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SCMP

We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. China adds ‘ghost particle’ detector to South China Sea observation network
Prototype detectors have been sent deep into the South China Sea by Chinese scientists to test the possibility of building a massive underwater observatory that would be used to search for neutrinos – tiny, elusive subatomic particles from deep space.
2. China’s biggest 2024 advances hold new promise for quantum tech, healthcare
As China and the United States go head-to-head in the arenas of science and technology, some of China’s top scientists have rated the most significant advances of 2024 that have helped push the country to the forefront of several fields – from space and deep-sea exploration to chips and quantum technologies.
3. More rice, less gas: Chinese-Swedish team makes hybrid to cut methane emissions

Chinese and Swedish researchers have developed a high-yield rice variety that emits up to 70 per cent less methane than normal rice after uncovering how chemicals released by rice roots influence emissions.
4. Top chip designer Sun Nan leaves US and finds ‘room to play’ in China
Tsinghua University chip expert Sun Nan’s return to China went largely unnoticed in the wave of Chinese scientists returning from abroad – that is, until last week, when the prestigious university in Beijing put a social media spotlight on the professor who has helped create more than 50 cutting-edge chips in a little over four years.
5. China builds ‘planetary defence’ team as concerns grow over 2024 YR4 asteroid
China has started assembling a planetary defence team to counter the threat of near-Earth asteroids following the discovery of a large asteroid that could strike our planet in seven years.
6. China leading physics research, with US a distant rival, Nature Index shows

The world’s top organisations for high-quality physics research are all in China or Europe, with the US’ highest-ranked institution coming in at No 13, according to the latest Nature Index.
7. Scientists create most stable metal for precision manufacturing
A metal alloy that barely expands over an “unprecedentedly” wide temperature range has been developed by Chinese and Austrian scientists – and it could have applications in aviation, aerospace and high-precision electronics.


Omega-3 could hurt the brain, China scores rare-earth find: 7 science highlights

Xi-Putin meeting: everything you need to know from the talks in Beijing

Southeast Asia’s climate; Singaporeans and a work ethic stereotype: 7 Asia highlights

Trump’s China trip assessed, South Korea’s AI problem: 5 weekend reads you missed

SCMP Highlights

Top chip designer leaves US, ‘ghost particle’ detector: 7 science highlights

Chinese scientists have placed detectors in the South China Sea, as they plan to build a huge underwater observatory in a bid to observe neutrinos, and discover the origin of cosmic rays. Photo: The Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Scientists say their new low-methane hybrid rice could address a rise in rice-related emissions because of global warming and an increasing global population. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese institutions dominate the top 10 in Nature Index’s ranking for high-quality physics. Photo: Shutterstock

Tibetan tree rings, China’s home-grown jumbo jets: SCMP daily highlights

Dry periods on the Tibetan plateau were linked with major political upheaval. Photo: Xinhua


Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

The sign for the US Agency for International Development at its headquarters in Washington is removed on Friday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

How Trump’s air force picks signal blast-off in the US-China military space race

The US Space Force was established during President Donald Trump’s first term of office. Photo: Reuters

China’s rust-belt regions at risk of being left behind as coastal economies surge

A worker sorts coal near a mine in northern China’s Shanxi province. Photo: AFP

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Science

From an underwater observatory in the South China Sea to hybrid rice, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting


From an underwater observatory in the South China Sea to hybrid rice, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.


Tsinghua University

Top chip designer leaves US, ‘ghost particle’ detector: 7 science highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From an underwater observatory in the South China Sea to hybrid rice, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting

1. China adds ‘ghost particle’ detector to South China Sea observation network

From an underwater observatory in the South China Sea to hybrid rice, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting