4 h. ago China set to up Iran support, cyborg bee is unveiled: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests Beijing is likely to step up support for Tehran as it tries to secure its strategic interests in the Middle East, analysts say, amid concerns over how the recent Iran-Israel war will reverberate across the resource-rich region. 2. ‘Whatever they do is wrong’: Chinese exporters...

Politics

11 h. ago China creates first cyborg bee with world’s lightest brain controller

Worker bees carry nectar sacks weighing 80 per cent of their body mass. When airborne, they tuck their hind legs like landing gear to cut wind drag. And they can fly 5km (3 miles) with no need for rest, an example of how nature’s genius shames human machinery. Until now. At Beijing Institute of Technology, Professor Zhao Jieliang’s team has built the world’s lightest insect brain controller. At 74 milligrams, it is lighter than a sack of nectar. Strapped to the bee’s back, the device pierces its...

Politics

69 h. ago Mountain creature with ‘burly’ fingers found in China park. It’s a new species

Mountain creature with ‘burly’ fingers found in China park. It’s a new species  Miami Herald

Politics

3 d. ago Chinese scientists create visual sensor that adapts to light changes in seconds

A team of Chinese scientists has used semiconductor “quantum dots” to develop a vision sensor that adapts to extreme light changes faster than the human eye. The bionic visual sensor can adapt to extreme changes between dark and light in about 40 seconds, compared to two to 30 minutes for human eyes. Its ability to adjust sensitivity for better object recognition and imaging means the sensor could be used to make next-generation technology, such as more brain-like computing systems. “The sensor...

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4 d. ago Chinese scientists find genetics shapes brain’s balance linked to mental ability

Chinese researchers have discovered that genetics influences the brain’s ability to maintain the crucial balance between activation and control, a key element of cognitive function. There is extensive evidence that brain criticality – the balance between neural excitation and inhibition – enhances its information processing capabilities. But despite the significance of brain criticality and its potential influence on neurological and psychiatric disorders, the genetic basis of this state had...

Politics

7 d. ago Chinese team creates blockchain tech to resist attacks from quantum computers

Chinese scientists have developed a new blockchain storage technology that they say can resist attacks from quantum computers. Blockchain technology – which provides a shared, decentralised digital ledger that stores tamper-proof records – has shown revolutionary potential in areas like financial services and supply chain management. Usually, blockchains use specialised encryption algorithms to verify each transaction, ensure the ledger’s security, and provide transparent access to...

Events

9 d. ago China’s coffee craze creates bottomless cup of rural cafes – can the buzz last?

She seldom visits the same suburban cafe twice. Asa Jin has her cuppa, takes in the view, snaps her share of pictures for social, and then considers which among the rising number of coffee shops she will visit next. “Most rural cafes are leaning into a trendy, influencer-driven vibe, but it’s not sustainable,” said the 37-year-old freelancer from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, explaining that many shops try to lure customers with “unique natural settings” – perfect for coffee-sipping social media...

Politics

9 d. ago Opinion | Global Labubu craze reflects China’s creative and consumption ambitions

Opinion | Global Labubu craze reflects China’s creative and consumption ambitions  South China Morning Post

Politics

1 week ago The race to create AI applications is creating demand for training data in China

The race to create AI applications is creating demand for training data in China  NPR

Politics

2 w. ago GE Appliances moving China manufacturing to Louisville, creating 800 jobs

GE Appliances moving China manufacturing to Louisville, creating 800 jobs  WLKY

Politics

2 w. ago Chinese team’s edible fruit coating can more than double shelf life: paper

Chinese scientists have developed an edible, washable protein-based coating that can extend the shelf life of fruits by 2½ times, by reducing moisture loss and microbial growth. The low-cost coating was tested across 17 varieties of whole and cut fruits, including strawberry, tomato, kiwi and mango. It was shown to effectively delay rot by almost a week or more, at a cost of just 9 US cents per kilogram of fruit, according to a recent paper in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. The...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘White Snake’ Director: China’s Animation Boom Must Lead to Creative Risk, Not Repetition

‘White Snake’ Director: China’s Animation Boom Must Lead to Creative Risk, Not Repetition  The Hollywood Reporter

Events

3 w. ago Beijing strikes back: China eyes creation of financial titans | Daily Sabah

Beijing strikes back: China eyes creation of financial titans | Daily Sabah  Daily Sabah

Events

3 w. ago Creature with ‘horned’ eyelids discovered on China mountain. It’s a new species

Creature with ‘horned’ eyelids discovered on China mountain. It’s a new species  Miami Herald

Politics

3 w. ago Dentsu Creative China 2025 SHIFT Workshop: Unleashing Your Superpower

Dentsu Creative China 2025 SHIFT Workshop: Unleashing Your Superpower  Little Black Book | LBBOnline

Economics

3 w. ago ‘Ne Zha 2’ Director: China’s Animation Boom Must Lead to Creative Risk, Not Repetition

‘Ne Zha 2’ Director: China’s Animation Boom Must Lead to Creative Risk, Not Repetition  The Hollywood Reporter

Events

3 w. ago Chinese brain implant reaches landmark clinical trial with operation on amputee

China has become the second country in the world to advance invasive brain-computer interface technology to a human trial, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The trial is on a 37-year-old man who had to have all of his limbs amputated after a high-voltage electrical accident more than a decade ago. In March, researchers implanted a device roughly the size of a coin and a series of electrodes into the man’s brain. A few weeks later, he was able to control a cursor on an electronic...

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