. Why GAO Did This Study GAO was asked to describe Medicaid programs’ coverage of mifepristone. This report examines Medicaid programs’ coverage of Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, among other things. GAO reviewed laws and CMS guidance on the MDRP, and coverage of Mifeprex and Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg. GAO also sent written questions to officials from the 52 Medicaid programs that participate in the MDRP regarding their coverage of these drugs, and reviewed officials’ responses from the 49 programs that provided GAO information. Recommendations GAO reiterates its 2019 recommendation that CMS take actions to ensure states’ compliance with MDRP requirements to cover Mifeprex. GAO also recommends that CMS determine the extent to which states comply with federal Medicaid requirements regarding coverage of GenBioPro’s Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, and take actions, as appropriate, to ensure compliance. In response to the recommendation, HHS noted it is reviewing applicable law and will determine the best course of action to address it moving forward. Recommendations for Executive Action Agency Affected Recommendation Status Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The Administrator of CMS should determine the extent to which states comply with federal Medicaid requirements regarding coverage of GenBioPro's Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, and take actions, as appropriate, to ensure compliance. (Recommendation 1) Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. Full Report Full Report (11 pages)

05.12.2025 – The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, established under the European Climate Law, will continue to be supported in its second term (2026-2030) by Ottmar Edenhofer. The Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) has now been appointed by the Management Board of the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen for another four-year term on the Advisory Board, beginning on 24 March 2026. Advising EU policymakers on the path to the declared goal of climate neutrality: PIK Director Ottmar Edenhofer. Photo: PIK/Karkow The Advisory Board gives independent advice and produces reports on EU policies, and their coherence with the Climate Law and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. It consists of 15 high-level scientific experts covering a wide range of relevant fields. Edenhofer is serving as the Advisory Board’s current Chair during its first term (2022-2026). Highlights during this period have included scientific recommendations for an ambitious EU climate target for 2040, an analysis of the action needed to achieve climate neutrality, and a study on scaling up atmospheric carbon removals. “I am very thankful for the great opportunity to continue supporting EU climate policy in this service role for the next four years,” says Edenhofer, who is also Professor for The Economics and Politics of Climate Change at the Technische Universität Berlin. “The European Union has taken some important steps in recent years towards its declared goal of climate neutrality by 2050. It remains important to make climate policy cost-effective, socially balanced and consistent with the requirements of an internationally competitive economy. As a member of the Advisory Board, I will do my best to provide scientific advice to policymakers on this task.” The composition of the Advisory Board for the next four-year term has now been decided through an open, fair and transparent selection process lasting several months. The decision on who will chair the body in future is not expected until beginning of the second term. The other members of the Advisory Board in the second term are: • Annela Anger-Kraavi – University of Cambridge • Constantinos Cartalis – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens • Suraje Dessai – University of Leeds’ School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability • Laura Díaz Anadón – University of Cambridge • Vera Eory – Scotland’s Rural College • Lena Kitzing - Technical University of Denmark • Kati Kulovesi – University of Eastern Finland • Lars J. Nilsson – Lund University • Åsa Persson – KTH Royal Institute of Technology’s Climate Action Centre • Keywan Riahi – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis • Jean-François Soussana – French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment • Giorgio Vacchiano – University of Milan • Detlef van Vuuren – PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency • Zinta Zommers – University of Toronto

Abstract The bacterial accessory genome, comprised of plasmids, phages, and other mobile elements, underpins the adaptability of bacterial populations. Pangenome (core and accessory) analysis of pathogens can reveal epidemiological relatedness missed by using core-genome methods alone. Employing a k-mer-based Jaccard Index approach to compute pangenome relatedness, we explore the population structure and epidemiology of Salmonella enterica serotype Hadar (Hadar), an emerging zoonotic pathogen in the United States (U.S.) linked to both commercial and backyard poultry. A total of 3384 U.S. Hadar genomes collected between 1990 and 2023 are analyzed here. Hadar populations underwent substantial shifts between 2019 and 2020 in the U.S., driven by the expansion of a lineage carrying a previously uncommon prophage-like element. Phylogenetic and pangenomic relatedness, coupled with epidemiological data, suggest this lineage emerged from extant populations circulating in commercial poultry, with subsequent dissemination into backyard poultry environments. We demonstrate the utility of pangenomic approaches for mapping vertical and horizontal diversity and informing complex dynamics of zoonotic bacterial pathogens.

Abstract Cas9 can process poly(T) single-stranded DNA molecules upon activation in an RNA-guided manner. Here, we uncover key determinants underlying this function. First, we show that unflanked R-loops in the RNA 5′ side favor trans-cleavage activity, which occur when targeting short double-stranded DNA molecules. Second, we show that elongated guide RNA spacers beyond the canonical 20 bases, even by a few bases, severely impair this collateral activity. Third, although trans-cleavage is mediated by the RuvC domain, we show that a catalytically active HNH domain contributes to an efficient process. Analysis of structural models provides tentative mechanistic insights. Together, these findings illustrate that fine modulation of Cas9 function can be achieved.

Abstract Conceptual engineering system design faces challenges from traditional methods and emerging AI tools to fully address its inherently complex, dynamic, and creativity-driven demands. iDesignGPT is a framework that integrates large language models with established design methodologies to enable dynamic multi-agent collaboration for problem refinement, information gathering, design space exploration, and evaluation. By incorporating design metrics such as coverage, diversity, and novelty, iDesignGPT provides quantitative insights for early-stage conceptual design. Performance evaluations across six public design challenges show that iDesignGPT achieves competitive novelty and consistently higher originality and modularity than GPT-4o zero-shot, GPT-4o chain-of-thought and Deepseek-r1, based on metrics and expert assessments. Two controlled user studies show positive reception across profiles and, for novice designers, lower mental demand than human-only design and clearer design flow with iDesignGPT. These results establish iDesignGPT as a practical framework for integrating language-model agents with established engineering design methods, enabling metrics-driven support for conceptual design by both expert and novice designers.

From ice sheets to gum trees: Nine projects receive 2026 Thomas Davies Research Grant backing January 23, 2026 Top, left to right: Dr Valeriya Komyakova, Dr Timothy Ghaly, Dr Huan Liu, Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang, Dr Elena Eremeeva. Bottom, left to right: Dr Ben Clifton, Dr Sally Lau, Dr Ashley Jones, Dr Ilaine Silveira Matos. Nine early-and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) have received the 2026 Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology. This annual grant provides up to $20,000 to EMCRs in the fields of marine, soil, and plant biology. Awardees and their projects Dr Ashley Jones, Australian National University Helping to restore Eucalyptus forests under climate change Climate change is accelerating widespread Eucalyptus dieback, threatening forests and wildlife habitat across Australia. Dr Ashley Jones will use genomic sequencing to identify which Eucalyptus seeds hold the key to survival and can adapt to future climates. “We can use genomics to guide climate-resilient forest restoration across Australia,” Dr Jones said. “Through collaboration with industry and Landcare partners, this research will contribute to preserving Australia's iconic forests and their dependent wildlife for future generations.” Dr Ben Clifton, University of Western Australia Uncovering algae-bacteria interactions in the ocean Dr Ben Clifton is contributing to our understanding of ocean health and productivity by investigating the relationship between tiny, single-celled plants, known as marine microalgae, and bacteria in the water. Dr Clifton said he aims to develop new methods to decode the chemical signals between bacteria and microalgae in marine ecosystems and predict algal blooms. “I hope to discover new naturally occurring chemicals that can be used to promote growth of beneficial algae and prevent growth of harmful algae,” he said. Dr Elena Eremeeva, Queensland University of Technology Managing “forever chemical” pollution Dr Elena Eremeeva is tackling pollution from PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, which break down extremely slowly in nature, persisting in the environment and human bodies for decades. Dr Eremeeva said this grant provides an opportunity to translate laboratory discoveries into real-world environmental applications. “This is a step toward the development of deployable sensors with commercial potential for rapid environmental monitoring and clean-up of persistent PFAS pollutants,” she said. Dr Huan Liu, University of Technology Sydney Microplastics in plants While biosolids are used to improve soil fertility, approximately 80% applied in Australian agriculture are contaminated with high concentrations of harmful microplastics. Dr Huan Liu’s research addresses the health concern posed by microplastics entering the food chain through agriculture. “The environmental impacts of microplastics in plants is a topic of increasing global concern,” Dr Liu said. Her project will investigate how microplastics enter and accumulate in crop plants and subsequently impact plant growth and health. Dr Ilaine Silveira Matos, Adelaide University How prepared are Australian endangered plants for drought, heat and fire extremes? Plant physiologist Dr Ilaine Silveira Matos studies how Australian native plants – especially endangered species – cope with the escalating challenges of climate change. Her focus is on the toll heat, drought, and fire take on endangered Australian plants. Dr Silveira Matos said she will develop a framework of plant tolerance to predict how plants will respond to the changing climate. “We want to address this critical knowledge gap to guide conservation in the context of climate change,” she said. Dr Sally Lau, James Cook University Harnessing octopus genomes to understand Antarctic ice melt Evolutionary biologist Dr Sally Lau will analyse the DNA of Antarctic octopuses to reconstruct how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) has changed over one million years. Understanding how the EAIS responded to past climate changes is crucial for predicting future sea level rise. “This will help us gain a better understanding of the ice sheet’s stability in the past, which is critical for informing future global sea level rise projections,” Dr Lau said. Dr Timothy Ghaly, Macquarie University Boosting crop microbiomes for sustainable agriculture Dr Timothy Ghaly uses machine learning to understand how beneficial microorganisms make crops healthier as an alternative to relying on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Microbes living on and in plants – known as their microbiome – offer benefits including enhanced nutrient uptake and pathogen suppression. Mixtures of beneficial microbes, known as synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), have the potential to boost crop resilience but they often fail to endure within the resident plant microbiome. Dr Ghaly is developing a framework for designing SynComs that can integrate into the plant microbiome. “This would offer a chemical-free strategy for sustainable agriculture and improved crop productivity,” he said. Dr Valeriya Komyakova, University of Western Australia Microhabitat complexity and juvenile reef fish Dr Valeriya Komyakova’s project aims to improve the success of coastal marine restoration projects by providing insights into the small spaces needed to support the survival of young and small fish. As a marine ecologist, Dr Komyakova said this award gives her the opportunity to return to her primary field of research and follow her passion. “This work seeks to understand our marine environments and contribute knowledge that can help strengthen conservation and restoration efforts,” she said. Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang, Australian National University New-to-nature crop disease resistance genes Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang is using artificial protein evolution techniques to improve plant defence mechanisms against fungal infections. Dr Zhang said managing fungal pathogens is a major challenge for the agriculture sector. “Fungal pathogens cause some of the most harmful crop diseases and significant yield loss in Australia and worldwide.” Dr Zhang will engineer immunity genes to enhance a plant’s ability to recognise and mount an effective response against fungal attacks. More information This grant is funded through a generous bequest from the estate of the late Thomas Lewis Davies to the Australian Academy of Science. Applications for the Academy’s 2027 awards and funding opportunities  will open in mid-February 2026. Read about the 2025 Thomas Davies Research Grant awardees

The Australian Government has announced feasibility licences for Western Australia (WA) and the opening of Research and Demonstration applications. It means the delivery of reliable, clean energy for our communities and industries is a step closer. The government is offering feasibility licences for 3 proposed offshore wind projects in the Bunbury offshore renewable energy zone, WA: one licence to Westward Wind Pty Ltd for the Westward Wind Project two licences to Bunbury Offshore Wind Pty Ltd for two Bunbury Offshore Wind Projects; one in the north of the zone and another in the south of the zone. The projects combined could: generate 4 GW (gigawatts) of renewable energy into the WA electricity grid for homes and industry provide thousands of jobs. It means licence holders can now start the assessment work to determine the feasibility of their proposed offshore wind projects. Applications open for research and demonstration licences Developers can now apply for offshore research and demonstration (R&D) licences. An R&D licence allows new offshore renewable energy technologies to be tested in Australian waters. To make an application, contact the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar(external link). Read more Joint media release: Next steps in securing Australia’s offshore wind industry to power regional jobs(external link) Offshore wind in Australia Offshore Infrastructure Registrar(external link)