分类： science

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), the world’s largest liquid scintillator neutrino detector, has unveiled its first set of experimental results, marking a significant milestone in particle physics. Located 700 meters underground in Guangdong, China, this state-of-the-art facility has achieved unprecedented precision in measuring neutrino properties, offering new insights into the fundamental nature of these elusive particles.

China has achieved a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program with the successful return of experimental ‘lunar soil bricks’ from space. These bricks, exposed to the extreme conditions of space for a year, arrived on Earth aboard the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft last week. Initial inspections confirmed their structural integrity, marking a crucial step toward China’s goal of constructing infrastructure on the moon by 2035. The experiment, led by Ding Lieyun of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, began in November 2024 when the Tianzhou 8 cargo ship transported simulated lunar soil samples to China’s space station. A total of 74 bricks were mounted on the station’s exterior exposure platform for a three-year study. The bricks, crafted from volcanic ash from Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, mimic the composition of lunar regolith. They exhibit triple the compressive strength of conventional bricks and remain stable under the moon’s extreme temperature fluctuations and cosmic radiation. The team employed traditional Chinese masonry techniques and developed a robotic system for assembly, akin to LEGO blocks, with 3D printing used for structural reinforcement. Future analysis of the bricks will provide insights into their long-term durability in the lunar environment, laying the groundwork for extraterrestrial construction.

China has officially released the top 10 application achievements from its second Qinghai-Tibet Plateau scientific expedition, marking a significant milestone in ecological, disaster prevention, and resource exploration research. The findings were announced on Wednesday in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang Autonomous Region, under the leadership of Yao Tandong, a distinguished academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The expedition, which began in August 2017, has involved over 3,000 research teams and 30,000 personnel, conducting extensive surveys across the plateau. Key achievements include scientific support for ecological protection legislation, the creation of an Earth observation and early warning platform, and innovative technologies for disaster prevention in permafrost regions, which are crucial for major infrastructure projects like the Sichuan-Xizang Railway and expressways. The plateau is experiencing a warming, wetting, and ‘greening’ trend, amplifying both regional and global climate impacts. Additionally, the ‘Asian Water Tower’ has shown a significant increase in water supply capacity, with runoff projections indicating a potential 49 percent rise by the end of the century, ensuring water security for billions.

A pioneering study conducted by Chinese scientists has uncovered the intricate coupling effects between snow cover and ground thermal dynamics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Published in the journal *Agricultural and Forest Meteorology*, the research was jointly carried out by the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST). The study integrates snow cover processes into land surface and climate models for cold regions, significantly enhancing the accuracy of permafrost evolution predictions and extreme event risk assessments. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, home to the world’s largest high-altitude permafrost zone, has experienced accelerated warming due to global climate change. Unlike the Arctic, the plateau’s snow cover is typically thin and short-lived, yet it plays a critical role in influencing ground thermal regimes and surface energy fluxes. Researchers conducted years of in-situ observations at two alpine permafrost sites, located at 5,100 meters and 4,538 meters above sea level, respectively. They analyzed snow cover characteristics, ground surface temperature responses, and energy flux dynamics. The team also proposed a ‘four-interval mechanism framework’ to describe the evolutionary stages of snow-ground coupling. According to Hu Guojie, a researcher at NIEER, this framework provides operational criteria and parametric insights for shallow snow-dominated areas. Professor Zhao Lin from NUIST emphasized that the study quantified the nonlinear thermal effects of shallow snow cover on alpine permafrost, offering observational evidence and conceptual benchmarks for developing threshold-sensitive snow-ground coupling schemes in climate models.

China is leveraging state-of-the-art scientific and technological innovations to safeguard and study its extensive cultural heritage. This initiative was highlighted during a conference organized by the National Cultural Heritage Administration in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, in October. The event brought together administrators and scientists from key technology and research bases to review achievements and outline future strategies. The conference underscored that the field of cultural relics is at a pivotal stage, with significant scientific questions and key technologies on the verge of revolutionary breakthroughs. Officials announced plans to establish innovation systems encompassing basic research, technology development, and achievement transformation during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). Since 2004, the administration has established 40 key research bases, forming a comprehensive scientific network that supports high-quality development in the cultural relics sector. These bases have made strides in technological research, talent cultivation, achievement promotion, and international exchange. Advanced technologies such as satellite remote sensing, drone patrols, and real-time perception through the internet of things are being widely used to build intelligent firewalls for relics. In the field of risk prevention and control, these bases serve as guardians of cultural relics. For instance, the key research base for the seismic protection of cultural relics has developed a discrete body mechanics theoretical model for predicting damage to brick-and-stone heritage structures and new stability enhancement measures. This technology has been applied in the protection and display of heavy stone inscriptions such as Kaicheng Shijing in the Xi’an Beilin Museum. Additionally, the complete set of technical equipment for seismic protection of museum collections developed by the base is in use in more than 20 museums across the country and has withstood the test of multiple earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.2 or higher. In the field of conservation and restoration, these research bases are extending the life span of cultural relics. The key research base for conservation of ancient murals at the Dunhuang Academy has built the world’s first multi-field coupling laboratory for cultural relics, continuously deepening the understanding of relic diseases. Innovations such as microbial treatment materials for tomb murals and weathering prevention technologies for sandstone grotto temples have been applied in more than 200 projects across 16 provinces and regions and are being promoted to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Myanmar. In the field of archaeological interpretation, these research bases act as decoders of civilization. The deep integration of technology has expanded archaeology beyond traditional tools like hand shovels and excavation units. The integrated innovation of spatial science, molecular biology, nuclear technology, and other methods has provided a more solid basis for revealing the origins, formation, and development path of Chinese civilization. The key research base for human evolution and genetics at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has achieved remarkable results over the past years. Its ancient DNA team has used key ancient DNA and ancient protein evidence to confirm that the Harbin cranium is linked to the early Denisovan lineage from Siberia, who were widely distributed in Asia. The team has published papers in international journals such as Cell, Nature, and Science, proposing new hypotheses about the diverse ancestral populations and migration evolution patterns in East Asia, and constructing a China-Southeast Asia gene flow network. Similarly, the key research base for metal and metallurgical heritage at the University of Science and Technology Beijing has clarified the origins of Chinese metallurgy. These research bases serve as envoys of cultural dissemination, bringing cultural relics to life and into households. In collaboration with the research institute of the Yungang Grottoes, the key research base for digital protection of grotto temple relics at Zhejiang University has created a 1:1 full-scale replication of Cave 3 of Yungang, allowing the magnificent grotto art to ‘travel’ the world. At the core of technological competition lies talent. Since their establishment, the research bases have made talent cultivation their key mission. After years of development, a professional team of scientific and technological talent has formed, becoming a valuable resource driving the high-quality development of the cultural relics sector. As of last year, among the 1,436 permanent staff members in 40 research bases, 58 percent hold senior professional titles and 71 percent have master’s degrees or higher, indicating a steady improvement in the talent hierarchy. Internationally, China’s voice is becoming increasingly prominent. Various research bases have established stable academic cooperation with more than 20 countries, including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. The key research base for conservation of textile cultural relics at the China National Silk Museum has initiated the World Silk Interactive Map project, attracting about 40 institutions from 13 countries to participate, constructing the world’s first silk heritage database.

In a significant development for global scientific research, Chinese cities have emerged as dominant players in the latest Nature Index supplement, securing more than half of the top 10 spots in the 2025 rankings. Beijing continues to reign as the world’s leading science city, a position it has maintained since 2016. Shanghai follows closely in second place, while Nanjing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Hangzhou also feature prominently in the top 10. The United States is represented by the New York, Boston, San Francisco Bay, and Baltimore-Washington metropolitan areas. The rankings, compiled by an organization linked to Springer Nature, are based on contributions to 145 high-quality natural and health science journals tracked by the Nature Index database. Chinese cities excel in chemistry, physical sciences, and Earth and environmental sciences, with Beijing leading in all three categories. In biological sciences, Western cities dominate, with New York and Boston taking the top spots, while Beijing ranks third. Health sciences see US cities claiming half of the top 10 positions, with Beijing securing sixth place. Hangzhou, home to tech giants like Alibaba and DeepSeek, has made significant strides, advancing three spots to enter the top 10. The city has established robust support mechanisms for basic research, including a joint fund with the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Wuhan, another rising star, has climbed to eighth place, driven by its thriving high-tech sector and substantial investment in research and development. Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun emphasized the pivotal role of sci-tech innovation in catalyzing new industries and growth drivers. Experts highlight that China’s growing influence in global innovation is reshaping the landscape, with cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou becoming critical nodes in the global innovation network.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is witnessing a transformative shift in its approach to space exploration, with space law emerging as a critical discipline in the nation’s rapidly expanding space sector. Once an obscure academic field, space law is now gaining significant traction, driven by the UAE’s ambitious lunar missions and a growing interest among its youth and educational institutions. This development was highlighted during a session titled ‘Forging New Frontiers Through Global Partnerships’ at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, emphasized that the rise of space law reflects the country’s broader space ambitions and the need for robust legal frameworks to guide political, commercial, and international cooperation. As the UAE prepares for its next steps in space exploration, including lunar missions, experts underscored the importance of space law in navigating the complexities of the global space economy. The UAE’s expanding space sector has also spurred a ripple effect across higher education institutions, with universities introducing specialized programs to meet industry demands. For the first time, space law is being taught as a degree program in the UAE, marking a significant milestone in the region’s academic landscape. Mike Gold, President of Civil and International Space at Redwire Space, noted that while engineers handle the technical aspects, lawyers face the challenging task of addressing the political and commercial dimensions of space exploration. The growing visibility of astronauts has also played a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation. Initiatives that allow students to engage with astronauts have had a profound impact on youth, fostering a sense of responsibility and ambition. This has led to a surge in demand for skills beyond engineering, including governance, regulation, policy, and legal expertise. Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, highlighted that space has transitioned from being a luxury or a novelty to a critical component of modern society. He emphasized the shared responsibility of the global community in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by space exploration. The UAE’s focus on space law and education is shaping career aspirations across the region, positioning the country as a leader in the global space economy.