Latest news with #ChineseAcademyOfSciences
New York Times
a day ago
- Science
- New York Times
This Dinosaur Probably Tweeted More Than It Roared
Since the 1930s, dinosaurs have rumbled, snarled and roared on film. But the fossilized inspirations for these cinematic characters have preserved little evidence for any such dramatic voices. In a paper published last week in the journal PeerJ, researchers announced the discovery of a fossilized herbivorous dinosaur from China preserving a surprisingly birdlike throat. It provides a clue that the origins of birdsong might go as far back as the beginning of dinosaurs themselves. The two-foot-long dinosaur, which the researchers named Pulaosaurus, was discovered in 163-million-year-old rocks in northeastern China, said Xing Xu, a paleontologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and an author of the paper. The largely complete skeleton offers a strong anatomical view into the fleet-footed, beaked animal, an early member of the family that later produced 'duck-billed' hadrosaurs and horned dinosaurs. The Jurassic period formation that produced Pulaosaurus is also the source of other dinosaur discoveries like the feathered proto-bird Anchiornis, the tiny, batlike Yi qi and the feathered herbivorous dinosaur Tianyulong. Unlike those animals, Pulaosaurus is not preserved with obvious soft tissues that could help better explain its living appearance. 'On some parts of the fossil we thought we'd found very thin filaments, but we can't confirm that,' Dr. Xu said. The team did note interesting formations in the stomach region of the fossil but hasn't determined what those are. 'They could be stomach contents — food eaten by this dinosaur, or organs, or maybe even eggs within the body,' Dr. Xu said. The most interesting remains were found within the throat. In vertebrates, vocal organs play an important role in protecting the airway and helping produce everything from simple hisses and grunts to speech. In most living reptiles, these tissues are composed of cartilage, and can produce simple bellows, grunts, groans and chirps. Modern birds have vocal organs made up partially of delicate bones, allowing them to make much more complicated sounds — including, in some cases, mimicking human speech. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make game-changing breakthrough in battle against smog: 'We've gained a clearer picture'
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have pioneered a complex detection model for elevated ground-level ozone powered by artificial intelligence. In an ecological context, "ozone" — a gas that is both naturally occurring in the atmosphere and human made — is often associated with "the ozone layer," a protective portion of the Earth's stratosphere that shields humans from the most harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. In the 1980s, researchers discovered that the use of refrigerants and aerosol sprays had caused the ozone layer to thin precipitously. In response, governments heeded the warnings of scientists and reversed course, with the two largest holes set to be "healed" completely by 2066. Ground-level ozone (O3) is not protective, though, and it's a key component of a form of air pollution known as "smog." According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ground-level ozone forms when emissions and other airborne contaminants interact with sunlight. Ground-level ozone is also responsible for an estimated 365,000 deaths worldwide each year, 70% of which occur in India and China. High levels of ground-level ozone are broadly detrimental to human health and longevity. Research indicates the contaminant can have adverse effects on fetal brain development. O3 is also devastating to crops and, ultimately, the global food supply. In China, where the issue is particularly pronounced, the team of researchers harnessed a sequential convolutional long short-term memory network, as the academy's report detailed. This technology allows for a deeper integrated analysis of visual data in a chronological and sequential framework. "Conventional machine learning models often neglect these spatiotemporal dynamics, while numerical models suffer from high computational costs and limited ability to predict high-concentration ozone episodes," the researchers noted. Their results were compelling. Their "model achieved high prediction accuracy" of 83% in the North China Plain and 56% for the Yangtze River Delta. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Overall, their model appeared to overcome existing limitations in forecasting models currently in use. It further "successfully quantified the impact of typhoon position shifts on regional ozone levels," adding another layer of functionality to their novel approach to quantifying ground-level ozone. Professor Pinhua Xie led the study. Xie explained in the academy's report why the model could materially offset the adverse effects of O3 pollution in China due to the robust data it generates. "We've gained a clearer picture of how weather patterns drive ozone pollution, which can really support better early warnings for high-risk ozone days," Xie remarked. 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.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How mice are helping detect early signs of Parkinson's
Chinese scientists have identified subtle new early signs of Parkinson's disease in mice, potentially enabling much earlier diagnosis in humans. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that behaviours such as rearing, walking, and hunching in mice are linked to Parkinson's and the loss of specific midbrain dopamine neurons. The study revealed that reductions in rearing and hunching correlate directly with the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), a midbrain region. An advanced artificial intelligence behaviour analysis system was employed to meticulously examine the movements of mouse models with dopamine neuron depletion. These findings underscore the potential for monitoring such subtle behaviours as early markers to track Parkinson's progression and improve treatment strategies.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Scientists reveal the ‘perfect' male body type
It's a great day for those with a 'dad bod,' because according to a new study, it's the body type women find most attractive. Forget chiselled abs and ultra-lean physiques, researchers have found that 'dad bods,' with their softer edges and a bit of extra padding, are actually the gold standard for male attractiveness. The study, published by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Personality and Individual Differences, even put forward theories as to why people with this kind of physique are the most appealing. The study methodology The study involved 283 participants from China, Lithuania, and the UK. Each person was shown 15 black-and-white photos of men with different body mass indexes (BMIs). BMI is a calculation that uses height and weight to determine whether someone is underweight, of a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. The photos included men with BMIs ranging from 20.1 to 33.7. Faces were blurred to focus solely on body shape, and participants were asked to rank the images from least to most attractive. The results showed that the most appealing male bodies had a BMI between 23 and 27. Specifically, peak attractiveness was linked to a BMI of 23.4 in China, 23.0 in Lithuania, and 26.6 in the UK. For context, in Australia, a 'healthy' BMI for adults generally falls between 18.5 and 24.9, with those between 25 and 29.9 considered 'overweight'. Therefore, the most attractive bodies weren't those who were skinny or very lean, but rather those with a few extra kilos. What this means Although the physical findings are interesting, the researchers were more intrigued by the 'why' behind the results. 'Body fat (adiposity) may be important because it is linked closely (inversely) to circulating testosterone levels and is therefore a better indicator of mate 'quality',' the researchers said. Basically, a mid-range BMI aligns with optimal survival and reproductive fitness. 'The most attractive BMI in males was close to the predicted level maximising survival,' the study explained. So, if you've been skipping the gym for the occasional pint and schnitty, science suggests you might be onto something. But for women, the same can't be said. The researchers found in earlier work that males who judge females believe that being thinner than the 'evolutionary optimal' is more attractive. So while women might pick a partner based on their evolutionary advantages, men mainly just care about how their partner's look.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The 50p supplement that ‘mimics the benefits of exercise WITHOUT moving – boosting your heart and metabolism'
A CHEAP supplement could mimic the benefits of exercise, boosting your heart health and metabolism, a new study suggests. It's no secret that breaking a sweat can bolster your health. 2 According to Chinese scientists, sticking to a long-term workout plan can boost the immune system and brain function while "reducing cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks" and even slowing ageing. A study led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University looked into what happens in the body on a molecular level after exercise. They found that sustained exercise prompted a surge of a compound called betaine. "We identified betaine as an endogenous molecule triggered by sustained exercise and revealed its anti-inflammatory and geroprotective [protecting against the effect of ageing] characteristics," researchers wrote in Cell. They also found that giving betaine supplements to mice replicated many of exercise's benefits, without the need to break a sweat. 'This redefines 'exercise as medicine',' said co-corresponding author Dr Liu Guang-Hui. Betaine is a natural compound found in foods like beets, spinach, and whole grains. It's also sold as a supplement for as little as £14.99 - amounting to less than 50p per capsule - and is popular with fitness buffs. Thirteen young and healthy men participated in the study, which looked at the short and long-term impacts exercise can have on the human body. "We conducted a rigorously controlled investigation in young males to examine the immediate physiological response to a single bout of exercise and the adaptive changes following multiple trainings," researchers explained. How to get rid of love handles without giving up chocolate in 5 simple steps They analysed biological samples taken from participants "to decode key cellular and molecular changes associated with acute and chronic exercise". The study began with a 45-day period of minimal exercise. Participants were then asked to go on a 5km run so researchers could probe how their bodies responded to it. Afterwards, they were asked to do daily 5km runs. Researchers collected blood and samples of their poop before, immediately after, and post-training. They found that the first 5km run - which they described as "acute exercise" - lead to a surge of inflammation across the body. As researchers put it, it prompted "metabolic chaos". But as men continued to train over several weeks, their bodies displayed fewer signs of cellular exhaustion. It seemed to boost their gut microbiomes and immune system and reverse markers of ageing. Researchers observed signs of improved metabolic function and lower levels of inflammation. Repeated exercising also seemed to boost production of betaine in men's kidneys. They discovered that betaine, a metabolic byproduct, acts as a molecular messenger that helps slow down ageing. It prevents inflammation and organ ageing by targeting an enzyme called TBK1. How much exercise should you do and when? There are guidelines issued by the NHS and the Government regarding how much exercise people should do each day. People should be active daily, and avoid sitting for long periods. The NHS recommends an adults – those aged 19 to 64 – should aim for 150 minutes of 'moderate intensity activity' a week. This works out to 21 minutes a day, or 30 minutes five days a week. Or, they could do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which could be less than 11 minutes per day or 25 minutes three days a week. Adults should also aim to do strength exercises twice a week, at least. Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, water aerobics, riding a bike, dancing, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking or rollerblading. Examples of vigorous activities include running, swimming, riding a bike fast or on hills, walking up the stairs, sports, like football, rugby, netball and hockey, skipping, aerobics, gymnastics or martial arts. Things like lifting heavy weights, sprinting up hills, spin classes or circuit training are considered very vigorous. What time should you exercise? Getting exercise into your day, no matter what time is a good idea. But you may want to be more selective depending on your goal. A 2023 US study on 5,285 middle-aged adults showed exercising between 7 and 9 am was the best time if you're looking to lose weight. Researchers found that early-bird gym goers had a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than those working out later. A 2022 study led by Prof Paul J Arciero, Skidmore College, New York, found that the optimal time of day to get your kit on might differ according to your gender. Prof Arciero said women wanting to lose fat around their belly and hips would do better to hit the gym in the morning, but those seeking to gain upper body strength or simply improve their mood might see more results from evening exercise. The results were the opposite for men. If you struggle to get to sleep, it's been found that exercise in the morning may help, but exercise in the evening may help you to stay asleep. Exercise, generally, can improve sleep quality. Experts tested this finding on mice and found that getting the rodents to run on a treadmill drove betaine accumulation in their kidneys. They then gave mice betaine supplements, finding that they replicated many of exercise's benefits. They said it appeared to slash inflammation, reduced cellular ageing, enhanced mice's metabolisms, kidney function, coordination, and cognition, and reduced depressive-like behaviours in older mice. 'This study gives us a fresh way to turn how our body works into something we can target with chemicals," Dr Guang-Hui said. "It opens the door to geroprotective treatments that can tweak how multiple organs work together.' But because of the small study pool, they noted that more research into the topic is needed, to confirm that betaine is safe for older adults and diverse populations to take.
