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A Chinese research team has developed a carbon -based nanomaterial from agricultural waste biomass that can enhance plant photosynthesis and potentially boost crop growth.
According to their study recently published in Communications Materials, the researchers from Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiaotong University, developed the carbon quantum dots, a carbon -based nanomaterial synthesized from agricultural waste biomass, such as straw, leaves, and weeds.
The new material converts ultraviolet light, which plants cannot absorb, and green light, which they absorb inefficiently, into red light, for more efficient absorption.
It also excites electrons from absorbed photons to provide additional electrons for the photosynthetic electron transport chain, thus improving the photosynthesis efficiency.
efficiency. The researchers put the material into the liquid culture medium of cyanobacteria or sprayed it on plants for experimentation.
The material not only improves photosynthetic efficiency and promotes plant growth, but also offers the advantages of low cost and high biocompatibility, making it highly promising for future agricultural production and solar -powered biomanufacturing.
Preliminary experiments also show that the material can promote the growth of plants, such as duckweed, peanuts, corn, and soybeans.
The research team plans to carry out further field experiments.
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Data released in 2024 show that nearly 20 percent of Chinese children, aged six to seven are overweight or obese, while another study in 2023 found that 53 % are affected by myopia.
In response, China's 14th 5 -year plan, set to conclude in 2025 and its long -range objectives through 2035, call for implementing a pre -school nutrition improvement program, controlling childhood obesity and myopia, and ensuring time for school physical education and extracurricular exercise.
Liu Xiaojun, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, highlighted the importance of organizing school sports activities during breaks to help students relax, improve fitness, and prevent myopia.
Leo also stressed the need for safety measures, urging schools to have legal and insurance safeguards to make physical activities accessible without fear of injury.
Former NBA star Yao Ming emphasized that youth health should focus not only on physical strength but also on psychological resilience and character development.
He proposed a twenty -four hour screen free campaign to help teenagers combat the negative effects of excessive electronic device use.
Wang Yi, a CPCCC National Committee member, notes that group exercise fosters social connections and reduces stress.
For years, heavy academic demands left Chinese students with little time for physical exercise.
However, educational reforms aimed at reducing academic pressure along with a growing societal focus on fitness are encouraging more children to enjoy activities on playgrounds, in swimming pools, and even on ice rinks and ski slopes.
The Chinese guidelines requiring students to engage in at least two hours of physical activity daily.
At a middle school in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, students participate in high -energy dance -like workouts to pop music.
Less than 300 km away in Nanpeng, nearly 2 ,500 students run in coordinated formations resembling the classic mobile game, Snake.
Olympic champion Zhang Yufei urged more current and retired athletes to mentor students.
She said athletes can ignite passion in young people and teach them how to exercise safely and effectively with their professional experience.
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Since mid -March, Wuyuan, whose countryside is among the most beautiful in China, has entered its most enchanting season.
Across the undulating hills a stunning expanse of 6 ,700 hectares of rape seed flowers bursts into bloom, painting the landscape in vibrant hues of gold.
Scattered with historical sites and ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Wuyuan boasts a total of 30 traditional villages.
In 2012, the county government adopted measures to protect and develop the ancient villages and buildings by encouraging adoption and relocation.
The idyllic lifestyle has not only encouraged locals to return, but also attracted many outsiders to settle down.
Among them is Edward Gawne, the first British National to open a homestay in Wuyuan.
With China's ever -expanding high -speed rail network making the once -remote countryside easily accessible, Wuyuan has even attracted the interest of overseas travelers.
Gone said B &B has served as a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the West. About 90 % of the guests are foreigners, and they could enjoy the beauty of Chinese traditional villages and learn about the culture and folk customs of the city.
The story of Wuyuan is a shining example of how China's poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts have transformed the lives of countryside residents.
Once economically stagnant, the County of more than 300 ,000 residents has undergone a remarkable transformation through land reform, poverty alleviation, and infrastructural upgrades.
Since the 2000s, Wuyuan has adopted an agriculture tourism integration development model, combining traditional farming with tourism to develop distinctive industries such as rapeseed flower and chrysanthemum cultivation.
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Hang hulu is a type of sugar -coated fruit skewer that has been around in China forever and became trendy on the Internet.
If you've been to Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin or some other cities in Northern China in the winter, you won't fail to notice vendors selling Candied Chinese Hawthorne Berries skewered on bamboo sticks.
The sticks are usually up to a half a meter long, with five or more hawthorn berries stringed one next to the other.
These neatly lined up berries are dipped into a boiling mixture of sugar and water, giving the berries a shiny coat of crunchy light caramel.
These days, other fruit are also used, including strawberries, orange slices, yam beans, grapes, etc. etc., all nicely sugar -coated, making tang hulu into a colorful and diversified category of snacks.
To many, these jewel -like treats look just like stringed -up magic crystals on one long stick, attracting passers -by, young and old, to stop for a bite.
But be careful. The bite you are looking forward to might be rock hard as the sugar coating can freeze up fast in the chilling winter air.
So watch out for your teeth.
Believe it or not, Tang Hulu has been around for over 800 years.
The snack is believed to have originated during the Song Dynasty, which was about 830 years ago, when a mysterious sickness befell the emperor's most favored lady.
While all the physicians of the court failed to find a cure, a doctor from outside the court was brought in to the emperor and prescribed Hawthorn berries, simmered in sugar water for the lady.
Surprisingly, she soon recovered after following this prescription, and the fame of this sweet and sour remedy spread throughout China and became known later to the common folks as the Tang Hulu.
In those days, however, Tang Hulu was believed to have been made with only two Hawthorn berries on a bamboo skewer, with the bigger one placed on top and the smaller one at the bottom.
This combination makes it look like a bottle gourd or a kalabash.
Therefore, the name Tang Hulu or Sugar Kalabash as translated into English.
In the mid -18th century during the Qing Dynasty, Tang Hulu was already popular everywhere in northern China it was served in tea houses and theaters or was made and sold on the streets and in the alleys just like they are now.
And in Beijing at the time, there were several time -honored stores that were famous for selling sweet drinks and treats.
Realizing how popular Tang Hulu had become among the local people, these stores began to make Tang Hulu on their own.
And this was when Tang Hulu became one of the symbolic icons of the old city of Beijing.
And these few stores based in the city initiated the massive production and commercializing of Tang Hulu, promoting the snack from a popular street food to a must -try Beijing traditional snack.
Another reason why people loved Tang hulu so much back then was that it was cheap and easily purchasable all over the city.
Savoring that bit of sweetness during during wintertime was something that everybody could enjoy, regardless of their wealth and social status.
And as time flows by, more exquisitely made varieties of tang hulu have entered the market, attracting all that's got a sweet tooth.
Other ingredients that could be added include sweet and mushy chestnut paste, red bean, or glutinous rice stuffed between a sliced hawthorn berry, adding a chewy bit to the crunchy sugar coating.
In addition, the bright colors of the Tang hulu add to its popularity, especially for the deep red color of the Hawthorne berries.
As many of you have already known, red is an auspicious color in Chinese culture and stands for happiness and prosperity.
And that's also part of the reason why Tang Hulu is so welcomed in the spring festival season.
From the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there are always crowds of people visiting local temple fairs in Beijing, with many holding a skewer of Tang Hulu with deep red hot thorn berries in their hands.
For a lot of Beijingers, seeing Tang Hulu vendors on the street is an indication of the Spring Festivals Arrival You're Listening to Special English That's the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I'm going to read one of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
Since mid -March, Wuyuan, whose countryside is among the most beautiful in China, has entered its most enchanting season.
Across the undulating hills, a stunning expanse of 6700 hectares of rapeseed flowers bursts into bloom, painting the landscape in vibrant hues of gold.
Scattered with historical sites in ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Wuyuan boasts a total of 30 traditional villages.
In 2012, the county government adopted measures to protect and develop the ancient villages and buildings by encouraging adoption and relocation.
The idyllic lifestyle has not only encouraged locals to return, but also attracted many outsiders to settle down.
Among them is Edward Gohhn, the first British national to open a homestay in Wuyuan.
With China's ever -expanding high speed rail network making the once -remote countryside easily accessible, Wuyuan has even attracted the interest of overseas travellers.
others. Gone said B &B has served as a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the West. About 90 % of the guests are foreigners, and they could enjoy the beauty of Chinese traditional villages and learn about the culture and folk customs of Wuyuan.
The story of Wuyuan is a shining example of how China's poverty alleviation and rural revitalisation efforts have transformed the lives of countryside residents.
Once economically stagnant, the The County of more than 300 ,000 residents has undergone a remarkable transformation through land reform, poverty alleviation and infrastructural upgrades.
Since the 2000s, Wuyuan has adopted an Agriculture -Tourism integration development model, combining traditional farming with tourism to develop distinctive industries such as rape seed flower and chrysanthemum cultivation.
This is the end of today's program.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
With a history of 5 ,000 years, it's no surprise that China has created a fabulous treasury of folk tales.
once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month all the magpies fly up to heaven and form a bridge so many amazing worlds to discover I want a new Palace said King Mu of Zhou one day Chinese folk tales retold for audiences today will will you marry me he asked and with little hesitation she said yes five 5 ,000 years of amazing Chinese folk tales.
My father must not go to war.
Someone must take his place.
You'll find Chinese Folk Tales Season 3, wherever you discover your favourite podcasts.
