On February 29th, the National Natural Science Foundation of China announced the top 10 scientific advances of 2023. Two scientific breakthroughs from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), including ‘Revealing the mechanism of light modulating glucose metabolism’ and ‘Discovery of extremely narrow jet and 10 TeV photons from the brightest gamma-ray burst in history by LHAASO’.

The Top 10 Scientific Advances in China aims to publicize significant advances in fundamental research in China, promoting the popularization of fundamental science and fostering public understanding, concern, and support for fundamental research. Since 2010, twelve achievements led by USTC have been selected for the Top 10 Scientific Advances in China.

USTC Reveals Mechanism of Light Sensing in Regulating Blood Glucose Metabolism

How does light, the primary driving force for life and one of the most crucial sensory inputs for living organisms, impact our body’s metabolism process? Previous studies have shown a significant increase in the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity due to excessive light exposure at night. However, it remains to be answered whether light can directly regulate glucose metabolism. If so, what are the biological mechanisms of the light modulation of glucose metabolism?

Professor XUE Tian and his research team at USTC discovered that light directly activates specialized photosensitive cells in the eyes. The generated signals is then transmitted through the optic nerve to the hypothalamus and medullary nuclei, ultimately inhibiting the glucose-consuming capability of peripheral brown adipose tissue through the sympathetic nervous system. Their findings were published in Cell.

The neural pathway for the light modulation of glucose metabolism in mice. (Image by Prof. XUE Tian’s team)

This research uncovered the neural pathway linking light to glucose metabolism, emphasizing the need for a healthy light environment to counteract the risks of metabolic diseases from nighttime light pollution. The discoveries of this research offer theoretical insights and potential strategies for preventing and treating light pollution-induced disruptions in glucose metabolism.

LHAASO discovers extremely narrow jet and 10 TeV photons of the brightest gamma-ray burst in history

Gamma-ray burst is the most violent celestial explosions after the cosmic Big Bang. Observations of radiation with energy above TeV are of great significance in revealing the process and mechanism of Gamma-ray burst.

Prof. DAI Zigao from USTC, as the corresponding author, proposed a theory that the high-energy radiation of the brightest gamma-ray burst originates from extremely narrow jets, which explains the observed light curve. Prof. TANG Zebo from the State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, USTC, participated in the construction of the KM2A array, which played a key role in detecting high-energy gamma rays.

(Written by YANG Sujie, edited by ZHANG Yihang, USTC News Center)