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.
Scientists sequenced the dodder genome, shedding light on the evolution of plant parasitism. The study found significant gene losses, including those related to photosynthesis and flowering time control, which underlie the parasite's unique body plan.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully metallized nitrogen under extreme conditions, revealing a pressure-temperature region above 125 GPa and 2500 K. This breakthrough sheds light on the interplay between molecular dissociation, melting, and metallization in nitrogen.
A recent study reveals that giant panda conservation provides significant ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulation, and cultural benefits, worth ~ $2.6-6.9 billion annually. The cost-benefit ratio is approximately 10-27 times the conservation investment, highlighting the value of investing in panda conservation.
Researchers present a new strategy to exploit dynamically reinforced multilevel heterogeneous grain structures for high-strength and large-ductility materials. This approach achieves a strength-ductility combination in a single-phase, simple-structured alloy that would normally require complex heterogeneities.
Researchers have developed new magnetic Janus particles for efficient oil-water separation. The particles separate micro-scaled oil droplets from water rapidly and efficiently, achieving high separation efficiency.
Researchers used super-resolution microscopy to study GLUT1 distribution on cell membranes, revealing clusters with an average diameter of ~250 nm. The transporter's clustering is linked to lipid rafts, actin cytoskeleton, and N-glycosylation.
Researchers developed a new NIR-II fluorescent molecule for dual fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging, offering high resolution and penetration depth for precise noninvasive brain-tumor diagnosis. The method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, accurately assessing tumor location and depth in brain tissue.
Researchers discovered fossil footprints for animal appendages in the Ediacaran Period in South China, revealing evidence of early animal life. The trackways indicate that bilaterian animals with paired appendages existed during this period, raising questions about their evolutionary origins.
Researchers created a 3D underwater acoustic carpet cloak using transformation acoustics, hiding objects from detection instruments like sonar. The cloaked object mimicked the reflecting surface and was undetectable in every direction.
A novel scaffold enables programmed deformation of 2D cell-laden structure to 3D tubular shape, facilitating facile 3D endothelialization. The study offers a new method for creating tissue-engineered vascular grafts and a potential in vitro model for screening cardiovascular drugs.
A nearly complete skeleton of a new extinct pheasant species from China preserves the oldest evidence of modified vocalization sounds. The fossil features an extremely long and coiled trachea, similar to those found in birds with louder, lower-frequency songs.
Mesoscience offers broad potential beyond chemical engineering, tackling complex systems in the real world with unprecedented approach. The concept is attracting increasing attention from top scientists worldwide.
A new system called SCRaMBLE allows researchers to transform yeast at the molecular level, enabling fast-tracked engineering cycles and novel genome combinations. This technology has significant implications for industrial biotechnology, including the production of medicines and fuels.
A high-quality wheat A genome sequence was generated by Chinese scientists using BAC-by-BAC sequencing and single molecule real-time whole-genome shotgun sequencing. The resulting genome sequence reveals the evolution model of Triticum urartu chromosomes, with four large chromosomal structure variations occurring during wheat evolution.
A team of researchers detected two distinct sequences of blue straggler stars in a young globular cluster, NGC 2173, using the Hubble Space Telescope. This finding challenges the generality of explanations for similar blue straggler sequences and presents unexpected observational results.
Researchers uncovered a new lacewing species with anatomical modifications mimicking coeval liverworts, demonstrating the first record of liverwort mimicry by fossil insects. The larvae's foliate lateral plates and unique morphological features aid their survival and likely enable stealthy hunting or ambush predation.
Chinese croplands experienced drastic changes in management practices since the 1980s, leading to increased soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. The study found that economics and policy-driven organic inputs dominated SOC sequestration, particularly through crop straw/stover return policies.
Research in Tibetan alpine grasslands found that climate warming does not decrease productivity, but rather changes the composition of plant species to stabilize production. The study's findings suggest that shifting species composition enables communities to access more water and buffer against drought-induced declines.
Scientists studied China's terrestrial ecosystems, revealing significant carbon stock changes driven by climate change, ecological restoration projects, and land-use practices. The study identified four major ecosystems with varying carbon sink or source capabilities.
Fossil insects from Jurassic and mid-Cretaceous periods exhibit structural colors due to wavelength-selective scattering of light. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of lepidopteran scales and their optical properties.
Researchers have reconstructed the 3.1 Å structure of the HSV-2 B-capsid, expanding our understanding of its assembly mechanism. The study revealed four major conformers of the VP5 protein, which form extensive intermolecular networks and stabilize the capsid.
A recent study revealed neural clustering in V4 that preserves visual acuity, enabling the separation of local and global features. This discovery challenges existing models and offers new insights into how the brain processes visual information.
Researchers successfully deciphered the origin of repopulated microglia in the brain and retina, revealing that they are solely derived from residual microglia after acute depletion. This study provides insights for regenerative medicine and sheds new light on the origins and maintenance of microglia in the retina.
Researchers have discovered that Bayesian model selection tends to produce very high posterior probabilities for estimated evolutionary trees even if they are clearly wrong. This phenomenon is attributed to the non-nested nature of some models, which can lead to polarized behavior.
Researchers studied angiosperm genera in China, finding that eastern provinces have a 'museum' of ancient plants, while western provinces are an evolutionary cradle for herbaceous genera. The study suggests conservation efforts should focus on connecting nature reserves across provincial borders.