China builds world’s first ‘coal battery’, war on Alzheimer’s: 7 science highlights

We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. China builds world’s first ‘coal battery’ with zero emissionChinese scientists have developed a way to generate electricity and achieve higher energy efficiency than conventional burning methods, while producing zero carbon dioxide emissions, by placing coal inside a “battery”.2. China unveils ultra-cheap ‘all-iron flow battery’ for renewable energy storageChinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in “all-iron flow battery” technology that could sharply reduce the cost of storing renewable energy while significantly extending battery lifespan.3. China launches war on Alzheimer’s that may affect 10% of population by 2050Chinese researchers tasked with the job of creating four new pharmaceutical drugs to treat the world’s fastest growing form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Getty ImagesChina has launched a comprehensive national campaign against Alzheimer’s, as projections warn the degenerative brain disease could affect nearly 10 per cent of citizens by 2050.4. Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?A question hovers as the world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.5. Chinese supercomputers help crack mystery of Yellowstone volcanic plumbingThe Steamboat Geyser erupts in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Chinese scientists say Yellowstone’s magma channels were not blasted open by magma forcing its way upward, as long believed. Photo: ReutersYellowstone is the world’s largest active volcanic system – its eruptions are hundreds of times more powerful than Vesuvius’ blast and its ash could blanket half the US. Yet, for decades, scientists could not agree on what drove its underground magma system.6. China’s dark compute power could be 6,000 times higher than current estimatesChina has reported a staggering amount of domestic artificial intelligence power, pointing to what some experts say could be a “dark pool” of compute thousands of times larger than its public reports suggest.7. Scientists in China create a predator-like material to hunt for uranium in oceanResearchers have developed a microscopic material capable of swimming through water and hunting uranium ions. Photo: Shutterstock ImagesAn international research team in China has developed a microscopic “predator-like” material capable of swimming through water and hunting uranium ions, a breakthrough that could open new possibilities for nuclear fuel extraction and cleaning up radioactive pollution.Further Reading