Credit: LI Renkun The mega-genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) is one of the botanical world’s true marvels—an enormous, diverse group of plants spread across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. With more than 2,100 known species, it ranks among the largest genera of flowering plants. In China alone, scientific exploration over recent years has expanded the national tally to 304 species, including subspecies, varieties, and natural hybrids. This remarkable diversity continues

HKUST researchers Prof. XU Qin and Prof. HU Wenqi have pioneered soft composite materials with programmable asymmetric responses using shear-jamming transitions. These fracture-resistant composites enable directional shape memory and active motion, creating a pathway toward mechanical intelligence for soft robotics and smart systems.

YouTube creator Jens from Strange Inventions has built the world's first portable instant sketch camera. The SketchCam uses a Raspberry Pi, custom edge detection algorithms, and robotic drawing arms to create artistic line drawings from live subjects in approximately three minutes.

"Penn State researchers have developed NaviSense, an AI-powered smartphone app that lets visually impaired users 'feel' object locations through haptic feedback. The tool uses large-language models for real-time object recognition without preloading data, reducing search time and improving accuracy over commercial options."

A Chinese Academy of Sciences team has reduced dielectric capacitor production from one hour to one second using ultra-fast flash heating. The components withstand 250°C and enable scalable manufacturing for electric vehicles, radar, and laser weapons, according to their Science Advances paper.

University of Toronto Engineering researchers led by Professor Yu Zou have created an ultra-strong, lightweight metal composite using 3D printing that withstands 500°C heat with 300-400 MPa strength. The material weighs one-third less than steel while matching its performance at high temperatures.

A new study by Chinese researchers has significantly advanced the scientific understanding of how snow cover interacts with ground thermal processes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The findings, released by the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlight previously overlooked couplings that shape the evolution of permafrost in this vast and fragile region. Why Snow Matters in High-Altitude Cold Regions For decade

Credit: Xinhua/Jin Liwang The world’s largest transparent spherical neutrino detector, located in Guangdong Province in south China, has achieved its first major scientific milestone, marking a significant step forward in a project that has been under development for more than a decade. The breakthrough was announced on Wednesday during a press conference held in Jiangmen by the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). At the event

China Railway Siyuan engineers have built the world's first high-speed rail tunnel whose construction was primarily directed by artificial intelligence, achieving 89.41% accuracy in selecting excavation methods through Wufeng County's extremely complex geology. The AI system, trained on 1,700 tunnel sections from historical data, navigated fault lines and caves to guide human crews building the 350km/h railway line. In the mountainous heart of China, where jagged karst landsc

Chinese scientists have engineered a groundbreaking material that extracts a record 31.5 milligrams of uranium per gram from seawater in one day. The covalent organic framework developed by Dr. Xishi Tai and Dr. Zhenli Sun has a binding affinity 1,000 times stronger than previous designs, potentially unlocking the ocean's vast uranium reserves for nuclear power.

Chinese scientists led by senior engineer He Fubao have discovered a third gold belt with reserves over 1,000 tonnes in Xinjiang's Kunlun Mountains. This find, powered by groundbreaking domestic technology, suggests China's total gold reserves are far larger than previous international estimates.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) has delivered the first AS700 "Xiangyun" manned airship, a milestone for China's low-altitude economy. The 50-meter-long airship, carrying up to 10 passengers, will offer unique scenic tours, with commercial operations expected to begin next year.

Indian Army has deployed a unique Mono Rail system at 16,000-feet in Arunachal Pradesh's challenging Kameng Himalayas region. This is a very challenging and remote region, characterized by steep cliffs, unpredictable weather, and difficult terrain. It functions “with or without escort” — meaning it can run more autonomously even without a security detail. The system is primarily meant for transporting mission-critical supplies — ammunition, rations, fuel, engineering equipmen

China's first national R&D project equipment for high-altitude wind energy—the world's largest 5,000-square-meter power-generating kite—successfully completed flight tests in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia on Wednesday. Developed by China Energy Engineering Corp, the kite harnesses wind energy at altitudes above 300 meters, with the test successfully deploying the 5,000-square-meter kite alongside two 1,200-square-meter kites, according to China Media Group (CMG). The groun

Engineers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a simulator that predicts spray-based 3D concrete printing with over 90% accuracy. The tool, developed by Professor Kenji Shimada's team, allows robots to print around rebar, enabling stronger, more complex buildings for earthquake-prone regions and cutting construction waste.

Archer Aviation is acquiring Los Angeles' Hawthorne Airport for $126 million to serve as the core hub for its urban air taxi network and a testbed for AI-powered aviation technology. Backed by $2 billion in total liquidity and key partnerships with United Airlines and Korean Air, the company is building the infrastructure for a new era of city travel.

Chinese Academy of Sciences scientists led by Professor Zhu Jianxi have discovered the fern Blechnum orientale can create rare-earth minerals inside its leaves. This first-ever finding of plant-based rare-earth biomineralization enables a sustainable "green mining" technique to supply elements vital for AI and clean energy technologies.

SISSA researchers have revealed that the first black holes, boson stars, and cannibal stars could have formed within less than a second after the Big Bang. Their Physical Review D study shows how particle interactions created compact cosmic objects instantly.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that bumblebees can learn to read simple 'Morse code,' differentiating between long and short light flashes to find food. The Biology Letters study, published November 12, shows this ability in an insect for the first time.

University of Southampton scientists led by Professor Thomas Gernon have discovered that continents peel from below, with material traveling over 1,000 km to fuel ocean volcanoes. This solves the mystery of continental material found on islands like Christmas Island.

Yonsei University astronomers led by Professor Young-Wook Lee have published evidence that the universe's expansion is now decelerating, challenging the Nobel-winning dark energy acceleration theory. Their study of 300 galaxies corrects a key bias in supernova measurements and could mark a major paradigm shift in cosmology.

Image Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences The human brain may no longer be an unexplored frontier, but much of its complexity remains beyond our reach. Scientists have long understood that memories arise in the hippocampus and that the amygdala drives our fight-or-flight response. Yet, despite knowing this, humanity is still far from cataloging all 86 billion neurons and an equal number of glial cells, let alone understanding how they connect to create thought and consciousne

In a landmark discovery published in Nature on September 3, researchers led by Prof. SUN Daoyuan and Prof. MAO Zhu from the University of Science and Technology of China, together with international collaborators, have provided the first seismic evidence for a solid inner core (IC) on Mars. By analyzing data from NASA’s InSight mission, the team estimated the Martian inner core’s radius to be about 600 kilometers and found it to be composed mainly of a crystallized iron-nicke

Astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station have enjoyed the world's first orbital barbecue, baking chicken wings and steak in a specialized hot air oven. The historic meal occurred during a six-person crew handover just before the previous crew's return was delayed due to a suspected space debris strike.

Astronomers from the University of Warwick and UCL have found that ageing red giant stars are likely destroying their innermost planets. The study of nearly half a million star systems reveals a three-fold decrease in close-orbiting giant planets around red giants, providing direct evidence for planetary engulfment. Lead researcher Dr. Edward Bryant described the process as a gravitational "tug-of-war" that drags planets to their doom.

University of Sydney researchers and Dewpoint Innovations have created a cooling paint that harvests drinking water from air, reflecting 97% of sunlight while collecting 390 mL of water daily per square meter. Professor Chiara Neto's team developed the coating that keeps surfaces 6°C cooler than ambient air.

Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) have discovered Ice XXI, a new form of ice, by compressing water at two gigapascals at room temperature. Using a dynamic diamond anvil cell and the European XFEL, they captured the microsecond-scale process for the first time.

European scientists discovered the world's largest spider web spanning 100 square meters in a toxic cave between Albania and Greece. The massive structure houses 110,000 spiders from two species living cooperatively in complete darkness, powered by a chemoautotrophic ecosystem independent of sunlight.

Chinese surgeons from Sun Yat-sen University have performed a groundbreaking remote robotic eye surgery, using 5G technology to operate on a patient over 4,000 kilometers away. The procedure, led by Professor Lin Haotian, was completed in less than seven minutes with micron-level precision.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Professor Nitin Sanket has secured a $704,908 NSF grant to develop sound-based navigation for tiny drones. His bio-inspired research, drawing from bats, will enable robots smaller than 100mm to operate in smoke, dust, and dark for search and rescue missions.

Credit: Argonne National Laboratory The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching a landmark collaboration with NVIDIA and Oracle to build its largest AI supercomputers yet at Argonne National Laboratory, a move set to dramatically accelerate scientific discovery. This new partnership, alongside the deployment of three additional AI systems, will provide American researchers with an unprecedented computing arsenal to tackle complex challenges in energy, security, and mater

Stanford University scientists led by Hari Ramachandran, Edward Mu, and Eder Lomeli have forced iron to reversibly give up five electrons—far beyond its usual limit—creating a stable high-voltage cathode material that could revolutionize affordable energy storage and reduce dependence on cobalt.

Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP) and Mithril Defense have achieved a world-first: successfully demonstrating a non-lethal drone interdiction of a human subject. The MERLIN-Interdictor system uses BolaWrap® technology to engage threats from the air, creating a new Drone-First-Responder Interdiction (DFR-X) category for school safety and public protection.

Researchers at Yonsei University led by Professor Yoon Seok Jung have created a fluoride-based solid electrolyte that shatters the 4-volt ceiling for all-solid-state batteries. The innovation enables safe operation beyond 5 volts and record-high capacity, marking a paradigm shift for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

ETH Zurich scientists led by Dr. Parth Chansoria have 3D-printed viable muscle tissue during parabolic flights, achieving a major biomanufacturing milestone. The breakthrough could enable the production of human tissue in orbit to combat astronaut muscle loss and create superior models for studying diseases like muscular dystrophy.

"Researchers from Harvard SEAS, led by David Farrell, have engineered a textile that dynamically forms dimples, reducing drag by up to 20%. Inspired by golf balls, this innovation could transform high-speed sports, aerospace, and maritime design, offering wearables that actively respond to wind conditions."

"Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG has successfully tested the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered purely by methanol, in partnership with Woodward L’Orange and WTZ Roßlau. The breakthrough offers a CO2-neutral alternative for ferries, yachts, and supply vessels, signaling a major shift toward climate-friendly maritime propulsion."

"US researchers at The University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering have developed concrete rail ties reinforced with shape memory alloys (SMAs) that return to their original shape under heat. Led by Professor Bassem Andrawes, the design surpasses industry standards, offering a smarter way to prevent track warping and reduce costly maintenance."

Researchers from Rockefeller University, led by Dr. Leslie Vosshall, have published the world’s first cellular atlas of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Cell. The Mosquito Cell Atlas charts over 367,000 nuclei and reveals how female mosquito brains dramatically rewire after a blood meal, offering new clues for combating diseases like Zika and dengue.

This American experimental supersonic aircraft could slash coast-to-coast flight times — and silence the sonic boom. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with NASA, successfully completed the first flight of the X-59, a revolutionary, quiet supersonic aircraft designed to pave the way for faster commercial air travel.  The X-59 took off from Skunk Works' facility at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, before landing near NASA's Armstrong Flight Research C

Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology (GDIIST) unveiled the BI Explorer (BIE-1), a refrigerator-sized brain-like intelligent computer with 1,152 CPU cores, 4.8 terabytes of memory, and 204 terabytes of storage that uses 90 percent less power than traditional supercomputers. The device achieves 100,000 tokens per second training speed and 500,000 tokens per second inference speed while running on a household electrical socket and maintaining temperatures b

"Chinese researchers from Xinjiang University have created a flexible artificial tongue using skim milk powder that accurately measures food spiciness by detecting capsaicin. The sensor matches human taste panel results and could revolutionize food quality control and dietary management for patients with sensory impairments."

Copper, founded by MIT graduate Sam Calisch, has developed an induction kitchen range with a 5-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery that plugs into standard 120-volt outlets, eliminating costly home rewiring. The 30-inch range has shipped 1,000 units with a New York City Housing Authority agreement for 10,000 more, while the company raised $28 million to scale production and recently piloted a program in California to provide grid power from its home batteries during

AnyWit Robotics deployed "Xiao An", a 1.4-meter-tall humanoid robot, as a teaching assistant at Primary School Affiliated to Hefei Normal School in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province on Monday. The world's first classroom-scenario AI education robot emotionally engaged with students and provided thought-provoking responses during a science lesson about sound and musical instruments, according to deputy general manager Hu Likang, with plans to expand to other academic subjects

Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) researchers led by Dr. Cheol Hoon Park have developed an automated weaving system producing "fabric muscle" from 25-micrometer shape memory alloy wire. The 10-gram fabric lifts 10-15 kilograms, enabling wearable robots weighing less than 2 kilograms that reduce muscle effort by 40 percent during physical tasks and improve shoulder movement by 57 percent in clinical trials at Seoul National University Hospital, with findings pu

The world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot has been launched. Designed to transform life at home, the NEO humanoid robot automates everyday chores. The robot offers personalized assistance so people can spend more time on the things that matter. With intuitive, user-friendly features and a revolutionary hardware platform, NEO is the safest, most affordable, and most capable humanoid on earth. NEO brings the science-fiction idea of robots from the movie screen into realit

"Norwegian robotics company 1X has launched NEO, the world's first consumer-ready humanoid robot. CEO Bernt Børnich says NEO closes the gap between sci-fi and reality, handling chores from laundry to organization while offering screen-free conversational assistance to free up your mental space and time."

A COLDEX team led by U.S. scientists has discovered 6-million-year-old ice in Antarctica, the oldest directly dated on Earth. The ice from the Allan Hills reveals a 12-degree Celsius long-term cooling trend and offers an unprecedented window into the planet's warmer past, far exceeding researchers' initial expectations for the project.

NVIDIA and Oracle are building the U.S. Department of Energy's largest AI supercomputer. The Solstice system will feature 100,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and deliver immense computational power to accelerate the development of AI for open science, agentic research, and national security missions at Argonne National Laboratory.

Princeton University engineers led by Professor Z. Jason Ren have developed a method to produce green hydrogen using treated wastewater, reducing water treatment costs by 47%. The breakthrough solves a key purity problem that has plagued previous attempts, running stably for over 300 hours.