Latest news with #ChineseAcademyofScience
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China's new 'artificial sun' sets world record — here's how it could change energy production forever
There's a new sun rising in China. Well, sort of. China's nuclear fusion reactor, called the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) officially but an "artificial sun" by many, has just set a record for the longest sustained, stable nuclear fusion reaction. EAST maintained the reaction for 17 minutes and 46 seconds, smashing its own previous 2023 world record of 6 minutes and 43 seconds, according to Newsweek. If nuclear fusion technology can be safely harnessed, it will provide a practically infinite source of clean energy. Needless to say, that would be incredibly beneficial for humanity. Not only does nuclear fusion not produce the harmful carbon emissions burning fossil fuels does, but it doesn't require constant sun or wind, like solar and turbines respectively do. You turn the machine on, and it just produces basically free power. Forever. Unlike current nuclear-generated power, which relies on nuclear fission, nuclear fusion produces no harmful radioactive elements when under operation. Nuclear fission plants bombard atoms with electrons, breaking them apart, which releases energy but also produces radioactive isotopes that must be safely contained and stored. Nuclear fusion works in the opposite way. Reactors like EAST take hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe and force its atomic nuclei to bond under enormous pressure. This releases huge amounts of energy, which the reactor harnesses. But it's a tough scientific nut to crack. This new record by EAST moves humanity one step closer, though. "A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is critical for the continuous power generation of future fusion plants," said Song Yuntao, director of the Chinese Academy of Science's Institute of Plasma Physics. EAST has been in operation for nearly 20 years and has been upgraded thoroughly since it first went online in 2006, according to news agency Xinhua. Should we be pouring money into nuclear fusion technology? Yes — it'll pay off It's worth exploring Not from our tax dollars No — it's a waste Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What researchers are learning with EAST will be folded into the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a giant tokamak-type reactor under construction in France, as part of a global effort. "We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity," Song said in a statement. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stripey-faced fish named after warrior princess San
A newly discovered deepwater fish has been named after San, the warrior princess from Studio Ghibli's landmark animated film Princess Mononoke, due to its striking facial markings. The new species, Branchiostegus sanae, was identified by Chinese researchers after they noticed its unique cheek stripes. San, a princess raised by wolves, was the war-painted protagonist of Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 animated film. Princess Mononoke was a sensation in Japan and grossed over 19 billion yen (£100.4m) at the box office. The newly discovered fish is a deepwater tilefish, belonging to the family Branchiostegidae. As their name suggests, deepwater tilefish are found at extreme depths, with some species being found as deep as 600m below the surface. Researchers from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, the Chinese Academy of Science, Zhejiang University and Ocean University of China, used genetic analysis to confirm it as a new species. Inspired by its resemblance to San, they chose "sanae" for the specific name as a tribute. Lead author of the study Haochen Huang said: "In Princess Mononoke, San is a young woman raised by wolves after being abandoned by her human parents. She sees herself as a part of the forest and fights to protect it. "The film delves into the complex relationship between humans and nature, promoting a message of harmonious coexistence between the two: something we hope to echo through this naming." Deepwater tilefish are commonly found in seafood markets across east and southeast Asia. However their diversity remains relatively low, with only 31 described species in the Branchiostegidae family and 19 in the Branchiostegus genus. "Finding a new species in this group is a rare and fortunate event, especially one as distinctive as Branchiostegus sanae," said Haochen Huang. Only three new species in the genus Branchiostegus have been identified in the last 34 years. Specimens have been preserved in marine biological collections to help scientists learn more about them.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Princess Mononoke's San inspires naming of deep-sea fish
A newly discovered deepwater fish has been named after San, the warrior princess from Studio Ghibli's landmark animated film Princess Mononoke, due to its striking facial new species, Branchiostegus sanae, was identified by Chinese researchers after they noticed its unique cheek a princess raised by wolves, was the war-painted protagonist of Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 animated Mononoke was a sensation in Japan and grossed over 19 billion yen (£100.4m) at the box office. The newly discovered fish is a deepwater tilefish, belonging to the family their name suggests, deepwater tilefish are found at extreme depths, with some species being found as deep as 600m below the from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, the Chinese Academy of Science, Zhejiang University and Ocean University of China, used genetic analysis to confirm it as a new by its resemblance to San, they chose "sanae" for the specific name as a author of the study Haochen Huang said: "In Princess Mononoke, San is a young woman raised by wolves after being abandoned by her human parents. She sees herself as a part of the forest and fights to protect it."The film delves into the complex relationship between humans and nature, promoting a message of harmonious coexistence between the two: something we hope to echo through this naming." Deepwater tilefish are commonly found in seafood markets across east and southeast their diversity remains relatively low, with only 31 described species in the Branchiostegidae family and 19 in the Branchiostegus genus."Finding a new species in this group is a rare and fortunate event, especially one as distinctive as Branchiostegus sanae," said Haochen three new species in the genus Branchiostegus have been identified in the last 34 have been preserved in marine biological collections to help scientists learn more about them.
