Smarter Sensing: One Chip for the Wide Vacuum Range

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.

Jun 13, 2025

South African Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Visits AIR to Deepen Cooperation in Space Information Technologies

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.

Jun 11, 2025

China Successfully Tests New-gen Satellite-to-ground Data Transmission Technology

​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.

May 27, 2025

Chinese Scientist Pinpoints Source of Africa's Second-Longest River

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.

May 21, 2025

Chinese Scientists Unveil Dataset for Global Cropland Water-Use Efficiency

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 21, 2025

International Day of Plant Health: Plant Health Matters

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.

May 12, 2025

Digital Earth Symposium Opens in Chongqing with Focus on SDGs

The 14th International Symposium on Digital Earth opened on Monday in Chongqing, drawing nearly 700 delegates from 30 countries and regions to discuss how digital technologies can help accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Apr 25, 2025

China Focus: China Strengthens Space Technology Cooperation with Global South Nations

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In the second week of April, Lusaka became a hub of agricultural innovation as technicians from Southern African countries gathered for a unique three-day training session. Unlike typical workshops, this one provided a customized experience. Participants brought data from their own countries and practiced on the satellite remote sensing agricultural monitoring platform developed by Chinese scientists, tailoring their learning to fit local needs. This exemplified China's increasing collaboration with Global South countries in space technology -- not merely through memorandums or broad agreements, but by translating cutting-edge innovation into tangible, real-world applications.

Apr 25, 2025

Space 2.0: Big Data, Big Debris, and the Battle for Sustainability

As the space race hots up once again, representatives of over 50 countries are at the Farnborough International Space show to focus on sustainability. Just how can science, data, and technology drive sustainable progress, not just on Earth but beyond?

Apr 01, 2025

Chinese Scientists Lead Construction of High-precision Monitoring System for Near-global Surface Solar Radiation

Chinese scientists, in collaboration with several international research institutions, have led the construction of a high-precision surface solar radiation monitoring system on a near-global scale. The joint research led by researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth of the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with scientists from Japan, France the UK has recently been published in the international academic journal The Innovation.

Apr 01, 2025

Initiative for Boosting Sustainable Development via Digital Sci-tech Released at Zhongguancun Forum

Participants at a parallel forum of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing unveiled an initiative on Thursday, calling for global collaboration to leverage digital science and technology to accelerate sustainable development and address global challenges.

Mar 28, 2025

Breakthrough in Deep Ultraviolet Laser Technology

As reported in Advanced Photonics Nexus, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently made a significant advancement by developing a compact, solid-state laser system capable of generating 193-nm coherent light. This wavelength is crucial for photolithography, a process used to etch intricate patterns onto silicon wafers, forming the backbone of modern electronic devices.

Mar 24, 2025

Chinese Research Institute Unveils Aerial Balloon Platform to Bolster Energy Development

A tethered balloon, developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was successfully deployed on Wednesday to assist in the construction of ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission lines in Tai'an city, East China's Shandong Province. This marks China's first use of an aerial platform for energy projects, the CMG reported.

Mar 20, 2025

China's Space Exploration Shows Spirit of Openness and Cooperation

Recently, we have been hearing good news from China's Mars exploration mission. The Mars radar research team, led by Fang Guangyou from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered multi-layered tilted sedimentary structures beneath the surface of the landing area of Zhurong, China's first Mars rover, in the northern hemisphere of the planet. This provides the most direct underground evidence to date of the existence of an ancient ocean in Mars' low- and mid-latitude regions.

Mar 10, 2025

China Focus: China's First Helicopter-borne Electromagnetic Detection System Deployed

plateau railway construction project, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) said on Tuesday.

Feb 18, 2025