https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Chinese Academy of Sciences A team of Chinese scientists has studied the first lunar farside samples brought back by the Chang'e-6 mission. The findings mark a significant milestone in lunar exploration science and technical exploration capability. The study was published in National Science Review on Sept. 16. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-lunar-farside-samples-mission.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:08:51 EDT news646589328 As global warming continues, convective weather events are becoming more frequent. The early stage of these storms, known as convective initiation (CI), can be monitored using geostationary satellites. However, detecting CI accurately remains a challenge. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-satellite-fusion-early-convective-clouds.html Environment Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:38:30 EDT news646587506 A research team led by Associate Professor Yang Ke from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, developed a new prognostic evaluation method for sepsis patients using a microfluidic concentration gradient chip. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-microfluidic-chip-sepsis-prognosis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Biomedical technology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:22:03 EDT news646579322 Bioluminescence, the ability of living organisms to emit light, is a fascinating phenomenon observed in various life forms, including deep-sea fish, glowing mushrooms, and fireflies. Fireflies have long captivated people with their enchanting light displays, sparking scientific curiosity. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-cretaceous-fireflies-reveal-early-evolution.html Evolution Paleontology & Fossils Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:01:04 EDT news646563662 Accurate snow cover information is crucial for studying global climate and hydrology. However, deep learning approaches for retrieving snow cover fraction (SCF) often suffer from limitations in training data dependence and interpretability. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-deep-framework-fraction.html Earth Sciences Environment Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:10:14 EDT news646499402 The research team led by Li Yang and Cao Zhi at the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed for the first time that submicroscopic magnetite particles are common throughout the lunar surface. This information updates our understanding of the lunar microscale oxidation environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-submicroscopic-magnetite-ubiquitous-lunar-regolith.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:15:23 EDT news646485321 Electrochemical reduction of CO2 has long been viewed as a promising approach to utilize CO2. Selective generation is an important topic, but most efforts on controlling product selectivity have been devoted to catalyst design and modification. The impact of electrolyte composition is less studied. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-electrolyte-composition-reduction-mof.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:04:03 EDT news646481041 A joint research group from China recently achieved the first observation of intrinsic magnetic structures in a kagome lattice by using the highly sensitive magnetic force microscopy (MFM) system of the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) as well as electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and micromagnetic simulations. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-intrinsic-magnetic-kagome-lattice.html Condensed Matter Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:01:04 EDT news646480861 Recently, the research team led by Prof. Wang Hongqiang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a wide-ranging cross-modality machine vision AI model. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-ai-barriers-modality-machine-vision.html Computer Sciences Machine learning & AI Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:30:09 EDT news646407005 The Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Wildlife Nature Reserve (KNR) in Xinjiang is home to several endangered ungulate species, including 80% of khulan in China, as well as nearly 10,000 goitered gazelles. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-factors-affecting-ungulates-china.html Ecology Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:17:03 EDT news646406222 Battery performance is heavily influenced by the non-uniformity and failure of individual electrode particles. Understanding the reaction mechanisms and failure modes at nanoscale level is key to advancing battery technologies and extending their lifespan. However, capturing real-time electrochemical evolution at this scale remains challenging due to the limitations of existing sensing methods, which lack the necessary spatial resolution and sensitivity. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-quantum-approach-captures-nanoscale-electrochemical.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:33:27 EDT news646400005 Compounds and proteins are the two most fundamental entities in drug discovery. Modeling their interactions is crucial for drug discovery. Although no universal computational method currently exists to predict and explain all compound-protein interactions (CPIs), researchers can contribute to building a comprehensive CPI map by leveraging various biological data from different perspectives. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ai-tool-efficiently-deconvolutes-compound.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:57:45 EDT news646394262 Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into C2 products is an important process in the quest to address the energy crisis and achieve carbon neutrality. However, generating C2 products is challenging due to the sluggish multi-electron transfer process and inert C–C coupling processes. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-photoreduction-metal-framework.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:03:38 EDT news646326215 As one of the largest heat reservoirs in the climate system, the global ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess energy from ongoing anthropogenic warming. In the last century, the greatest warming in the ocean has occurred in the upper 500 m, with relatively weak warming in the deep ocean, corresponding to a small ocean heat storage efficiency of ~0.1. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveals-large-ocean-storage-efficiency.html Earth Sciences Environment Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:00:01 EDT news645979935 In a study published in Advanced Functional Materials, a research team from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an oral molecular targeted drug delivery system based on an inulin derivative, which combines gut microbiota modulation with precise drug delivery, enhancing colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-prebiotic-carrier-regorafenib-colorectal.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:04:54 EDT news646056284 Neopyropia is an important economic macroalga and is one of the main macroalgae cultivation species in China, Japan, South Korea and other countries. As a critical juncture in the evolution of photosynthetic organisms, red algae to which Neopyropia belongs is regarded as a potential model species for studying the basic biology of macroalgae. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-team-gene-strategy-macroalgae-neopyropia.html Biotechnology Agriculture Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:52:03 EDT news646055521 RNA interference (RNAi) technology has gradually become a cutting-edge technology for treating diseases such as genetic disorders and cancer due to its huge potential in gene expression regulation. However, the efficient delivery and safety of short interfering RNA (siRNA) remain key challenges for its clinical application. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-cholesterol-exosome-rna-drug-delivery.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:30:03 EDT news646050601 In a study published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers discovered that cuproptosis may serve as a new target for radiosensitization in re-irradiation. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-copper-based-nanocapsules-shown-radiotherapy.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:17:22 EDT news646049838 Endocytosis and recycling control the uptake and retrieval of various materials in eukaryotic cells. Mammalian cells have developed several recycling routes, including the relatively extensively studied "fast" and "slow" tubulovesicular recycling pathways. Nevertheless, endocytic recycling pathways beyond the canonical "fast" and "slow" recycling pathways remain largely unknown. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-endocytic-recycling-mechanism-membrane-fusion.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:04:03 EDT news646049041 Rotaxanes have garnered interest for their unique structures consisting of mechanically interlocked axles and macrocycles. Numerous organic macrocycles have been employed to construct rotaxanes, including crown ether, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), calixarene, pillararene, cyclodextrin, and cucurbituril. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-aluminum-molecular-based-rotaxane-polyrotaxane.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:52:24 EDT news645979941 Lycium barbarum is a traditional and valuable medicinal herb in China. It has the effects of "strengthening muscles and bones with prolonged use, promoting longevity, and resisting cold and heat," according to "Ben Cao Gang Mu" ("Compendium of Materia Medica"), an encyclopedic work on traditional Chinese medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-reveals-secrets-lycium-barbarum-cold.html Medications Endocrinology & Metabolism Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:40:09 EDT news645975601 Globally, more than 13,000 plant species, equivalent to the entire native flora of Europe, have been naturalized outside their native ranges. A study, jointly conducted by scientists from China and the U.S., provides new insights about biodiversity, exotic invasion, and their relationship to climate change. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-moderate-exotic-species-invasions-biodiversity.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:11:03 EDT news645959461 Recently, Prof. Gao Xiaoming's team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a novel photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS)-based sensor that enabled simultaneous, high-sensitive detection of CO2, CH4, and N2O, with improved long-term measurement accuracy. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-photoacoustic-sensor-high-sensitivity-multiple.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:36:52 EDT news645957405 Imagine the conductor of a vast orchestra stood not at the front, but in the middle of all the musicians, dictating how they work together and the music they produce. The musicians are not stationary; they move past each other and interact, but all the while still controlled by the unmoving conductor. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-tibetan-plateau-current-future-climate.html Earth Sciences Environment Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:20:01 EDT news645956292 Mutations in SHANK3, a gene encoding a synaptic scaffolding protein, have been repeatedly identified in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-reveal-neural-mechanism-impaired-tactile.html Neuroscience Autism spectrum disorders Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:04:03 EDT news645894241 In a recent review published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, a research team led by Associated Professor Wang Peng from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Dr. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College London, provided a comprehensive overview of ethanol as a renewable carbon source for producing various high-value products, offering new perspectives for the development of eco-friendly industrial biotechnology processes. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ethanol-viable-alternative-sugar-based.html Biotechnology Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:59:02 EDT news645893941 In the field of nonlinear optics (NLO), deep-ultraviolet (DUV) NLO crystals have garnered attention due to their crucial role in all-solid-state lasers. With ongoing research, the demand for these DUV NLO crystals continues to grow. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-highest-harmonic-generation-response-deep.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:33:25 EDT news645881600 A research team has used a machine learning approach to investigate the evolution of shell structure for nuclei far from the stability valley. The study, published in Physics Letters B and conducted by researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huzhou University, and the University of Paris-Saclay, reveals the double-magic nature of tin-100 and the disappearance of the magic number 20 in oxygen-28. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-physicists-reveal-evolution-shell-machine.html General Physics Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:33:16 EDT news645881590 Accurately predicting how rapidly tropical cyclones (TCs) will intensify is a significant challenge due to the complex processes involved. Limited observations show that smaller TCs tend to intensify faster, suggesting a simple linear relationship between a cyclone's inner-core size and its intensification rate. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-key-size-rapid-tropical-cyclone.html Environment Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:58:03 EDT news645724682 Researchers from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel autofocus method that harnesses the power of deep learning to dynamically select regions of interest in grayscale images. The study was published in the journal Sensors. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-deep-dynamic-autofocus-grayscale-images.html Computer Sciences Machine learning & AI Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:19:44 EDT news645707978