Chinese scientists have, for the first time ever, sent back the X-ray images of a full moon shot from space using the Einstein Probe (EP) satellite on Tuesday, coinciding with the moon-themed traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.
The images were captured by the follow-up X-ray telescope FXT aboard the satellite, showcasing the moon's appearances in X-ray spectrum, which differ from its typical images.
The FXT telescope was developed under the leadership of the the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Compared to other X-ray satellites, the FXT telescope boasts a large imaging field, excellent X-ray energy resolution, and a high effective area.
It can reveal the distribution of elements such as oxygen, iron, magnesium, aluminum and silicon on the lunar surface, holding significant value for conducting lunar-related scientific research.
China sends back X-ray images of full Moon from space for first time
China unveiled its MAZU all-in-one device, an intelligent meteorological early-warning solution, to the world on Wednesday at a China Pavilion side event during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, offering a Chinese solution for global meteorological disaster prevention and reduction.
MAZU, short for multi-hazard, alert, zero-gap and universal, is an AI-driven meteorological early-warning platform named after Mazu, the traditional Chinese goddess of the sea and protector of sailors.
The device looks like a carry-on suitcase and weighs about 20 kilograms, which is easy to ship anywhere and deploy quickly on site. Once online, it draws on global meteorological data via China's self-developed cloud-based early-warning system to deliver a complete meteorological service solution for local users.
As a comprehensive solution launched by China in response to the UN Early Warnings for All initiative, MAZU combines China's cloud resources with local data from each country, tailoring its approach to each nation's specific needs.
The MAZU solution has so far been deployed in eight countries, including Pakistan, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, and has been tested through cloud-based trials in more than 50 countries. It has become a global public service product for disaster prevention and mitigation, helping more developing countries improve their climate governance capacity.
"We will share basic knowledge of managing disaster prevention and mitigation, experience in inter-agency coordination and government decision-making, as well as the most advanced forecasting software, satellite monitoring technology and artificial intelligence technology for disaster prevention and mitigation, along with personnel training, truly 'teaching people how to fish'," said Zhang Xingying, director of the Department of International Cooperation at the China Meteorological Administration.
"That will help us to get into people's hands with early warning. And they can make decisions, whether it's in agriculture, whether it's in mining, whether it's in tourism, or infrastructure, or in health. We like that very much," said Gilbert Siame, minister of Green Economy and Environment of Zambia.
"Its partners don't just receive this system; they build it with China. That's what South-South cooperation looks like. Who looks forward to working with China to align MAZU with each country's national early warning road-mode is WMO," said Josefina Bunge, chief of staff at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
COP31 opened Monday with a focus on translating global climate commitments into concrete action. According to the organizers, it will focus on three key areas: implementing emissions reduction targets, delivering climate finance to developing countries, and strengthening adaptation and resilience, with the aim of turning commitments made at previous climate summits into tangible outcomes.
MAZU early warning device makes global debut at COP31
