Chinese Academy of Sciences on The Conversation

January 5, 2017

Even as more new species are found, Southeast Asia is in the grip of a biodiversity crisis

Alice Catherine Hughes, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The region faces some of the world’s highest rates of habitat loss, as well as direct over-exploitation of species.

Attempts at regulating the market show any ivory trade represents a threat to the survival of African elephants. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

September 28, 2016

Stop the slaughter of African elephants by banning the ivory trade for good

Alice Catherine Hughes, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Historical evidence shows African elephants are endangered by the ivory trade, despite any attempt at regulating the market. A total ban is the only hope for the world’s largest living land animal.

The endangered ‘fishing cat’ is known to scientists as *Prionailurus viverrinus*, but is *Felis viverrinus* in Chinese wildlife law. Gemma Simpson / shutterstock

September 19, 2016

How outdated scientific names could help Chinese poachers kill with impunity

Chris Newman, University of Oxford and Zhaomin Zhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Many scientific names have changed since China’s ‘protected species list’ was last updated in 1989.

Pragmatism, not idealism, will give Brazil’s Atlantic forests the best chance of survival. Guilmann/Wikimedia Commons

May 26, 2016

We’re kidding ourselves if we think we can ‘reset’ Earth’s damaged ecosystems

Martin Breed, University of Adelaide; Andrew Lowe, University of Adelaide; Nick Gellie, University of Adelaide, and Peter Mortimer, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Across the world, an area bigger than Russia is officially classed as “degraded land”. We’ll never restore its wildlife to what it was – but there are pragmatic steps we can take to improve things.

This pangolin was rescued in Thailand but most captive creatures aren’t so lucky. EPA

November 7, 2014

Pangolin: illegal medicine trade threatens these scaly mammals with extinction

Chris Newman, University of Oxford; David Macdonald, University of Oxford, and Youbing Zhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Few people are familiar with the pangolin. It is a shy creature, about as big as a medium-sized dog, and its diet consists of ants and termites. Most distinctively, it has armoured plates and will curl…

June 6, 2014

Pterosaur eggs unearthed in China

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Chinese researchers have announced the rare discovery of fossilised pterosaur eggs. Xiaolin Wang from the Chinese Academy…

So, you found my ancestors? Are you sure this time? epsos

December 16, 2013

Earliest evidence of cat domestication found in China

Akshat Rathi, The Conversation

There has been much debate about how cats went from hunting in the wild to a much-loved pet. That is because we know little about their domestication. Now researchers have found the earliest case of cat…

Sufferers of internet disorder might find it starts to impose on real life, such as causing difficulties in socialising. Flickr/Fle

May 20, 2013

Five new mental disorders you could have under DSM‑5

Christopher Fairburn, University of Oxford; Christopher Lane, Northwestern University; David Mataix-Cols, King's College London; Jie Tian, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Jon Grant, University of Chicago, and Karen M. von Deneen, Xidian University

Since it was first published in 1952, the DSM has been the has been the diagnostic bible for many psychiatrists. Each time the manual is updated, new conditions are introduced, often amid much controversy…