Metabasites within the Paleozoic volcanic-clastic sedimentary sequences in Hainan Island, South China, show large differences not only in the nature of protoliths, but also in zircon U-Pb sensitive high mass-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) ages. The protoliths for the Tunchang area metabasites have intraoceanic arc geochemical affinities. In the east-central island gabbroic to diabasic rocks and pillow lavas are also present, while the Bangxi area metabasites with back-arc geochemical affinities in the northwest island consist of basaltic, gabbroic and/or picritic rocks. Three types of zircon domains/crystals in the Tunchang area metabasites are defined. Type 1 is comagmatic and yields concordant to approximately concordant 206 Pb/238 U ages ranging from 442.1 Ϯ 13.7 Ma to 514.3 Ϯ 30.2 Ma with a weighted U-Pb mean age of 445 Ϯ 10 Ma. Type 2 is inherited and yields a weighted 207 Pb/206 Pb mean age of 2488.1 Ϯ 8.3 Ma. Type 3 is magmatic with a 207 Pb/206 Pb age of ca 1450 Ma. Magmatic zircons in the Bangxi area metabasites yield a weighted U-Pb mean age of 269 Ϯ 4 Ma. We suggest 450 Ma is the minimum age for crystallization of protoliths of the Tunchang area metabasites, because the age range of ca 440-514 Ma probably corresponds to both the time of igneous crystallization and the high-temperature overprint. The presence of abundant inherited zircons strongly favors derivation of these rocks from a NMORB-like mantle proximal to continental crust. A protolith age of ca 270 Ma for the Bangxi area metabasites probably records expansion of an epircontinental back-arc basin and subsequent generation of a small oceanic basin. The presence of ophiolitic rocks with an age of ca 450 Ma, not only in Hainan Island, but also in the Yangtze block, highlights the fact that the South China Caledonian Orogeny was not intracontinental in nature, but characterized by an ocean-related event.

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Strategic regional planning is an important step towards a successful CCUS development. This paper is the first effort of proposing a development plan of offshore CO 2 storage and transport for Guangdong in 2030 and 2050. We attempt to make an ambitious and achievable plan. The clusterhub model of sources and sinks is adopted, and reuse of existing infrastructures is preferred. The targets of CCUS in Guangdong by 2050 are approximately 8% of the CCS targets that proposed for entire China (ADB, 2015), except a smaller target of 2050. The dual-phase and dual-track approach of ADB's roadmap is followed. The CCUS Phase I before 2030 is characterized by the capture of high-purity CO 2 from petrochemical industry and the storage of CO 2 mainly related to CO 2-EOR. The target of ~3 Mtpa CCUS in 2030 will be achieved by source-sink match A1. The Phase II from 2030 to 2050 is characterized by a wider deployment of CCUS. The target of CCUS in Guangdong is ~35 Mtpa in 2040 and ~110 Mtpa in 2050, leading to the cumulative CO 2 avoidance of ~187 MtCO 2 for 2031-2040 and ~730 MtCO 2 for 2041-2050. Four source-sink matches are proposed for this phase, including the storage clusters in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and in the Beibuwan Basin in the northern South China Sea. Research with sufficient lead time to support the phased CCUS development is proposed, including databases, feasibility studies, technique R&D, cost estimation, and optimized system design. We are fully aware of the large uncertainty in the years ahead, and regard this planning as a highly general and hypothetic proposal.

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Recent exploration revealed the high potential for hydrocarbon in the deepwater sags, Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. This paper reports its Cenozoic sedimentary evolution through backstripping of high precision depth data of interpreted sequence boundaries. Local backstripping parameters were mapped based on well and geophysical data. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the reliability of decompaction results were largely improved by using the local porosity parameters and the lithological parameters that vary with grid nodes. Maps of sedimentation rates of 17 sequences from 65 Ma to the present were constructed, showing the spatial-temporal variation of the sedimentation rate. Three rapid depositional stages, 65-32, 29-23.3, 18.5-10.5 Ma, and three slow depositional stages, 32-29, 23.3-18.5, 10.5-0 Ma, were identified with abrupt changes of sedimentary patterns. The three rapid depositional stages were in accord with syn-rifting stage, the first post-rifting depositional stage, and the second post-rifting depositional stage, respectively. And the three slow depositional stages were in keeping with three tectonic events respectively. Several significant sedimentary discontinuities at 32, 23.3 and 10.5 Ma were observed and discussed. The comparison between the study area and the ODP Site 1148 at 32-23.3 Ma indicates that before *29 Ma the ODP Site 1148 was at similar sedimentation regime as that in the Baiyun and Liwan sags, but significant diversity appeared after *29 Ma, when a large quantity of terrigenous sediments was trapped by strong post-rifting subsidence in the Baiyun and Liwan sags and could not reach the lower slope areas. Study revealed that the most rapid accumulation from 18.5 to 17.5 Ma might be mainly owing to the large sediment supply during this strong monsoon period.

The development of space robots is vital to broadening human cognitive boundaries. Space robots have been deployed in space science experiments, extravehicular operations, and deep space exploration. The application of space robots undoubtedly reduces the risk and cost of space activities. Traditional space robots primarily utilize rigid structures, resulting in limited degrees of freedom, which restricts their operational capabilities. In contrast, soft robots with greater flexibility and robustness may be used for future space exploration. Soft robots applied in space environments must overcome significant challenges associated with ultrahigh vacuum, microgravity, extreme temperatures, and high‐energy radiation. Herein, a comprehensive analysis of the key advantages of soft robots is presented based on the special requirements of the space environments for soft robots. Furthermore, brief insights into how soft robots must be changed in terms of their design, modeling, fabrication, sensing, and control to adapt to space environments are discussed. Specifically, soft robot scenarios with potential space application value are introduced. Finally, opinions regarding the potential directions of soft space robots are provided.

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