分类： science

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, often referred to as Asia’s ‘water tower,’ is estimated to hold approximately 10 trillion cubic meters of surface water, a critical resource for over two billion people across the continent. This revelation, unveiled on November 19 in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang Autonomous Region, underscores the plateau’s growing hydrological significance and the environmental risks it confronts. Researchers from China’s second Qinghai-Tibet scientific expedition revealed that the plateau’s vast water reserves sustain major river systems, including the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang-Mekong, which support communities across China and neighboring nations. The total water volume is comparable to the Yellow River’s runoff over 200 years. The latest assessments indicate that the plateau has experienced three significant environmental shifts, enhancing its water supply capacity. ‘The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is becoming warmer, wetter, and greener, all of which boost its water supply,’ stated Yao Tandong, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a lead scientist on the expedition. However, he also noted that the plateau is ‘becoming darker,’ leading to significant changes in Earth system processes, including alterations to the Asian monsoon and an increase in extreme climate events. These changes, driven by complex ice-water-air interactions, are heightening disaster risks. Despite the plateau’s contribution of over 1 trillion cubic meters of water vapor annually, scientists warn that rising downstream demand, fueled by population growth and resource consumption, is placing unprecedented strain on the system. ‘The increased water availability upstream does not entirely meet the rapidly growing needs downstream,’ Yao emphasized, advocating for stronger regional cooperation to ensure sustainable water management. Long-term data from the expedition shows a steady increase in runoff from major rivers like the Yangtze and Lancang over the past four decades, with projections suggesting a potential 49 percent increase by the end of the century. However, the team has identified 85 glacial lakes at extreme risk of outburst flooding, highlighting the urgent need for targeted disaster-prevention measures. The findings provide a crucial foundation for policy planning, encompassing water resource management, climate adaptation, and infrastructure protection, including projects such as the Sichuan-Xizang transport corridor. The expedition aims to enhance monitoring systems, improve early-warning mechanisms, and refine strategies to safeguard the plateau, a region now central to Asia’s long-term water security.

In a moment of profound triumph, researcher Septian Andriki broke down in tears after finally locating the elusive Rafflesia hasseltii flower in Indonesia, marking the culmination of a 13-year search. This rare botanical specimen, known for its striking appearance and ecological significance, had evaded discovery for over a decade. Andriki’s relentless pursuit of the flower underscores the dedication and perseverance required in scientific exploration. The discovery not only highlights the biodiversity of Indonesia but also emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts to protect such rare species. This breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to botanical research and inspire future generations of scientists to explore the natural world with unwavering determination.

In a groundbreaking development, Malaysian scientists have transformed bed bugs, typically regarded as household nuisances, into invaluable forensic tools. Researchers from the Science University of Malaysia (USM) in Penang have discovered that tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus) can retain human DNA for up to 45 days after feeding. This revelation positions the insects as potential crime-solving allies, capable of providing crucial evidence in criminal investigations.

An international team of scientists from China, Germany, and the United States has made a groundbreaking discovery in Wucha village, Renhuai city, located in Southwest China’s Guizhou province. They have identified a significant collection of dinosaur footprints dating back to the Early Jurassic period. The findings, published in the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, reveal that the area was once a lakeshore sandbar environment, ideal for various dinosaur groups. This discovery is particularly notable as the Renhuai area is already recognized as a crucial region for Early Jurassic dinosaur fossils in southern China. While previous findings in the area have included numerous sauropod and theropod tracks, this new discovery provides a rare systematic record of multiple dinosaur groups coexisting. Between 2020 and 2024, researchers from Guizhou University and China University of Geosciences (Beijing), among other institutions, discovered several vertebrate track sites in and around Wucha Village. According to Xing Lida, an associate professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the Wucha track assemblage offers a comprehensive record of the coexistence of basal sauropodomorphs, sauropods, theropods, and basal ornithischians. Among the findings, the largest sauropod track measures 60 centimeters, consistent with Early Jurassic sauropod tracks commonly found in the Sichuan Basin. Some of the small basal ornithischian footprints show stride lengths of only 6 to 7 centimeters but relatively large step lengths, suggesting the dinosaurs were running. One set of two-digit footprints has particularly intrigued the research team. They believe these tracks were likely made by tridactyl dinosaurs while running or kicking, leaving only two-digit impressions, rather than being made by true two-digit dinosaurs. This finding suggests that under certain conditions, tridactyl dinosaurs can leave ‘two-digits-like’ impressions, which have important implications for identifying early deinonychosaur tracks and provide a new reference for interpreting similar ‘suspected two-digits prints’ worldwide, said Xing. This new discovery enriches the study of Early Jurassic dinosaur fauna in Guizhou. As more track sites are explored, the Renhuai area is expected to become a key window for researching dinosaur activity in China during the Early Jurassic period. The discovered footprints have been preserved at their original sites.

In a significant milestone for China’s space exploration program, the Shenzhou XXII spacecraft successfully docked with the country’s space station combination on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The China Manned Space Agency confirmed the achievement, marking another step forward in China’s ambitious space endeavors. The docking operation, executed with precision, underscores China’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to advancing human spaceflight. This mission is part of China’s broader strategy to establish a permanent presence in space, contributing to scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration. The successful docking of Shenzhou XXII highlights the nation’s progress in developing advanced space infrastructure and its determination to play a leading role in the global space race.

China has marked another milestone in its space exploration endeavors with the successful launch of the Shenzhou XXII spacecraft. The unmanned spacecraft was carried into orbit by a rocket that lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on November 25, 2025, at 12:11 pm. This event underscores China’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to advancing its space program. The Shenzhou XXII mission is part of China’s broader strategy to enhance its presence in space, which includes plans for lunar exploration, Mars missions, and the development of a space station. The launch was closely monitored by space agencies and enthusiasts worldwide, highlighting China’s increasing influence in the global space community. The successful deployment of Shenzhou XXII is expected to pave the way for future manned missions and further scientific research in space.

China is poised to achieve another milestone in its space exploration endeavors with the scheduled launch of the Shenzhou XXII spacecraft. The event is set to take place at precisely 12:11 pm today from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, a key facility in China’s ambitious space program. This launch underscores China’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to advancing scientific research and exploration. The Shenzhou series of spacecraft have been instrumental in China’s manned space missions, contributing to the nation’s reputation as a significant player in the global space race. The successful launch of Shenzhou XXII will further solidify China’s position in the international aerospace community, showcasing its technological prowess and dedication to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.

Nestled on the towering peaks of Haizi Mountain in Daocheng, Sichuan Province, China’s Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) stands as a beacon of scientific innovation. At an average altitude of over 4,400 meters, this sprawling 1.36-square-kilometer facility is unraveling the secrets of the universe by capturing cosmic rays—subatomic particles that journey from the depths of space. Recently, LHAASO made a groundbreaking discovery, providing crucial evidence that black holes, through their interaction with companion stars, act as powerful particle accelerators and may be key to the production of high-energy cosmic rays in the Milky Way. Nearby, the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope, the world’s largest circular array of its kind, enhances space weather forecasting accuracy by tracking solar activity with unparalleled precision. The region’s unique atmospheric conditions—thin, stable air and minimal light pollution—make it an ideal hub for deep-space exploration. Since its inception in 2016, LHAASO has evolved into a global scientific platform, fostering international collaboration with partners from France, Russia, Thailand, and Pakistan. Its most notable achievement came in October 2022, when it detected the brightest gamma-ray burst in recorded history, a feat unmatched by other global detectors. As construction continues on additional facilities, including a 2.5-meter-wide-field solar telescope, Daocheng is cementing its status as a frontier for astrophysical research and a testament to China’s growing leadership in big science projects.

A groundbreaking study led by Chinese researchers has established a genetic connection between the ancient practitioners of the hanging coffin tradition and a modern community in Southwest China. Published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, the research marks the first time a direct genetic link has been confirmed at the nuclear genome level between these ancient individuals and their contemporary descendants. The study was conducted by the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, based in Yunnan province. The hanging coffin custom, practiced for approximately 3,000 years across southern China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, involves placing coffins on cliffs, in caves, or rock crevices along rivers and steep mountainsides. This tradition has long been associated with the ancient Bo people, who inhabited southwest China but largely disappeared from historical records by the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The research team identified a modern Bo community in Yunnan with similar cultural traits and conducted whole-genome sequencing on 30 of its members. They also analyzed nuclear DNA from human remains of 15 hanging-coffin individuals found in Yunnan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and northern Thailand. The findings revealed that 43 to 79 percent of the genomic components of modern Bo individuals can be traced directly to the hanging-coffin population from the Zhaotong site in Yunnan. Further analyses indicated a shared ancestry among hanging coffin remains in China and Thailand, suggesting a diffusion route for the culture that originated in Fujian province, East China, and spread to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Southeast Asia through human migration. The study also highlighted cultural inclusivity during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), with two genetically distinct individuals buried 1,200 years ago in Zhaotong sharing the same hanging-coffin custom. These individuals were linked to ancient farmers from the Yellow River Basin and Northeast Asia, respectively. The research team plans to expand their systematic sampling across South China and Southeast Asia to build a comprehensive database integrating burial practices, population genetics, and cultural transmission.

China is gearing up for the launch of the unmanned Shenzhou XXII spacecraft on Tuesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, as announced by the China Manned Space Agency. The agency confirmed that the propellant injection for the Long March 2F carrier rocket, which will propel the spacecraft, has been successfully completed. The Shenzhou XXI crew aboard the Tiangong space station remains in good health, according to the agency’s statement released on Monday afternoon. Zhou Yaqiang, from the agency’s general technical bureau, revealed that Shenzhou XXII will be fully loaded with cargo, including essential provisions for astronauts and equipment necessary for the operations of the Tiangong space station. Originally slated to transport the Shenzhou XXII crew to Tiangong in April 2026, the spacecraft’s mission was adjusted due to the discovery of tiny cracks on the viewport window of the Shenzhou XX return capsule, likely caused by space debris. This rendered the capsule unsafe for use, prompting the need for Shenzhou XXII as a standby crew ship. The Shenzhou XX astronauts, who spent a record-breaking 204 days in orbit, returned safely to Earth on November 14 using the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft, nine days later than planned. Their successful return was facilitated by preplanned contingency measures, including the maintenance of a backup rocket and crew spacecraft, ensuring a rapid response in case of in-orbit emergencies.