A research team from the Aerospace Information Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a breakthrough in vacuum sensing. Their study (DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-00937-z), published on May 21, 2025, in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, details a novel micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensor that integrates mode-localization and traditional resonance mechanisms on a single chip. Designed to toggle between modes depending on pressure levels, the sensor provides high resolution and stability across a wide pressure range. This design not only improves measurement performance but also reduces sensor size and dependency on gas types—key for harsh environments.

A high-level South African delegation led by Professor Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), visited the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to explore new approaches of collaboration in space technology and its applications. The 23-member delegation included senior DSTI officials as well as representatives from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and other key institutions.

​China has made a significant breakthrough in building a high-speed "data highway" between satellites and the ground. According to the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a new-generation high-throughput satellite-to-ground data transmission system has been successfully tested, an official announcement showed on Monday.

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese scientist has used satellite remote-sensing technology to pinpoint the source of Africa's second-longest river, the Congo River, and measured its length at 5,260 kilometers, longer than previous estimates.

BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have released a long-term, high-resolution dataset that tracks global cropland water-use efficiency from 2001 to 2020. Published in the journal Scientific Data, the dataset provides annual water-use efficiency estimates for croplands worldwide at a spatial resolution of one kilometer. It is expected to serve as a valuable tool for advancing sustainable agricultural water management.

May 12 marks the International Day of Plant Health, a United Nations initiative to raise awareness about how vital healthy plants are to life on Earth. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to 40 percent of global crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases. This not only threatens food security, but also weakens ecosystems and hampers climate resilience.