Month: July 2022

https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202206723 http://j.people.com.cn/n3/2022/0721/c95952-10125900.html As shown by Dong-po Song and his research team at Tianjin University, polyester-block-poly(ethylene glycol) bottlebrush block copolymers with varied side chain lengths can be used for the fabrication of biodegradable photonic microspheres and may be substitutes to nondegradable microbeads and toxic pigments in cosmetics. The pigment is made from biodegradable polyester materials such as polylactic acid. The nanostructure inside the new pigment is an “opal structure” that can form structural colors like butterfly wings or peacock feathers. It has characteristics of lasting beauty and changing color. By adjusting the angle of light, different colors can be reflected, creating a color change effect not seen in conventional pigments.  

http://j.people.com.cn/n3/2022/0720/c95952-10125344.html The majority of current 3D imaging technologies use the visual difference between the two eyes and the virtual synthesis of the brain to produce a “fake 3D image” on the display. The latest 3D imaging technology, however, uses a 3D physical space to bring up figures.　Scientists at the Hongtu Ultrafast Laser Joint Laboratory in the Wuhan Donghu Hi-Tech Development Zone develop 3D imaging technology based on femtosecond laser plasma induction. The high-peak power femtosecond laser emits at high intensity of 100 TW per cm2, inducing plasma emission. A 3D scanner scans the laser and rearranges and combines the luminous dot matrix to form various characters and designs in mid-air. 3D images can be displayed directly in the air without the need for displays or fog. At the same time, femtosecond lasers have shorter pulse durations than nanosecond lasers, require less energy, have shorter single-point stop times, and are safer.

https://www.cas.cn/cm/202207/t20220722_4842699.shtml The Ministry of Education and the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly launched a “National Summer School of Science Education” for teachers. The first training was held from July 20 to August 19, 2022 in Beijing and 11 other cities. 12 training sessions were organized, with 100 primary and secondary school science teachers attending each session offline, and the training was broadcast live. The “National Summer School of Science Education”  organizes academicians and other science and education experts to participate in teaching, and open national key laboratories, astronomical stations, field stations and large scientific devices to create an exclusive science feast for primary and secondary school teachers.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abi8455 http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0722/c90000-10126317.html The discovery made by a team led by researchers with the Institute of Crop Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) was published online Friday (Beijing Time) in the academic journal, Science. The research team examined 118 transcription factors associated with photosynthesis in maize and analyzed the related genes in rice with similar sequences. At last, they identified the key gene, OsDREB1C, that responds to both light and low nitrogen conditions, and thus they found the gene modulates both photosynthesis and nitrogen utilization. The researchers enhanced the expression of the OsDREB1C gene in two rice varieties through genetic engineering technology. And they conducted field trials at three different sites in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Sanya in northern, eastern, and southern China, representing very different environmental conditions, from 2018 to 2022. The results showed that the yield of the two rice varieties increased by more than 30 percent. Their growth duration was also shortened. In the experiment on a wheat variety, they found the OsDREB1C gene can increase its yield by more than 17 percent, and shorten its growth duration by three to six days, showing that this gene has the function of increasing yield and shortening the growth period of different crops.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0721/c90000-10125711.html 14 autonomous driving taxis (Baidu Apollo robotaxis) were put into commercial operation at the Western China Autonomous Driving Open Test Base in Chongqing – an area covering 85 square kilometers with 220 km of roads. They are capable of Level-4 autonomous driving (“in most conditions without a human driver”). There is a human operator in the driver’s seat to ensure safety, but a fully driverless robotaxi service is expected to be realized this year. The service includes more than 70 pick-up and drop-off points that cover scenic spots, schools, shopping malls, residential areas and industrial parks. The vehicles’ designated speed is no more than 60 km/h. Passengers pay using mobile phone apps such as Apollo Go, Baidu Maps and Yongchuan Public Service from 7 am to 11 pm every day. The base rate is 16 CN¥ ($2.40) and the fare is charged at 2.8 CN¥ per km. In November 2021, three buses equipped with level-4 autopilot technologies were put in operation in Chongqing Cloud Valley Yongchuan Big Data Industrial Park. The robobus, developed by Baidu and bus manufacturer King Long, is 5.9 meters long and can carry 12 passengers at up to 40 km/h. It is able to identify pedestrians, vehicles and other obstacles within 240 meters. The 10-km bus route has eight bus stops. Passengers can use an e-ticket system and use facial recognition or smart/transit cards, and the fare is 2 CN¥, the same as regular buses.

https://www.cas.cn/cm/202207/t20220720_4842173.shtml A megawatt-scale proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolytic water hydrogen production system and megawatt-scale hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cell power generation system developed by Shao Zhigang’s team at CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics was delivered to State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co. This marks the engineering verification of China’s MW-level PEM electrolytic water hydrogen production and MW-level hydrogen fuel cell technology with independent intellectual property rights, which is expected to promote the technological progress and large-scale application of China’s fuel cell technology in distributed power generation and other fields, and explores the new mode of green hydrogen production and its comprehensive utilization. The demonstration station is located in Jin’an District, Lu’an City, Anhui Province. Image from https://h2.in-en.com/html/h2-2414141.shtml 

https://www.cas.cn/syky/202207/t20220719_4842121.shtml CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation has developed a 6000-meter deep-sea exploration vessel. “Ask the Sea 1” has bathymetric side scan and shallow profiling acoustic detection, optical detection and robotic spot sampling capabilities. It will be installed on the vessel “Marine Geology IX” of Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, and will serve for marine environment survey, biodiversity survey, seafloor specific targets, in-situ exploration of extreme environments and deep-sea mineral resources survey.