High-precision dating reshapes understanding of Carboniferous–Permian oil source rocks in northwest China

New zircon U–Pb constraints define when key source rocks formed and track stepwise basin evolution during Paleo-Asian Ocean closure

Science China Press

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Carboniferous-Permian chronostratigraphic framework and regional correlation for the Junggar Basin and its surrounding areas. 

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Credit: ©Science China Press

Northwest China contains some of the country’s most important oil and gas resources, many of which are hosted in rocks formed between the Carboniferous and Permian periods, around 300 million years ago. Despite their economic importance, the exact ages of these rocks—and how they relate to one another across different basins—have remained uncertain for decades. This is mainly because the rocks record a complicated transition from ancient seas to land environments and contain few fossils that can be used for precise dating.

In a new study published in Science China Earth Sciences, an international team of researchers led by Nanjing University tackled this problem by turning to volcanic ash layers preserved within the sedimentary rocks. These ash layers contain zircon crystals that act like tiny geological clocks. By analyzing these crystals using multiple high-precision dating techniques, the team obtained 53 zircon U–Pb ages from outcrops and drill cores across the Junggar Basin and the neighboring Turpan–Hami, Santanghu, and Yili basins.

The results reveal that the region’s major oil-source rocks did not all form at the same time. Instead, they developed during three separate and well-defined periods. In the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin, source rocks formed from the late Carboniferous to the very beginning of the Permian. Farther south, in the southern Junggar Basin and the Turpan–Hami and Santanghu basins, source rocks mainly accumulated during the early Permian. The youngest source rocks, found in the Yili Basin and eastern Junggar Basin, formed later still, during the middle to late Permian.

This new timeline shows that the shift from marine to land-based environments swept across the region over millions of years, becoming progressively younger from northwest to east. According to the researchers, this pattern provides fresh geological evidence that the Paleo-Asian Ocean closed gradually, like a pair of scissors, rather than disappearing everywhere at once.

Beyond its significance for understanding Earth’s history, the study has practical implications for energy exploration. Key source-rock units in the Junggar region—such as the Fengcheng, Lucaogou, and Pingdiquan formations—are central to major shale oil systems in northwest China. Knowing precisely when these rocks formed allows geologists to build more accurate basin models and better predict where oil and gas resources may be found.

The researchers stress that combining high-precision dating with large-scale sampling is essential for decoding complex geological regions. Their work not only sheds new light on the tectonic evolution of Central Asia during the Late Paleozoic, but also provides a stronger scientific foundation for future energy exploration in northwest China.

 

See the article:

Hou Z, Wang X, Zhi D, Tang Y, Wu Q, Zhang H, Cao J, Xiao D, Fu G, Zheng M, Qi X, Cai Y, Feng Z, Zhang B, Zhou C, Li Y, Ye X, Huang X, Zhang S, Shen B, Ramezani J, Zhang S, Shen S. 2026. High-resolution chronostratigraphic framework and spatiotemporal evolution of Carboniferous-Permian source rocks in the Junggar Basin and its periphery. Science China Earth Sciences, 69(1): 288–312, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-025-1748-3

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Journal

Science China Earth Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s11430-025-1748-3 

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How velocity models change earthquake shaking predictions in southwest China

Science China Press

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Simulated seismic intensity patterns for the 5 September 2022 Mw 6.6 Luding earthquake in southwest China, calculated from peak ground velocity in the 0.02–0.5 Hz frequency range. Although the same earthquake source is used, different crustal velocity models produce markedly different shaking intensities and spatial patterns, illustrating the influence of model choice on post-earthquake ground motion assessment. Colored triangles indicate observed ground motion recorded by fixed seismic stations and strong-motion instruments.

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Credit: ©Science China Press

Accurate prediction of strong ground motion is essential for post-earthquake emergency response and seismic risk mitigation, particularly in tectonically complex regions such as the Sichuan–Yunnan area of southwest China. In physics-based ground motion simulations, subsurface structure is represented by crustal velocity models ranging from simplified one-dimensional to more detailed three-dimensional descriptions, yet the extent to which model choice influences engineering-relevant shaking predictions has remained unclear.

In a new study published in Science China Earth Sciences, researchers from Southern University of Science and Technology investigated how different velocity models affect strong ground motion simulations using the 5 September 2022 Mw 6.6 Luding earthquake as a real-world example. The team employed a finite-fault rupture model derived from seismic observations and conducted numerical simulations up to 1 Hz using nine representative velocity models that differ in data sources, resolution, and construction strategy.

Rather than focusing on waveform similarity or travel-time misfits, the study evaluated model performance using peak ground velocity (PGV), a parameter widely used in earthquake engineering and damage assessment. PGV predictions were analyzed at individual stations, across regional statistical distributions, and through spatial patterns of shaking intensity to assess the practical applicability of each velocity model.

The results show that most three-dimensional velocity models can reasonably reproduce observed PGV at frequencies below 0.3 Hz, while simulation errors increase at higher frequencies. Overall, 3D velocity models outperform traditional one-dimensional models in predicting both the amplitude and spatial distribution of ground shaking. However, systematic differences persist among individual models, with some tending to overestimate shaking intensity and others to underestimate it. These discrepancies are primarily linked to differences in shallow velocity structure, modeling strategy, and whether surface topography is included.

Importantly, the researchers found that averaging PGV predictions from multiple velocity models significantly reduces systematic bias and yields results that are more consistent with observations. This multi-model approach provides a robust and practical strategy for rapid post-earthquake ground motion assessment, especially when uncertainties in subsurface structure cannot be avoided.

The study offers quantitative guidance for selecting and applying velocity models in strong ground motion simulations and highlights the value of multi-model strategies for improving the reliability of earthquake shaking predictions in complex tectonic regions.

 

See the article:

Li T, Zhang W. 2026. Assessment of the impact of different 3D crustal velocity models on strong ground motion simulations in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Science China Earth Sciences, 69(1): 348–365, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-025-1743-3

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Journal

Science China Earth Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s11430-025-1743-3 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

 

University of Houston BRAIN Center finds exposure to nature associated with reductions in negative emotions

Research indicates urgent need to integrate nature into urban design to increase brain capital

University of Houston

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Renowned neuroscientist Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director, NSF IUCRC BRAIN Center, is reporting that exposure to nature can increase brain health.

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Credit: University of Houston

You probably heard it from your mom a thousand times – fresh air and sunshine; it’s the cure for most anything. Now scientists at the University of Houston concur, measuring the impact of mother’s advice on mother nature to find that exposure to nature is associated with reductions in negative emotions. 

Given that nearly 90% of the U.S. population is projected to reside in urban areas by 2050, researchers say integrating nature into urban design and public health initiatives is an increasingly recognized national public health and economic priority for improving emotional wellbeing.  

"Findings from this systematic review support the notion that nature exposure is a critical determinant of brain health and therefore brain capital. Thus, promoting and maintaining healthy environments is critical to promote and grow the world’s brain capital,” said renowned brain scientist Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director, NSF IUCRC BRAIN Center (Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology). He led a team of researchers through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of nature on wellness.  

The team examined the results from 2,101 participants in 33 studies combining neuroimaging and psychological assessments during exposure to real, virtual or imagined natural environments. EEG was the most widely used neuroimaging modality across the studies reviewed. 

“Healthy populations showed a more balanced psychological response, with nature exposure being associated with both increases in positive emotions and reductions in negative emotions,” reports Contreras-Vidal in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “Growing interest in how nature influences the brain has driven research toward understanding its neurophysiological impact. This interest has recognized that genetics alone cannot account for health risk factors and that environmental exposures play a substantial role in shaping brain health.” 

The team examined brain studies that included several different tasks: 

• Imagery: The most popular task across studies, images of nature consistently demonstrated significant effects of nature on well-being. Eight studies reported increases in positive emotions while seven observed decreases in negative emotions.  

• Virtual Reality: Eight studies implemented VR-based exposure to nature, all of which used EEG as their neuroimaging modality. Six studies reported decreases in negative emotions and five reported increases in positive emotions.  

• Walking Outdoors: Five studies reported an increase in positive emotions and four reported decreases in negative emotions. 

While studies employing psychological and neuroimaging can potentially provide a shift in understanding of the neurophysiological impact of nature on brain health and wellness, there is still much to know, and Contreras-Vidal has suggestions. 

“EEG studies should expand their scope to incorporate neural metrics like functional connectivity, while prioritizing standardization of real-world multimodal data for study comparisons and effective inclusion of AI,” he said.  

“Ultimately, the goal is to design Nature prescriptions (Nature Rx) to promote brain health and treat mental illnesses across the lifespan,” said Contreras-Vidal. 

Based on the findings, the BRAIN Center is working on a study on the neural mechanisms underlying nature’s impact on brain health and wellness in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood along the green corridor and on the UH campus’ pollinator gardens. 

 

 

 

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Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Article Title

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of EEG, fMRI, and fNIRS Studies on the Psychological Impact of Nature on Well-Being

Article Publication Date

17-Mar-2026

 

Overconfident CEOs are less likely to delegate responsibility – particularly when it may help the most

North Carolina State University

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A new study finds overconfident CEOs are less likely to delegate responsibilities to underlings, particularly in settings that involve complex transactions – such as hammering out the details of high-stakes deals.

“Organizations have only gotten more complex over time, often operating in multiple countries across many different sectors,” says Jared Smith, co-author of a paper on the work and a professor of finance in North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. “As a result, it is important for modern companies to bring more voices to the table. Involving more people who have more varied expertise and experiences can be valuable in helping companies navigate a complex business environment.

“In other words, delegation is an important tool for CEOs,” says Smith. “It can help them bring in expert voices while also freeing up their own time to tackle the multitude of issues facing any enterprise. We wanted to see whether there is a relationship between overconfidence in CEOs and their willingness to delegate – because that may have meaningful implications for their organization.”

To explore this issue, the researchers focused on 3,690 mergers and acquisitions by publicly traded companies between 2000 and 2019. The researchers looked only at transactions with a value of at least $50 million and that constituted at least 1% of the acquiring company’s equity.

Those mergers and acquisitions involved 1,634 CEOs. The researchers used an established technique to assess the confidence of those CEOs based on how the executives made use of their stock options. And to assess the extent to which those CEOs were willing to delegate responsibility, the researchers looked at press releases and news articles about the 3,690 mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

“In general, if anyone other than a C-suite executive is mentioned in these releases, it strongly suggests that the person who was mentioned played a meaningful role in the M&As,” Smith says.

The researchers also looked at “background of the merger” documents that acquiring companies submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which detail all relevant meetings that took place between companies while arranging the relevant transaction.

“We found that if someone other than an executive was mentioned in a press release or news article, that person was very likely involved in meetings that took place during the M&A process,” Smith says. “This helps validate the use of news releases and articles as a tool for determining whether an executive is willing to delegate responsibility.”

The researchers found that 41% of the CEOs in their data set were overconfident. And when the researchers compared the behavior of overconfident CEOs to the behavior of the overall group, they found that overconfident CEOs were 10-15% less likely than average to delegate responsibility.

The researchers also found that the relationship between overconfidence and delegation behavior varied quite a bit depending on the nature of the M&A.

“For example, when a firm was acquiring a company in an industry sector it was not previously involved in, overconfident CEOs were even less likely to delegate responsibility,” Smith says. “This is notable given that these deals involve unfamiliar industries, where outside expertise is more likely to be relevant.”

However, the most surprising result was also the most statistically powerful result.

“We found that the more segments – or business arms – the acquiring firm had, the less likely overconfident CEOs were to delegate responsibility,” says Smith. “This is remarkable, because theory suggests that the more complex the CEO’s own information environment is, the more likely they are to benefit from getting outside expertise.

“It is important for leadership to be confident in their own abilities,” says Smith. “But our study suggests that executives who are overconfident are less likely to delegate responsibility to the people on their team – and that may affect the C-suite’s ability to navigate complex business situations.

“It would be interesting to see how this may be reflected in post-merger performance – that’s an area for future research.”

The paper, “Leave it to Me: Overconfident CEOs’ Lower Propensity to Delegate Acquisition Responsibility,” is published open access in the Journal of Management Studies. The paper was co-authored by Matthew Josefy of Indiana University and Daniel Greene of Clemson University.

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Journal

Journal of Management Studies

DOI

10.1111/joms.70095 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Leave it to Me: Overconfident CEOs’ Lower Propensity to Delegate Acquisition Responsibility

Article Publication Date

20-Mar-2026