A 55-year series of Tibetan Plateau tree-ring data shows that the start of growing season advanced by 0.28 days/year, while end of growing season delayed by 0.33 days/year between 1960-2014. April-June and August-September minimum temperatures drive these changes.
Researchers discovered a novel epigenetic signaling axis involving PRC1, microRNA, and PRC2 that regulates the self-renewal and proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells. The study found that Ezh2 represses miR-203 expression, which negatively regulates self-renewal and proliferation but promotes neuronal differentiation.
Researchers developed new tools to infer context-specific regulatory networks from paired expression and chromatin accessibility data. This approach recovers significant information on binding locations and chromatin states, enabling accurate inferences for gene regulatory relationships.
Researchers developed an EcoCity model to regulate urban land cover structures and thermal environments, providing fundamental data for urban heat island mitigation. The model showed that land-cover components significantly affect thermal environments in different urban functional zones.
Phytolith dating suggests rice domestication occurred at Shangshan in China around 9,400 cal yr BP, or possibly earlier. The study found that rice bulliform phytoliths with more than nine fish scales were present in early occupation stages, indicating the beginning of rice domestication.
Researchers found that graphene covers weaken adsorption on Pt(111) surfaces, enabling modulation of surface reactions and promoting oxygen reduction reaction activity. This study demonstrates the potential of 2D materials in designing high-performance nanocatalysts.
Researchers found that Vitamin D3 stimulates lipid metabolism through VDR-RXR heterodimers, activating Pgc1a for mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism. This study reveals a basal nonskeletal effect of ancient VD/VDR signaling in teleosts.
Researchers found that Tibetan Alpine grasslands are vulnerable to climate warming, with temperature changes destabilizing the ecosystem. The study suggests reduced forage production in drought years and increased biomass production in wet years, posing consequences for ecosystem services like climate regulation and water conservation.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences create first underwater acoustic carpet cloak using transformation acoustics, controlling sound wave propagation. The carpet cloak, composed of layered brass plates, successfully mimics a reflecting plane and makes the cloaked object imperceptible to sound detection.
Researchers have successfully developed a high-efficient, stable, and multifunctional Na-Fe3O4/HZSM-5 catalyst for direct production of gasoline from CO2 hydrogenation. The catalyst exhibited 78% selectivity to C5-C11 hydrocarbons under industrial conditions.
International scientists have discovered a short-lived community of organisms that may hold clues to forces shaping our planet today. The community, which included microbial mats, trace fossils, bivalves, and echinoids, was found in a moderately deep-water setting near Shangsi in China's Sichuan Province.
Fossils of ancient termite-loving rove beetles, named Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus, reveal that ancient termite societies were quickly invaded by beetles about 99 million years ago. The discovery pushes back the fossil record of termitophiles by 80 million years.
Scientists have discovered fossilized damselflies in Burmese amber that display ancient courtship behaviors, including elaborate leg structures and wing-like features. The findings suggest that damselfly mating rituals may have occurred as far back as the dinosaur era.
A team of scientists has discovered intact mushroom and mycophagous rove beetles in 99-million-year-old Burmese amber, shedding light on the early evolution of fungi. The findings suggest a long-term evolutionary stasis of body form for at least 99 million years.
Recent advances in understanding regulatory mechanisms of HH pathway and chemical regulation are discussed. CAS scientists propose a hypothetical model for endogenous chemical modulation and suggest precise interventions for better therapeutic outcomes.
Scientists discovered a highly specialized beetle from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, revealing morphological traits for capturing springtails. This finding pushes back the age of such predation by at least 54 million years, providing new insights into Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems.
Two early Late Pleistocene crania from Lingjing, China exhibit a morphological mosaic with similarities to Neandertals and eastern Eurasian humans. The fossils provide insight into the biology and population history of early Late Pleistocene eastern Eurasia.
A study by Prof. ZHANG Donghui and colleagues reveals details of the H' + CH4 substitution reaction, which proceeds through the back-side attack Walden inversion mechanism. The reaction exhibits a high threshold energy and different isotope effects for thermal rate constant and cross-sections.
Researchers discovered oxide nanostructures with diameters below 3nm display superior oxidation resistance than larger counterparts. The 'dynamic size effect' mechanism determines the stability of supported nanoparticles, enabling the development of anti-corrosion materials.
A large-scale study detected high levels of antibiotic resistance genes in estuaries along China's coastline, with some samples containing up to 100 million genes per gram of sediment. The study suggests that human activity, particularly inadequate wastewater treatment, is the primary cause of this environmental pollution.
A team of researchers has discovered a vast array of exceptionally preserved fossils, including delicate skeletons and soft tissues, from the immediate aftermath of the Ordovician mass extinction. The Anji Biota records an astonishing range of diverse sponge species, with many thriving in large and complex ecosystems.
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences found that BCAS2 plays a crucial role in alternative mRNA splicing during mouse spermatogenesis, leading to impaired meiosis initiation. The study provides evidence for the importance of alternative splicing machinery in regulating germ cell development.
Researchers used comparative genomics to study the giant panda and red panda, revealing 70 adaptively convergent genes involved in limb development, digestion, and pseudogenization. These findings provide insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying phenotype convergence in these species.
The Dalian Coherent Light Source (DCLS) is a new bright VUV FEL light source, unique in operating within the VUV region and delivering world's brightest FEL light in an energy range of 8 to 24 eV. It has applications in studying basic energy science, chemistry, physics, and atmospheric sciences.
A team of international scientists has discovered beta-keratin in a 130 million-year-old bird feather fossil, providing evidence that melanosomes are present in these structures. This finding sheds new light on the molecular preservation of tissues in ancient fossils.
The report reveals that 128 countries have published references in biotechnology, while only 30 countries have patents granted. China leads the way with the most references and patents.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have fabricated and manipulated Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in an optical simulator, supporting non-Abelian statistics. The study provides a novel platform to investigate MZM properties and topological quantum computation.
The Observation, Prediction and Analysis of Severe Convection of China (OPACC) project aims to improve the prediction skills of convective storms. Researchers have published 224 papers on convective weather in peer-reviewed journals since 2013.
The discovery of Qilinyu rostrata expands our understanding of maxillate placoderms and reveals a complex relationship between marginal jaw bones and gnathal plates. The study finds that the maxilla, premaxilla, and dentary are homologous to the gnathal plates of placoderms, suggesting a shared dental arcade.
The MINOS and Daya Bay experiments have published a paper that sheds new light on sterile neutrinos. The joint analysis excludes most possible sterile neutrino oscillation scenarios that could explain the LSND result, significantly shrinking the hiding space for a light sterile neutrino.
Researchers from China and Peking University pioneered the proposal and realization of two-dimensional spin-orbit coupling for ultracold quantum gases. This achievement has significant influence on understanding exotic topological quantum states, implementing a major breakthrough in solid materials research.
A novel 3D porous aluminum-graphite battery exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability of over 1000 cycles with 89.4% capacity retention at 2C current rate. The design features a uniform carbon layer, alleviating mechanical stress and surface reactions.
Researchers discovered that trans-kingdom small RNAs can protect crops from fungal pathogens, including the causal agent of 'Cotton Cancer'. The study found that specific sRNAs can be expressed in cotton cultivars to confer resistance to Verticillium wilt disease.
The discovery of the human aichi virus atomic structure is crucial for understanding its entry into host cells and evolution. The research reveals unique structural features, including a polyproline helix that acts as a recognition motif for binding to the enteric receptor.
Researchers demonstrate optomechanically induced non-reciprocal transparency and amplification in a microresonator, enabling the creation of controllable isolators and circulators. A non-reciprocal phase shift of up to 40 degrees is achieved using two oppositely propagating driving fields.
Researchers found that mismatch repair machinery preferentially protects genetic integrity in open chromatin regions, increasing mutation rates in heterochromatic areas. This study provides direct evidence for the role of epigenetic systems in maintaining genetic fidelity.
CAS researchers have developed a new monomer fluorescent protein, Skylan-NS, enabling substantial improvements in the speed, duration, and noninvasiveness of live-cell superresolution microscopy. The protein shows high photostability, cycle numbers and signal-to-noise ratio, making it suitable for live-cell SR imaging.
Researchers discovered a new class of catalysts that enables ammonia synthesis under mild conditions, with LiH playing a crucial role. The discovery breaks the linear scaling relations between activation energy and binding strength, allowing for unprecedented high NH3 synthesis activities at low temperatures.
Researchers discovered that WhiB6 regulates the ESX-1 secretion system and DosR regulon, enabling mycobacteria to form persistent granulomas and maintain virulence.
A recent study using cutting-edge 3D dental microwear texture analysis reveals that Sinomastodon and Stegodon were obligate browsers of foliages, while Elephas had a broader diet of grasses and trees. This complex process suggests that biotic factors played a more substantial role in Pleistocene faunal turnovers than previously thought.
Researchers identified FHY3's role as a transcriptional repressor in flower development, promoting FM determinacy. FHY3 regulates WUSCHEL and CLAVATA3 expression, and interacts with photomorphogenesis genes.
Researchers found that even when conflicting information is invisible, the human brain initiates mechanisms to resolve it. This occurs in the early visual cortex with minimal involvement of the fronto-parietal cortex.
Fossil record reveals ancient insect behavior of debris-carrying and camouflage, providing insight into early evolution. Convergent evolution led to diverse adaptations in morphological characteristics.
A high-resolution structure of spinach PSII-LHCII supercomplex reveals the arrangement of individual subunits and their interactions. The study clarifies energy-transfer pathways between LHCII and the core complex, shedding light on the light-harvesting process in plants.
Cretaceous fossils provide insights into the early diversification of ants, with some species exhibiting advanced social behavior. The discovery of Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri highlights the importance of morphological specializations in ant evolution.
A newly discovered Chinese fossil, Meemannia, is the oldest known actinopterygian, providing new evidence for the origin of ray-finned fishes. The study reveals that early bony fish had 'cosmine'-like tissues, previously thought to unite lobe-fins and ray-fins, and confirms Meemannia as an early-diverging ray-finned fish.
The discovery of Protovis himalayensis sheds light on the origin of Ice Age mountain sheep, suggesting that the Tibetan Plateau was their ancestral home range. The fossil finds indicate a C3 diet and adaptation to high-elevation cold environments during the Pliocene.
The discovery of diverse Oligocene primates from southern China sheds light on the evolution of primates during the Eocene-Oligocene transition. The Asian fauna is dominated by strepsirhines, contrasting with Afro-Arabian primate faunas that diversified anthropoids after the climate crisis.
Researchers have discovered a remarkable new species of marine reptile that lived during the Triassic Period. Atopodentatus unicus was an herbivore with a hammerhead-shaped jaw apparatus and used its teeth to filter-feed on plants from the ocean floor.
A newly discovered enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous period in China provides the oldest unambiguous record of an avian gastric pellet. The fossilized remains include a fish-rich pellet, suggesting that some Early Cretaceous birds had evolved modern avian digestive features.