Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Research suggests causes of moon’s two different ‘faces’

    Research suggests causes of moon’s two different ‘faces’

    A groundbreaking study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has potentially solved one of the Moon’s most enduring geological mysteries—why its Earth-facing near side and hidden far side exhibit such dramatically different characteristics. The research points to a cataclysmic asteroid impact billions of years ago that permanently altered the Moon’s chemical composition and volcanic capabilities.

    For decades, planetary scientists have been perplexed by the lunar dichotomy. The near side displays extensive dark volcanic plains formed by ancient lava flows, while the far side presents a rugged, mountainous terrain with significantly fewer volcanic features and a thicker crustal layer.

    The international research team, led by Professor Tian Hengci from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed microscopic samples retrieved by China’s historic Chang’e 6 mission—the first-ever collection of geological specimens from the Moon’s far side, specifically from the massive South Pole-Aitken basin impact crater.

    The investigation focused on potassium isotopes, which serve as chemical fingerprints of past thermal events. The researchers discovered an abundance of heavier potassium isotopes in the far side samples, indicating that an enormous asteroid impact generated such intense heat that it vaporized lighter volatile elements—including potassium, zinc, and sulfur—causing them to escape into space.

    This elemental loss had profound geological consequences. Volatile elements typically lower the melting point of subsurface rocks, facilitating magma formation and volcanic activity. Their depletion from the far side meant this region lost its capacity for significant volcanic eruptions, explaining its mountainous, geologically dormant nature.

    In contrast, the near side retained its volatile elements, allowing prolonged volcanic activity that created the expansive dark plains visible from Earth. The research demonstrates that asteroid impacts can fundamentally alter a planetary body’s internal chemistry and geological evolution, not merely create surface craters.

    While previous theories attributed the Moon’s asymmetry to Earth’s gravitational influence or uneven radioactive heating, this study provides direct chemical evidence highlighting the transformative power of giant impacts in shaping planetary bodies throughout our solar system.

  • AI software under lens for facilitating porn talk

    AI software under lens for facilitating porn talk

    In a groundbreaking legal ruling that establishes new precedents for artificial intelligence regulation, Chinese authorities have prosecuted developers of an AI chat application for facilitating sexually explicit conversations. The case involving the ‘Alien Chat’ app has triggered widespread calls for enhanced safety protocols and ethical guidelines within China’s rapidly expanding AI sector.

    The Shanghai-based company behind the controversial application integrated an overseas AI model to create software that enabled users to engage in intimate conversations with artificial intelligence systems. Marketed as providing emotional companionship and support for young users, the platform required membership fees and rapidly accumulated over 116,000 registered users, including 24,000 paying members, generating more than 3.63 million yuan ($520,494) in revenue before being reported to authorities in April 2024.

    A Shanghai court delivered its verdict in September, sentencing the primary developer to four years imprisonment and the operator to eighteen months for profiting from the production and distribution of obscene content. Judicial authorities determined that the software consistently generated explicit sexual material during user interactions, crossing legal and ethical boundaries despite defense claims that the technology was designed for legitimate companionship purposes.

    Legal representatives for the defendants have filed an appeal, arguing that the AI system was not originally intended to disseminate pornography and that prompt modifications were implemented merely to enhance emotional responsiveness. The defense further noted that the software commenced operations prior to China’s implementation of interim generative AI management measures in July 2023.

    However, the court maintained that as industry professionals, the defendants were aware of regulatory requirements but deliberately avoided conducting mandatory security assessments and failed to register with cybersecurity authorities. Evidence presented demonstrated that without repeated systematic adjustments, the AI model would not have persistently produced obscene content, indicating intentional design choices rather than accidental outcomes.

    Prominent legal experts emphasize that this case establishes critical benchmarks for AI companion services. Xu Hao of Beijing Jingsh Law Firm noted that while user-AI interactions may appear private, the underlying platforms remain public domains requiring rigorous content safety reviews. ‘Failure to implement protective measures can severely impact users’ physical and mental health, particularly concerning minors,’ Xu stated, adding that AI-generated content possesses significantly broader dissemination capabilities than traditional obscene materials.

    Professor Zhu Wei from China University of Political Science and Law emphasized that large language model development must strictly adhere to legal frameworks and ethical standards, noting that profit-driven platforms amplifying pornography transform private behavior into public harm requiring managerial accountability. The case underscores the necessity for generative AI providers to register with cybersecurity authorities and demonstrates the growing role of judicial oversight in technological regulation.

  • Test launch marks push in reusable space vehicles

    Test launch marks push in reusable space vehicles

    In a significant advancement for commercial space capabilities, Chinese aerospace company CAS Space successfully conducted the inaugural test flight of its PH-1 suborbital spacecraft on Monday. The demonstration mission, launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia’s Gobi Desert region, achieved critical milestones in reusable vehicle technology.

    The PH-1 vehicle ascended to approximately 120 kilometers altitude, crossing the internationally recognized Kármán line that demarcates Earth’s atmosphere from outer space. During its controlled descent, the spacecraft’s recoverable payload cabin successfully deployed parachutes at approximately 10 kilometers altitude before executing a precision landing at a predetermined site.

    Technical validation encompassed multiple breakthrough systems including atmospheric re-entry deceleration mechanisms, parachute recovery operations, and advanced landing control technologies. The mission design featured separation of the unpowered payload cabin from its booster at 70 kilometers altitude, with the cabin continuing upward through inertia before initiating its return trajectory.

    Notably, the spacecraft maintained a stable microgravity environment exceeding 300 seconds duration, substantially longer than achievable through conventional ground-based alternatives like drop towers or parabolic aircraft flights. The experimental payload included an innovative laser-based 3D printer engineered for microgravity operation and rose seeds with previous spaceflight heritage.

    According to Chief Designer Shi Xiaoning, the PH-1 platform primarily targets cost-effective suborbital scientific research applications. The technology demonstrates particular promise for space-based agricultural breeding, biomedical investigations, and advanced materials testing. Future iterations anticipate evolution toward orbital-grade spacecraft capable of year-long orbital operations with approximately 10 reuses, potentially revolutionizing in-orbit manufacturing capabilities.

    This achievement occurs within China’s rapidly expanding commercial space sector, where both state-owned enterprises and private companies are accelerating development of reusable launch systems to reduce space access costs and strengthen the nation’s position in the global space economy.

  • Trade tensions threaten green goals, scholars warn

    Trade tensions threaten green goals, scholars warn

    Academic experts are raising urgent alarms that escalating international trade disputes are creating a dangerous divergence between climate ambitions and global commerce, potentially derailing environmental progress worldwide. This warning emerges alongside remarkable growth in the environmental goods sector, which reached $2 trillion in exports during 2024, accounting for 14% of globally manufactured goods according to UN Trade and Development data.

    Between 2013 and 2022, trade in solar energy products surged by 56% while wind generation goods expanded by 39%, significantly outpacing the 23% growth rate of overall industrial goods. However, this rapid expansion has triggered policy conflicts centered on carbon offset mechanisms, green subsidies, and environmental regulations. Major economies are increasingly implementing unilateral measures that scholars characterize as protectionism disguised as climate action.

    The United States’ Inflation Reduction Act, featuring substantial subsidies for domestic clean energy production, has prompted formal World Trade Organization disputes from the European Union and other nations alleging unfair competition. Simultaneously, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism continues facing resistance from developing economies, with organizations like India’s Centre for Science and Environment warning that the policy effectively shifts decarbonization costs onto emerging markets.

    Additional friction points include Western targeting of China’s green technology sectors, particularly electric vehicles and renewable energy equipment, based on allegations of unfair subsidies. The EU commenced imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs in late 2024, a move that academics argue misrepresents China’s industrial development model.

    Professor Sun Yixian of the University of Bath’s International Development Department explains that many cited subsidies actually represent government-funded research and development within a coherent industrial policy framework. “Many Western countries are now learning from this model, which has created a virtuous cycle supporting green industrial development,” Sun noted, adding that subsidy allegations often serve as leverage in trade disputes.

    Professor Zhongxiang Zhang of Tianjin University described the EU’s anti-subsidy tariffs as a preemptive strategy against China’s competitive advantage rather than addressing proven damages. He observed that China’s EV sector advancement has disrupted the longstanding technological dominance of developed nations, prompting defensive measures to buy transition time.

    These tensions dominated discussions at COP30, resulting in the Global Mutirao decision explicitly advocating for enhanced dialogue between trade and climate interests. The agreement reaffirmed that climate measures should not constitute arbitrary discrimination or disguised trade restrictions.

    A significant institutional development emerged with Brazil launching the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade, creating an independent platform to bridge climate and trade discussions outside existing WTO and UNFCCC frameworks. Professor Zhang Jian of Tsinghua University hailed this as the first formal dialogue mechanism addressing unilateral measures within the UNFCCC framework.

    Researchers emphasize that successful green transition depends on open, stable international cooperation. Overreliance on unilateral measures risks triggering trade frictions, increasing transition costs, weakening investor confidence, and ultimately impairing global emissions reduction efficiency. Associate Research Fellow Dong Yifan of Beijing Language and Culture University stressed that current transition pace remains insufficient against climate challenges, fundamentally representing issues of cost distribution and political will requiring global cooperation.

    Experts conclude that resolving these tensions demands refocusing discussions on carbon reduction fundamentals, establishing robust rules-based frameworks, and pursuing mutually beneficial solutions rather than raising trade barriers that threaten collective climate goals.

  • Iranians agree more on regime change than on what might come next

    Iranians agree more on regime change than on what might come next

    New research reveals a profound transformation in Iranian society, with citizens demonstrating remarkable willingness to endure severe consequences in their pursuit of political change. Since the December 28 protests, estimates indicate over 500 fatalities and more than 10,000 arrests, though actual figures are believed to be substantially higher according to incoming reports.

    Conventional polling methods in Iran’s repressive environment have historically presented a distorted image of societal homogeneity. However, the Group for Analysing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (Gamaan) has pioneered anonymous internet-based surveying techniques that provide unprecedented insight into genuine public sentiment. By collaborating with Psiphon VPN services—utilized by approximately 90% of Iranian internet users to bypass government restrictions—Gamaan has collected representative samples ranging from tens of thousands to over 100,000 respondents.

    The research demonstrates that approximately 70-80% of Iranians across all demographics—including provincial, rural, urban, age, and gender divisions—express no support for the Islamic Republic. This sentiment crystallized during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, where 70% of respondents rejected compulsory hijab laws.

    Recent developments have significantly altered the political landscape. Iran’s military capabilities were substantially weakened during the September 2025 12-day conflict with Israel, which resulted in numerous senior commander casualties. Concurrently, the regime has experienced cultural deterioration—evidenced by its diminished capacity to enforce religious dress codes—and economic collapse characterized by currency devaluation.

    The surveys indicate that most Iranians view protests, international pressure, and external intervention as more effective mechanisms for change than electoral processes or internal reforms. This perspective intensified following unprecedented statements from a US president threatening intervention should protesters face lethal force, coupled with the military abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key Iranian ally.

    Regarding political alternatives, 89% of respondents support establishing a democratic system, though support for political liberalism remains more nuanced. Notably, 2025 witnessed increased monarchist sentiment, with Reza Pahlavi attracting approximately one-third strong support, one-third strong opposition, and one-third moderate or undecided respondents. His popularity varies significantly across ethnic minority regions.

    The research concludes that while nationalist sentiments may provide revolutionary momentum, sustainable stability post-regime change will require embracing Iran’s inherent cultural and ideological diversity within a genuinely free nation.

  • 2025 in review: Resilience amid headwinds

    2025 in review: Resilience amid headwinds

    The year 2025 emerged as a pivotal juncture for global climate governance, marked by unprecedented environmental challenges and deteriorating international cooperation. Scientific data revealed alarming milestones as the 2015-2025 period became the first three-year span to breach the Paris Agreement’s critical 1.5°C threshold above preindustrial levels, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

    Environmental catastrophes escalated globally, beginning with devastating wildfires in California’s Los Angeles area, followed by record-breaking European heatwaves, and culminating in severe flooding across Southeast and South Asia. The Arctic experienced its warmest recorded period from October 2024 to September 2025 since records began in 1900, per NOAA’s Arctic Report Card.

    The Global Tipping Points Report 2025, compiled by 160 researchers, warned that exceeding the 1.5°C limit places Earth in a danger zone of catastrophic climate tipping points. Professor Zhang Jian of Tsinghua University emphasized that climate change represents a nontraditional security threat with systemic impacts on economic stability and food security through increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

    However, multilateral cooperation suffered significant setbacks as geopolitical tensions intensified. The United States under President Donald Trump formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement, accompanied by environmental regulation rollbacks and climate science funding cuts. Experts described this move as creating substantial uncertainty for global climate financing and emission reduction efforts.

    Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, noted that current geopolitical fragmentation has collapsed mutual trust between nations, transforming climate governance from a collective existential threat into a complex arena involving development rights and green economic competition. Professor Sun Yixian of the University of Bath attributed Western climate backtracking to benefit allocation conflicts during green transitions, where national interest group politics increasingly override global cooperation imperatives.

    The convergence of scientific urgency and political disunity created a paradoxical tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, testing humanity’s collective resilience against escalating climate threats.

  • Why megastar boy band BTS never really went away

    Why megastar boy band BTS never really went away

    After nearly four years of anticipation, global music phenomenon BTS is poised for an extraordinary return to the international stage with confirmation of both a new album and extensive world tour. The seven-member K-pop ensemble completed their mandatory military service requirements in South Korea through a strategically staggered approach that concluded in mid-2025.

    The band’s hiatus, which began in 2022, saw a deliberate management of their public presence through solo projects and individual content releases. While Spotify data indicates a 24% decline in global streams during 2023 and a further 30% decrease in 2024, these figures fail to capture the sustained engagement maintained through carefully orchestrated solo endeavors.

    Dr. Felicity Davies, an expert in South Korean cultural studies, explains the sophisticated approach to the military hiatus: “Rather than experiencing a complete absence, fans received a calculated drip-feed of material. This included solo albums, individual tours, and personal live streams that maintained connection during the service period.”

    The upcoming tour announcement represents the first full-group concert series since their ‘Permission to Dance on Stage’ tour in 2021-2022. Industry analysts anticipate significantly larger scale production and more extensive global dates than previous tours.

    Dedicated fans like UK-based Ashia Davies exemplify the unwavering support within the ARMY fanbase. “I can’t let BTS be in the UK and not be at the concert,” she states, noting her willingness to travel internationally if necessary to secure tickets. Her last experience seeing the group live was during their historic 2019 Wembley Stadium performances.

    The return carries significance beyond music, representing a revitalization of the Hallyu (Korean Wave) cultural movement. Despite periodic predictions of decline, Korean cultural exports continue demonstrating remarkable global resilience, with recent successes like the Golden Globe-winning ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ film.

    Young fans like 22-year-old Lauryn Adene from Buckingham express confidence in the group’s continued artistic relevance: “They have a special bond between themselves and between their fans. It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces fit together really nicely—whatever they create, I trust it will be exceptional.”

  • Pingju Opera reaches out to new audiences

    Pingju Opera reaches out to new audiences

    In the historic corridors of Tianjin’s Red Flag Theater, a centuries-old artistic tradition is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Pingju Opera, one of China’s five major opera genres recognized as national intangible cultural heritage, is reinventing itself for the digital age while preserving its distinctive performance techniques.

    The theater, established in 1958 and alternatively known as Tianjin Pingju Opera Theater, serves as the guardian of this unique art form. Director Zeng Zhaojuan explains the demanding craftsmanship involved: “Moves such as ‘water-sleeve throwing’ and ‘handkerchief flipping’ require a grueling six-year training period.” These techniques involve sophisticated manipulation of costumes and props through precise wrist movements that create mesmerizing visual effects.

    Originating in late 19th-century marketplaces of Tianjin and neighboring Tangshan, Pingju Opera distinguished itself as the first major Chinese opera performed in common vernacular. Its early performances addressed social injustices and domestic scandals relevant to working-class audiences, with pioneering artists like Li Jinshun, Liu Cuixia, and Ai Lianjun transforming the folk tradition into a national phenomenon from humble teahouse beginnings.

    The contemporary iteration represents a significant evolution from its street performance origins. As young lead actor Li Xuanjie notes: “Pingju Opera has progressed from intimate one or two-actor shows to modern epics featuring 150 performers.” Productions like “The Legend of the Seal,” “Zhao Jintang,” and “Revolutionary Family” have earned China’s prestigious Splendor Award, the highest government recognition for theatrical excellence.

    Facing unprecedented competition from digital media, the theater has implemented multifaceted strategies to engage younger demographics. Their “Opera Entering Campus” initiative brings Pingju to universities including Tianjin Normal University and Tianjin University of Technology. Students experience immersive workshops featuring on-stage drama classes followed by backstage explorations of makeup and costuming processes.

    The theater has also embraced digital outreach through short videos and livestreams while pursuing innovative collaborations. A notable 2025 partnership with cross-talk celebrity Guo Degang merged traditional opera with contemporary comedy fan bases, creating unexpected audience crossovers.

    International engagement forms another crucial dimension of the renewal strategy. Recent visits by journalists from the United States, Italy, and other countries included unprecedented backstage access, revealing narrative parallels between Pingju classics like “Du Shiniang” and Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” These cross-cultural exchanges reposition Pingju not merely as local heritage but as a globally accessible narrative form capable of transcending cultural boundaries.

    Director Zeng articulates the dual mission: “We insist on both preserving classics and creating modern works that reflect the spirit of the times.” This balanced approach aims to address the central challenge of attracting both young performers and audiences while ensuring the art form’s continuity for future generations.

  • Online platform helps deputies solve locals’ problems

    Online platform helps deputies solve locals’ problems

    In Yuci District of Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, a technological innovation is transforming how local representatives address community concerns. The ‘Smart People’s Congress’ platform, launched in 2021 after three years of development, has become a cornerstone of digital governance, enabling unprecedented connectivity between deputies and constituents.

    The platform’s effectiveness was demonstrated during recent winter months when heating inadequacies emerged as a primary concern. Resident Feng Jingkai reported uncomfortably low indoor temperatures through the system after failing to reach customer service via traditional channels. Deputy Cao Xinsheng, 52, immediately coordinated with community officials and heating company representatives to address the issue comprehensively.

    Rather than treating this as an isolated complaint, Cao leveraged the platform to identify systemic patterns. ‘Serving the public isn’t about solving individual issues in isolation,’ Cao explained. ‘It’s about integrating common demands to extend services to broader populations.’

    The resulting solution involved comprehensive optimization measures: the heating company implemented grid-based service coverage with employees joining residential WeChat groups, while establishing a dedicated hotline guaranteeing two-hour response times for heating concerns.

    Technologically, the platform features ten core sections including supervision mechanisms and deputy suggestion management. Each representative receives a unique QR code that citizens can scan to leave messages directly, creating what deputy Chen Liyuan describes as ‘all-time, zero-distance contact’ between officials and community members.

    The data speaks to its success: deputies have uploaded over 21,000 performance records, interacted with citizens more than 600 times, and resolved 606 civil issues through the system. The platform also generates electronic performance files for each deputy, enhancing accountability and service tracking.

    Beyond immediate problem-solving, the technology has facilitated policy development. Deputy Chen Liyuan utilized gathered public opinions to propose elderly care initiatives that resulted in four municipal government documents strengthening senior service development.

    Platform manager Duan Wenyan emphasizes the transformation from ‘scheduled offline meetings to all-time availability,’ while Deputy Cao sees the technology as essential for modern governance: ‘By leveraging digital convenience, we build bridges between the public and government.’

  • Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw after the exclusion of a Palestinian writer

    Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw after the exclusion of a Palestinian writer

    Australia’s premier literary gathering, Adelaide Writers Week, has been abruptly canceled following the withdrawal of over 180 authors and speakers in protest of the disinvitation of prominent Australian-Palestinian writer Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah. The festival’s board initially rescinded Abdel-Fattah’s invitation on January 8th, citing unspecified “previous statements” and cultural sensitivities following December’s antisemitic mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people.

    The board emphasized that their decision was unrelated to any connection between Abdel-Fattah’s work and the tragedy, though they provided no specific examples of problematic statements. The author, known for her fiction and nonfiction works addressing Islamophobia, condemned the move as outright censorship, arguing the board had effectively declared her “mere presence” culturally insensitive.

    The controversy escalated dramatically as literary luminaries including British novelist Zadie Smith and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined the boycott. Festival Director Louise Adler, identifying as Jewish Australian, resigned in protest, stating she could not “be party to silencing writers.” By Tuesday, approximately 70% of scheduled participants had withdrawn, forcing complete cancellation of the event scheduled for late February.

    The festival organization issued an apology on Facebook for “how the decision was represented” but maintained their action reflected “a continuing rapid shift in the national discourse around freedom of expression” post-terror attack. Abdel-Fattah rejected this apology as insufficient, calling her exclusion “a blatant act of anti-Palestinian racism.”

    Background lobbying emerged from the Jewish Community Council of South Australia, with state Premier Peter Malinauskus supporting Abdel-Fattah’s removal. The cancellation carries significant economic impact—the 2025 event attracted 160,000 attendees and generated millions in revenue alongside hundreds of jobs.

    This cultural firestorm unfolds amid Australia’s broader national reckoning with hate speech legislation and public discourse boundaries following the Bondi massacre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced tightened gun controls, lowered thresholds for hate speech prosecutions, and a royal commission into antisemitism, with a national day of mourning scheduled for January 22.