Researchers have created a new type of magnesium battery that uses a rigid-fexible coupling gel polymer electrolyte to achieve improved performance. The battery exhibits reversible Mg plating/stripping performance, high Mg-ion conductivity, and unprecedented improvements in safety issues.
A research team has developed a novel method for fabricating functional bacterial cellulose through in situ fermentation of Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans. The new approach provides environmentally friendly conditions, lower production costs, and controlled distribution of functional moieties.
A new study reveals that Anchiornis, one of the earliest known feathered dinosaurs, had feathers with thicker alpha-keratins instead of beta-keratins, lacking necessary biomechanical properties for flight. However, its molecular composition may signify an intermediate stage in the evolution of avian flight feathers.
A novel host antiviral factor named Shiftless has been identified that inhibits programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting in viruses. Shiftless interacts with the -1PRF signal RNA and translating ribosomes to stall the ribosome at the -1PRF site, leading to premature translation termination.
A team of scientists identified a novel antipredator defense mechanism in locusts, where an olfactory aposematic signal is converted into a hypertoxic chemical. The discovery revealed that phenylacetonitrile (PAN) serves as both a warning signal and a cyanide precursor to deter predators.
Researchers developed a strategy to design single-atom catalysts for CO2 transformation, exhibiting superior activity and stability. The Ir-based catalyst shows the best performance yet for heterogeneous conversion of CO2 to formate.
Researchers found that fever enhances T lymphocyte trafficking through heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-induced α4 integrin activation and signaling in T cells. Fever increased Hsp90 expression, promoting α4 integrin-mediated T cell adhesion and transmigration.
Researchers successfully generated human vascular cells with enhanced function through targeted gene editing of the longevity gene FOXO3. These cells demonstrated improved self-renewal, resistance to oxidative injury and therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of ischemic injury.
Researchers analyzed a juvenile archaic Homo fossil from Northern China, finding most dental development traits fall within the modern human range. The study suggests that a slow life history similar to that of modern humans may have appeared prior to fully modern human morphology.
A new integrative stratigraphy and timescale for 13 geological periods in China has been published, highlighting advances in stratigraphy and timescale development. The research provides a precise framework for geological mapping and natural resource exploration, benefiting all geologic disciplines.
A recent study using high-precision polarization measurements of five gamma-ray bursts has found that GRBs oscillate in the same direction within short time slices, with the oscillation direction changing over time. The results challenge previous theoretical models and provide new insights into the physics of GRB prompt emissions.
Researchers have discovered novel diacylglyceryl transferases that selectively assemble essential fatty acids into microalgal TAGs. By modulating the ratio of these enzymes, they created a strain bank with customized FA compositions, offering potential for 'designer' TAGs with tailored health benefits.
Researchers have found that copper's electron structure can be altered, enabling it to act as a noble metal in catalyzing the preliminary hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate into methyl glycolate with high selectivity. The 'frozen' state of copper at zero valence is crucial for this process.
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences improve PSCs by removing van der Waals gaps in Ruddlesden-Popper phase 2D layered perovskites. The newly developed materials exhibit outstanding stability under harsh testing conditions.
Researchers from China and Germany discover the geometric phase effect in a benchmark chemical reaction, providing new insights into molecular systems with conical intersections. The study uses high-resolution velocity map ion imaging technique to observe rapid oscillations of H2 products, which can only be reproduced by theoretical ca...
Researchers found that amorphous solids can be truly elastic and reversible for small strains, but become marginally stable with infinitesimal deformations, exhibiting both elastic and plastic behavior
A new high-pressure mineral, Maohokite, has been discovered and found to contain Fe3+, replacing the previously believed Fe2+, in the Earth's lower mantle. This discovery was made by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science.
A team of scientists has found medullary bone in a Cretaceous bird fossil, providing the first occurrence of this tissue outside of modern birds. The discovery links birds and dinosaurs, challenging previous assumptions about their relationship.
Scientists developed a strategy to transform 70% of carbon in ABE fermentation mixture to 4-heptanone with high selectivity using tin-doped ceria. The catalyst achieves excellent performance despite the presence of water, which is detrimental to most catalysts.
A new archaeological site in Tibet has pushed back the earliest known human habitation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau by 20,000 years. The discovery of Nwya Devu provides crucial evidence of human occupation and evolution on the plateau.
A recent study reveals that a species of jumping spider provides milk to its offspring, similar to mammalian lactation. The researchers observed that the mother continued to care for her young even after they could forage for themselves, resulting in a high adult survival rate and normal body size.
A novel DNA methylation regulator Stella has been identified to safeguard the unique epigenome of oocytes. The dysregulation of Stella results in aberrant DNA methylation during postnatal oogenesis, affecting preimplantation embryo development. DNMT1 is found to be responsible for this aberrant methylation.
Researchers discovered the hierarchical structure of whale baleen contributes to its unique fracture behavior. The nanoscale structure increases stiffness and strength, while microscale tubular lamellae control crack propagation, making it an ideal material for marine applications.
Researchers discovered that HSPCs preferentially anchor at venous capillary confluence points guided by VCAM-1+ macrophages. This interaction helps regulate HSPC retention and expansion, providing new insights into the homing process.
Researchers discovered that signal peptides can inhibit glutamate receptor trafficking, leading to potentiation of synaptic responses. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying glutamate receptor trafficking and its role in neurological disorders.
The Microbiome Search Engine (MSE) enables fast comparison of microbiomes by searching for structurally or functionally similar microbes. MSE proposes innovative evaluation indices to measure microbiome novelty and impact, providing a bird's eye view of the microbiome data universe.
A new system, CAMR-R, can measure antimicrobial resistant phenotypes at single-cell resolution from clinical samples in three hours without cell propagation. The instrument uses D2O-feeding Raman Microspectroscopy to quantify AMR levels and has potential applications in diagnosing clinical pathogens.
A 99-million-year-old flower fossil discovered in Burmese amber sheds light on the sudden appearance of angiosperms. The find indicates that Core Eudicots, a group including apple and cherry trees, flourished on Earth around 100 million years ago.
Researchers developed a long-life metal-O2 battery using Li-Na eutectic alloy, exhibiting similar reaction activities to other alloys and suppressing dendrite growth. The study also introduced efficient O2 reduction/evolution catalysts to improve cycling life and rate capability.
A Chinese research team has developed a new chemical looping process for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen gas, water, and renewable energy. The process offers great promise for saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, potentially addressing the challenges of the energy and environmental crisis.
Researchers discovered a new brain mechanism underlying salience processing that facilitates associative learning and survival. The periventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is activated by salient stimuli, including novel stimuli and reinforcing cues.
A new study projects that China's drought losses will increase ten-fold under a 1.5°C temperature rise and nearly three-fold under a 2.0°C rise, equivalent to tens of billions of USD in annual losses. The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5°C to reduce these risks.
Bird feathers have been found to resist tearing due to a sophisticated cascaded slide-lock system, composed of flexible hooklets and spines. This discovery overturns centuries-old explanations and provides insight into the design of smart textiles.
A newly discovered extinct bird species, Jinguofortis perplexus, sheds light on early flight development and evolutionary variation. The fossil's unique traits, including a fused shoulder girdle, suggest different flying styles during the Cretaceous period.
A recent study published in the Geological Society of America Bulletin suggests that the end-Permian mass extinction may have occurred in only 31,000 years, making it an instantaneous event by geological standards. The sudden extinction was likely caused by Siberian flood-basalt eruptions and local intensive explosive volcanism.
A new method, DITE, has been developed to accurately measure temperature in fat-containing tissues. The method was tested using fluorescent thermometers and achieved precise results, providing potential insights into the characterization of brown adipose tissue in vivo.
Researchers used a larval zebrafish model to explore neural mechanisms of general anesthesia. The study revealed that the locus coeruleus (LC) plays a modulatory role in both the induction of and emergence from intravenous general anesthesia via a cooperative mechanism with norepinephrine (NE).
New fossils of Mesozoic pollinating lacewings provide insight into the niche diversity, chemical communication, and defense mechanisms of ancient pollinators. The findings suggest that coevolution between pollinators and host plants under partitioned pollination niches promoted their species diversification.
Chinese fossils contain at least 28 insect families and diverse beetles, suggesting a radiation of Holometabola during the Middle Triassic. The discovery provides new insights into the early evolution of freshwater ecosystems.
The discovery of Bannykus and Xiyunykus sheds light on the evolution of alvarezsaurian dinosaurs' monodactyl hands. These ancient theropods display a major macroevolutionary shift from grasping hands to specialized, functionally monodactyl hands.
Researchers found fossil Myrmeleontiformia fauna from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, shedding light on the ecological niche and lifestyle of extinct species. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between morphological traits and hunting strategies, including camouflaging and fossoriality.
A new mid-Cretaceous boganiid beetle with specialized pollen feeding adaptations has been discovered, suggesting an ancient origin for beetle pollination of cycads. The fossil provides early definitive evidence for cycad-insect interactions, illuminating the history of complex entomophily in cycads.
Chinese researchers developed interfacially polymerized porous polymer particles for efficient separation of low-abundance glycopeptides. The particles use hydrophilic-hydrophobic heterostructured nanopores to separate biomolecules, overcoming existing challenges in homogeneous porous materials.
A team of Chinese astronomers has discovered the most lithium-rich giant known to date using the LAMOST telescope. The star's lithium abundance is approximately 3,000 times higher than that of typical giants, providing valuable insights into the universe's evolution and Big Bang theory.
Researchers identified 27 unique amino acid replacements in 27 different proteins of hot-spring snakes, which were associated with functions like immunity and DNA repair. These mutations enable the snakes to thrive under extreme conditions such as intense radiation and hypoxia.
Researchers used single-molecule magnetic tweezers to study FACT's function in gene transcription. They found that FACT not only destabilizes nucleosome structure but also enhances reversibility of nucleosome formation, revealing its dual role.
China's livestock population tripled between 1980 and 2010, driven by demand and wealth, but also facilitated by subsidies and weak regulations. The transition has significant domestic and global impacts, including increased animal feed imports, GHG emissions, and nitrogen losses.
Researchers developed a direct nano-kirigami method to create complex 3D shapes using flat films at the nanoscale. The technique enables precise manipulation of light and can be used for sensing, computation, and biomedical devices. A multidisciplinary connection between nanomechanics and nanophotonics has been established.
Researchers found that tree shrews have a unique mutation in their TRPV1 ion channel, which lowers sensitivity to capsaicinoids, allowing them to consume chili peppers. This adaptation is thought to be driven by strong selection for this residue due to its prevalence in spicy plants.
A recent study published in Cell Metabolism found that a high-fat diet was the sole driver of weight gain in mice, with no significant impact from carbohydrates or protein. The researchers believe that fat uniquely stimulates the brain's reward centers, leading to increased calorie intake.