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Android 16 developer preview

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  Google drops first Android 16 developer preview   Google has unveiled the first developer preview of Android 16 earlier than anticipated, marking a departure from its traditional timeline. Historically, the tech titan has released the initial developer previews for its mobile operating system in February, followed by a stable release in the second half of the year. Android 16 is a departure from the pattern – the stable version is now scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2025. “We’re planning the major release a quarter earlier (Q2 rather than Q3 in prior years) to better align with the schedule of device launches across our ecosystem, so more devices can get the major release of Android sooner.   With the major release coming in Q2, you’ll need to do your annual compatibility testing a few months earlier than in previous years to make sure your apps are ready,” Matthew McCullough, Google’s VP of product management for Android Developer ecosystem, commented in a blog post.
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Major Success in Maize Harvesting

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Chinese scientists achieve major success in maize harvesting A recent research breakthrough by Chinese scientists allows for a reduction of around 7 percent in the moisture content of maize kernels at maturity, facilitating mechanical harvesting and threshing. This week, the journal  Cell  published online a research paper titled "A Zea genus-specific micropeptide controls kernel dehydration in maize" by the team led by Yan Jianbing, professor of Huazhong Agricultural University. The dehydration rate of maize kernels can impact the efficiency of mechanical harvesting. Maize kernels suitable for mechanized harvesting require a moisture content less than 25 percent, but most maize varieties in China typically have a moisture content at harvest between 30 and 40 percent, according to the research team. The team studied the gene responsible for controlling the dehydration rate of maize kernels, pinpointing a specific DNA sequence and further uncovering the mechanism through which
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Lunar Samples

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  Chang'e 6 lunar samples displayed at 15th Airshow China ZHUHAI, Guangdong -- China's Chang'e 6 mission lunar samples, collected from the far side of the moon, are showcased at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on Monday, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The lunar soil on display, weighing approximately 75 mg, represents the first public welfare samples from Chang'e 6. It was collected from the largest, deepest and oldest impact crater on the far side of the moon, where the lunar crust is at its thinnest. Visitors to the event will be able to view the samples up close. "The lunar samples are expected to draw significant public interest," said Zhang Tao, an official with the CNSA. The exhibition also features the Chang'e 6 return capsule, the parachute that delivered the lunar samples to Earth, and the sealed container used for the lunar soil collection. China's Chang'e 6 mission brought back
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Flying Car Debuts

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  XPENG flying car debuts at Airshow China The "Land Aircraft Carrier," the flying car developed by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, completes its first public flight at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, on Nov 12, 2024. [Photo/XPENG] ZHUHAI, Guangdong -- The "Land Aircraft Carrier," the flying car developed by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, completed its first public flight Tuesday at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China. The flying car performed low-altitude linear acceleration, spiral ascent, uniform-speed descent and accurate landing on the first day of the air show, with the whole process on autopilot. Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG's flying car affiliate Huitian, said the ground module, an electric vehicle, carries and recharges the air module. It takes just five minutes for the ground module to accommodate and release the air module,
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Quantum Technique

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  China Focus: Scientists make breakthrough in scouting dark matter with quantum technique This illustration shows the detection of spin interactions mediated by the hypothetical axion dark matter.  HEFEI -- An international team led by Chinese scientists has employed cutting-edge quantum technology in a direct quest for the universe's most elusive matter, an extraordinary endeavor that has significantly advanced detection capabilities. In the vast expanse of the universe, visible matter, ranging in size from the tiniest speck of dust to massive celestial bodies like Earth, even whole galaxies, constitutes only about 5 percent of the total mass of the cosmos. The remaining 95 percent is believed to be comprised of dark matter and dark energy. Identifying dark matter, the exotic component that profoundly influences the structure and evolution of our universe, continues to elude scientists. Among the possible candidates are weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and axions. Axi
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Drone control with the swipe of a finger?

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  Drone control with the swipe of a finger? Chinese team shows how it is done Chinese researchers have released a video demonstrating the latest innovation in drone control – where a user can command a drone by simply swiping their fingers across a wearable touchpad.  Swipe patterns are instantly recognised by the advanced touchpad, which then sends the signals to a drone control platform via an external Bluetooth transmitter. Seamless interaction then allows the control platform to relay the commands to the drone. “Amid growing demand for more compact, intelligent and multifunctional human-machine interfaces, this high-performance touchpad marks a significant leap forward for the next generation of intelligent remote interactive platforms,” Tian Ye, associate professor at China’s Northeastern University, told the South China Morning Post in an interview on Wednesday. Results of the study were detailed in a recent paper in the peer-reviewed journal Nano Energy. The touchpad, similar in
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Breed Grapes

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  Researchers find quicker way to breed grapes Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have utilized artificial intelligence to shorten the breeding cycle of grapes, increasing the breeding efficiency of a commercially important crop known for its lengthy growth process. The findings of this research were published in the journal Nature Genetics this week. The typical germination and fruit-bearing process for a grape seed spans three years, with additional time needed to cultivate superior grape varieties. This prolonged timeline presents challenges in developing new types of quality grapes. Led by Zhou Yongfeng, researchers from the Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen, Guangdong province — a subdivision of the academy headquarters in Beijing — have focused on grape variety design and breeding since 2015, analyzing vast amounts of genomic and genetic data. Last year, they unveiled the first complete grape genome map and further constructed the inaugural grap
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