China’s deep-sea cable cutter, centuries-old puzzle, next-gen drones: 7 science highlights
From China’s powerful deep-sea cable cutter to an AI-run fentanyl detector, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting
1. China unveils a powerful deep-sea cable cutter that could reset the world order
A compact, deep-sea, cable-cutting device, capable of severing the world’s most fortified underwater communication or power lines, has been unveiled by China – and it could shake up global maritime power dynamics. The revelation marks the first time any country has officially disclosed that it has such an asset, capable of disrupting critical undersea networks.
2. Chinese breakthrough challenges Elon Musk’s verdict on paralysed patients
In a clinical trial led by Shanghai’s Fudan University, four paralysed patients regained control of their legs within 24 hours of a minimally invasive surgery. The Chinese team’s advance was made possible by implanting electrode chips in the brain and spinal cord to create a bridge or “neural bypass” – thus reconnecting the body’s own pathways.
3. Did a US military contractor use a Chinese-made jet engine in its new missile?
