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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Jun-2026 18:16 ET (11-Jun-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)

10-Jun-2026

Newly discovered “whale necropolis” enhances understanding of deep-sea ecology

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, Italy, and the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research, New Zealand, have now documented the world’s deepest and largest known aggregation of whale fossils and active whale-fall ecosystems. This deep-sea site, referred to as a “whale necropolis” due to its vast size, is located in the Diamantina Zone of the southeastern Indian Ocean and contains evidence of cetacean falls for at least 5.3 million years.

Journal: Nature
Funder: National Key R&D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, International Mega-Science Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Global Hadal Exploration Programme

10-Jun-2026

"cold insurance" for crops: Researchers unlock "on-demand" climate resilience

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team led by Prof. XU Cao from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified RGF as the first small peptide signal that senses cold during pollen development. Researchers uncovered an "on-demand" peptide-receptor-ion channel signaling axis, offering a powerful genetic strategy to shield crops from sudden climate shocks without compromising baseline yields.

Journal: Nature

8-Jun-2026

Researchers recover high-protein maize gene from wild ancestor

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Chinese researchers have successfully isolated a key gene from maize's wild ancestor, teosinte, which significantly enhances seed protein content. The gene, THP3-T, was identified and cloned by research teams led by WU Yongrui and WANG Haihai from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the collaborators.

Journal: Nature

5-Jun-2026

Researchers reveal how supergiant deep-sea isopods survive years without food

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team from the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) has uncovered the mechanisms enabling these deep-sea supergiants to thrive under extreme nutritional constraints.

Journal: Cell

5-Jun-2026

Researchers develop "all-in-one" platform for multiple trait stacking in crops

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team led by GAO Caixia at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a genome engineering platform that allows multiple trait stacking in crops by combining gene knockout, precise sequence editing, and chromosome engineering within a single framework.

Journal: Nature Biotechnology

5-Jun-2026

Study reveals high sedimentation risk in small reservoirs worldwide

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Reservoirs around the world are losing storage capacity at an average rate of 7.3 percent per decade—disproportionately affecting small reservoirs, which together provide water to billions of people. The data come from a study published in Nature Sustainability on June 5, which offers the clearest global assessment of reservoir sedimentation to date.

Journal: Nature Sustainability

5-Jun-2026

Researchers advance understanding of RNA-guided transposon mechanics

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study led by XUE Chaoyou from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with LOU Huiqiang at China Agricultural University and RAO Shuquan from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences has shown that RNA-guided IS110 transposons use two mechanistically distinct pathways to mobilize DNA.

Journal: Molecular Cell

1-Jun-2026

Asian scientists unveil 10-year roadmap for building synthetic cells

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists from six Asian countries have launched an ambitious 10-year effort to build synthetic cells from non-living molecules, marking the region's first coordinated push to create an artificial single-celled biological system.

Journal: Nature Biotechnology

27-May-2026

Chang'e-5 Regolith studies reveal nanoscale space-weathering processes

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A collaborative team jointly led by Prof. YIN Zongjun from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), together with Profs. SHEN Bing and ZHOU Jihan from Peking University, has conducted systematic studies of impact-glass particles associated with Chang'e-5 lunar regolith grains.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

25-May-2026

Study reveals precipitation threshold regulating ecosystem nitrogen retention

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team led by Prof. LIU Lingli from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified a mean annual precipitation (MAP) threshold of approximately 700 mm, beyond which the dominant controls on ecosystem nitrogen retention shift.

Journal: Nature Geoscience

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News from CAS Institutes

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Jun-2026 18:16 ET (11-Jun-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)

11-Jun-2026

Leaf traits drive herbivory across forests: Silicon and heat tolerance matter

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Leaf functional traits are stronger predictors of herbivory than climatic factors or insect richness across Chinese forests, according to a study led by researchers from the South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Contrary to the classic resource availability hypothesis, the team found that some carbon-based defense traits may actually backfire.

Journal: Plant Diversity
Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, Guangdong Science and Technology Plan Project, Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

9-Jun-2026

Volcanic activity shaped centennial-scale variability of Holocene monsoon rainfall

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The study investigated the influence of volcanic activity on centennial-scale variability of Northern Hemisphere land monsoon rainfall during the Holocene. Using a transient Holocene climate simulation (iTraCE) that incorporates volcanic forcing, greenhouse gas concentrations, orbital parameters, freshwater forcing, and ice-sheet changes, the team explored the long-term role of volcanic activity in shaping monsoon evolution.

Journal: Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

9-Jun-2026

Scientists reveal how polymer membranes form and build a better one

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have explained themicrostructure formation mechanism of nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) by separating the formation processesof different pore structure. Based on the findings, the team developed a free-standing ultrathin porous polymeric membrane with a thickness of only 2.7 μm that simultaneously offers high selectivity and high conductivity. When applied in a vanadium flow battery, the membrane demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance.

Journal: National Science Review

8-Jun-2026

Study reveals north–south differences in water isotopes across North America during the last deglaciation

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Study reveals north–south differences in water isotopes across North America during the last deglaciation

Journal: Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

5-Jun-2026

Common but overlooked: Study uncovers hidden genetic vulnerability of the widespread mangrove fern Acrostichum aureum in Hainan

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A groundbreaking multidisciplinary study reveals that the abundant mangrove fern Acrostichum aureum in Hainan Island harbors moderate genetic diversity but faces hidden vulnerability, providing critical evidence for targeted mangrove ecosystem conservation strategies.

Journal: Biological Diversity
Funder: Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, Hainan Postgraduate Innovation Project

4-Jun-2026

“Supporting Florida Farms” emerges as most persuasive message for pollinator-friendly roadside advocacy

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A University of Florida-led study of 1,051 Floridians finds strategic environmental communication significantly boosts public support for roadside pollinator habitat, with agricultural benefit frames driving the strongest attitudinal shifts.

Journal: Biological Diversity
Funder: Disney Conservation Fund

3-Jun-2026

Native plants dominate Guangzhou’s urban greenery: research reveals unique diversity patterns across subtropical city

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Field investigation from CAS scientists uncovers zoning-driven vascular plant diversity gaps and invasive risks in three main urban green space types of subtropical Guangzhou to guide urban biodiversity conservation.

Journal: Biological Diversity
Funder: Guangdong Flagship Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research, Youth Innovation Promotion Association, National Natural Science Foundation of China

2-Jun-2026

Attribution constraints reveal stronger future intensification of the upper‑level Hadley circulation

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

By applying an “attribution constraint” method based on optimal fingerprinting to correct systematic biases in CMIP6 climate models, the study significantly improved the projection reliability on the the upper‑level Hadley circulation.

Journal: Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

1-Jun-2026

Winter-ready lithium batteries: scientists use "polarity-contras" electrolyte strategy to outsmart extreme cold

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has proposed a "polarity-contrast" electrolyte design strategy that can effectively enhance the kinetic characteristics and electrochemical stability of lithium metal batteries under extreme low-temperature conditions.

Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society

1-Jun-2026

Scientists achieve near-quantitative selectivity for methane oxidation via Na–Auδ⁻ interfacial engineering

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition developed a Na–Au^δ⁻ interface structure on MOR nanosheet that enables near-quantitative selectivity for methane oxidation to methanol, acetic acid, and other oxygenates under mild conditions.

Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

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