Latest news with #SouthChinaSeaInstituteofOceanology
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China to build deepwater station in South China Sea
China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea to support marine exploration. The station is claimed to be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations globally, with a target operational date of around 2030. The design details of the station were disclosed by researcher Yin Jianping, from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with his colleagues, in an article published in the journal Manufacturing and Upgrading Today. "Construction is set to begin shortly," wrote Yin and his team, who also mentioned that the aim was for the station to collaborate closely with unmanned submersibles, surface vessels, and seabed observatories to establish a "four-dimensional" monitoring network. To be built 2,000m below the surface in an area said to be rich with resources and subject to multiple territorial claims, the South China Morning Post reported that the research station will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents with unique lifeforms. The facility will be designed to accommodate up to six scientists for missions lasting up to one month. It will feature advanced life-support systems to enable the establishment of a monitoring network for tracking methane fluxes, ecological changes, and tectonic movements. The station is expected to be part of a larger infrastructure network, including a seabed fibreoptic network and the drilling ship Mengxiang, which has ambitions to be the first to reach the Earth's mantle. The power source for the station remains undisclosed, but experts have compared it to US and Soviet-era stations that used nuclear reactors. The South China Sea is estimated to hold 70 billion tonnes of methane hydrates, which is approximately half of China's proven oil and gas reserves. The region also boasts rare mineral deposits such as cobalt and nickel, with concentrations three times higher than those found in land-based mines. Additionally, more than 600 species adapted to extreme conditions have been identified in the area, some with enzymes that are seen as crucial for cancer treatments. "China to build deepwater station in South China Sea" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
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.
