China Agricultural University

Stories

Deep sequencing of 3,367 maize genomes links rare variants to agronomic traits

Led the 3,367-genome maize study

For two decades, maize geneticists have hunted the DNA variants behind yield, flowering time and plant shape. Most of that hunt has focused on variants common enough to appear in hundreds of plants.

Updated Nov 2

Solar-powered electrolyzer makes hydrogen for under $2 a kilogram

New Capabilities

As of August 2026: Co-developer of the low-cost hydrogen system

For a decade, hydrogen made from renewable power has cost far more than the hydrogen refineries pull from natural gas. In January 2026, researchers in China and Singapore built a solar-powered device that skips one of the two normal products of splitting water. Instead of making oxygen, it oxidizes sugar from crop waste, producing hydrogen plus formate, a chemical that sells, and that side income cuts the cost to $1.54 a kilogram.

Updated Aug 21