分类： science

A groundbreaking scientific study has revealed the existence of massive primordial water reservoirs located thousands of kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the planet’s evolutionary journey. Published in the prestigious journal Science, this research provides unprecedented insights into how water became permanently embedded within the Earth’s geological structure during its formative years.

The international research team, led by Professor Du Zhixue from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, conducted sophisticated simulations replicating the extreme conditions found 660 kilometers underground. Their experiments demonstrated that bridgmanite—the Earth’s most abundant mantle mineral—possesses remarkable water-retention capabilities even at temperatures reaching 4,100°C, far exceeding previous estimates.

This discovery challenges conventional scientific wisdom regarding water distribution deep within our planet. The research indicates that early-retained water played a crucial role in transforming Earth from a molten inferno into the habitable world we know today. During the planet’s fiery youth 4.6 billion years ago, when frequent celestial impacts maintained surface temperatures too extreme for liquid water, substantial amounts of water became captured deep within the mantle as molten rock cooled and crystallized.

The team employed innovative methodologies including laser-generated heat simulations, high-temperature imaging, and atom probe tomography—techniques comparable to providing the microscopic world with ultra high-resolution chemical CT scans. These advanced approaches enabled researchers to visualize water distribution within tiny mineral samples and confirm that water molecules were indeed carried within bridgmanite’s crystalline structure.

According to the findings, the amount of water retained in the early solid mantle may have reached volumes equivalent to 0.08 to 1 times that of all modern oceans combined. This deeply sequestered water acts not as a static reservoir but as a geological lubricant, reducing the melting point and viscosity of molten rock to promote the slow circulation that drives tectonic plate movement and sustains the planet’s evolutionary vitality.

Over immense geological timescales, this deeply embedded water gradually migrated back to the surface through magma movement, contributing to the formation of primordial atmosphere and oceans. The research received support from multiple Chinese scientific institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Stargazers across China were treated to one of nature’s most dazzling celestial displays on Sunday, December 14, 2025, as the annual Geminid meteor shower reached its spectacular peak. The astronomical phenomenon, renowned for its brightness and frequency, painted night skies with streaks of light from the northeastern province of Heilongjiang to various observation points nationwide.

In Yabuli town of Shangzhi city, Heilongjiang province, photographers captured stunning images of the meteor shower against a crisp winter backdrop. The clear atmospheric conditions in many regions provided optimal viewing opportunities for both amateur astronomers and professional observers alike.

The Geminids, unique among meteor showers for originating from asteroid 3200 Phaethon rather than a comet, typically produce up to 120 meteors per hour during peak activity. This year’s display maintained its reputation as one of the most reliable and visually impressive meteor showers of the annual astronomical calendar.

Chinese astronomy enthusiasts and night sky photographers had been anticipating the event for weeks, with many traveling to dark-sky locations away from urban light pollution to witness the phenomenon in its full glory. Social media platforms across China filled with user-shared photographs and videos documenting the celestial spectacle.

The meteor shower’s visibility across much of China demonstrates the country’s growing public interest in astronomical events and the increasing accessibility of stargazing as a popular recreational activity. Local astronomy clubs and educational institutions had organized viewing events to capitalize on the scientific and educational opportunity presented by the natural light show.

The 2025 Global Sustainable Agriculture (GSSA) Forum concluded successfully in Haikou, Hainan Province, establishing a comprehensive framework for international cooperation in climate-smart farming practices. Held December 5-6 under the theme “Sustainable Agriculture for All,” the gathering brought together approximately 150 participants including international organization representatives, agricultural diplomats from over ten nations, researchers, entrepreneurs, and farming practitioners.

The forum’s programming addressed critical challenges including global food security mechanisms, environmental-social-governance (ESG) standards in agriculture, technological innovation deployment, and investment strategies for sustainable development. Sun Xi, founder and secretary-general of the GSSA Forum, emphasized the event’s role in creating practical platforms for global agricultural cooperation while supporting Hainan Free Trade Port’s expanding international functions.

Distinguished speakers included former UN Under-Secretary-General Noeleen Heyzer, who highlighted the urgent need for empowering small-scale and women farmers through technology-enabled efficiency gains and transformed consumption patterns. “Building fair and resilient food markets requires systemic change toward climate-smart agricultural methods,” Heyzer stated during the plenary session.

China Institute for Reform and Development President Chi Fulin presented groundbreaking recommendations for urban-rural integration strategies, proposing increased property income for farmers, industrial integration for modernization, and enhanced rural public services. For Hainan’s specific development, Chi advocated for elevated land valuation, collaborative tropical agricultural bases with Guangdong targeting ASEAN markets, and establishing Hainan as a pivotal marine economy hub in China-ASEAN relations.

The forum officially launched the multidimensional “GSA Ecosystem” comprising five interconnected platforms: forum, club, academy, fund, and alliance. Organizers announced the 2026 forum will convene in April in Hefei, Anhui Province, alongside the International Rural Development Innovation Expo. The event also featured specialized farmer dialogue sessions and four roundtable discussions, followed by December 6 study visits to the Huayang Ocean Research Center and National Institute for South China Sea Studies for exchanges on blue economy governance.

Academic leaders and research specialists convened in Beijing this weekend to establish comprehensive guidelines for responsible think tank operations in the digital era, with particular emphasis on balancing artificial intelligence capabilities with human intellectual oversight.

At the forefront of this initiative, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has outlined an ambitious roadmap to develop a national high-level scientific think tank by 2030. Professor Pan Jiaofeng, President of the CAS Institutes of Science and Development, emphasized the critical timing of this effort: “As China advances through its modernization journey amid rapid technological transformation, we face increasingly complex decision-making environments that demand unprecedented research quality and accountability.”

The proposed framework distinguishes think tank research from conventional academic work by prioritizing practical applicability and real-world implementation. Professor Pan noted that responsible research must align with national development objectives while respecting scientific principles and guiding societal expectations toward improved public welfare.

Health policy expert Chen Jiapeng from the China Population and Development Research Center reinforced the human-centered approach, advocating for inclusive methodologies that ensure representation from even the most remote communities. “While comprehensive coverage requires substantial investment and may initially demonstrate lower efficiency, this approach remains fundamental to achieving equitable development outcomes,” Chen explained, highlighting the necessity of phased implementation and cross-departmental collaboration.

Operational standards emerged as another critical focus area. Wang Zhenyu of CAS’s Integrated Research Support Centers revealed that the academy’s newly released proposal addresses longstanding challenges including duplicate reporting, authorship confusion, and appropriate AI utilization. The guidelines incorporate both domestic experience and international best practices to standardize research values and output management.

Petroleum industry economist Wei Xinqiang articulated specific technical requirements, calling for standardized protocols covering quality control, procedural transparency, and data security. While acknowledging AI’s transformative potential in data processing and information gathering, Wei cautioned against over-reliance on technology for strategic formulation. “Insight generation and strategic planning must remain fundamentally human-driven capabilities,” he asserted, pointing to verification challenges with open-source data that necessitate multi-source validation and expert consultation.

China’s aerospace program achieved another milestone on Saturday morning with the successful launch of the Kuaizhou-11 Y8 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The mission, which commenced precisely at 9:08 am Beijing Time, successfully delivered an experimental spacecraft into its predetermined orbit, marking another significant advancement in China’s space capabilities.

The launch represents the latest achievement in China’s rapidly expanding space program, demonstrating the country’s growing proficiency in satellite deployment and space technology. The Kuaizhou series, known for its quick response capabilities and reliability, continues to serve as a workhorse vehicle for China’s space missions, with this latest launch further solidifying its operational track record.

While specific details about the experimental spacecraft’s purpose remain undisclosed, the successful deployment underscores China’s commitment to advancing its space research and technological development. The mission adds to an increasingly crowded schedule of Chinese space activities that include satellite deployments, space station operations, and lunar exploration initiatives.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, situated in the Gobi Desert, has served as the starting point for numerous Chinese space missions since its establishment in 1958. As China continues to expand its presence in space, these successful launches contribute valuable data and experience that support the country’s broader ambitions in space exploration and technology development.

Archaeological excavations in Jinan have fundamentally rewritten the historical timeline of Shandong’s provincial capital, revealing evidence of urban settlement dating back approximately 4,200 years—some 1,500 years earlier than previously established by conventional scholarship.

The groundbreaking discovery emerged during preliminary surveys for a subway project in April 2024, leading to the identification of the Daming Lake Southwest Site. After extensive excavation, archaeologists uncovered a remarkably preserved ancient wall from the Longshan culture period, alongside 206 structural features including defensive fortifications, moats, platforms, and residential foundations.

Professor Luan Fengshi of Shandong University’s School of Archaeology announced during a site press conference: “Carbon-14 dating conclusively places the construction of this Longshan culture city wall around 4,200 years before present, dramatically altering our understanding of Jinan’s origins which was traditionally dated to merely 2,700 years ago.”

The archaeological team has recovered over 460 artifacts crafted from diverse materials including pottery, porcelain, iron, copper, bone, stone, and wood, supplemented by more than 130 historical coins. Particularly significant are polished black pottery shards, including an exquisitely decorated eggshell-thin piece representing the pinnacle of Longshan craftsmanship.

A collection exceeding 1,000 boxes of ceramic fragments spans multiple dynasties, from the Dawenkou culture (approximately 5,000 years ago) through the Shang, Han, Tang, and Qing dynasties, providing unprecedented continuity of historical evidence.

The site features a human-modified moat to the west of the wall, originally a natural river channel measuring over 50 meters wide and nearly 10 meters deep. According to Guo Junfeng, director of Jinan’s archaeology institute, “The stratified silt layers—with Dawenkou pottery at lower levels and Longshan ceramics above—enable us to trace the site’s evolution through millennia.”

East of the wall, cultural layers indicate sustained urban activity not only during the Longshan period but continuing through the Warring States Period and subsequent dynasties. Additional significant findings include the foundation of a Song Dynasty Buddhist temple, providing physical evidence for researching religious development, temple architecture, and social beliefs of the era.

The site has undergone comprehensive 3D scanning and digital documentation, with a cross-section of the ancient wall removed for detailed study. Authorities plan to construct an on-site exhibition space to showcase these 4,000-year-old remains and share this revolutionary discovery with the public, according to Ren Xiaorui, deputy director of Jinan’s culture and tourism bureau.

A groundbreaking study conducted by Chinese scientists has fundamentally altered our understanding of how Earth transformed from a primordial magma ocean into a habitable blue planet. Researchers from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have experimentally demonstrated that the planet’s deep mantle served as a massive water reservoir during its formative stages approximately four billion years ago.

The research, published in the prestigious journal Science on December 12, 2025, addresses a long-standing geological mystery: what happened to Earth’s water during the crystallization of its early magma oceans. The scientific community had previously struggled to explain where this crucial water was stored during the planet’s infancy.

The key discovery centers on bridgmanite, the predominant mineral in Earth’s lower mantle. Contrary to established scientific belief that this mineral had limited water storage capacity, the Chinese research team discovered that bridgmanite possesses a remarkable temperature-dependent ability to trap water molecules. Using advanced diamond anvil cell technology combined with laser heating systems, the scientists replicated the extreme conditions of the lower mantle—achieving pressures equivalent to depths of 660-2,900 kilometers and temperatures reaching approximately 4,100 degrees Celsius.

The experiments revealed a surprising paradox: the hotter the environment, the more efficiently bridgmanite captures and retains water during its formation from cooling magma. This temperature-sensitive storage mechanism suggests that during Earth’s early history, when the planet was substantially hotter, bridgmanite could have sequestered enormous volumes of water equivalent to between 0.08 and 1.0 times the volume of all modern oceans combined.

This primordial water reservoir, locked within the solid mantle for eons, has been gradually cycling back to the surface through volcanic activities over geological timescales. This gradual release played a crucial role in creating Earth’s oceans and establishing the hydrological conditions necessary for life to emerge and flourish. The research provides a comprehensive explanation for Earth’s transformation from a fiery, inhospitable world to the life-sustaining planet we know today.

In an unprecedented display of spaceflight agility, China successfully conducted its first emergency orbital rescue mission with the rapid deployment of the Shenzhou XXII spacecraft on November 25. The remarkable operation commenced at 12:11 pm Beijing time when a Long March 2F Y22 rocket launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, carrying the replacement spacecraft to address a critical situation in orbit.

The emergency response was triggered on November 5 when the Shenzhou XX spacecraft, originally scheduled to return to Earth, sustained damage from suspected space debris impact. Mission controllers detected minute fissures on the return capsule’s viewport window, rendering the vehicle unsuitable for safe re-entry operations.

Facing this orbital emergency, China’s space program demonstrated extraordinary coordination and technical prowess. Mission command centers immediately activated contingency protocols, mobilizing engineers and scientists across the spaceflight program. The team worked with exceptional efficiency and composure, completing a comprehensive risk assessment and implementing a solution within an astonishing 20-day timeframe.

The operation involved complex logistical coordination of personnel and equipment, culminating in the successful transfer of crew members from the compromised Shenzhou XX to the newly launched Shenzhou XXII spacecraft. The replacement vehicle successfully separated from its carrier rocket approximately ten minutes after launch, achieving its designated orbit and marking a historic achievement in China’s manned spaceflight capabilities.

This emergency deployment represents a significant advancement in space mission responsiveness and underscores China’s growing proficiency in handling complex orbital scenarios. The successful execution of such a rapid launch sequence demonstrates remarkable progress in space infrastructure readiness and emergency preparedness, setting a new benchmark for rapid response capabilities in human spaceflight operations.

China has initiated trial operations for an innovative artificial intelligence system that dramatically enhances sand and dust storm forecasting capabilities. Developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences’ Lanzhou Institute of Arid Meteorology, the advanced model commenced testing in Gansu province during late November 2025.

The groundbreaking system represents a quantum leap in meteorological technology, improving spatial resolution from 50 kilometers to just 5 kilometers through sophisticated downscaling techniques. This enhancement addresses critical limitations in previous AI models that, while effective for large-scale regional tracking, lacked the precision necessary for localized forecasting and public safety applications in Northwest China’s vulnerable regions.

Beyond precision, the system delivers unprecedented processing speed. Unlike traditional physics-based models that require supercomputers and extensive processing times, this AI-powered solution operates on standard GPU hardware, generating comprehensive global five-day predictions in under sixty seconds. With eight daily updates, meteorologists now possess significantly more opportunities to monitor and respond to developing storm events.

Dr. Che Huizheng, a researcher at the academy, emphasized the transformative nature of this development: “This represents a paradigm shift not merely in velocity but in accessibility. We can now execute sophisticated dust forecasts using conventional desktop computing equipment.”

The system’s capabilities were demonstrated during a late November dust event originating in the southern Xinjiang basin. The AI model successfully detected warning signals two to three days in advance and provided near real-time updates on November 22nd that closely correlated with ground observations as the plume expanded across Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Qinghai, Gansu, and other northern territories.

According to researcher Yue Ping, spring remains the most active period for sandstorm formation due to exposed soil conditions and frequent cold-air activity. Summer and autumn events, primarily driven by long-range transport, present continued forecasting challenges that the new system aims to address through higher-resolution optical data, mass concentration metrics for multiple aerosol types, and dozens of continuously refreshed environmental indicators.

Meteorological experts suggest the technology could establish a template for international cooperation in regions where dust storms regularly cross national boundaries. The reduced hardware requirements may enable meteorological agencies across Central Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East to implement similar early-warning systems, potentially transforming regional environmental monitoring capabilities.