Chinese researchers have decoded the molecular mechanism behind birds' ability to tolerate highly acidic foods, a trait that has long puzzled scientists. Published in the journal Science on Friday, the study reveals that a key mutation in the sour taste receptor OTOP1 gene enables songbirds to consume acidic fruits without aversion. Lai Ren, a researcher and the corresponding author of the paper at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said his team found that a single amino acid change in OTOP1 enhances sour tolerance in songbirds, likely aiding their dietary expansion and species diversification.
Chinese scientists have developed the world's first ultra-high parallel optical computing integrated chip that's capable of delivering a theoretical peak computing power of 2560 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) at a 50 GHz optical clock speed, a metric that reportedly benchmarks against NVIDIA's advanced GPU chips. The achievement comes from researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
A new study has revealed that chronic exposure to artificial light at night can trigger depression-like behaviors by activating a specific neural pathway in the brain. The study, conducted on tree shrews -- diurnal mammals genetically close to primates, offers critical insights into how nighttime light may disrupt mood regulation. It has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are working to help African countries transform the sandy regions into greener, arable land with more trees and productive agricultural practices. As June 17 marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, these efforts are gaining increased attention and are expected to yield fruitful outcomes.
Last year, Chen Liquan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was awarded the CAS Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, a recognition for a lifetime of groundbreaking contributions. From developing China's first all-solid-state lithium metal battery to mentoring a new generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, Chen's work has been instrumental in transforming China from a follower to a global leader in battery technology.
While China's green energy transition appears to have a heavy focus on electric vehicles, solar, wind and hydro power, another clean energy source being developed is hydrogen. Zhou Wu, an expert on hydrogen catalysis has been a driving force behind China's research into the process that could revolutionize the clean commercial production of hydrogen.
At the end of 2024, Chinese scientist Wei Yuansong, a leading expert in water pollution control, received an extraordinary honor: a set of commemorative stamps issued by Sri Lanka featuring his portrait. This rare tribute recognized his decade-long commitment to providing communities with safe drinking water and fostering scientific collaboration between China and Sri Lanka.
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