Scientists discovered a 100-million-year-old beetle fossil that reveals early evolution of firefly sensory and signaling systems. The fossil preserves elaborate antennae and light-emitting organs, suggesting that lampyroid beetles relied heavily on pheromonal cues for mate searching.
A new fossil species, Eoceras shaanxiense, has been discovered in the early Cambrian of South China, providing insights into the earliest known siphuncle-bearing cephalopods. The find represents an intermediate evolutionary stage between earlier species and later species with more developed buoyancy systems.
A new study reveals that lake ice loss accelerates sharply once winter temperatures cross critical thresholds, leaving mid-latitude lakes vulnerable. The researchers found that the melting process accelerates considerably faster than the freezing process as the climate warms.
Researchers found that single-atom Cu and adjacent Ti sites play distinct roles in CO2 photoreduction. Single-atom Cu sites promote CO2 adsorption and activation at adjacent Ti sites through H2O adsorption and electron injection.
A team developed a platform for on-demand design of synthetic plant immune receptors (SPIRs) that recognize proteins from diverse plant pathogens. SPIRs were designed using AI-assisted tools and optimized using a high-throughput platform, demonstrating effective resistance to certain viruses and bacteria.
Researchers discovered that CRISPR-Cas plays a broader role in bacteria, directing a network of innate immune systems. Over 20 innate defense modules are genomically embedded within type I CRISPR-Cas loci, which are kept under tight transcriptional control by small RNAs.
Researchers constructed yeast strain SYNE27α with all 300 spliceosomal introns removed, demonstrating intron non-essentiality. The strain showed slow growth but heterozygous cells grew normally, supporting recessive fitness defects.
The High Intensity Heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) in China has completed construction and achieved trial operations. The facility features a two-kilometer beamline with energies ranging from MeV/u to GeV/u, generating the world's most intense pulsed heavy-ion beams.
Researchers have produced a spatially resolved spectral-index map on event-horizon scales, determining the physical conditions of the plasma around the black hole. The study reveals a transition toward an optically thin emission regime at a distance of about 30 μas from the black hole.
Research based on China's Chang'e-6 samples reveals that Earth's magnetosphere has shaped the difference in solar wind speeds and energies striking the Moon's two hemispheres. The study found that the lunar far side underwent stronger isotopic fractionation, resulting in preferential enrichment of the heavier isotope.
A global study found that plant evolutionary history plays a stronger role in shaping nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) storage than current environmental conditions. NSC variability is organ-specific, with leaf NSCs increasing toward higher latitudes and stem and root NSCs declining.
Researchers found that colossal karst sinkholes help preserve the rare Magnolia aromatica tree while limiting gene flow and diminishing its long-term evolutionary potential. The study suggests that conservation strategies should protect both individual habitats and connections among populations.
A study by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers identified a conserved molecular cascade that explains how drought and abscisic acid signaling trigger excessive Cd uptake in rice under water-saving regimes. The OsNAC4 transcription factor regulates grain Cd accumulation, and its functional knockout reduces Cd concentrations by 30-50...
Researchers uncover a previously unknown phase transformation mechanism in monolayer molybdenum telluride (MoTe2) that is fundamentally distinct from the conventional martensitic model. The study reveals a one-dimensional 'domino-like' chain reaction that triggers structural rearrangement and enables programmable electronic devices.
A Chinese research team found that environmental allergens activate gasdermin D through an iron-dependent mechanism, promoting IL-33 release and allergic airway inflammation. This iron-GSDMD-IL-33 axis is a potential driver of type 2 immune responses in asthma.
Researchers identified two parallel neuronal circuits regulating autophagy-lysosome pathway in C. elegans body wall muscle. The first circuit involves electrical synapses and the second originates from ASI sensory neurons, both converging on a Ca2+-calpain-lysosome signaling cascade to maintain muscle homeostasis.
Researchers created nanozyme proximity labeling (NPL) to visualize protein interactions and trafficking pathways of nanoparticles in live cells. The technique provides a high-resolution, in situ snapshot of how surface modifications influence nanoparticle destinations.
Researchers at USTC found persistent harmonic tremors within the upper 4.5 km beneath the seafloor, modulated by semidiurnal tides, indicating a cyclic sealing-pressurization-rupture-drainage mechanism. This study provides first evidence of tidally modulated tremor on an oceanic transform fault.
A new study reveals that China's environmental restoration efforts have reversed freshwater deoxygenation through effective wastewater management. By reducing organic pollution and increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations, the country has seen a dramatic reduction in hypoxic events.
Researchers have designed a material with an exceptionally broad zero-thermal-expansion temperature window, enabling stable performance in extreme temperatures. The novel crystal structure enhances flexibility and preserves negative thermal expansion at high temperatures.
The study reveals that lampreys share gene-expression patterns with mice across many regions, suggesting a well-organized brain in their common ancestor. The research also shows unique innovations in lamprey brains, such as oversized Müller cells, and highlights the evolution of specialized neurons over time.
Researchers propose that natural hallucinogens evolved to serve ecological functions such as defense, communication, and stress response. By modulating serotonin signaling pathways, these compounds can influence behavior in other species.
Researchers have developed a new three-dimensional photothermal structure that greatly improves solar evaporation efficiency, achieving a record rate of 38.14 kg m-2 h-1. The material's unique microstructure maximizes sunlight capture and reduces energy consumption by 45.7%.
A team of scientists has identified a key genetic module that coordinates chilling resilience with nitrogen use efficiency in rice. The discovery, called Chilling Phoenix, reveals how this module enhances cooling tolerance during stress and promotes nitrogen uptake during recovery.
Researchers designed Linafexor, a non-bile-acid FXR agonist with pulsatile activation, to mimic the body's natural rhythms. In preclinical models, Linafexor significantly improved markers of liver injury and inflammation, while achieving intended pulsatile exposure synchronized with bile-acid rhythms.
Researchers have developed a generative AI model called Void-X that can predict protein-protein interactions with high accuracy, enabling the design of new biomolecules for drug discovery and synthetic biology. The model achieves predictive accuracies of 78.3% for intra-chain clusters and 68.2% for inter-chain clusters.
Researchers propose a thermochemical mantle plume formation process for the Ontong Java Plateau, contradicting previous hypotheses. The model explains spatial variations in crustal thickness and lava composition across the plateau.
Researchers have identified a deep Earth dynamic mechanism responsible for the formation of widely distributed seamounts. The study extends and refines the classical mantle plume model by pinpointing asthenospheric thermal anomalies as key factors in generating volcanic activity.
The JUNO Collaboration has made the high-precision measurement of two key oscillation parameters, reducing associated uncertainties by a factor of 1.6 compared to past decades. This result validates detector performance and analysis methodology, establishing JUNO as a key player in precision neutrino oscillation physics.
A team of researchers identified a small peptide signal that senses cold during pollen development, allowing crops to shield themselves from sudden climate shocks. The discovery offers a powerful genetic strategy to protect crop yields while maintaining performance under favorable conditions.
Researchers have documented the world's deepest and largest known aggregation of whale fossils and active whale-fall ecosystems in the Diamantina Zone of the southeastern Indian Ocean. The discovery, a 'whale necropolis,' reveals insights into deep-sea life, evolution, and dispersal.
Scientists have isolated a key gene from maize's wild ancestor, teosinte, which enhances seed protein content. The study reveals the molecular mechanism behind the decline in maize protein content during domestication and provides a powerful genetic tool for breeding high-protein maize varieties.
Researchers discovered that supergiant deep-sea isopods have a dual survival strategy to cope with nutrient-poor conditions: an enlarged stomach for storing food and extremely low basal metabolic rate. This allows them to thrive in extreme environments.
Scientists have developed a genome engineering platform that enables simultaneous gene knockout, base substitution, insertion, deletion, duplication, and inversion in a single framework. The TRIM platform integrates multiple desirable traits by combining gene knockout with prime editing-based sequence modification.
A new study reveals that IS110 elements use two RNA-guided pathways to insert donor DNA into target sites, challenging the classical 'cut-out-paste-in' model. The researchers identified a figure-eight DNA intermediate in one pathway and a direct-transfer pathway without forming a conventional intermediate.
Small reservoirs worldwide are losing storage capacity at a rate of 7.3% per decade, affecting billions of people. The study identifies 16 global sedimentation hotspots and estimates that over half of global reservoirs may experience functional degradation by 2060.
Researchers from six Asian countries have launched a coordinated effort to create an artificial single-celled biological system. The 10-year roadmap aims to develop stable phospholipid vesicles with minimal genomes, endogenous synthesis of key metabolites, and true self-replication.
Researchers studied Chang'e-5 lunar regolith, identifying nanoscale evolution of surface materials through impact-induced silicate phase separation and formation of metallic iron. The findings provide new insights into spectral evolution of the Moon and processes responsible for forming lunar impact glass.
A study found that a mean annual precipitation threshold of 700 mm shifts dominant controls on ecosystem nitrogen retention. In dry ecosystems, higher precipitation leads to greater plant diversity and reduced nitrogen loss.
A study published in Science reports the discovery of a protist-dominated hard-substrate fauna across seven hadal regions in Oceania, highlighting an overlooked yet highly active carbon hotspot. The fauna comprises 32 species, including new monothalamous foraminiferal and bryozoan families.
Researchers have developed a new passivation strategy to improve the efficiency and operational stability of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The method uses polystyrene nanospheres as a template to deposit an insulating layer, suppressing electrical leakage and achieving high power conversion efficiencies.
Researchers developed an AI-driven framework, HELIX, to predict RNA splicing and isoform usage with high accuracy. The framework integrates genomic sequence features with tissue-specific RBP expression profiles and outperforms existing methods in predicting splicing strength and isoform usage.
A study published in Science Advances found that climate warming is causing widespread and sustained oxygen loss in global rivers. Tropical rivers are particularly affected, with 78.8% of studied rivers experiencing deoxygenation.
A new study reveals that slower winds increase the ability of global grasslands to absorb more carbon while minimizing water loss. This shift could provide a critical advantage for these biomes under climate change.
Scientists have discovered two genetic mutations in H. erectus fossils, revealing links to modern humans and Denisovans. The findings provide insights into the evolutionary history of H. erectus and its potential connections to present-day human populations.
Researchers found that convective storms exert a stronger influence on biomass carbon turnover time in Amazonian forests than drought stress-related indicators. The study projects a decline of up to 15% in biomass carbon turnover time by the end of this century under high-emissions scenarios.
Researchers have identified RBPMS as a key player in driving Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) progression. The study proposes a novel therapy targeting the FOXO1 protein, which is enhanced by RBPMS, to selectively eliminate leukemia stem cells and improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers identify a 'vertical conveyor' mechanism that transports moisture from the mid-latitudes to the Asian Water Towers through a process of nocturnal decoupling. This process integrates up to 30% of westerlies-advected moisture into the local cycle without precipitation, sustaining near-surface moisture accumulation.
Researchers challenged thermodynamic-based framework for catalyst design and proposed new principle focusing on declining efficiency of solid-phase electron transport. They designed homonuclear cobalt-cobalt dual-atom catalyst DA-CoCo, significantly enhancing charge transport in solid intermediates, validating the new design principle.
Researchers found that mid-Holocene soil cooling reduced thermally suitable zones for millet cultivation, contributing to a southward displacement of farming. Soil temperatures recovered after around 6,000 years ago, facilitating millet expansion and late Neolithic development.