A research team led by Prof. ZHU Chunwu from the Institute of Soil Science reports that the CO₂ fertilization effect on rice growth and yield depends heavily on the number of generations exposed to elevated CO₂ conditions. Accurately predicting rice productivity in a future high-CO₂ world requires studying the effect of multigenerational exposure to elevated CO₂ on rice yield.

A research team led by Prof. LIU Xin'an and Prof. CHEN Zuxin from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology revealed how Bacteroides fragilis activates a previously unrecognized cholinergic gut-vagus-brain circuit, and demonstrated its therapeutic potential in both animal models and children with refractory epilepsy.

An interdisciplinary research team has uncovered a new explanation for the foraging division of labor in bumblebees, drawing on insights from fluid dynamics, morphology, and ecology. Their study reveals that subtle variations in the microstructure of the insects' functional organs can shape labor division at the colony level.

A large-scale population metagenomic study led by Prof. TAN Zhiliang from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture has shed new light on the spatial heterogeneity of viral communities across the gastrointestinal tracts of ruminants, which are closely linked to human history.

A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, in collaboration with researchers from Anhui University, ShanghaiTech University, and the University of New Hampshire, has demonstrated the first electrically controllable generation of hopfions, three-dimensional topological solitons, in a solid-state magnetic system.

Researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and their collaborators investigated the effects of applying pristine biochar and magnesium-modified biochar (Mg-BC) at two rates to degraded red and black soils. They found that both biochar types improved overall soil physicochemical properties and enhanced enzyme activities, with Mg-BC showing more pronounced benefits.

Researchers from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science (Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology) and Tongji University identified a fibrous-layer resident subpopulation of P-SSCs labeled by Angptl7. They found that these cells are crucial for bone fracture repair by mediating endochondral ossification, but exhibit minimal osteogenic capacity during postnatal bone development and maintenance.

A research team from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified turbulence caused by shear-motion of molecular clouds as the dominant heating mechanism for molecular gas in the Galactic Center.

A research team led by Prof. JIANG Ling and Prof. LI Gang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that only three water molecules can separate Ba and OH in neutral BaOH(H₂O)n (n = 1−5) clusters, and uncovered the microscopic mechanism of alkali dissolution exemplified by hydrated BaOH clusters.

Researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed the intricate molecular mechanism controlled by the plant hormone cytokinin that leads to the formation of more female flowers in cassava.

A new study led by Prof. ZHANG Yongqiang from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has delivered a highly observation-constrained assessment of the global water cycle to date. The study integrates satellite-derived hydrological estimates, multi-model Earth system simulations, and long-term observations from 50 major river basins worldwide via an advanced Emergent Constraint framework.

Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stretched a chain of gold atoms by a record-breaking 46%, providing direct evidence of how fundamental metal bonds behave under extreme deformation. This study also reveals how structural changes at the atomic scale influence electrical transport.

Researchers from the Institute of Biophysics and the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with enterprises in Guizhou Province, have introduced widely targeted metabolomics to investigate CRRTJ bloating.

A research team led by Prof. TIAN Hengci from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted extensive analysis of lunar basalts collected by Chang'e-6 from the South Pole–Aitken Basin. These samples exhibit significantly heavier potassium (K) isotopic compositions than all previously documented lunar basalts from the Apollo missions and lunar meteorites.

A new study demonstrates that rapid, label-free readings from individual yeast cells can be translated into many of these same key process metrics—while also uncovering cell-to-cell variation masked by bulk testing methods.

A new international analysis has found that the world's oceans absorbed more heat in 2025 than in any year since the start of modern measurements. The 2025 heat gain totalled 23 zetta joules—equivalent to roughly 37 years of global primary energy consumption at 2023 levels, when the world used about 620 exajoules annually.

A research group led by HE Fei from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB), in collaboration with LING Hongqing's team from IGDB utilized publicly available pan-genome resources and constructed a reference gene set that incorporates sequences from Triticeae wild relatives. This approach enables more comprehensive quantification of transcripts originating from introgressed alien segments.

A research team from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology has identified a promising genetic target that could significantly enhance soybean yield, especially in high-density planting conditions. This discovery provides a new breeding strategy to develop high-yield soybean varieties and meet the rising global demand.