Sci-Tech

China Invents Breathing-powered Pacemaker Generator

Scientists at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a nanogenerator that can use the force of a patients breathing to power a cardiac pacemaker. Implanted medical devices such as pacemakers can greatly alleviate patients symptoms and improve their living quality. However， long-term energy supply has been the development bottleneck of such medical devices. Pacemakers are usually battery powered， and when batteries run out patients face more surgery and heavy costs. The development of self-recharging pacemakers is a major milestone in implant technology. The nanogenerator is 12 millimeters long， 12 millimeters wide and 0.7 millimeter thick. The self-powered system captures energy from breathing movements to generate electricity that is then used to drive the pacemaker. The invention will greatly extend the service life of medical devices， and is a major advance in the field of medical implants.

China Expands Worlds Deepest“Dark Matter” Lab

China has begun expanding the worlds deepest underground lab in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province， where scientists have been experimenting with mysterious “dark matter.”The second-phase construction of the Jinping Underground Laboratory was launched by Tsinghua University and Yalong River Hydropower Development Company. The construction， scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015， will increase the labs space to 120，000 cubic meters from the current 4，000 cubic meters. Located 2，400 meters below Jinping Hydropower Station， the lab began operating in December 2010. The extreme depth helps block interference from cosmic rays， providing a “clean”space for scientists to explore the secrets of the universe， including the invisible substance known as dark matter. Giving priority to the demands of domestic scientists， the lab is expected to draw overseas scientists talent to cooperate in research.

Tibet Plans Night-sky Conservation Zone

A night-sky conservation zone has been put into operation in Ngari Prefecture， Tibet. Located on the sparsely-populated Qinghai-Tibet Plateau， Ngari has ideal natural conditions for astronomical observation， with exceptionally clear air and low vapor. Outdoor lighting in the 2，500 square km zone will be planned， installed and managed according to international standards in order to prevent and control light pollution. A night-sky park has been built at the zones periphery. Perched at an altitude of 4，200 meters above sea level， the park is equipped with six powerful astronomical telescopes and stateof-the-art equipment for astronomical observations. The park has received RMB five million of government funding for construction. The International Dark-Sky Association （IDA） has acknowledged 16 Dark Sky Parks， five Dark Sky Communities， and five Dark Sky Conservation Zones. If Ngaris application is successful， it will become the first such zone in Asia.

China to Build Underground Neutrino Lab

China plans to build a large underground laboratory for neutrino experiments in Jiangmen， southern Guangdong Province， by the end of this year. The project is led by China with more than 200 scientists from over 50 research institutes and universities around the world. A fundamental particle， neutrinos play an extremely important role in particle physics and cosmogenic evolution. Following the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment in Guangdong， Chinese and foreign physicists announced in 2012 that they had confirmed and measured a third type of neutrino oscillation. The Jiangmen lab will be the second Chinese neutrino project， and will help scientists determine the neutrino mass hierarchy. The new lab will be 700 meters underground and more than 100 times larger than the Daya Bay project. The new lab is expected to open by the end of 2019， with a planned running time of 20 years. It is hoped that the new lab will unravel the mysteries of quantum physics and make major contributions to cosmology， astrophysics and geophysics.