分类： science

China has reaffirmed its commitment to landing astronauts on the moon by 2030, marking a significant milestone in its ambitious space exploration agenda. Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Program, announced on Thursday that all preparatory efforts, including the development of the Long March 10 rocket, lunar landing suits, and exploration vehicles, are progressing smoothly. ‘Our goal of achieving a manned moon landing by 2030 remains steadfast,’ Zhang emphasized. This announcement underscores China’s determination to establish itself as a global leader in space exploration. In parallel, China is preparing to launch its latest crew to the Tiangong space station, a critical component of its broader space strategy. The new crew, consisting of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, is scheduled to depart from the Jiuquan launch center on Friday at 11:44 p.m. local time. While Zhang Lu has prior experience from the Shenzhou 15 mission, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang will be venturing into space for the first time. The astronauts will also conduct experiments on four mice—two male and two female—to study the effects of weightlessness and confinement. The Tiangong space station, meaning ‘Heavenly Palace,’ was developed after China was excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns, highlighting the country’s independent advancements in space technology.

The ‘China Dinosaurs: International Symposium on China’s Dinosaurs,’ a four-day event, commenced in Shanghai on October 28, bringing together over 20 leading paleontologists from across the globe. The symposium aimed to delve into the future of paleontology, with a particular focus on the potential resurrection of dinosaurs. Scientists at the event expressed optimism, stating that advancements in protein research, artificial intelligence, and gene editing technologies could make the revival of dinosaurs a reality within the next 100 to 200 years. However, they emphasized that ethical considerations and the respect for life pose more significant challenges than the technological hurdles. The discussions highlighted the delicate balance between scientific progress and moral responsibility, underscoring the need for careful deliberation as humanity edges closer to the possibility of bringing extinct species back to life.

In Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, the remnants of ancient glacial activity are vividly preserved in the form of deep, circular pits etched into the bedrock. These geological formations, often referred to as ‘giant’s kettles,’ were sculpted by the relentless force of melting glaciers, rushing water, and abrasive sand over millennia. Scattered along mountain streams, these potholes have since filled with water, creating clusters of serene, shimmering pools. Today, these natural wonders captivate hikers and campers, especially when sunlight dances on the water’s surface, transforming the basins into a sparkling spectacle. This unique landscape serves as a testament to the powerful forces of nature that once shaped the region.

In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, Chinese researchers at Guangdong Ocean University have successfully created the world’s first gene-edited black goat, designed to withstand high temperatures and humidity. Named ‘Hai Yang’ (Ocean Goat), this innovative breed was born on August 25, 2025, in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, and marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by climate change on livestock production. The goat, which underwent editing of the PRLR (prolactin receptor) gene, has demonstrated remarkable resilience to heat stress, maintaining a robust appetite and faster weight gain compared to non-edited counterparts. According to Gan Shangquan, the chief scientist leading the project, Hai Yang has grown to weigh nearly 4,300 grams, outperforming the control group by 300 grams. This development is particularly crucial for southern China and other tropical coastal regions, where heat stress has historically caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry. The research team, which began its work in November 2022, plans to expand the program with additional batches of gene-edited goats expected later this year. The project not only highlights China’s leadership in livestock biological breeding but also offers a sustainable solution to ensure food security in the face of global warming.

In the arid expanse of the Taklimakan Desert, a remarkable tale of symbiosis unfolds between the saxaul tree and the cistanche herb, offering a sustainable solution to desertification. The saxaul seed, known for its rapid germination, takes root in the sandy soil of Xinjiang’s southern desert edge. Within hours, it sprouts, braving harsh ultraviolet radiation and relentless sandstorms. Its grayish-white branches sway in the wind, forming a natural barrier against drifting sand while its deep roots tap into scarce groundwater. Beneath the surface, the cistanche herb thrives parasitically, embedding its roots into the saxaul’s vascular system to absorb water and nutrients. Each spring, the cistanche’s stem emerges, releasing a sweet fragrance that attracts honeybees. These bees, in turn, facilitate pollination, ensuring the propagation of both species. This intricate relationship not only stabilizes the desert but also provides economic benefits. Cistanche, dubbed ‘desert ginseng,’ is a valuable medicinal herb cultivated alongside saxaul forests. Farmers rent beehives to enhance pollination, creating a virtuous cycle where ecological protection and economic gains coexist. This model exemplifies China’s ‘edge-locking’ project, which aims to encircle the Taklimakan Desert with artificial vegetation. Li Peng, a veteran of desert control in Xinjiang, emphasizes the complexity of such initiatives, highlighting the need for systematic planning in water management, infrastructure, and maintenance. This innovative approach demonstrates how nature’s resilience, coupled with human ingenuity, can transform barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems.

China has successfully concluded its first-ever collaborative deep-sea manned submersible operation, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s polar research capabilities. The mission, which spanned 98 days, primarily focused on the Arctic Circle and was carried out by the Tansuo 3, the world’s first ice-breaking manned deep-sea submersible support vessel. The expedition, jointly organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, utilized China’s domestically developed submersibles, Fendouzhe and Jiaolong. During the mission, the team navigated 1,989 nautical miles through ice-covered waters, conducting 43 dive missions. Notably, Jiaolong and Fendouzhe performed cooperative operations, including dual-submersible positioning searches and underwater motion filming, a first for China. The team also achieved the world’s first manned deep-sea exploration of the Gakkel Ridge, a tectonic plate boundary in the Arctic’s central basin. Fendouzhe completed 32 dives, reaching a maximum depth of 5,277 meters and enduring extreme polar conditions. The mission validated the operational capabilities of Fendouzhe and Tansuo 3 in polar ice-covered regions, establishing new protocols for extreme conditions and pioneering a mobile ice-diving model. This effort has cultivated a specialized polar deep-diving research team, positioning China as the only nation capable of continuous manned submersible operations in Arctic dense ice zones. The expedition collected valuable water, sediment, rock, and biological samples, providing critical scientific support for studying Arctic climate change, geological processes, and polar life evolution.

A recent scientific expedition has unveiled that Asia’s longest cave, the Shuanghe Cave in Suiyang county, Guizhou province, has grown by an additional 2.6 kilometers. This discovery, announced this month, brings the cave’s total surveyed length to an impressive 439.7 kilometers. The findings are the result of the 24th international scientific expedition conducted in the cave, which has been a focal point for researchers and explorers due to its vast and intricate network of passages. The Shuanghe Cave, renowned for its geological significance and biodiversity, continues to captivate scientists and adventurers alike. This latest measurement underscores the cave’s dynamic nature and the ongoing efforts to map its extensive system. The expedition team utilized advanced surveying techniques to accurately determine the new length, highlighting the importance of continuous exploration and research in understanding such natural wonders. The discovery not only enhances our knowledge of the cave’s structure but also reinforces its status as a key site for scientific study and conservation.

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has revealed profound changes in extreme rainfall and snowfall patterns across the Northern Hemisphere over the past seven decades. Published in the journal *Advances in Climate Change Research*, the study highlights how global warming has altered the distribution of both liquid and solid precipitation, significantly impacting their intensity and frequency. Using ERA5-Land reanalysis data from 1950 to 2022, the team analyzed long-term trends, temperature sensitivity, and underlying mechanisms driving these extreme weather events. The findings indicate that extreme rainfall has intensified at a rate of 0.269 mm per year, nearly nine times faster than the increase in extreme snowfall, which stands at 0.029 mm per year. The study underscores that rising temperatures are primarily responsible for the surge in extreme rainfall, while their impact on snowfall remains relatively modest. Li Yupeng, the study’s lead author, emphasized the critical role of extreme precipitation in risk management, urging mid-latitude regions to focus on flood mitigation and high-latitude and alpine areas to address snow-related hazards. The research provides valuable insights for understanding global precipitation patterns and supports the development of region-specific climate adaptation and disaster prevention strategies.

A significant strontium ore deposit has been unearthed in the Lishui district of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, according to the Geological Survey of Jiangsu. The deposit, located at a depth of less than 1 kilometer, contains an estimated 545,000 metric tons of ore and 265,000 tons of minerals, with an average grade of 48.65 percent. Strontium, classified as a critical rare metal, is essential for manufacturing special ceramic materials and magnetic alloys, which are vital components in high-end electronic devices. The European Commission recognized strontium as a Critical Raw Material in 2020, underscoring its global importance. Professor Tan Hongbing of Hohai University highlighted the deposit’s high grade and substantial reserves, emphasizing its significant mining value. He also noted that China holds over 60 percent of the world’s proven strontium reserves, reinforcing its leading role in the global strontium market. The discovery, located near the Aijing Mountain deposit in the Lishui volcanic basin, marks a continuation of Jiangsu’s rich history in strontium mining, which dates back to the 1960s. The Geological Survey of Jiangsu conducted a four-year study to map the basin, overcoming challenges such as dense human activity. Their research identified five concealed strontium ore bodies in the Mashantou area, along with deposits of copper, lead-zinc, and pyrite. This discovery not only enhances Jiangsu’s mineral wealth but also provides valuable insights for future strontium exploration.

In a significant advancement for its space program, China successfully launched the Gaofen-14 02 satellite on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The satellite was propelled into space at 11:55 am Beijing Time aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket, marking the 603rd mission of the Long March series. The Gaofen-14 02 is designed to capture high-precision stereo imagery globally, which will play a crucial role in supporting national economic development and enhancing national defense capabilities. This launch underscores China’s growing expertise and ambition in space technology, contributing to its strategic goals in both civilian and military domains.