Research

Deloitte released a report in Hong Kong stating that the Greater Bay Area spent about 28.9 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) on basic research in 2024, accounting for just 5.67 per cent of total R&D spending, below China's national average of 6.9 per cent and far behind the US's 14.5 per cent and South Korea's nearly 15 per cent. Despite strong tech potential, the southern China cluster lags in basic research and original innovation, with talent gaps adding to challenges.

March 25, 2026 Reported by AI

Honey bees perform their waggle dance more precisely when more hive mates watch, according to a new study. Researchers found that dancers adjust their movements to attract followers, sacrificing accuracy for engagement when audiences are small. The findings highlight the social dynamics of bee communication.

University of Missouri researchers report that a small antibody fragment targeting the EphA2 protein can be tagged with a radioactive marker to make EphA2-positive tumors stand out on PET scans in mouse experiments, a step they say could help match patients to EphA2-targeted therapies.

March 13, 2026 Reported by AI

Scientists at Arizona State University have identified two unexpected ways bacteria can spread without their usual flagella structures. In one study, E. coli and salmonella use sugar fermentation to create fluid currents for surface migration, dubbed 'swashing.' A separate study reveals a molecular 'gearbox' in flavobacteria that controls directional movement.

China's China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) has reached a significant milestone in its Phase II construction, with its first beamline—the neutron technology development station—successfully producing a neutron beam. This marks the completion of equipment development and installation for the beamline. Located in Dongguan, Guangdong province, the facility operates like a super microscope, using neutrons to examine materials and support breakthroughs in renewable energy, aerospace, and bioscience.

March 11, 2026 Reported by AI

A new study warns of an interdisciplinary blind spot that could force 132 million people to flee rising sea levels, which could rise by up to 150 centimeters. Swedish oceanographer Ola Kalén at SMHI describes the acceleration of sea level rise since the 1960s as shocking.