https://www.scmp.com/rss/501774/feed Holly Chik joined the Post as a reporter in 2019. Previously, she interned at Reuters in Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Holly Chik Holly Chik China is sending a new kind of explorer to the moon – with a humanoid upper body and four wheels. The lunar rover, developed by a team led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is designed to act as an AI-powered porter for the Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled for 2029. The 100kg (220lbs) robot will transport, deploy and install instruments and sensors at their designated lunar locations after the Chang’e-8 probe lands. It is also tasked with collecting samples of the moon’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352998/meet-chinas-moon-porter-change-8-mission-4-wheeled-robot-2-arms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352998/meet-chinas-moon-porter-change-8-mission-4-wheeled-robot-2-arms?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China’s top remote sensing expert Ke Tao died from an illness on Wednesday at the age of 48, according to an obituary from Wuhan University. “Comrade Ke Tao made outstanding achievements in national defence science and technology and remote sensing mapping,” the obituary released on Thursday by the university’s School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering said. Ke, a professor at the school, completed his undergraduate through doctoral degrees there before joining the faculty in 2008. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352935/ke-tao-chinas-remote-sensing-expert-who-was-devoted-national-defence-dies-48?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352935/ke-tao-chinas-remote-sensing-expert-who-was-devoted-national-defence-dies-48?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A virus found in shrimp and fish may cause an eye disease in humans, according to a recent study that marks the first known case of a pathogen from aquatic animals infecting people. Those “who handle dissected aquatic animals daily without adequate protection or eat raw aquatic animals daily are at high risk” of being exposed to the virus, the researchers cautioned in their recently published paper. They advised taking protective measures, such as wearing gloves, when handling such animals at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352593/sea-sight-chinese-study-finds-aquatic-virus-can-infect-human-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352593/sea-sight-chinese-study-finds-aquatic-virus-can-infect-human-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China Eastern Airlines apologised to passengers on Saturday after one of its aircraft struck a boarding bridge on arrival at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. The Shanghai-based airline said “a mechanical malfunction occurred” as the flight from Chengdu was taxiing slowly towards its gate and the aircraft hit the bridge. The collision was minor and all passengers on board the aircraft were safe, it said. “The flight crew immediately handled it according to established procedures,” China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3352227/china-eastern-says-sorry-boarding-bridge-collision-shanghai-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3352227/china-eastern-says-sorry-boarding-bridge-collision-shanghai-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 10:52:08 +0000 Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump said he is still planning to travel to China as scheduled this month despite the stalemate in the negotiations with Iran. When asked about the trip to Beijing, Trump told reporters on Friday: “It is going to be amazing. The visit with China and Chairman Xi [Jinping] – that’s going to be great. “We have the trip with China coming up. And I think it will be an amazing event.” Trump had initially planned to visit Beijing in late March, but put the trip back to May 14 and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 10:02:17 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Holly Chik,Fan Chen Yuanyue Dang,Holly Chik,Fan Chen Senior officials from China and the United States have been “testing the waters” ahead of US President Donald Trump’s coming visit to China by outlining some of their main concerns. Meanwhile, new areas of concern emerged on Friday as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warned that the United States was threatening the “hard-won stability” in their trade relations after the national telecoms agency effectively banned smartphones tested in Chinese laboratories from the American market. Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352074/china-voices-serious-concern-over-us-curbs-talks-bessent-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352074/china-voices-serious-concern-over-us-curbs-talks-bessent-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:25:17 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China is testing a prototype nuclear reactor that can be carried on a truck, according to a leading scientist. He described the reactor, which has been in development for several years, as the “world’s first 10-megawatt vehicle-mounted nuclear power unit” and said the team behind it was now seeking opportunities to put it to use. This output would be enough to power a medium-sized AI data centre. “The ‘nuclear power bank’ we proposed exemplifies the new generation of nuclear energy systems,” Wu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351721/china-testing-truck-mounted-nuclear-reactor-could-power-ai-data-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351721/china-testing-truck-mounted-nuclear-reactor-could-power-ai-data-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:10:45 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik In the world of mathematics, the United States is becoming an outlier. The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) – the world’s most important mathematics conference and the venue for awarding the prestigious Fields Medal – is facing worldwide opposition because the US is hosting this year’s event in Philadelphia in July. More than 2,300 mathematicians from at least 76 countries have signed an online petition to “move the 2026 ICM out of the US” and “commit not to participate in the ICM... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351408/will-chinas-mathematicians-join-global-effort-boycott-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351408/will-chinas-mathematicians-join-global-effort-boycott-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:00:22 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Holly Chik Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Holly Chik US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with “representatives from the Iranian delegation” this weekend, the White House confirmed on Friday. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Trump-friendly Fox News that the “America first” president will be “dispatching” the duo “tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks” and “hear the Iranians out”. Though she did not mention who would be representing Tehran, Pakistan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351355/irans-foreign-minister-expected-pakistan-raising-hopes-talks-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351355/irans-foreign-minister-expected-pakistan-raising-hopes-talks-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:39:19 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has named the two Pakistani astronauts selected to train for a mission to its space station this year. After undergoing assessments, one of the men would serve as a payload specialist on a space mission alongside the Chinese crew to become the first foreign astronaut to enter the Tiangong space station, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will soon arrive in China for their training, according to the China Manned Space Agency. They were... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351043/china-names-2-pakistani-astronauts-chosen-train-tiangong-space-station-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351043/china-names-2-pakistani-astronauts-chosen-train-tiangong-space-station-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:41:50 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The Strait of Hormuz should remain open, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. It was the first time the Chinese leader had called for the reopening of the strategically vital waterway, which has been repeatedly blockaded since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. “The Strait of Hormuz should remain open for normal passage, which aligns with the common interest of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350747/xi-jinping-says-strait-hormuz-should-be-open-call-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350747/xi-jinping-says-strait-hormuz-should-be-open-call-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:36:05 +0000 Holly Chik,Victoria Bela Holly Chik,Victoria Bela The three astronauts stationed on China’s Tiangong space station will extend their stay by around a month, state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday. The crew lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on October 31 on board the Shenzhou-21 vessel and were expected to return to Earth at the end of this month after a standard six-month mission. In November, a crack was discovered in a window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, forcing the space station’s previous crew to extend their stay for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350472/chinas-space-station-crew-maximise-opportunities-spending-extra-month-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350472/chinas-space-station-crew-maximise-opportunities-spending-extra-month-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:02:40 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese researchers have developed a new diamond-copper material that they say can improve the cooling efficiency of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres by up to 80 per cent. The functional carbon materials team – from the Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) – said the composite material had already been deployed in an AI computing node in Zhengzhou in Henan province, China Science Daily reported. The global computing industry’s pursuit of AI... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350290/diamond-coating-nearly-doubles-chinese-ai-data-centres-cooling-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350290/diamond-coating-nearly-doubles-chinese-ai-data-centres-cooling-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China’s largest artificial intelligence computing cluster for scientific research entered operation on Tuesday, doubling its number of domestically made AI accelerator chips in just two months, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The AI acceleration cards were produced by Chinese supercomputer developer Sugon, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and are running in the core node of the national supercomputing network in Zhengzhou, Henan province. The number of chips in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350208/china-doubles-ai-science-computing-scale-2-months-using-no-us-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350208/china-doubles-ai-science-computing-scale-2-months-using-no-us-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Youth-led movements have swept the world in recent years – from protests that toppled governments in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bulgaria and Madagascar, to political rallies across the United States. They are often organised and amplified on social media platforms driven by algorithms that determine content based on user behaviour. But a new app that has been tested by nearly 10,000 university students in the US is challenging that approach. Uplifty AI is encrypted and its founder says the algorithm... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349217/radical-reset-uplifty-app-aims-help-university-students-find-connection-offline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349217/radical-reset-uplifty-app-aims-help-university-students-find-connection-offline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:32:03 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Preserving Cantonese has been challenging due to the dominance of Mandarin, limited learning resources and a lack of a standard written form. With a declining number of young learners, the language faces an uncertain future. Artificial intelligence (AI) – seen by some as an existential threat to humanity – may become the hope for saving the language, and many others, along with the distinct cultures they embody. This is the mission of Hong Kong-based deep-tech company Votee AI: to use large... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347975/mandarin-replacing-cantonese-offbeat-ai-fights-back-big-tech-looks-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347975/mandarin-replacing-cantonese-offbeat-ai-fights-back-big-tech-looks-away?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik An estimated 93 million pieces of debris could be floating on the surface of the South China Sea, based on data collected by China in a projection of its marine monitoring and remote sensing prowess. Using technologies such as fixed-ship monitoring, underway surveys and satellite remote sensing, marine scientists and ecologists audited 26 spots in the central and southern parts of the disputed waters. In a report released this month, Beijing’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347973/how-much-junk-south-china-sea-beijing-flexes-surveillance-muscle-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347973/how-much-junk-south-china-sea-beijing-flexes-surveillance-muscle-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik As China and the United States race to develop artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitical barriers are shaping how research, talent and capital flow across borders – or not – and how collaboration might emerge amid rising competition. Speaking in Hong Kong this month, three-time Silicon Valley cybersecurity founder John Whaley painted a picture of an industry that is global yet fragmented, as high stakes push countries to protect sovereign capabilities and data. When asked about the global AI... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347555/us-china-disjointed-ai-collaboration-possible-silicon-valley-tech-founder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347555/us-china-disjointed-ai-collaboration-possible-silicon-valley-tech-founder?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A former top-ranking scientist in the Chinese military and one-time nuclear test site commander, Liu Guozhi, has been removed from the website of the country’s top national research institute. In 2016, Liu was named head of the science and technology commission of the Central Military Commission – China’s top military decision-making and command body – a position he is believed to have held until the early 2020s. Liu, 65, was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2009. Some Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347200/liu-guozhi-former-top-pla-scientist-and-nuclear-test-commander-delisted-cas-website?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347200/liu-guozhi-former-top-pla-scientist-and-nuclear-test-commander-delisted-cas-website?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:58:48 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have engineered E coli bacteria into a novel cancer therapy that colonises tumours, produces an existing drug on-site and delivers it directly – reducing the toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The research, performed on mice with breast cancer, paves the way for targeted cancer treatments in future, according to the scientists from Shandong University in Qingdao, eastern China. Escherichia coli (E coli) is a group of bacteria commonly found in the gut. While most... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346974/chinese-scientists-use-e-coli-fight-breast-tumours-within-mice-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346974/chinese-scientists-use-e-coli-fight-breast-tumours-within-mice-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:25 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik World-leading Vietnamese mathematician Ngo Bao Chau has said his decision to leave the US was not just the result of the worsening academic environment there, but also a vision to transform Asia into the next global powerhouse for maths and science. Ngo, the first Vietnamese recipient of the prestigious Fields Medal, will join the University of Hong Kong in June. “I want Asia to be the next America or the next Europe [as] a place where science and mathematics strive,” he said in an interview on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346664/things-i-do-not-drove-me-quit-us-hong-kong-top-mathematician-ngo-bao-chau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346664/things-i-do-not-drove-me-quit-us-hong-kong-top-mathematician-ngo-bao-chau?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A 600-year-old brick bearing Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah’s name has gone viral on social media in mainland China. Three characters, identical to the actor and singer’s Chinese name, were carved into the city wall of Nanjing, the ancient capital of the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The inscriptions, carved into a brick now preserved at the Nanjing City Wall Museum, offer clues about the identity of the ancient namesake – whose name is pronounced “Liu Dehua” in Mandarin. The Ming-era... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346658/why-andy-laus-name-carved-600-year-old-brick-ming-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346658/why-andy-laus-name-carved-600-year-old-brick-ming-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The profile of one of China’s top nuclear weapons scientists has been scrubbed from the website of the nation’s engineering brains trust. Zhao Xiangeng, 72, was a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the nation’s highest academic body for engineering science and technology, but his profile page has disappeared from the CAE’s site. It is not known when the page was removed, but Chinese media reports noted the change on Saturday. Similar online references to other CAE academicians,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346672/top-nuclear-radar-and-missile-experts-vanish-chinese-academy-engineering-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346672/top-nuclear-radar-and-missile-experts-vanish-chinese-academy-engineering-site?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:44:43 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has become the first country to mass produce the strongest carbon fibre, which has wide applications for defence industries such as aerospace, drones and robots, state broadcaster CCTV’s military channel reported on Wednesday. The domestically developed T1200-grade fibre has a tensile strength 10 times greater than ordinary steel, yet it is less than one-tenth of a human hair in diameter, according to the state broadcaster. Mass production of the ultra-strength fibre at a projected output... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346398/china-beats-us-japan-carbon-fibre-arms-race-create-worlds-first-t1200-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346398/china-beats-us-japan-carbon-fibre-arms-race-create-worlds-first-t1200-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Scientists in China and Germany have identified four possible landing sites for China’s first crewed mission to the moon in an area that has also been of interest to Nasa. The Rimae Bode region on the lunar nearside is favoured for its diverse geological samples, including volcanic debris, for studying lunar volcanism and its relatively flat ground for safe astronaut access. “Rimae Bode lies in an easily accessible, low-latitude, nearside location with generally flat, traversable terrain,” they... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346056/chinas-2030-moon-landing-scientists-suggest-site-has-long-been-nasas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346056/chinas-2030-moon-landing-scientists-suggest-site-has-long-been-nasas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese researchers have developed a drone with wings made from bamboo, making it 20 per cent lighter and considerably cheaper than a carbon fibre device, according to state news agency Xinhua. The bamboo-based material used in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cost about a quarter of the price of carbon fibre cloth, Xinhua said. The UAV completed its maiden flight in northern China last month. The research team said the new material could cut a drone’s overall structural costs by more than 20... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345351/75-cost-cut-china-unveils-worlds-first-fixed-wing-drone-made-bamboo-fibre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345351/75-cost-cut-china-unveils-worlds-first-fixed-wing-drone-made-bamboo-fibre?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Holly Chik,Jane Cai,Shi Jiangtao,Meredith Chen,Amber Wang Holly Chik,Jane Cai,Shi Jiangtao,Meredith Chen,Amber Wang This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The US-Israel joint military campaign against Iran, now on day 3, has widened rapidly, with Iranian retaliatory missile and drone waves hitting Israel, American bases and Gulf states. Casualties include at least 555 people in Iran, four US service members killed, at least nine Israeli civilians dead, three in the United Arab Emirates and dozens in Lebanon.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345089/iran-strikes-day-3-markets-open-sharp-sell-futures-and-asian-shares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345089/iran-strikes-day-3-markets-open-sharp-sell-futures-and-asian-shares?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:39:58 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A direct ancestor of modern humans may have arrived in China much earlier than previously thought, according to a study that may rewrite our understanding of how early hominin species spread around the world. An analysis of Homo erectus fossils found in modern-day Hubei province using new techniques concluded that the remains were almost 1.8 million years old – pushing back their arrival date by around 600,000 years and suggesting the species may have spread across continents earlier and more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3344828/when-did-our-ancient-ancestor-homo-erectus-first-arrive-china-out-africa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3344828/when-did-our-ancient-ancestor-homo-erectus-first-arrive-china-out-africa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The Chinese region of Inner Mongolia expects to start work this year on two new “flexible” power plants mixing coal and green energy. The plants, which will provide power to the eastern economic hubs of Shanghai and Jiangsu province, mark a major strategic shift in the use of coal because the fossil fuel will now be used to plug gaps in the power generated by wind and solar energy rather than being the primary source of energy. Inner Mongolia is home to around a quarter of China’s coal reserves... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343739/chinas-green-energy-leader-inner-mongolia-starts-work-new-flexible-power-plants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343739/chinas-green-energy-leader-inner-mongolia-starts-work-new-flexible-power-plants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:31:45 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A protein secreted by deadly tumour cells could be a powerful weapon against Alzheimer’s disease, Chinese researchers have found. While Alzheimer’s disease and cancer are common in ageing populations and are among the leading causes of death worldwide, it is unusual for them to occur in the same person. A Chinese research team said late last month they had identified a protein from cancer cells that could explain why patients with a history of cancer were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342761/how-deadly-tumour-cell-protein-could-help-fight-alzheimers-disease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342761/how-deadly-tumour-cell-protein-could-help-fight-alzheimers-disease?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel cooling coating for solar panels to boost power output by 13 per cent compared to conventional photovoltaic systems. The transparent layer can reduce the temperature of “hotspots” – overheated areas on solar cells caused by defects, shading from leaves, bird droppings or dirt – by 16 degrees Celsius (nearly 30 Fahrenheit). Hotspots are a common cause of solar panel failure and fire risk. “On a global scale, our developed cooling strategy can offset... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Remote surgery conducted over thousands of kilometres can be just as reliable as robot-assisted operations done by a medical team in the same room as the patient, according to a new study led by Chinese military researchers and carried out in five cities. The researchers said telesurgery could be a “feasible” way to overcome the lack of medical services in parts of the country as well as the growing demand for operations to treat cancer. “As the first randomised controlled trial in the field of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341700/robot-aided-surgery-it-doesnt-matter-where-you-are-chinese-military-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341700/robot-aided-surgery-it-doesnt-matter-where-you-are-chinese-military-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A Chinese AI system has outperformed its US competitors in solving geometry problems at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) level, taking less than half the time and using simpler computational resources, according to its developers. Unlike existing models confined to problem-solving, the Chinese system can also generate mathematical problems – three of which appeared in a Chinese national team qualifying exam and a top Olympiad in the United States in 2024. “We present TongGeometry, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341517/chinese-ai-goes-next-level-geometry-top-us-maths-olympiad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341517/chinese-ai-goes-next-level-geometry-top-us-maths-olympiad?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China may have led a Stone Age technological race as early as 160,000 years ago, by crafting sophisticated stone tools for cutting, piercing and sawing, according to a new study. An international team of scientists said the discovery of hafted tools – the earliest evidence for composite tools in eastern Asia – had reshaped the understanding of human evolution in the region. They said the find showed that hominins in China were much more inventive and adaptable than previously thought,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341421/composite-tool-find-puts-china-centre-tech-revolution-160000-years-ago-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341421/composite-tool-find-puts-china-centre-tech-revolution-160000-years-ago-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik People carrying a specific gene mutation could have a significantly higher risk of developing the respiratory condition asthma, according to Chinese scientists who have created a detailed immune cell atlas. The team has mapped how genetic variations influence immune cell function and disease development, creating a tool to help researchers understand how particular gene variations make people more likely to develop certain diseases and potentially guide the development of precise treatments,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340553/asthma-has-no-cure-some-risk-written-gene-china-team-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340553/asthma-has-no-cure-some-risk-written-gene-china-team-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:22 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Holly Chik Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Holly Chik Following what he called a “very productive” meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States has established the framework for a future agreement concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region. “This solution, if finalised, will be a great one for the United States of America and all Nato nations,” Trump said on Wednesday, adding that, based on this understanding, he will not impose the tariffs originally scheduled for February... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340743/donald-trumps-davos-speech-greenland-plan-xi-friendship-chinas-smart-energy-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340743/donald-trumps-davos-speech-greenland-plan-xi-friendship-chinas-smart-energy-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:48:42 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Britain on Tuesday approved China’s plan to build a massive new embassy in London, removing a major barrier to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China later this month. The roughly 65,000 square metre (700,000 sq ft) embassy will be built at the site of the former Royal Mint, near the Tower of London. It will replace the Chinese embassy in central London. British media reports have said that Starmer would visit Beijing and Shanghai between January 29 and 31. Neither London nor Beijing has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340578/chinas-mega-embassy-london-gets-green-light-clears-way-starmer-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340578/chinas-mega-embassy-london-gets-green-light-clears-way-starmer-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:23:34 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China’s military says it is using quantum technology to gather high-value military intelligence from public cyberspace. The People’s Liberation Army said more than 10 experimental quantum cyber warfare tools were “under development”, many of which were being “tested in front-line missions”, according to the official newspaper Science and Technology Daily. The project is being led by a supercomputing laboratory at the National University of Defence Technology, according to the report, with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339907/chinese-military-says-it-developing-over-10-quantum-warfare-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339907/chinese-military-says-it-developing-over-10-quantum-warfare-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China is set to supercharge the advanced J-20 stealth fighter with avionics upgrades to its radar, engines and AI integration to cement the fifth-generation jet’s pivotal position in aerial warfare, a military analyst told state media. The Mighty Dragon, China’s answer to the American F-22 Raptor, was also effectively operating alongside the country’s stealth attack drone and early warning aircraft, military commentator Zhang Xuefeng told state broadcaster CCTV in a programme on Saturday. Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Taiwan will double down on strengthening key facilities, including defences against drones, and ramp up ammunition production to withstand growing pressure from the mainland, according to senior officials on the island. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Thursday that the government would continue to reinforce critical infrastructure and defences against unmanned aerial vehicles. “Taiwan must be more fully prepared, especially in the face of the possibility of various new forms of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339441/taiwan-fortify-critical-facilities-and-ramp-ammunition-output-ward-pla-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339441/taiwan-fortify-critical-facilities-and-ramp-ammunition-output-ward-pla-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Following months of opposition from the Asian-American community, US House lawmakers on Thursday removed a provision from a bill aimed at restarting the China Initiative, a programme that unfairly targeted Chinese-American researchers. Last September, the proposal to “direct the re-establishment of the China Initiative” was included as a measure to “counter China and maintain America’s competitive edge” in the financial year 2026 appropriations bill approved by the House Committee on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339328/us-house-lawmakers-abandon-bid-bring-back-controversial-china-initiative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339328/us-house-lawmakers-abandon-bid-bring-back-controversial-china-initiative?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:00:16 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Led by only the second civilian the country has sent into space, China had started a series of experiments on board its Tiangong space station that could lead to the development of safer and more powerful space batteries, state media reported on Wednesday. The tests on lithium-ion batteries run by Zhang Hongzhang, a professor at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, could help scientists better understand how gravity affects the workings of the batteries. Zhang, 39, is one of the three... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339221/why-chinese-space-station-studying-how-gravity-affects-battery-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339221/why-chinese-space-station-studying-how-gravity-affects-battery-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has developed smart power grid technology that cuts blackout recovery time to a 10th of a second, according to state media, which said the innovation was expected to play a bigger role in ensuring the safe and stable distribution of electricity worldwide. The grid protection technology enables power grid faults to be isolated and restored within a hundred-millisecond window, compared with the hours otherwise required, according to a Science and Technology Daily report on Tuesday. It also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339077/china-sends-01-second-blackout-recovery-technology-protect-power-grids-12-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339077/china-sends-01-second-blackout-recovery-technology-protect-power-grids-12-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Just over a year after an incident that nearly triggered a cascading failure across China’s national power grid, engineers have developed the most powerful smart direct current (DC) transformer on the planet – an innovation poised to neutralise renewable energy shocks to the system. The technology addresses an urgent need following a near total blackout in August last year, when low-frequency swings triggered by poorly integrated wind energy in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region threatened to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337751/year-after-near-total-blackout-china-builds-worlds-largest-smart-transformer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337751/year-after-near-total-blackout-china-builds-worlds-largest-smart-transformer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Traces of alcohol in pottery vessels discovered from a Bronze Age cemetery in northwestern China indicate that people at the time consumed beverages made using a fermentation starter of rice and a red mould. Archaeologists said the drink, similar to red rice wine, played a key role in mortuary rituals, and its presence at the Mogou cemetery suggested a tradition that probably served to strengthen the bond between the living and the dead. Researchers from Northwest University in Xian, the Gansu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337691/bronze-age-cemetery-offers-clues-how-ancient-chinese-brewed-red-rice-wine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337691/bronze-age-cemetery-offers-clues-how-ancient-chinese-brewed-red-rice-wine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:07:59 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Consuming a diet with a moderate amount of lard can decrease both fat accumulation and inflammation in body fat, according to a new study by Chinese scientists. “These findings challenge the conventional view of animal fats and demonstrate that consuming lard at the recommended level (with dietary fat providing 25 per cent of energy) can confer metabolic benefits by regulating adipose tissue homeostasis,” the team wrote. Scientists from Hunan Agricultural University, the University of South... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337587/lard-can-actually-keep-you-fit-and-feeling-more-comfortable-chinese-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337587/lard-can-actually-keep-you-fit-and-feeling-more-comfortable-chinese-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:00:19 +0000 Victoria Bela,Holly Chik Victoria Bela,Holly Chik The Long March 12A, China’s first state-owned reusable rocket, made its debut launch on Tuesday morning but the recovery of the first stage was a failure. It marked China’s second failed bid this month to return an orbital-class booster to Earth, a feat that has so far only been achieved by the United States. The second stage of the rocket entered its predetermined orbit after its launch at 10am local time, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The reusable rocket, designed by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337415/chinas-reusable-rocket-ambitions-experience-second-setback-same-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337415/chinas-reusable-rocket-ambitions-experience-second-setback-same-month?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:40:06 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has boosted its armour steel production speed by 30 per cent with continuous investment in tech upgrades, while a major American steelmaker that provided military-grade steel for tanks, ships and mine-resistant vehicles ceased operation for financial reasons. Chinese military supplier Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group said it had solved key technical challenges to allow large-scale production of high-performance armour steel, which has been deployed for manufacturing tanks and armoured... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336866/china-speeds-armour-steel-production-30-us-conshohocken-plant-folds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336866/china-speeds-armour-steel-production-30-us-conshohocken-plant-folds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have turned allergy into a powerful weapon against cancer to deliver drugs and turbocharge the body’s own immune attack on cancer. The team loaded mast cells – which cause allergic symptoms when they encounter antigens such as seafood and pollen – with anticancer drugs to deliver them into tumours. The researchers said they were working on clinical applications, including exploring its potential combination with existing cancer immunotherapies. The scientists from Zhejiang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336725/how-chinese-scientists-turn-annoying-allergy-powerful-weapon-against-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336725/how-chinese-scientists-turn-annoying-allergy-powerful-weapon-against-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 06:03:59 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The global green energy transition is less about geopolitics and more about economic reality, according to Arif Aga, director of global renewable engineering consultancy SgurrEnergy. For many nations seeking to adopt clean energy, their priority remains the practical pursuit of lowering costs, a reality that has entrenched China’s leading role in the global clean power supply. According to the renewable energy technical adviser, the vast scale of Chinese manufacturing and its rapid enhancement... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336007/chinas-green-tech-revolution-will-outlast-geopolitics-scale-and-cost-arif-aga?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336007/chinas-green-tech-revolution-will-outlast-geopolitics-scale-and-cost-arif-aga?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:00:17 +0000