Daily briefing: China’s extraordinary rise in science

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In less than 50 years, China has gone from having almost no scientific presence on the global stage to a scientific powerhouse that is on course to lead the world in research and development. But before that happens, China will have to deal with some systemic concerns: a widespread scientific misconduct problem, questions about regulations and ethics in cutting-edge biomedical research and an academic culture that researchers say makes it hard for individuals to pursue long-term, curiosity-based projects.

Nature | 14 min read

Artificial-intelligence graduates in China are increasingly choosing to stay instead of pursuing opportunities abroad, a move that could help the country catch up to the United States in AI research. China-based researchers now dominate global AI-related publications, and the rise of firms such as DeepSeek and MoonshotAI has proven the capability of Chinese AI models. Competition for jobs is fierce and the pressure to publish is intense. But if China can retain its top talent, it’s possible that it could become the world leader in AI by the end of the decade.

Nature | 11 min read

News

After huge successes with GLP-1 obesity drugs, several pharmaceutical companies are turning their efforts to developing similar drugs to treat brain disorders. For example, pharma giant Eli Lilly has presented early clinical trial results of a compound related to tirzepatide for treatment of alcohol use disorder. And biotech company Kariya Pharmaceuticals has done the same for a GLP-1-like compound for Parkinson’s disease. But it’s not clear how exactly GLP-1 drugs might curb addiction, and past attempts to treat Parkinson’s with GLP-1 have failed.

Nature | 6 min read

Archaeologists say that amphorae and other artefacts discovered off the Mediterranean coast of Turkey are from the oldest shipwreck ever found. The team says that, on the basis of the pottery, the ship sailed during the Early Bronze Age, between 4,700 and 4,400 years ago. And the pots still had some goo inside. “I looked inside and nearly fainted,” says archaeologist Karin Sowada. “It could be olive oil, it could be wine, it could be tree resins.”

BBC | 9 min read

Reference: Journal of Maritime Archaeology paper & Journal of Maritime Archaeology paper

Image of the week

Photographer James Lewin used an infrared camera to render the harsh sunlight at a watering hole in Kenya into dreamy black and white. It won the ‘Animals in their Environment’ category of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. (BBC | 10 min read) (James Lewin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Features & opinion

Birds that are moved, or bred in captivity, for conservation reasons might not have the chance to learn from their elders. But research suggests it is possible to teach birds lost songs. For example, in Argentina, researchers taught rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) songs from hand-drawn annotations made in the 1960s. Someday, songs recorded by hobbyist birders could help restore lost aural diversity, says physicist Gabriel Mindlin, who co-authored the sparrow study. “One day we’ll be grateful to have all those records,” he says.

The Guardian | 8 min read

Reference: Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena paper & Scientific Reports paper

Whistleblowers who report misconduct at universities need greater protections against retaliation, and any resulting investigations should be handled by independent experts, argues astrophysicist N. Wyn Evans. “Challenge the institution, and you might spend years paying the personal, professional and financial price,” writes Evans, who experienced just such a drawn-out saga at Cambridge University’s Institute of Astronomy.

Nature | 5 min read

The bright and intricate patterns on butterflies might serve to create visual illusions that baffle birds — making it easier for the insects to avoid capture. By analysing slow-motion videos of butterflies taking off, researchers found that the insects’ markings can create the appearance of movement in one direction, when in fact they’re going the other.

Nature | 10 min video

Today my hat’s off to NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, which has officially broken the distance record on the Red Planet. It has driven 45.22 kilometres (28 miles) in less than six years — surpassing the mileage that took Opportunity nearly 15 years. “The original mission called for no more than 12.4 miles of driving,” says project manager Steven Lee. “We’ve blown well past that” — and there should be many more to come.

Let me know your favourite long drive, cycle or hike — plus any other feedback on this newsletter — at [email protected].

Thanks for reading,

Flora Graham, chief editor, Nature Briefing

With contributions by Jacob Smith

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