cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/10639210

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Chinese scientists have developed a plant-inspired method to convert carbon dioxide and water into valuable chemicals, such as the building blocks for petrol, by using solar energy.

The process – inspired by photosynthesis, where plants harness sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to generate energy – could help produce a sustainable source of fuel, the researchers said.

The team, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said they had developed a material able to store small amounts of electrical energy to help efficiently drive chemical reactions.

When paired with catalysts that converted carbon dioxide into various chemicals, it enabled the solar-driven production of carbon monoxide.

This could be further converted into fuel, offering a possible alternative for hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation and shipping.

“This work establishes a bioinspired charge reservoir strategy for efficient carbon dioxide photoreduction, providing a universal approach to solar fuel production,” the team wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications last week.

The rest of the article is paywalled.

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

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/10636596

Archive link: https://archive.ph/bgODC

Chinese researchers have revealed progress on a weapon concept that could compress hypersonic performance into a form small enough for conventional artillery.

The team is developing an ultra-small, smart hypersonic glide missile that can be fired from an 80mm anti-aircraft gun

If deployed, the system could blur the line between traditional gunfire and missile-based air defense.

According to the research, the projectile exits the gun barrel at speeds approaching Mach 6. That velocity far exceeds conventional anti-aircraft shells.

It also gives the weapon extended reach. Simulations suggest it can engage fighter jets or drones more than 20 km, or 12 miles, away.

Targets flying at altitudes around 10,000 meters, or 32,800 feet, would also fall within range.

The concept relies on speed, scale, and cost. The projectile’s small size and hypersonic flight profile sharply reduce warning time for enemy aircraft.

That compression of reaction windows could alter air combat dynamics.

As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the missile’s designers argue that detection would come dangerously late for defending aircraft.

At such extreme speed, onboard warning systems may only spot the projectile when it is about 2 miles away.

That distance leaves only seconds to respond.

Even at that point, the missile would still travel at roughly Mach 3.6. Computer simulations show it can adapt aggressively.

If a target executes a near-90-degree turn, the missile can still correct its trajectory.

The models indicate a kill probability of 99 percent.

Rate of fire adds to the threat. A standard anti-aircraft gun can fire roughly once per second.

That enables repeated launches without relying on expensive interceptor missiles.

Researchers suggest the low cost and high availability of such projectiles could challenge medium- and short-range air defense systems.

Two-stage guidance system

Extreme speed also introduces control challenges. Hypersonic projectiles face intense aerodynamic forces during sharp maneuvers.

Traditional guidance methods may fail under such conditions, increasing the risk of misses.

To overcome this, Wang Xugang’s team designed a two-stage guidance architecture.

The first stage manages the mid-course flight. It plans an efficient trajectory that preserves speed and energy.

The second stage governs the terminal phase. It focuses on fine adjustments during the final seconds before impact.

The researchers used a mathematical approach called “multi-objective optimisation” to balance speed retention with smooth maneuvering.

This approach reduces stress on the projectile while maintaining accuracy.

In the terminal phase, the missile switches to an advanced “sliding-mode variable-structure guidance” law.

This method allows the projectile to anticipate target movement and closely track even highly agile aircraft.

Simulations show the guidance method reduces maneuver load by more than 90 percent compared with conventional approaches.

Shifting air combat models

The researchers argue the technology could reshape future air warfare. “Hypersonic guided projectiles represent a new generation of precision-strike weapons,” the team wrote.

“With advantages such as rapid strike, precision guidance and high lethality, they are profoundly reshaping traditional firepower combat models and have broad application prospects in future air warfare.”

The findings appear in a peer-reviewed paper published last month in the Journal of Naval Aviation University.

While the system remains at the simulation stage, the work highlights China’s growing interest in compact hypersonic weapons designed for scalable deployment.

If proven viable, such systems could complicate air operations and force changes in aircraft defense strategies.

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