【Today's Cover】
In recent days, nearly 300,000 cherry blossoms in Laifang Town, Qingliu County, Sanming City, Fujian Province, have ushered in the best viewing period, attracting many tourists to take photos and enjoy the flowers. Photo by Zhang Lingxin, issued by China News Network
Message stations
Screenshot of the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology
●On March 8, the official website of the Ministry of Science and Technology published the "Several Opinions on Expanding the Autonomy of Universities and Research Institutes related to Scientific Research" Q&A Manual, which turned 14 specific reform measures in four aspects of autonomy, such as institutional operation management, scientific research management, personnel management, and performance pay distribution, into 32 questions for detailed answers. First, in view of the problem that it is difficult for the grass-roots level to receive power, it further clarifies the management rights and responsibilities of the competent departments and colleges and universities in all aspects, and promotes the decentralization of scientific research autonomy; the second is to refine the policy provisions and operational provisions in view of the problem that the grass-roots level does not dare to accept the power, and strengthen the system guarantee for the use of rights in accordance with the law and compliance of colleges and universities; the third is to address the problem of poor use of rights at the grass-roots level, and explain to colleges and universities how to take the initiative to undertake the autonomy that has been delegated, and help colleges and universities to "catch and use it well". (Source: Science and Technology Daily)
Image source: CCTV news client
●On March 9, the Yunnan Yuxi-Chuxiong Expressway Lujujiang Bridge, which was built by China Railway Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Bridge Bureau, was successfully completed. The Green Juice River Bridge is the first single-tower single-span steel box girder suspension bridge in the history of world highway construction, and its 780-meter main span and 54-degree maximum inclination tunnel anchor have also set two world records. (Source: CCTV News Client)
Pure technology
Heavy petaled flowers of carnations. Courtesy of Huazhong Agricultural University
●Recently, the research team of Fu Xiaopeng of the College of Horticulture and Forestry of Huazhong Agricultural University and the research team of Wu Zhiqiang of the Institute of Agricultural Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences published a latest study, the researchers assembled the carnation chromosome-level genome for the first time, and systematically studied the evolution of the carnation genome, analyzed the molecular mechanism of important ornamental traits such as flower color, flower type and floral fragrance of carnation, and identified the key genes involved in the formation of these traits. This study laid the foundation for the targeted improvement of ornamental traits of carnations and the cultivation of new varieties of carnations. (Source: China Science Daily)
●On March 9, The Cell-Report published a multi-omics study led by the Shenzhen BGI Life Sciences Research Institute, in which the research team used multiple sets of student biometric indicators to develop tools to measure the age of organisms of various organs and systems. The results showed that there are multiple "clocks" in the human body, and after a comprehensive study of various factors, including genetics and lifestyle, it was proved that these "clocks" are very different. The methods used in this study help improve our understanding of aging and, more importantly, the biomarkers used in the study can be obtained from blood and stool samples and can be used in practical medical practice in the future. (Source: China Science Daily)
New discoveries
The oldest octopus restoration. Screenshot of the new video
● In a recent study published in the March 8 issue of Nature Communications, scientists at the Museum of Natural History in New York, USA, have discovered a fossil octopus with ten arms, which is about 330-323 million years old. The fossil is thought to be the ancestor of the oldest known ghost grub (vampire squid) and octopus, and was named Syllipsimopodi bideni. (Source: China Science Daily)
Research Results. Courtesy of Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
●Recently, a joint study by Hu Xintian's research group at the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that artificial lighting sources with low correlation color temperatures can slow down the eye axis development of adolescent macaques. The results have the potential to provide new tools and methods for the prevention of myopia in adolescents. (Source: China News Network)
Look at the world
The parts shown in the illustration will be used for SEAQUE experiments. Image credit: NASA
● NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) latest news, in 2022, the International Space Station will carry out a small experiment called "Space Entanglement Annealing Quantum Experiment" (SEAQUE) to test quantum communication technology and detector repair technology in the space environment, which may lay the foundation for the future construction of global quantum networks. The SEAQUE experiment is mainly used to prove the feasibility of both technologies. The first is a quantum communication technology that allows quantum communication network nodes to securely connect quantum emitters and receivers that are far apart. Another technique is to periodically repair damage caused by space radiation to node detectors through lasers. (Source: The Paper)
Da
● According to the British "Times" recently reported, in order to understand the emotions conveyed by the pig's call, and then improve the welfare of farm animals, scientists from the University of Copenhagen have produced a "pig call dictionary" for more than 7,000 calls of more than 400 pigs. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, divided pig sentiment into positive and negative categories. When they make short purrs, they usually indicate that they are happy; when this purr becomes longer, it means that they have dissatisfaction. And when pigs feel pain, they will scream. (Source: Global Times)
Editor: Zhang Shuang
Review: Julie
Final Judge: He Yi