EurekAlert! Chinese Academy of Sciences - News Releases from CAS Headquarters

News from CAS Headquarters

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-Nov-2026 13:16 ET (9-Nov-2026 18:16 GMT/UTC)

One gene, two paths: Opposite synaptic defects linked to same intellectual disability

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team led by Dr. SHENG Nengyin of the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has reframed ZC4H2-associated rare disorder (ZARD)—a disorder marked by intellectual disability, developmental delays, muscle weakness, and other neurological or physical abnormalities—as a “disease spectrum” rather than a condition driven by a single mechanism.

Journal: Neuron

Researchers develop slug-inspired hydrogel for endoscopic repair of gastrointestinal fistulas

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers led by Prof. BAI Shuo from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a thermoresponsive hydrogel sealant—inspired by slugs—that has proved effective at sealing gastrointestinal fistulas in animal models. The sealant, which is injected through a standard endoscope, rapidly solidifies upon entering the body, thus offering a new, minimally invasive way to treat gastrointestinal fistulas.

Journal: Nature Biomedical Engineering

Study reveals double slab tearing at a subduction–collision transition

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An international research team has used seismic imaging to identify two slab tears beneath the Zagros–Makran transition zone located in southeastern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. The findings suggest that the tears formed through distinct geodynamic mechanisms and may have influenced regional tectonic deformation and magmatic activity.

Journal: Nature Geoscience

Underwater exoskeletons could help divers use less air and move more efficiently

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team of Chinese researchers led by Prof. WU Xinyu at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed wearable underwater exoskeletons that may ease this burden. By assisting divers’ leg movements, these robotic systems can reduce physical effort while allowing divers to retain control over their movements and decisions and perceive their surroundings directly.

Journal: Science Robotics

Competing reproductive needs shaped evolution of liverworts

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study reveals how the female reproductive structures of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha evolved step by step to balance the demands of water-dependent fertilization and efficient spore dispersal. The study, published in Nature Plants, was led by Prof. XU Bo of the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The findings uncover how lineage-specific adaptations of female reproductive structures in the liverwort M. polymorpha facilitate successful fertilization on land.

Journal: Nature Plants

Spatial mapping reveals how human urogenital organs co-develop during organogenesis

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study has mapped human urogenital development in its native spatial context, revealing how neighboring organs coordinate their development through cellular communication and molecular signaling during embryogenesis.

Journal: Science

Study reveals molecular rules governing the biological identity of nanoparticles

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study led by Prof. LIU Yuan from the Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM) of the Chinese Academy of Science has revealed molecular rules governing how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, showing how their physicochemical properties shape protein corona (PC) formation and influence biological outcomes. The findings provide a framework for designing nanomedicines with more predictable biological identities.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Scientists develop new system to boost prime editing in dicot plants

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new gene-editing system could make it easier for researchers to introduce precise genetic changes into crops such as tomatoes, soybeans, and rapeseed. Developed by researchers in China, SmartPE improves prime editing efficiency in several dicot plants, addressing a major limitation of the technique.

Journal: Nature Plants

Study traces the evolution of animal life on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study has pieced together the evolutionary history of terrestrial animals on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), offering a comprehensive picture of how the distinctive fauna of the "Third Pole" took shape over millions of years.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Molecular locking strategy enables efficient and scalable organic solar cells

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Prof. GE Ziyi's group from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering has developed a molecular locking strategy to stabilize the interface between the electrode and the hole-transport layer in organic solar cells, enabling large-area, highly efficient, and stable photovoltaic devices.

Journal: Joule

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