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Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

The latest news and top stories on the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A prominent Beijing-based state research institute and think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is dedicated to being China’s highest academic institution and comprehensive research centre for philosophy and social sciences. Established in May 1977, its main areas of focus include language, philosophy, law, economics, religion, ethnicity, archaeology, history and literature. CASS is recognised for its extensive research across nearly 300 sub-disciplines and its significant role as a leading think tank in China and Asia.

Stablecoins represent the most widely adopted use case for real-world assets on blockchains. Photo: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

Scams and outflows: why China slammed the door on real-world asset tokens

Beijing’s clampdown aims to help safeguard financial security and monetary sovereignty while leaving room for regulated fintech innovation in Hong Kong.

9 Feb 2026 - 8:30PM

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Scams and outflows: why China slammed the door on real-world asset tokens

Beijing’s clampdown aims to help safeguard financial security and monetary sovereignty while leaving room for regulated fintech innovation in Hong Kong.

How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight

Ming dynasty ‘Guide to the Galaxy’: China names 2100 space plan after 1637 book

China’s first-of-kind ABF crystal creates most energised solid-state laser beam

Breakthrough could open possibilities in quantum computing, space platforms, precision manufacturing and the chip industry.

How China’s 5,100-year-old dams challenge Western narratives on despotism

Researchers use digital technologies to uncover archaeological evidence that ancient communities managed water cooperatively.

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

China’s chip breakthrough, Tang Dynasty armour restored: 7 science highlights

From PLA developing quantum weapons to China’s dark matter breakthrough, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Chinese satellite forces 4,400 of its Starlink rivals into lower altitude: study

Researchers in China said the SpaceX decision was ‘directly triggered’ by a close call between two satellites in December.

US looking inward under Trump made room for China’s development, expert says

As US president reshapes Washington’s policy, Beijing may be left in an increasingly ‘complex and volatile’ world, Ni Feng says.

Chinese scientists turn carbon dioxide to starch with 10-fold productivity boost

Feat seen to pave the way for industrial starch production without relying on water- and land-intensive corn.

First contact: in quest for moon water, Chinese team flags risk in touching ice

Scientists warn water on the moon is locked in frozen soil, not exposed to air and held in place only by cold and vacuum.

DeepSeek’s AI technique for long texts questioned by new research

AI models face a critical limitation known as the long-context bottleneck, which restricts their ability to process lengthy documents.

Chinese team restores legendary Tang dynasty ‘golden’ armour from Tibetan tomb

Tomb’s occupant confirmed to be a Tuyuhun king and the golden armour is likely to have been among his prized possessions, conservators say.

China, Chile to explore Atacama Trench with ‘tools no other country possesses’

Three-month expedition will plumb uncharted depths of eastern Pacific in quest for new life forms and insights into quakes and tsunamis.

CO2 + H2O = cleaner recycling of dead lithium batteries?

Chinese team says their process can recover most of the lithium without the need for harsh and polluting chemicals.

China’s 7,000-year-old sunmao woodwork led to the most efficient DNA editing tool

Quest to beat the US saw a Chinese team turn to ancient traditions, leading to a new technique 10 times more effective than other methods.

Could there be a link between glucose levels in the brain and Alzheimer’s?

Mice with late-stage symptoms showed improvement in memory loss and reduced brain plaque after experimental treatment, Chinese study finds.

‘Straddle the middle ground’: Europe’s hard choice over US attacks on Venezuela

Although they do not agree with Trump’s way of doing things, they seem to agree with his ultimate objectives, analyst in China says.

China’s emission-free tech debunks Trump theory with 3-fold productivity boost

Revolutionary change to fossil fuel conversion process reduces carbon pollution to almost zero while tripling yield of high-value chemicals.

China launches super-powered AI system to take on Trump’s Genesis Mission

The network, designed to run without human oversight, was launched a month after Trump outlined plans for an ‘AI Manhattan Project’.

Great Green Wall 2.0: China is geoengineering deserts with blue-green algae

Scientists aim to reclaim thousands of hectares of desert using cyanobacteria that can stabilise sand and create foundation for plant growth.

Chinese team tackles a century-old physics puzzle: can we travel back in time?

Theoretical breakthrough shows that time’s arrow can emerge naturally from how quantum parts become interconnected.

China needs ‘original’ knowledge system on border history to counter West, scholar says

Fan Enshi from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences also warns about the threat of ‘de-Sinicisation’ in US-led historical perspectives.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | ‘No need to explain’: leading mRNA vaccine expert Hu Haitao leaves US for China

China is catching up fast in mRNA-related fundamental research and technological development, Hu says.

China’s mind-control robot tech breakthrough brings ‘telepathy’ to life

Huge advancement allows paralysed man to work, order takeaway delivery via robotic dogs and control smart wheelchairs with his thoughts.

Chinese city sues Missouri for US$50 billion in tit-for-tat Covid-19 litigation

Wuhan’s government is one of three parties accusing the US state of using the virus to stigmatise China.

China’s research paper boom could be a ‘false prosperity’, academician warns

Senior biologist Zhang Hong, a member of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences, fears genuine innovation may be at risk.

‘Resilient balance’: why China-US ties are likely to stay stable under Trump

US world view on outside ties undergoing ‘fundamental, even transformative’ paradigm shift, American affairs expert tells forum in China.

Exclusive | ‘No need to explain’: leading mRNA vaccine expert Hu Haitao leaves US for China