Global Media Highlights in March

THE STRAITS TIMES

Headline: Gen Zs in China snapping up replicas of museum artefacts. Is this about cultural confidence?

Published on: 17 February 2026

Summary: China’s cultural souvenir market is booming as young consumers increasingly buy museum-inspired products, driven by a desire for “emotional value” and cultural connection.

Dr Rhonwyn Vaudrey, Assistant Professor at XJTLU’s International Business School Suzhou, explains that the growth of China’s emotional economy is driven by consumers seeking to satisfy needs beyond visible status, pointing to how policymakers are now promoting intangible cultural heritage to help build cultural confidence and create a newer version of Chinese cultural identity for younger people.

THE CONVERSATION

Headline: What the constant sound of modern life is doing to our minds

Published on: 26 February 2026

Summary: In his recent article, Dr Victor Pérez, Associate Professor at XJTLU’s Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, shared that listening has shifted from occasional, shared experiences rooted in nature to a constant, personalised stream of sound. Today, people use music and audio to manage mood, focus and productivity, but this always-on soundscape can crowd out silence, reducing opportunities for reflection and subtly influencing how we think and cope.

Research shows that while audio can help with simple tasks, it can hinder complex thinking – especially when it includes lyrics. Over time, constant sound shapes attention and mental effort, often unnoticed. To counter this, it helps to match sound to the task, pay attention to signs of fatigue, and preserve periods of silence for recovery and deeper thinking.

NATURE MAGAZINE

Headline: My relationship with my PhD supervisor has become toxic – what do I do?

Published on: 3 March 2026

Summary: A PhD student wrote to Nature Magazine, asking how to deal with a supervisor who provides little guidance while behaving abusively.

Dr Changhee Kim, Assistant Professor at XJTLU’s HeXie Academy, explains that in Chinese and broader East Asian culture, supervisors are often seen as “patriarchal leaders” and students are expected to be humble and obedient. He advises that the most practical approach may be to identify the supervisor’s work style and adapt to it, though he acknowledges that in cases of abusive behaviour the relationship may already be too damaged. He also suggests presenting complete, structured research plans to make it easier for supervisors to provide clear feedback or approval.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

Headline: CATL sodium-ion battery aims to improve EV winter range loss

Published on: 3 March 2026

Summary: Battery manufacturer CATL has unveiled Naxtra, a new sodium-ion battery that can reportedly perform stably at temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius, offering a potential solution to the diminished range and slow charging in electric vehicles in cold weather.

Dr Chenguang Liu, Associate Professor at XJTLU’s School of Robotics, comments on how these batteries, which can better maintain their power and capacity than conventional lithium-based batteries, may benefit cold regions including parts of the US, Canada, and Europe.

NATURE MAGAZINE

Headline: China pledges billion-dollar spending boost for science

Published on: 11 March 2026

Summary: China has announced plans to significantly increase its science funding, proposing a minimum 7% annual rise in research and development spending over the next five years.

Dr Jiawei Hai, Assistant Professor at XJTLU’s Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, notes that while the 7% target matches the previous five-year plan, today’s figure represents a much larger absolute increase in funding than five years ago, reflecting the country’s growing investment in science.

NATURE MAGAZINE

Headline: China intensifies push to become world leader in tech and AI

Published on: 14 March 2026

Summary: China has revealed its 15th five-year plan, pledging to use “extraordinary measures” to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and other cutting-edge fields.

In an interview, Dr Jiawei Hai, Assistant Professor at XJTLU’s Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, highlights that the plan means China will step up its domestic capabilities in every aspect of those industries. He adds that while China has tried to overcome technological choke points for years, the mission has been brought to the forefront in this five-year plan largely due to intensifying competition between China and the US for technological supremacy.

REUTERS

Headline: In China, battery makers bet big on sodium in move away from critical minerals

Published on: 16 March 2026

Summary: As Chinese manufacturers lead the global push into sodium-ion battery technology, industry experts point to the abundant availability of sodium – roughly 1,000 times more abundant than lithium in the Earth’s crust – as a key advantage that could reduce supply chain risks and make electric vehicles less vulnerable to raw material price swings.

Dr Chenguang Liu, Assoicate Professor at XJTLU’s School of Robotics, explains that while sodium-ion batteries offer superior cold-weather performance and faster charging, they currently store less energy per kilogram than lithium-ion batteries, making them heavier and larger for the same amount of stored energy.

EL MUNDO

Headline: Finlandia sigue al frente del ránking mundial de la felicidad; España continúa en descenso (Finland remains at the top of the world happiness ranking; Spain continues its decline)

Published on: 19 March 2026

Summary: According to the World Happiness Report 2026, Finland tops the world happiness ranking for the ninth consecutive year. Dr Shun Wang, Senior Associate Professor at XJTLU’s International Business School Suzhou, is one of the editors of the report.

THE STRAITS TIMES

Headline: From wuxia games to AI-powered microdramas, China sharpens its soft power playbook

Published on: 23 March 2026

Summary: China is increasingly relying on a new generation of digital cultural exports – online literature, web dramas, and video games – to project soft power globally.

Dr Xiao Lu at XJTLU’s Academy of Film and Creative Technology, explains that video games have emerged as one of the most promising and influential formats for China’s cultural exports because they always respond to market needs, compelling players to invest time and energy.

EUREKALERT

Headline: Nanoparticles enable large-scale production of advanced cell therapies

Published on: 24 March 2026

Summary: Researchers from XJTLU have developed a streamlined process that makes it easier to produce tiny therapeutic particles released by cells, called exosomes, which are being explored as a new type of medical treatment. Using a nanoparticle-based system, the researchers were able to overcome a major barrier that has slowed the medical and industrial deployment of these therapies. The study was led by Dr Gang Ruan at XJTLU Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy.

By Kayla Foniel Johan and Xinmin Han

Edited by Vionna Fiducia Theja