博客

Shanghai’s scientific community witnessed a significant gathering of emerging talent as the Pujiang Innovation Forum’s CCB Lab convened its latest “Youth Voice” academic symposium on Friday. The event, specifically dedicated to plant science advancements, established a dynamic platform combining rigorous academic discourse with collaborative networking opportunities for promising researchers.

Distinguished experts including Cui Xiaofeng, Executive Editor of prestigious journals Molecular Plant and Plant Communications, and Du Wenxian, Associate Researcher at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, delivered cutting-edge presentations. Their insights traced China’s remarkable evolution in plant science from its early days of following international trends to its current position as a global innovator in the field.

The symposium introduced the ambitious “Plant Science 2035” vision, outlining how technological breakthroughs are revolutionizing research methodologies across scales—from molecular investigations to comprehensive ecosystem analyses. This forward-looking framework emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches that will define the next decade of botanical research.

Leveraging digital connectivity, the event achieved substantial reach through multi-platform livestreaming, accumulating over 10,000 views and facilitating active participation from young scholars both virtually and in-person. The collaborative effort between Shanghai Pujiang Innovation Forum Center and Shanghai Association of Young Talents in Science and Technology demonstrated a committed institutional approach to nurturing scientific talent through themed academic gatherings that address future challenges and opportunities.

In a groundbreaking polar research achievement, an international scientific consortium has developed the first comprehensive genealogical archive of subglacial volcanoes concealed beneath Antarctica’s massive ice sheets. Designated as ANT-SGV-25, this pioneering catalogue documents 207 known volcanic formations, providing an unprecedented systematic reference for understanding these hidden geological features.

The research initiative was spearheaded by China’s Polar Research Institute (PRIC) in collaboration with Zhejiang University, Fudan University, and the United Kingdom’s University of Exeter. The team synthesized existing scientific data to address longstanding observational challenges and resolution limitations that have historically hampered systematic study of these subsurface structures.

According to lead researcher Cui Xiangbin of PRIC’s Center for Polar Ice & Snow and Climate Change Research, the volcanic inventory reveals significant morphological diversity. The documented volcanoes range dramatically in scale, with elevations spanning from 100 to 4,181 meters and volumes varying from 1 to 2,800 cubic kilometers. Their basal widths extend from 0.3 to 58 kilometers, with median slopes averaging approximately 8.1 degrees.

The distribution pattern shows pronounced concentration within the West Antarctic Rift System, where crustal stretching and elevated geothermal activity create favorable conditions for volcanic formation. By contrast, only three volcanic structures have been identified in East Antarctica to date.

This research breakthrough holds substantial implications for understanding ice sheet dynamics. Subglacial volcanoes significantly influence basal topography, promote ice melting through geothermal heat, regulate subglacial hydrological systems, and ultimately affect ice flow patterns and stability. The comprehensive parameter system established through computer vision technology and data integration enables detailed classification, origin analysis, and impact assessment of these geological features.

The findings, published in the prestigious journal Earth-Science Reviews, represent a crucial public data resource for the global scientific community studying polar environments and climate change impacts.

In a pioneering achievement for space biology, Chinese researchers have documented the first successful emergence of a butterfly from its chrysalis in Earth’s orbit. The breakthrough experiment, conducted aboard a miniature sealed ecosystem, provides unprecedented insights into biological adaptation to microgravity conditions.

Chongqing University’s research team developed the specialized 8.3-kilogram payload that housed the butterfly chrysalis alongside pepper plants and microorganisms. Launched December 13, 2025, aboard the Kuaizhou-11 Y8 carrier rocket, the self-contained ecosystem maintained Earth-like conditions through carefully calibrated environmental controls.

Chief designer Xie Gengxin explained the engineering innovations that made the experiment possible. ‘We overcame significant technical challenges, particularly magnesium alloy oxidation in high-humidity environments, to create a robust protective structure for this biological habitat,’ he stated.

The spacecraft’s monitoring systems captured photographic evidence showing the butterfly adapting remarkably to weightlessness—moving within the capsule, resting on leaves, and fluttering its wings despite the absence of normal gravity. Telemetry data confirmed stable pressure, temperature, and humidity levels throughout the emergence process.

This achievement represents more than insect development in space; it validates the viability of complex closed-loop life support systems for long-duration missions. The experiment successfully simulated Earth’s ecological cycles, with plants generating oxygen and potential food sources while microorganisms processed waste to maintain atmospheric stability.

Researchers now turn their attention to evaluating the structure’s orbital endurance, component adaptability, and long-term sealing capabilities—critical factors for future deep-space exploration and potential extraterrestrial colonization efforts.

In a landmark paleontological breakthrough, researchers have confirmed the discovery of the first-ever Jurassic-period amphibian footprints found in Asia, located within Beijing’s Mentougou District. The extraordinary find, recently published in the esteemed journal Ichnos, was spearheaded by a team of Chinese scientists and originated from a chance discovery by a local elementary school student.

The fossil evidence consists of a meticulously preserved pair of impressions—a forefoot and a hindfoot—etched onto a single stone slab estimated to be approximately 160 million years old. The tracks were identified on a roadside slope in Longquan town. According to Professor Xing Lida, a renowned dinosaur specialist from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, the alignment, size, and spacing of the 1.5-centimeter-long prints indicate they were made by a single, small animal in motion.

One impression is exceptionally well-defined, presenting a distinct fan-shaped morphology with four slender, pointed toes. To extract maximal detail from these diminutive traces, the scientific team employed advanced photogrammetric 3D modeling. This digital technique generated a high-fidelity three-dimensional model that unveiled subtle surface features imperceptible to the naked eye, providing a robust foundation for conclusive analysis.

Through rigorous morphological comparison and quantitative skeletal-track correlation, the research team attributed the footprints to a salamander-like amphibian from the Middle Jurassic era. This discovery shatters previous records for the region, which were dominated by dinosaur and turtle tracks, effectively filling a critical void in the Asian vertebrate ichnological record.

The implications extend far beyond a new species identification. These ancient tracks serve as a direct portal into the paleoecology of northern China, painting a picture of a lush, complex ecosystem where small, land-adapted amphibians thrived alongside ferns, ginkgos, and cycads in a lake-swamp environment.

A particularly inspiring aspect of this scientific achievement is its origin. The crucial fossil was first spotted in early 2025 by Ni Jingchen, a young fossil enthusiast and elementary school student, during a exploratory outing. Professor Xing hailed this as a quintessential example of public participation in science, demonstrating that profound historical discoveries can sometimes lie in the most unassuming places, awaiting a curious and observant mind.