In a significant agricultural development, a batch of highland barley seeds for China's first-generation 'space highland barley' has been handed over for ground cultivation in Shaanxi Province.

These seeds were returned from the reusable experimental satellite Shijian-19. Selected for their high yield, temperature tolerance, and pest resistance, the seeds originated from Shannan City in the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Dawa Sangzhub, the head of Shannan's agricultural technology promotion center, emphasized the potential of space breeding to enhance crop varieties, ultimately benefiting farmers' incomes.

Space breeding involves exposing seeds to cosmic radiation, microgravity, and vacuum conditions which induce genetic mutations.

Upon returning to Earth, these seeds will be selectively cultivated to isolate desirable traits, including enhanced yield and climate adaptability.

The Xi'an National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base and agricultural experts from Shannan will jointly analyze the seeds, combining technical support with farmer expertise to ensure a comprehensive approach from mutation to harvest.

In parallel, China is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance visitor experiences in science and technology museums.

The China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) has initiated a program to deploy AI-powered assistants in 13 provincial museums, marking a major advancement in AI applications within educational settings.

Following the launch of the country's first AI museum assistant in November 2024, CSTM has expanded the initiative through training workshops, leading to the development of customized AI assistants designed for diverse museum environments.

AI is also being incorporated into scientific research, serving as a 'lab assistant' in various fields including life sciences, drug discovery, and environmental studies.

Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai have achieved a breakthrough in early disease detection, enabling predictions related to Alzheimer's disease through blood tests powered by AI algorithms.

By analyzing over 1,500 plasma proteins, they identified markers capable of predicting dementia risks up to 15 years prior to clinical diagnosis.

In the realm of drug development, the Liangzhu Laboratory in Hangzhou has implemented AI algorithms to significantly reduce the time required for developing treatments for rare diseases.

Traditionally, this process takes 10 to 20 years, but through AI, it can now be expedited to between 3 to 5 years, thus streamlining preclinical trial phases.

China's National Health Commission, along with other entities, has outlined guidelines for integrating AI within the health sector, underscoring its potential to revolutionize drug research.

Additionally, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Alibaba Cloud have developed an AI model named 'Luoshu' to monitor water sources and predict runoff volumes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

This region, essential to Asia's water supply, faces challenges from climate change affecting glacial and river water systems.

The AI model enhances prediction accuracy for hydropower generation, contributing to informed energy management strategies.

In the field of semiconductor technology, a research team from Shanghai has created WUJI, a semiconductor microprocessor just a few atomic layers thick.

This 32-bit RISC-V processor demonstrates significant advancements in design flexibility and computational power.

The microprocessor features 5,900 transistors and is capable of handling substantial data processing tasks.

Moreover, researchers in Tianjin have discovered a natural compound, silybin, which inhibits the growth of liver cancer by disrupting a critical transport mechanism for lactate, a vital metabolic fuel for cancer cells.

This discovery not only enhances understanding of cancer metabolism but also paves the way for the development of new anti-cancer therapies.