分类： science

Shanghai is currently hosting the nation’s most prestigious biological specimen exhibition, showcasing exceptional works from across China. The 6th China Animal Specimen Competition officially opened its doors on December 20, 2025, at the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Hub in Putuo District.

The event features 738 carefully selected entries, with the exhibition running through March 2026, offering free public access to these remarkable scientific artworks. Among the standout contributions is a project by a seventh-grade student from Tianjin, who created a detailed specimen from a crucian carp rescued from a local vegetable market. This young participant’s work demonstrates how practical specimen preservation serves as both scientific practice and conservation advocacy.

Experts at the event emphasized the broader significance of specimen preservation, noting that each preserved specimen represents a conserved natural resource. The competition not only highlights technical excellence in taxidermy and preservation techniques but also fosters public awareness about biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship.

The exhibition provides a unique platform for scientists, educators, students, and the general public to engage with natural history preservation. By bringing together works from professional institutions and amateur enthusiasts alike, the event bridges the gap between academic research and public education in the biological sciences.

A groundbreaking study from Chinese scientists has elucidated the critical role of urban surface heat sources in amplifying extreme heat phenomena within major metropolitan clusters. Researchers at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), operating under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have systematically analyzed how urbanization patterns interact with atmospheric energy dynamics to exacerbate compound high-temperature events.

The investigation focused on China’s four primary urban agglomerations: the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone. Through comprehensive statistical analysis, the research team documented distinct seasonal and spatial patterns in surface heat distribution, revealing a consistent “strong in summer, weak in winter” cyclical pattern across all regions.

Notably, the study identified significant regional variations in heat distribution. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region demonstrates stronger southern heat sources with northern areas occasionally transforming into thermal sinks during winter months. Conversely, the Yangtze River Delta exhibits concentrated heat sources along river networks, while major cities surprisingly manifest lower surface heat levels than surrounding areas.

Research lead Gao Xiaoqing emphasized that these thermal patterns result from complex interactions between topography, climatic conditions, and urbanization intensity. The findings demonstrate that while surface heat sources substantially influence the frequency of compound extreme heat events, their effect on event intensity remains comparatively limited.

Published in the prestigious journal Science China Earth Sciences, this research provides crucial insights for urban planning and climate resilience strategies. The identification of specific heat distribution mechanisms enables more targeted approaches to mitigating urban heat island effects and protecting public health during extreme temperature events.

China’s unprecedented transformation toward renewable energy has received prestigious international recognition, with leading scientific journals Science and Nature both highlighting the nation’s clean power transition as one of 2025’s most significant scientific milestones. According to their recent publications, China’s massive renewable expansion has effectively stalled the growth of greenhouse emissions domestically while accelerating the possibility of a global carbon peak.

Science magazine specifically designated China’s renewable energy surge as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year, attributing this achievement to the country’s formidable industrial capacity. The journal reported that China currently manufactures 80% of global solar cells, 70% of wind turbines, and 70% of lithium batteries at unmatched competitive prices.

Supporting this assessment, Nature magazine featured China’s clean energy accomplishments among its ‘feel-good science stories to restore faith in 2025,’ noting that renewables have overtaken coal as the world’s primary energy source for the first time. This shift was propelled by China’s remarkable achievement of surpassing 1 terawatt of installed solar capacity in May 2025. During the first half of the year alone, China installed new solar systems with twice the capacity of the rest of the world combined.

The statistics demonstrate extraordinary growth: China’s wind and solar capacity exceeded thermal power for the first time in history by March, reaching 1.67 billion kilowatts by June—13.6% higher than thermal power capacity. Over the past five years, China has developed the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, increasing renewables’ share in installed power capacity from approximately 40% to 60%.

Concurrently, China has implemented the world’s most extensive carbon market, regulating over 60% of national carbon dioxide emissions through effective permit systems. The country has also announced ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions for 2035, including reducing economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels—marking China’s first absolute emissions reduction target covering all greenhouse gases across the entire economy.

Beyond domestic transformation, China’s renewable expansion has generated substantial global impact. According to National Energy Administration data, China’s wind and solar exports have helped avoid approximately 4.1 billion tonnes of global carbon emissions over five years. The country has collaborated with over 100 nations on green energy projects, reducing worldwide wind and photovoltaic power generation costs by 60% and 80% respectively. Since 2016, China has provided more than $25 billion in climate funding to developing countries.

As Science editors concluded: ‘China’s burgeoning exports of green tech are transforming the rest of the world too—producing clean energy technologies better, vastly cheaper, and in staggering quantities for global consumption.’

Chinese geologists have achieved a significant scientific breakthrough with the International Mineralogical Association’s official recognition of Jinxiuite, a newly discovered mineral from Guangxi’s Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County. The mineral was identified in June by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences working in the Longhua nickel-cobalt deposit.

Senior Engineer Tang Hejun, who led the discovery team, revealed that Jinxiuite contains several strategically important metals including nickel, cobalt, and bismuth. “Determining extraction feasibility is crucial,” Tang emphasized, “as it will directly impact both recovery rates and the economic viability of fully utilizing this mineral deposit in future operations.”

The discovery carries particular significance for China’s industrial sector, given the country’s substantial reliance on imported cobalt and limited domestic resources. Nickel and cobalt are essential components in aerospace technology, chemical manufacturing, and advanced battery production due to their exceptional resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, combined with remarkable structural strength.

Yan Jiayong, Director of the Academy’s Deep Mineral Exploration Theory and Technology Research Division, characterized the finding as a landmark achievement that extends beyond mere resource identification. “This discovery expands our fundamental understanding of the material world and provides a natural blueprint for materials science,” Yan explained. “Such natural formations frequently inspire the synthesis of novel materials with unique properties and capabilities.”

Geoscientists note that new minerals like Jinxiuite serve as historical records of Earth’s geological evolution, offering insights into elemental behavior under extreme conditions. By analyzing mineral associations within deposits, researchers can meticulously reconstruct the complete evolutionary history of these formations from initial development to final maturation.

The Jinxiu region has emerged as a particularly promising area for mineral exploration, with recent nickel-cobalt discoveries establishing it as a vital zone for nonferrous metal production and resource development within Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

China has launched an ambitious decade-long strategic initiative to develop a globally advanced Earth system forecasting network by 2035. The comprehensive Earth System Forecasting Development Strategy (2025-2035), recently published by the China Meteorological Administration, establishes a detailed roadmap to significantly enhance extreme weather early warning systems and strengthen public safety protections through sophisticated analysis of complex atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial interactions.

According to Bi Baogui, Deputy Administrator of the China Meteorological Administration, the strategy incorporates a dual-technical approach that merges the precision of traditional numerical prediction—utilizing supercomputers to simulate physical laws across Earth’s systems—with the computational speed and pattern recognition capabilities of artificial intelligence. “We will continue to advance numerical prediction grounded in physical principles while simultaneously harnessing AI’s potential to extract forecasting patterns from massive meteorological datasets,” Bi stated.

This integration aims to establish a forecasting system that achieves both scientific rigor and operational efficiency. Gong Jiandong, Director of the Earth System Modeling and Prediction Center, confirmed that China’s core forecasting capabilities are projected to reach world-class standards within the designated timeframe.

Key technological benchmarks include achieving kilometer-level global Earth system modeling and hundred-meter-level local modeling, enabling seamless forecasting products ranging from minute-by-minute updates to decade-long climate projections. These advanced capabilities are expected to support disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, particularly for nations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative promises substantial benefits for daily life and national development through significantly improved forecast accuracy and reliability. Liang Feng, Head of the Department of Forecasting and Prediction, emphasized that enhanced weather predictions will dramatically improve convenience and safety for citizens. Through high-resolution modeling and AI integration, the administration aims to refine predictions for typhoons, thunderstorms, hail, and cold waves, providing longer lead times for warnings of flash floods and landslides while enabling more effective evacuation planning and resource allocation.

Additionally, deeper research into extreme weather mechanisms will support China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals by optimizing emission reduction pathways. The Earth system forecasting network is also anticipated to guide climate-resilient urban planning, helping cities develop enhanced defenses against waterlogging and heat waves.

A breathtaking astronomical event unfolded over China’s Helan Mountain National Forest Park as a photographer braving frigid nighttime conditions captured stunning footage of a massive Geminid meteor fireball. The spectacular visual record, obtained on Sunday evening, shows the brilliant celestial body streaking across the night sky in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The remarkable video documentation rapidly gained viral status across multiple social media platforms, captivating viewers with its dramatic portrayal of this natural phenomenon. Netizens expressed widespread amazement at the visual spectacle, with many commenting on the exceptional clarity and dramatic intensity of the recorded event.

Ningxia’s distinctive climatic conditions and exceptional atmospheric clarity have established the region as a premier destination for astronomical observation and astrophotography enthusiasts. The area’s geographical characteristics, including high altitude and minimal light pollution, create optimal viewing conditions for celestial events including meteor showers, planetary observations, and deep-space photography.

This particular meteor belonged to the annual Geminid shower, known for producing particularly bright and colorful meteors during its mid-December peak activity period. The event highlights growing public interest in astronomical phenomena and the increasing capability of amateur astronomers and photographers to document such events with professional-quality results.

A groundbreaking Chinese innovation in materials science has received global recognition, with Physics World naming the development of ultrathin metal films as one of 2025’s top 10 scientific breakthroughs. The prestigious accolade highlights China’s emerging leadership in advanced materials research and development.

The pioneering research, conducted by the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully produced the world’s first single-atom-layer metal materials. These revolutionary materials measure at the angstrom scale—approximately one-millionth the thickness of standard A4 paper and one-200,000th the diameter of a human hair.

This achievement represents a significant milestone in materials science, particularly considering that non-layered metals constitute approximately 80% of the periodic table’s elements. Previously, scientists considered these metals nearly impossible to reduce to single atomic layers due to their tightly bonded three-dimensional atomic structures. While hundreds of two-dimensional materials have been created since graphene’s discovery in 2004, all previously originated from layered crystals.

The research team overcame this fundamental challenge through an innovative van der Waals squeezing technique. This method utilizes molybdenum disulfide as an anvil to compress two-dimensional metals including bismuth, tin, lead, indium, and gallium.

The resulting two-dimensional metals exhibit exceptional properties, including remarkable environmental stability with no performance degradation observed for over one year. They feature nonbonding interfaces that enable researchers to better explore the materials’ intrinsic properties while demonstrating higher room-temperature conductivity than conventional alternatives.

These advanced materials are expected to enable macroscopic quantum phenomena and serve as core components for numerous technological innovations. Potential applications include low-power transistors, high-frequency electronic devices, and ultrasensitive detection systems that could transform multiple industries.

Physics World’s annual list is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative recognitions in the scientific community. Selection criteria require demonstrated scientific importance, substantial advancement of knowledge frontiers, successful integration of theory and experimentation, and significant attention from physicists worldwide. This achievement marks the seventh time Chinese-led research has been honored since the list’s establishment in 2009.

In a landmark demonstration of neurotechnology, a completely paralyzed Chinese patient has achieved unprecedented independence through an advanced brain-machine interface (BMI) system. The patient, a man in his thirties, successfully manipulated a power wheelchair and commanded a robotic assistance dog to retrieve deliveries using only neural signals.

The revolutionary BMI technology was surgically implanted in June 2025 through a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology and private sector partners. This sophisticated system translates neural activity into digital commands, enabling direct brain-to-device communication without requiring physical movement.

Clinical results demonstrate transformative improvements in daily living capabilities. The patient has reached levels of self-sufficiency, vocational engagement, and social interaction that were previously considered unattainable for individuals with high-level paralysis. This represents the most significant advancement in functional restoration for paralyzed patients since the development of neural prosthetics.

The technology’s successful real-world application signals a new era in assistive technologies and neurological rehabilitation. Medical experts highlight that this breakthrough extends beyond laboratory research, offering tangible solutions that dramatically improve quality of life for those with severe mobility impairments.

Researchers indicate that this achievement establishes new benchmarks for neural interface technology and paves the way for more sophisticated human-machine integration systems in the future.