“The fifth round of straw polls has taken place,” said Aglaia Balta, the UN ambassador of Greece, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of October.
Each candidate will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of nominating member states. The president of the UN General Assembly will also be informed that the straw poll has been conducted, she told reporters after the conclusion of the secret vote.
Security Council straw polls on secretary-general candidates are informal closed-door ballots used to determine the viability of the candidates. Their results are not officially released.
Seven candidates remain in the race for the next UN secretary-general: Ivonne A-Baki, a former Ecuadorian minister and diplomat; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former UN General Assembly president and former foreign minister and defense minister of Ecuador; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica and current secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; Olara Otunnu of Uganda, a former UN under-secretary-general; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the United Nations; and Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal.
Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ term of office expires at the end of this year. The next secretary-general will assume office on Jan. 1, 2027.
Security Council straw polls on secretary-general candidates are informal closed-door ballots used to determine the viability of the candidates.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts undocked from the ISS at 8:05 a.m. Eastern Time (1205 GMT) to begin the journey home.
The spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the California coast at approximately 11:34 a.m. Thursday, marking the end of the Crew-12 mission’s months-long stay in space, according to NASA.
The four-member crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 13.
(Left to right) Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot. /CMG
Rwanda used the occasion to showcase its coffee sector and highlight its vision of building a more sustainable, inclusive and value-driven industry, with farmers and rural communities at the heart of the transformation.
The event held recently brought together the Permanent Missions of Indonesia and Türkiye, the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda, among other partners.
For Rwanda, coffee represents much more than an agricultural commodity. It is closely linked to the livelihoods, resilience and aspirations of rural communities across the country.
Rwanda’s coffee sector has undergone significant transformation, with increasing emphasis on quality, origin and value creation rather than simply export volumes.
The country has invested in improved farming practices, processing, traceability and access to international markets, with the aim of ensuring that Rwandan coffee is recognised not only for its origin, but also for its distinctive quality and the story behind it.
Putting farmers at the centre
A key message from Rwanda was the importance of ensuring that farmers benefit more from the value generated throughout the coffee value chain.
Every cup of coffee reflects the work of farming families involved in cultivating, harvesting and processing the crop. Their contribution remains fundamental to the development of the sector.
Rwanda therefore continues to emphasise the need for greater value to reach the producers whose work makes the entire coffee industry possible.
The event also highlighted the importance of inclusion across the coffee value chain.
Women and young people play important roles as farmers, entrepreneurs, processors and innovators.
Their meaningful participation is essential to developing a coffee sector that is competitive while also being equitable and sustainable.
Strengthening international cooperation
The discussions further highlighted the importance of cooperation among producing countries, consumer markets, businesses, international organisations and consumers.
Such cooperation can contribute to strengthening sustainability, improving traceability, expanding market access and supporting decent livelihoods for coffee-producing communities.
The International Coffee Day celebration therefore served not only as an opportunity to celebrate coffee, but also as a platform to reflect on the people and communities behind the product and on the partnerships needed to strengthen the sector.
Rwanda showcases its coffee in Geneva
As part of the event, participants were invited to visit the Rwandan coffee table, where they had the opportunity to taste Rwandan coffee and discover its distinctive quality and character.
The showcase provided an opportunity for Rwanda to promote its coffee, share its experience with international partners and engage with stakeholders from across the global coffee value chain.
For Rwanda, the event offered another platform to position its coffee as a product of quality and origin, while drawing attention to the farmers, families and communities whose work remains at the foundation of the sector.
The celebration ultimately placed coffee at the centre of a broader conversation about quality, sustainability, inclusion, value creation and the future of the communities that produce it.
Rwanda has used the International Coffee Day celebration to promote greater value for farmers across the coffee value chain.The Geneva event has brought together stakeholders from coffee-producing and consuming countries to discuss the future of the sector.Rwanda has used the Geneva celebration to highlight the role of farmers and rural communities in its coffee sector.Rwanda has showcased its coffee sector and the communities behind it at an International Coffee Day celebration in Geneva.Participants have tasted Rwandan coffee and learned more about its quality, origin and journey from farm to market.
Akagera National Park has become Rwanda’s only Big Five destination, offering visitors the chance to see lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards in a landscape of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes.
Its transformation has also created more activities, accommodation and reasons for travellers to spend longer exploring Rwanda.
The return of lions is one of the clearest signs of the change. After being locally extinct in Akagera, seven lions were reintroduced in 2015, followed by two males in 2017 to strengthen genetic diversity.
The population has since reproduced successfully and reached around 70 lions by 2026. Conservation managers are now using fertility-control measures to manage the growing population while maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Rhinos tell a similar story. Eighteen eastern black rhinos were reintroduced in 2017 after a decade-long absence, followed by five more in 2019.
In 2021, 30 southern white rhinos were introduced, and another 70 arrived from South Africa in June 2025.
African Parks says the 2021 group had grown to 41 animals before the latest translocation.
Elephants have also multiplied from a small founding population. Akagera’s latest survey put the number at at least 115, all descendants of 26 elephants relocated to the park in 1975.
The park also has at least 3,300 buffaloes and an estimated 60 leopards.
The attraction, however, is not simply the Big Five. Akagera contains a mosaic of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes that supports almost 500 recorded bird species, making it an important destination for birdwatchers as well as conventional safari visitors. The park has also recorded 179 butterfly species.
That biodiversity is being turned into a broader visitor experience. Travellers can go on game drives, boat trips, guided walks and birdwatching excursions, while guided rhino walks provide a closer experience with one of the park’s conservation success stories.
Accommodation options include Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp and Magashi, allowing visitors to stay within or close to the park and experience the landscape over several days rather than making a short safari visit.
The tourism infrastructure has developed alongside the wildlife recovery. Karenge has been renovated, while the Magashi Peninsula has expanded the park’s accommodation offering.
These investments matter because they turn wildlife recovery into a complete tourism product: visitors need somewhere to sleep, activities to choose from and reasons to remain in the destination.
The economic results are increasingly visible. In 2024, tourism generated 97% of Akagera’s total revenue, with the park earning more than US$4.7 million in total revenue and welcoming 56,219 visitors.
In 2025, paying visitors increased by 7%, while commercial activities; including tourism, hospitality, leisure and fisheries, generated more than US$5 million, a 4% increase from the previous year.
That year was also the first in which Akagera no longer required operational funding from RDB, covering its operating costs through self-generated revenue.
The benefits extend beyond the park. Akagera employs more than 300 full-time staff, the vast majority from surrounding communities, while 10% of its income contributes to Rwanda’s Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme.
Nationally, more than Rwf23 billion has been reinvested through the programme in nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health facilities, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives.
In 2025, elephant identification projects documented 92 individuals, representing about 75 percent of Akagera National Park’s estimated 142 elephants.
Akagera’s growth is part of a wider expansion of Rwanda’s nature-based tourism offer. Volcanoes National Park continues to draw visitors for mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking, while Nyungwe offers chimpanzee tracking, forest trails and its canopy walkway and has UNESCO World Heritage status. Gishwati-Mukura adds another protected forest ecosystem.
For travellers, this diversity has made it possible to combine very different experiences. Tour operators can package gorilla trekking with safari, forest exploration, cultural encounters, hiking and other outdoor activities, giving visitors reasons to stay longer and explore beyond a single attraction.
Rwanda generated a record US$685 million in tourism revenue in 2025 from 1.49 million visitor arrivals, while its national parks recorded 155,394 visits and US$40.8 million in revenue.
Rwanda has set a target of reaching US$1.1 billion in annual tourism revenue by 2029.
Akagera National Park has become Rwanda’s only Big Five destination, offering visitors the chance to see lions.Akagera National Park is home to diverse species including giraffes. Leopards are also found in Akagera National Park. Akagera is home to a large number of bird species. In 2025, elephant identification projects documented 92 individuals, representing about 75 percent of Akagera National Park’s estimated 142 elephants. A hippopotamus has large, powerful teeth. It is among species found in Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park received nearly 60,000 visitors in 2025.
The meeting was held at Urugwiro Village in Kigali, according to a statement from the Office of the President.
The delegation included former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Togolese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yackoley Kokou Johnson.
“Their discussions focused on the AU-led peace process and next steps towards achieving lasting peace and stability in eastern DRC, including addressing the root causes of the conflict,” the statement said.
The meeting was held at Urugwiro Village in Kigali.
The meeting came a day after Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe held talks with Kenyatta in Kigali on the work of the Panel of Facilitators and efforts to advance the peace process.
The AU delegation had earlier held consultations in Goma on October 5 as part of its efforts to support the AU-led mediation process. The delegation, led by Sahle-Work, met representatives of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM) and the AFC/M23.
The consultations covered the peace process as well as the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC. The Panel called for continued political dialogue and engagement in good faith under the Doha process between the Congolese government and AFC/M23.
It also urged the parties to respect ceasefire commitments, cooperate with verification mechanisms and avoid actions that could undermine the peace process. The Panel further called for the protection of civilians and humanitarian access.
The AU has continued to push for greater coordination among the various peace initiatives in eastern DRC. In February 2026, the AU Assembly endorsed the work of the five-member Panel of Facilitators and called for intensified diplomatic engagement to sustain ongoing peace processes and support de-escalation of the conflict.
The broader peace efforts include the Doha process between the DRC government and AFC/M23, alongside the Rwanda-DRC peace framework negotiated in Washington. Under the Washington framework, the DRC is expected to neutralise the FDLR in line with the agreed operational plan. Rwanda maintains that the militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi remains a security threat. In return, Rwanda is expected to lift its defensive measures.
The AU has said lasting peace in eastern DRC depends on political and diplomatic engagement, implementation of peace agreements and protection of civilians.
The delegation included former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Togolese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yackoley Kokou Johnson.
The IOC confirmed South Africa’s participation in the process, alongside Hungary, India, Qatar and Türkiye, which have never hosted the Summer Olympics, as well as Germany and South Korea, which have hosted the Games before.
If successful, South Africa would become the first African country to host the Summer Olympics.
The seven countries are in an “ongoing dialogue” with the IOC and have until October 31 to formally confirm their interest and submit the required documents.
They are expected to present their proposals virtually to the IOC’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Games in November.
The IOC will assess the bids through March 2027 before the National Olympic Committees involved enter a more detailed dialogue with the organisation.
South Africa proposes three-city Games
South Africa’s proposal is centred on three major cities: Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
The bid will draw on the country’s existing sports infrastructure and experience hosting major international events.
Durban was selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games but withdrew in 2017.
South Africa also hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to be held in Africa.
The country is expected to use that experience to demonstrate its capacity to accommodate the thousands of athletes, fans, journalists and officials who would attend the Olympics.
India and Qatar seek first Olympics
India’s bid is being led by Ahmedabad, which is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has also expressed interest in hosting the 2038 Asian Games.
Ahmedabad has hosted four of the last five Indian Premier League cricket finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which has a capacity of about 132,000 spectators.
Budapest and Doha are the leading cities in the bids from Hungary and Qatar respectively.
Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Doha serving as the main hub for the tournament. Budapest hosted the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Türkiye’s bid is centred on Istanbul, which previously sought to host the 2000, 2008 and 2020 Olympics but was unsuccessful.
Istanbul is also due to host the 2027 European Games.
Germany and South Korea have Olympic experience
Germany has hosted the Olympics twice, in Berlin in 1936 and Munich in 1972.
Munich is seeking to host the Games again in 2036, 64 years after it last staged the Olympics.
South Korea is also seeking a return to the Olympic calendar. Seoul, which hosted the 1988 Olympics, is part of a joint bid with North Jeolla Province.
The IOC said other National Olympic Committees are also in discussions about hosting Olympic Games after 2036, although such discussions do not automatically lead to a formal bid.
In May, the British government said it was in discussions on how it could support potential bids to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2040s.
Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics, followed by Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.
The IOC confirmed South Africa’s participation in the process, alongside Hungary, India, Qatar and Türkiye, which have never hosted the Summer Olympics, as well as Germany and South Korea, which have hosted the Games before.
The approach could one day lead to treatments that target harmful bacteria while preserving the beneficial microorganisms that are important for maintaining a healthy mouth, according to research highlighted by ScienceDaily.
The human mouth contains roughly 700 species of bacteria. Although some are associated with disease, many others are part of a healthy oral microbiome.
Researchers say that eliminating bacteria indiscriminately can therefore have unwanted effects.
Instead, the scientists investigated whether changing the way bacteria communicate could influence which microorganisms become dominant in dental plaque.
Bacteria can communicate through a process known as quorum sensing, in which they release chemical signals that help them detect nearby bacteria and coordinate their behaviour.
Some bacteria in the mouth use molecules called N-acyl homoserine lactones, or AHLs, for this communication.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota examined how these signals influence the development of dental plaque and whether disrupting them could shift the bacterial community toward one associated with better oral health.
They found that AHL signals produced by bacteria in oxygen-rich areas above the gumline could also affect bacteria living in oxygen-poor environments below the gumline.
The team then used enzymes called lactonases to break down the AHL signals and interfere with bacterial communication.
When the researchers blocked the signals under certain oxygen-rich conditions, the microbial community shifted toward bacteria associated with better oral health.
In contrast, adding AHL signals under oxygen-poor conditions encouraged the growth of later-colonizing bacteria linked to periodontal disease.
Mikael Elias, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and senior author of the research, compared the development of dental plaque to the growth of a forest ecosystem.
Early bacterial communities include species such as Streptococcus and Actinomyces, which are generally associated with good oral health.
As the plaque community becomes more complex, it can include bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is strongly associated with periodontal disease.
The researchers say the findings suggest that bacterial communication could potentially be manipulated to keep dental plaque in a healthier state instead of attempting to eliminate the entire microbial community.
However, the approach is still at the research stage. Scientists say more work is needed to understand how these communication systems vary throughout the mouth and among people with different stages of periodontal disease.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and was published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes.
Researchers are exploring how disrupting bacterial communication could help maintain a healthier balance of microorganisms in dental plaque.
In Kigali, the options go far beyond the usual landmarks. A good day out can take you from the buzz of a local market to the quiet of a nature reserve, from an afternoon of adventure to a walk through a restored wetland, and finally to a table filled with food.
If you want your visiting friend to experience different sides of Kigali, not just see it, these five stops make a good place to begin.
Kimironko Market
Start with Kimironko Market, where Kigali’s everyday rhythm is on full display. The market is filled with fabrics, clothing, fresh produce and other local products, but its real appeal is the experience of moving through a busy space where traders and shoppers interact throughout the day. It is Kigali at its most ordinary, and that is exactly what a visitor needs to see and experience the authentic Rwandan culture.
Kimironko Market with a variety of cultural products on display. The market is often packed with fresh vegetables.
Umusambi Village
Then swap the bustle for birdsong at Umusambi Village, near Kabuga on the eastern outskirts of Kigali. The nature reserve offers a quieter experience, with walking trails, birdlife and a focus on conservation.
It is a chance to step away from the city’s urban side and spend time surrounded by nature without leaving Kigali. It’s a place where peace and quietness find each other. This is where you relax after having a long day or just want to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The nature reserve offers a quieter experience, with walking trails, birdlife and a focus on conservation.
Fazenda Sengha
For a friend who wants more than sightseeing, Fazenda Sengha brings adventure into the Kigali itinerary. Set on Mount Kigali, it offers outdoor activities such as horse riding, giving visitors a chance to get active while enjoying the open air and surrounding scenery.
Horse riding is common at this popular destination.
The relaxed setting makes it a good spot to spend an afternoon away from the city’s busy streets. Whether your friend is trying horse riding for the first time or simply looking for something different to do, Fazenda Sengha offers an experience that combines fun, adventure and time outdoors.
Rather than simply taking photos and moving on, it gives friends something to experience together and perhaps a new memory to take home.
Nyandungu Eco-Park
When it is time to slow down again, Nyandungu Eco-Park offers a chance to slow down. The restored wetland is a peaceful green space where visitors can walk, relax and enjoy the natural surroundings without having to leave Kigali.
With its walking paths, greenery and open spaces, it is a good place for a relaxed afternoon with a friend, whether you want to take a stroll, have a conversation or simply enjoy some quiet time away from the city’s busy pace.
For a visitor, Nyandungu also offers a glimpse of Kigali’s commitment to preserving nature while creating spaces where people can enjoy the outdoors.
Biryogo
And, naturally, no day of showing someone around Kigali should end without food. Biryogo in Nyamirambo brings the social side of the city into focus, giving you somewhere to eat, talk and unwind after a day of exploring.
Some of the popular delicacies at this food joint include brochettes (perfectly grilled skewered goat or beef), pilau served with tender meats, and the neighborhood’s famous “special tea”—a comforting, heavily spiced ginger brew served in large teapots.
Pilau is a popular delicacy in Biryogo.
Visitors can also feast on huge, shared platters of grilled tilapia, soft layers of chapati, and even Middle Eastern street food like savoury shawarma, all while soaking in the high-energy, community atmosphere of Nyamirambo.
Biryogo Food Street brings the social side of the city into focus, giving you somewhere to eat, talk and unwind after a day of exploring.
Sometimes, the meal you share at the end of the day becomes the part your friend remembers most.
That is the beauty of experiencing Kigali this way; each stop tells a different story. One puts you in the middle of everyday life, another brings you closer to nature, one gets your adrenaline going, another gives you room to slow down, and the last lets you experience the city through food. You don’t have to show your friend all of Kigali. Just show them five sides of it.
Murangwa made the remarks on Tuesday, October 6, during a briefing with journalists following Rwanda’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the first review of its Extended Credit Facility programme.
“The project is on track,” Murangwa said, adding that the IMF team had visited the airport site during its recent mission.
Construction is expected to accelerate significantly over the 2026/27 financial year. According to performance targets set by the Ministry of Infrastructure, works were at 14.48% completion at the beginning of the financial year, with the target rising to 75.4% by June 2027.
Authorities had earlier announced plans to increase the pace of construction by introducing two daily shifts and extending works into the night to meet the target.
The company is also preparing for the airport’s eventual operations, including building the capacity of personnel who will work at the facility and coordinating institutions that will be involved in its operations.
The airport is being developed with a 4,200-metre runway and, in its first phase, is designed to handle up to seven million passengers a year and 150,000 tonnes of cargo.
A second phase planned for completion in 2032 would increase annual passenger-handling capacity to 14 million.
The airport is being developed with a 4,200-metre runway.
The airport is being developed as a major expansion of Rwanda’s aviation infrastructure and is expected to increase the country’s capacity to handle passenger and cargo traffic as the government seeks to strengthen its position as a regional transport and business hub.
The project is estimated to cost around $2 billion, with Qatar Airways holding a 60% stake in the airport project.
Construction of the airport is also being accompanied by work on the road connecting the facility to the wider road network. The access road is expected to reach 50% completion during the 2026/27 financial year, with more than Rwf3.26 billion allocated for the year.
The funding will support activities including compensation payments, construction works and studies for a proposed toll collection system.
Murangwa said the airport would be among the investments expected to generate economic returns that can help Rwanda service the borrowing used to finance development.
He said Rwanda’s approach to borrowing is based on investing in projects and sectors that can make the economy more productive and generate sufficient resources to meet future debt obligations.
“For semi-concessional borrowing, we build the facility, it becomes productive, and the revenues generated exceed the cost of servicing the loan,” Murangwa said.
He added that the government would not rely primarily on higher taxes to repay its loans, but on a more productive economy capable of generating the resources required when repayment begins.
The IMF has recommended stronger domestic revenue mobilisation and more careful prioritisation of foreign-financed capital expenditure as part of efforts to preserve Rwanda’s fiscal sustainability. It also called for continued fiscal consolidation while protecting social and other priority spending.
Murangwa stressed that fiscal consolidation would not mean halting major development projects, but rather calibrating the pace of investment according to available resources and expected returns.
“It is a matter of calibration, not a stop,” he said when asked whether Rwanda could slow down projects because of tighter external financing.
Rwanda and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on the first review of the country’s Extended Credit Facility programme after the government met all measurable programme targets for the end of June 2026.
Following approval by the IMF Executive Board, expected in December, Rwanda will have access to about $35.7 million under the programme.
Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.7% in the first half of 2026, while inflation remained elevated at 15.7% in August.
The IMF projects Rwanda’s economy to grow by 7.8% in 2026 and 7.2% in 2027 in real terms.
The project is estimated to cost around $2 billion, with Qatar Airways holding a 60% stake in the airport project.
A team led by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, together with scientists from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and several universities, has captured key stages of a reaction known as proton-coupled electron transfer, or PCET.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, provide a more detailed picture of how electrons and protons move during chemical reactions and how the surrounding water molecules respond at the same time.
PCET is important in several natural processes. Plants rely on related reactions during photosynthesis to capture energy from sunlight and convert it into stored chemical energy.
Similar processes also contribute to biological energy conversion and chemical catalysis.
The researchers found that changes within a molecule’s electronic structure occur alongside changes in the surrounding water environment as the molecule gains a proton.
Observing these events has been difficult because electrons and protons move extremely quickly, while nearby water molecules are constantly shifting.
Previous experiments could examine individual parts of the process, but scientists had not been able to obtain such a detailed combined view of the molecular and surrounding structural changes.
To investigate the reaction, the researchers used a well-studied ruthenium-based molecule that absorbs light and, under acidic conditions, captures a proton from its surroundings.
They then combined ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy with time-resolved X-ray scattering.
The techniques allowed them to examine changes in the molecule and the rearrangement of atoms in the surrounding solvent. Advanced computer simulations were also used to interpret the complex measurements.
The experiment did not directly detect the proton itself. Instead, researchers observed changes in the molecule’s electronic structure and the surrounding water network and used theoretical calculations to understand how those changes were connected.
Elisa Biasin, an experimental chemical physicist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, said the work provides a new way to understand how molecules and their surrounding environments change together during chemical reactions.
The researchers believe the technique could eventually help scientists better understand and control chemical processes involved in energy conversion.
A clearer understanding of these reactions could contribute to the development of more efficient catalysts, fuel cells and flow batteries, as well as other technologies designed to convert or store energy.
The researchers describe the work as an important step toward studying more complicated proton-coupled electron transfer reactions and understanding how electrons, protons and their environments interact on extremely short timescales.
Ultrafast X-ray techniques allowed researchers to observe how electrons, protons and surrounding water molecules interact during a rapid energy-transfer reaction.
