A new species of Fordiophyton (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Yunnan, China

金平分水岭国家级自然保护区发现了野牡丹科异药花属的一个新物种, 科学家们详细描述了该物种的形态、生长环境等,并基于ITS序列对其进行了系统发育分析。该物种具四数花和8个二型雄蕊,药隔基部鼓起但无距。上述形态特征及系统发育分析结果皆显示,这种植物为野牡丹科异药花属的成员。形态观察及比较显示,该种植物的叶片生于植株基部,茎短但具明显的节间,叶柄被长柔毛,无翅,具伞形花序,不同于异药花属所有已知物种的性状组合,因此认为它代表了一个未被描述的物种,遂取名金平异药花。

Long March-8 makes successful maiden flight

China’s new generation medium-sized launch vehicle Long March-8 made a successful maiden flight from the tropical island province of Hainan in South China on Tuesday, sending five satellites into designated orbit at the same time. 
The 50.3-meter-long Long March-8 has a 3.35-meter-diameter core stage and two 2.25-meter-diameter side boosters. Weighing 356 tons at launch, it has a 480-ton take-off thrust and is capable of sending payloads weighing more than 4.5 tons into the SSO 700 kilometers above the ground.
A rocket engine needs to be throttleable to achieve zero velocity at the same time as it reaches the ground, which is a core technological requirement for building a reusable launch vehicle system.
This technology was tested for the first time in the Long March-8 maiden flight, which is also an experimental flight for the new rocket type, paving the way for further study and development for the reusable rocket system.

China’s Antarctic expedition joins medevac operation to get ill Australian home

A complex international operation in Antarctica is under way to medevac an Australian expeditioner with help from China and the United States.
The Australian Antarctic Programme said on Monday that two separate ice runways were being built as part of a complex operation to transfer the patient from Australia’s Davis research station in the Antarctic back home to Australia.
A helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long 2 helped fly a team of five, along with more than 1 tonne of equipment, to the ski landing area by Davis late on Sunday. A Chinese helicopter will also be used to transfer the Australian patient to the runway inland of Davis station.