Karst aquifers are a crucial source of water, supplying approximately 10% of the global population and often serving as the sole water resource in certain regions. These aquifers are characterized by highly heterogeneous flow dynamics and exhibit significant temporal variability in both hydrodynamic and physico-chemical conditions. Continuous monitoring of these parameters is essential for advancing our understanding of karst aquifer functioning; however, comprehensive, high-frequency datasets remain limited. We present a comprehensive dataset covering 13 karst springs monitored across nine observatories of the French Karst National Observatory Service (SNO KARST), spanning various hydroclimatic regions (oceanic, mountainous, Mediterranean). The SNO KARST aims to strengthen knowledge-sharing and to promote cross-disciplinary research on karst systems at the national scale. The dataset includes: (1) hydrodynamic data (water level, discharge), and (2) physico-chemical data (water temperature, electric conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), nitrate, and organic matter fluorescence). Spanning over a decade of continuous monitoring, such a dataset is required for the analysis of the hydrological and physico-chemical dynamics of karst aquifers, the assessment of their vulnerability to pollution and climate change, and the modeling of hydrodynamic and hydrochemical variables, ultimately aiming to improve the management and preservation of these critical water resources in contrasted contexts.
Ground-based telescopes are susceptible to seeing, an atmospheric blur that reduces the resolving power of large observatories to only a few arcseconds. Compensating these effects is critical to realizing the potential of both existing and upcoming extremely large telescopes, a challenging task that requires precise wavefront control. Ultimately, this precision is limited by the wavefront sensor (WFS) design and its inherent capacity to accurately encode phase and amplitude aberrations. In this work, we employ statistical estimation theory to derive fundamental limits to phase and amplitude reconstruction, providing a closed-form expression for the minimum-achievable residual error. For circular apertures, we find that this bound can be saturated by an instrument we refer to as the piston-adapted WFS (PAWS). The PAWS uses a Zernike mode sorter built from spatially varying half-waveplates to isolate the Zernike piston mode, apply a controllable phase shift to it, and then reconstitute the pupil as a pair of irradiance patterns that are nearly linear in incident aberrations. For arbitrary apertures, one can use a single-mode converter to reshape the pupil's native piston mode into Zernike piston and apply the same procedure. We expect our results to improve the residual wavefront errors in future closed-loop adaptive optics systems, while simultaneously finding applications in free-space communication and microscopy.
Marine ecosystems are hotspots of biodiversity and biogeochemical activity, yet much of their complexity remains largely inaccessible without genome-resolved data. Here we present a curated dataset of 52 eukaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) reconstructed from samples collected between April 2019 and January 2020 at three NEREA (Naples Ecological REsearch for Augmented observatories) sites in the Gulf of Naples. NEREA is a coastal observatory integrating physical, chemical and biological measurements with state-of-the-art metagenomics. The eukaryotic MAGs have an average completeness of ~55% and genome size of ~20 Mb. Predicted proteins were functionally annotated against UniProtKB, InterPro, and eggNOG databases, and each MAG was taxonomically classified using a curated RNA polymerase A reference dataset. The recovered MAGs encompass diverse eukaryotic lineages, primarily Ochrophyta, Chlorophyta and Haptophyta. Building on the Tara Oceans eukaryotic MAG legacy, this release represents the first reconstruction of eukaryotic MAGs from a coastal time series, enabling temporal and functional analyses of eukaryotic plankton.
Astrophotonics will be central to the next generation of astronomical instrumentation, enabling lightweight, compact, and environmentally stable photonic integrated circuits for both ground-based observatories and future space missions. One key application is beam combination for nulling interferometry, which suppresses starlight to reveal exoplanets and companions. Compact, broadband photonic beam combiners are essential for enabling complex circuitry on a single chip and for scalable solutions for single- and multi-telescope instruments, and are investigated herein. Two-waveguide photonic combiners rely on symmetric evanescent coupling to interfere light, which is inherently chromatic and requires modification for broadband operation. A three-waveguide configuration, or tri-coupler, offers the potential for deeper, broader, and more stable achromatic nulls compared with two-waveguide approaches. This work compares the simulated performance of two evanescent tri-couplers and a multimode interference coupler (MMI) across the 1.5-1.8 µm band, evaluating exoplanet throughput, starlight attenuation, sensing characteristics, and estimations on fabrication tolerance. All three tri-couplers achieved >40 dB attenuation over a ≥270 nm bandwidth. However, the standard tri-coupler was outperformed by both a bespoke tapered tri-coupler and the MMI, each of which achieved exoplanet throughput >85% across the band, excluding component losses. Including component loss, the tapered tri-coupler has the highest total throughput, averaging ∼96%. The standard tri-coupler began with an equivalent exoplanet throughput, falling to 50% at the band edges. The tapered tri-coupler was further redesigned to achieve a non-degenerate sensing state. The MMI, while limited to a starlight attenuation of 40 dB (10-4) by uncoupled light, showed the greatest tolerance to fabrication errors, offering strong practical potential. Future designs aim to combine high exoplanet throughput, deep starlight attenuation, and non-degenerate sensing within a single integrated architecture. This work provides a simulation suite for three tri-couplers. They can be selected based on robustness to common fabrication tolerances (the MMI), exoplanet throughput (the tapered tri-coupler), and/or the sensing performance (the tapered tri-coupler).
Organic aerosol particles (OA) can absorb solar radiation with varying efficiencies depending on their chemical composition and physical properties. This light-absorbing fraction of OA, commonly referred to as brown carbon (BrC), is difficult to accurately represent in climate models due to the inherent diversity of its optical properties. This variability arises from differences in emission sources and atmospheric processing, as well as from variations in experimental design and the analytical methods used to quantify BrC absorption. As a result, the climate effect of BrC remains uncertain. Here, we studied the light absorption properties of surface ambient OA using measurements from 17 sites across Europe. Combining multi-wavelength absorption measurements from filter-based photometers with OA mass concentrations and source apportionment derived from ACSM/AMS data, we derive empirical estimates of the OA mass absorption cross section (MACOA), its wavelength dependence (AAEOA), the OA density (⍴OA), and the MAC associated with different primary and secondary OA sources. We further develop parameterizations that relate MACOA, AAEOA and ⍴OA to the ambient black carbon-to-organic aerosol ratio (eBC/OA) and propose a corresponding parameterization for the imaginary refractive index (kOA). Given the widespread availability of eBC and OA measurements in global monitoring networks, the framework presented here provides a practical approach for estimating the absorptive properties of surface OA particles under real-world conditions.
Biomass burning in the Amazon Basin is a major source of atmospheric aerosols affecting regional climate and air quality across tropical South America, yet the contrasting impacts on high-altitude Andean and lowland Amazonian environments remain poorly quantified. Here we present a seven-year (2015-2021) integrated analysis of aerosol transport pathways, composition, and radiative forcing at two contrasting receptor sites: Huancayo Observatory (3313 m a.s.l.) in the Peruvian Andes and Rio Branco (212 m a.s.l.) in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon. By combining AERONET Level 2.0 observations, HYSPLIT backward trajectories, VIIRS-SNPP active fire detections, and MERRA-2 speciated aerosol products, we identify two fundamentally distinct aerosol regimes within the same regional system. Rio Branco experiences direct, near-field exposure (<200 km) to intense biomass burning during June-October, with extreme aerosol loading (AOD440 up to 1.25; PM2.5 exceeding 50μg m-3), pronounced organic carbon dominance (>90% of PM2.5), and atmospheric radiative forcing of +75 W m-2 during the SON peak-among the highest reported for Amazonian biomass-burning conditions. In contrast, Huancayo receives diluted, aged smoke via long-range transport (300-600 km), with mixed composition including persistent mineral dust (18%-30%) and sulfate (12%-23%), and a substantially lower atmospheric forcing of +33 W m-2. The resulting 2.3-fold inter-site difference in atmospheric radiative forcing, robust within an SSA-perturbation uncertainty envelope, illustrates how source proximity and topographic barriers jointly modulate aerosol-climate interactions across the Andean-Amazonian transition zone, with implications for regional circulation, precipitation feedbacks, and Andean cryosphere stability.
In Russia and the world, there is an increase in the number of cancer patients with localization on the head and neck. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), 890.000 new cases of head and neck cancer and 450.000 deaths were registered in 2018, with a forecast of a 30% increase in the incidence by 2030. Carotid chemodectomas (CC) account for 0.5% of all head and neck tumors. The frequency of occurrence is estimated as 1 per 30000-100000 people. CCS in most patients are benign, but 10% may be malignant. The aim to determine the rational surgical tactics in patients with carotid hemodectomas, from the standpoint of the radicality, effectiveness and safety of the operation. a retrospective, multicenter study. An analysis was conducted of the medical records of 80 patients with CBTs who underwent treatment in the vascular surgery departments of Regional Clinical Hospital No. 3, City Clinical Hospital No. 8, Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital and Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Center of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine in Chelyabinsk from 1985 to 2025. In particular, the results of instrumental research methods were assessed and a histological analysis of the obtained biopsy materials was performed. The literature search, as well as the systematization and analysis of information, was conducted from scientific literature sources located in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Elibrary databases. When writing the work, a literature search was conducted, as well as an analysis of the most significant clinical observations of patients with CС, including those with signs of malignancy, bilateral lesion, hereditary history, as well as a combination of tumors with atherosclerotic lesions of the internal carotid artery and the development of critical stenosis. To ensure the radicality, efficacy, and safety of carotid body tumor removal, the following principles should be considered: for type III tumors according to the Shamblin classification, as well as for tumors with malignant properties, en bloc resection followed by internal carotid artery reconstruction is advisable. The sequence of tumor removal in bilateral cases is determined by their size, Shamblin classification, and the presence of symptoms. Simultaneous bilateral tumor removal should not be performed due to the risk of fatal complications. Lymph node dissection should be performed in cases of enlarged lymph nodes in the surgical area, tumor recurrence, and aggressive or malignant tumor forms. Preoperative embolization of branches of the external carotid artery prior to surgical tumor removal has not proven its effectiveness. Patients with carotid body tumors, especially those with a family history or multiple tumors, are recommended to undergo genetic testing.
Prompt engineering is the formation of queries or instructions (prompts) that are deployed in large language models. These prompts are often underscored by frameworks, designed to give structure and encourage robust answers. Discussions in recent information specialists' networks and events have highlighted on multiple occasions that information specialists are well placed to undertake prompt engineering tasks. However, there is little published information outlining why and how information specialists are best placed for these tasks and the universal understanding between information specialists has not filtered out to the wider research synthesis community so progress in this area is slow. Here, we discuss the parallels between information specialist tasks and large language model engineering tasks and demonstrate that the parallels run deeper than just prompts. There are strong similarities between information retrieval and context engineering, prompt engineering and vibing. In the briefest sense, we can consider context engineering to be like a search platform, prompt engineering like a structured search strategy, and vibe coding like a search engine input. Knowledge sharing and dissemination of these core concepts amongst information specialists and research synthesists will drive methods development, particularly with the rise of large language models in synthesis automation, give potential for continual professional development courses and e-learning to be developed, and expand the roles of information specialists. To initiate progress in this area, we discuss the anticipated future direction of information specialist roles.
We determine the role of the fluctuation-induced Casimir force acting between a membrane of cylindrical shape and a bottom electrode in microelectromechanical capacitive switches. For this purpose, the Casimir force is computed by taking into account the real properties of both the materials of a membrane and a bottom electrode with an account of surface roughness. The obtained results are compared with those found for the smooth surfaces using the idealization of ideal metal. It is shown that an account of both the real material properties and surface roughness is crucial for obtaining the correct values of the Casimir force. According to our results, at the shortest separations, when the switch membrane is in contact with the transmission line, the magnitudes of the Casimir force may exceed the magnitudes of the electric one, depending on the value of the operating voltage. The obtained values of the Casimir force can be used for determining the thickness of the switch membrane, which ensures the necessary magnitude of the restoring elastic force required for a stable cyclic functioning of the micromechanical switch with no pull-in.
The magnitude of the terrestrial carbon sink remains a key uncertainty in future climate projections, in part due to poorly understood links between carbon uptake and its allocation to woody biomass in vegetation. Here, in this study, we show that photosynthesis and aboveground growth occur asynchronously across diel to seasonal scales in eight North American oak species. Across 137 tree ring sites, current-year annual growth was insensitive to climate variability after midsummer despite 26 to 36% of annual gross primary productivity (GPP) occurring during this period. Hourly GPP flux and growth measurements at four sites spanning seven site years further demonstrate that wood formation ceases earlier than photosynthesis and is restricted to periods of low atmospheric aridity and temperature. This photosynthesis-growth decoupling intensifies with interannual variability in vapor pressure deficit (r = 0.86, P < 0.05), suggesting that by assuming tight coupling between photosynthesis and woody biomass, current earth system models may overestimate long-term carbon sequestration in forests.
This study provides a comprehensive global assessment of land-use change and landscape fragmentation over a 30-year period (1992-2022), integrating spatial metrics across 37 land-cover types and multiple geopolitical regions. Using high-resolution Copernicus land-cover datasets, we quantified changes in number of patches, mean patch size, and size of the largest patch to evaluate structural shifts in landscapes. The results reveal a global trend toward increased fragmentation, with a 10.3% rise in patch number, a 9.2% decline in mean patch size, and a 40% reduction in the size of the largest patch. The most severe fragmentation trends occurred in tropical biodiversity hotspots, particularly in South America, Central Africa, and South-Eastern Asia, and are likely associated with processes such as agricultural expansion, deforestation, and infrastructure development. Even in regions where natural cover is stable or increasing, such as parts of Europe and China, landscapes may still experience increasing structural fragmentation, which has been widely associated with reduced connectivity, alterations in ecological processes, and increased vulnerability of specialist species. Patterns vary regionally: in developed regions, fragmentation is often linked to long-term landscape subdivision and land-use intensity, whereas in tropical developing regions, large intact habitats are being rapidly reduced. The findings underscore the necessity of conservation strategies that address both habitat area and spatial configuration, promoting ecological corridors, heterogeneous agricultural matrices, and multifunctional agroforestry systems. By combining temporal depth and thematic breadth, we offer novel insights into the structural transformation of global landscapes, informing policy and sustainable land-management efforts in the face of accelerating global change.
In non-endemic settings, imported malaria poses diagnostic challenges due to non-specific presentations and lack of immunity, especially in visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). Focusing on the Western Friuli (Italy) observatory, this work aims to optimize triage by identifying early severity predictors. Through the analysis of clinical parameters, paediatric cerebral cases, and host genetics - including an illustrative case of HbS/β-thalassaemia - we evaluate the drivers of Plasmodium falciparum progression to improve patient management. This retrospective study (2016-2025) analysed symptomatic malaria cases in the Friuli Occidentale Health Authority, combining epidemiological data with illustrative clinical cases. Diagnosis was confirmed via microscopy and molecular methods. Using WHO/AMCLI criteria, we evaluated admission parameters, including procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and platelet count, to identify predictors of severe malaria, adopting a ≥2% parasitaemia threshold. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed via multivariable logistic regression and ROC analysis. Of the 124 malaria cases (P. falciparum 88.71%), 90.32% were VFRs, primarily from West Africa; only 12% reported adequate prophylaxis. Severe malaria occurred in 19.35% (24/124), including two cerebral malaria (CM) cases, with no fatalities. Severity fluctuated significantly, peaking at 60% (6/10; 95% CI 26.2%-87.8%) in 2025. Multivariable analysis identified parasitaemia ≥2% (aOR 8.44; 95% CI 2.41-29.58; p=0.001) and PCT (aOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.06-1.42; p=0.007) as the only independent severity predictors. PCT outperformed CRP (AUC 0.84 vs 0.73); at a 5.10 ng/mL cut-off, PCT demonstrated a 95.9% negative predictive value (NPV), effectively identifying low-risk patients. CM Case 1 (2017): A 5-year-old male with HbS/β-thalassaemia (VFR, from Ghana) admitted for P. falciparum malaria (9.5% parasitaemia) and severe anaemia, evolving into CM (loss of consciousness, seizures, BCS score 0); successfully treated with IV artesunate, antiepileptics, and blood transfusions, without sequelae. CM Case 2 (2022): A 3-year-old male (VFR, from Burkina Faso) with P. falciparum malaria (12.6% parasitaemia) evolving into CM (altered state of consciousness, EEG signs of cerebral distress, retinal haemorrhage, BCS score 2); resolved with IV artesunate and antiepileptics without sequelae. Imported malaria remains a critical challenge due to unpredictable severity trends and non-specific onset of CM. PCT, combined with parasitaemia, outperformed CRP and platelet count as an independent predictor of severity. High PCT levels should serve as a "red flag" for immediate triage and parenteral therapy. Integrating PCT into clinical guidelines is essential for effective risk stratification and preventing life-threatening complications in non-endemic settings.
Maximum growth rate is often used as a primary axis of functional variation in studies of microorganisms, in part because emerging tools make it straightforward to estimate from genomic and metagenomic data. However, temperature, via its influence on reaction kinetics, may act as a confounder in studies that measure genomic signatures of growth optimization across environments. Observations suggest that growth optimization need not always indicate rapid growth. For example, strong temperature gradients are the norm across much of the world's oceans, where deep-ocean microbes show elevated signals of genomic growth optimization relative to the faster-growing communities at the surface. Looking across environments, we find a negative relationship between genomic growth optimization and optimal growth temperature, leading to the potential decoupling of genomic traits associated with copiotrophy from maximum growth rate, particularly when measured along a temperature gradient. Our results suggest that, as a result of temperature's confounding effects, genomic signatures of growth optimization often better predict the ecological roles and functional genomic content of microorganisms than do growth rates themselves. Finally, we suggest reframing copiotrophy as growth beyond a thermodynamic baseline maximum growth rate, rather than in relation to a static rate cutoff.
Appropriately designed, conducted, and reported randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children and adolescents inform treatment and health-care decisions made by young people, families, researchers, clinicians, regulators, funders, policy makers, and other interest holders. To critically evaluate, interpret, and apply trial results, readers require access to a complete and transparent report of what was planned, done, and found, taking unique considerations specific to children and adolescents into account. Harmonised guidance based on evidence and consensus is needed to optimise standardised reporting and reduce research waste in paediatric RCTs. As an extension to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2025 statement, the CONSORT-Children and Adolescents (CONSORT-C) 2026 reporting guideline aims to improve the quality and completeness of reporting of paediatric RCTs that involve participants aged 0-19 years. The Enhancing the Quality of Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) Network's published framework primarily informed the development of CONSORT-C 2026. A literature review was conducted to generate a list of candidate reporting items. To obtain direct input from young people and family caregivers throughout the project, a Youth Advisory Group and a Family Caregiver Advisory Group were formed. An international Delphi study with a priori consensus thresholds, consensus meeting, group writing of the explanation and elaboration paper, and pilot testing were conducted. CONSORT-C 2026 consists of a checklist with 13 new reporting items, including one youth-generated and six youth-endorsed items; the accompanying explanation and elaboration paper explains all items and offers examples of good reporting. CONSORT-C 2026 can be considered a minimum set of reporting items applicable to paediatric RCT reports reflecting the priorities of clinicians, researchers, young people, family caregivers, and other interest holders. Widespread implementation and uptake of CONSORT-C 2026 should optimise the usability of trial results for these populations, improve the reproducibility of trial results, and reduce research waste.
In the past decade or so, metasurface optical components have received considerable scientific and industrial interest. The miniaturization afforded by metasurfaces could benefit astronomy in particular, which is an often-cited potential application area for metasurfaces. However, few developed examples in which metasurface components offer a unique benefit to astronomical instrumentation-substantiated by the production of scientific data-have been shown. Here, we present the Solar Imaging Metasurface Polarimeter (SIMPol), a first-of-its-kind telescope for snapshot imaging polarimetry of the sun enabled by a high-performance metasurface polarization-analyzing grating, which provides for single element, snapshot imaging polarimetry. We demonstrate SIMPol's integration into a major observatory telescope facility and the characterization of Zeeman signatures of solar magnetism. This work-among the first to demonstrate an advantage presented by metasurface optics to a real application in astronomical instrumentation-heralds the application of metasurfaces and emergent nanophotonic technologies in astronomy more broadly.
There is limited data on lenacapavir (LEN) use, the newest capsid inhibitor, in observational settings. We describe population characteristics and pharmaco-virological outcomes of people with HIV-1 (PWH) who initiated LEN-based treatment. We conducted a national retrospective observational study of PWH initiating LEN-based treatment in France after its approval (December 2022). Virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive viral loads (VLs) ≥50 c/mL, and a non-virological response as a VL decrease of <1 log10 c/mL or still >50 c/mL at W24. Ninety-six PWH were included; 49 were virologically suppressed at initiation. Median follow-up on LEN was 12 months (IQR = 8-17). Genotypic susceptibility score was <1 in 59 cases (61%). Twelve participants (12.5%) discontinued LEN-based treatment. Among the virologically suppressed and viremic PWH at initiation, 94% and 64% had VL <50 c/mL at the last follow-up visit, respectively. VF occurred in 8 PWH (3 in virological success and 5 viremic at baseline), and a non-virological response was observed in 12 PWH. Capsid sequence at VF was available for eight subjects, showing the emergence of N74D mutation in one. LEN plasma concentrations were available for 13 of the 20 PWH presenting with VF or non-response with adequate concentrations in 90% of cases. Twenty-four participants received cabotegravir + LEN, 18 having VL <50 c/mL at the last follow-up visit. Our observational findings confirm that LEN-based regimens are effective among heavily treatment-experienced individuals with advanced resistance. In this population, LEN-based treatments were associated with high rates of sustained virological suppression and a low incidence of capsid emergent resistance.
Solar radio bursts exhibit complex fine structures that reveal intricate coronal plasma dynamics. Here, we report detection of spike-like repeating burst pairs, characterized by two short-lived (0.1-2 s), narrowband components separated by about 4 s at frequencies 30-50 MHz. Using high-resolution dynamic spectra and spectroscopic imaging, we analyzed 613 burst pairs, measuring their durations, bandwidths, drift rates, flux densities, and spatial characteristics. Imaging links sources to an active region, with earlier components spatially concentrated above the region while delayed components are displaced and exhibit reduced drift rates. Radio-wave propagation simulations support the delayed bursts as turbulent echoes of harmonic emission in anisotropic coronal plasma. The location of the burst sources high in the corona suggests ongoing magnetic reconnection and electron acceleration well above typical flare heights. Our findings offer new insights into coronal turbulence effects while advancing diagnostics of coronal plasma and the elusive nature of solar radio echoes from ground-based transmitters.
Violence against children (VAC) is a major public health concern, yet persistent measurement challenges limit understanding of its epidemiology. Routinely collected administrative data, such as children entering care, represent an underused resource for measuring a subset of VAC serious enough to trigger state intervention. However, national analyses using these data have not been comprehensively updated since 2016, leaving evidence gaps. We integrated historical data from the iCoverT database (1971-2016) with recent Department for Education releases (2011-2024) to construct and analyse a 50-year national time series of children entering care in England. From 2011 to 2024, generalised estimating equations compared trends by reason for care entry, legal pathway, sex, and age. Geographic variation was examined across nine regions and 146 local authorities, and associations between child poverty and care entry for child protection reasons were assessed. Abuse and neglect were consistently the dominant reason (56-64%) for care entry. Between 1971 and 2005, care entry rates declined by 1.34% annually (95%CI:-1.53, -1.14), before reversing in 2005. From 2005 to 2024, rates increased by 1.20% per year (95% CI:0.68, 1.73), reaching 33100 new care entries in 2024 (250.0 per 100000 children). Recent increases were driven by entries for child protection reasons and emergency legal pathways, with disproportionate increases among males and adolescents. Marked geographic inequalities were observed, with higher rates concentrated in deprived local authorities; however, short-term changes in child poverty did not explain year-to-year variation in care entry for child protection reasons. This study identifies a sustained reversal in long-term declines in children entering care in England since the mid-2000s. Considerable inequalities were observed across age, sex, and place. These findings underscore the need for long-term preventive policies addressing structural disadvantage alongside national responsive measures protecting children during periods of economic and societal disruption.
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In this work, Etna ash-derived photocatalysts were investigated for the first time for solar H2 production. Volcanic ash, commonly treated as a special waste in eastern Sicily (Italy), was modified through chemical treatment followed by microwave-assisted crystallization, avoiding the conventional high-temperature thermal route. The obtained material was tested both as a bare photocatalyst and as a support for a Nb2O5/graphitic carbon nitride composite prepared by a hydrothermal method. The Etna-derived photocatalyst exhibited a solar H2 production rate (by TEOA photoreforming) of 920 μmol/gcat∙h. Upon incorporation of the Nb-based composite, the H2 evolution rate increased by about 2.5 times, reaching 2370.5 μmol/gcat∙h, demonstrating a strong synergistic effect. Notably, the developed materials largely outperformed commercial TiO2 P25 (25 μmol/gcat∙h). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the tailored modifications of Etna ash, which increased porosity and promoted aluminosilicate framework reorganization, favoring an optimal distribution of the photocatalytically active TiO2 and iron oxide phases. The obtained Nb oxide/carbon nitride supported on modified Etna ash also showed a remarkable stability after six consecutive runs of solar photocatalytic H2 production. This work demonstrates a sustainable strategy for converting volcanic waste into efficient multifunctional photocatalysts while minimizing the use of critical raw materials.