BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China:

SATELLITE LAUNCH

China on Sunday launched a Long March-2D carrier rocket, placing a remote sensing satellite in space.

The rocket blasted off at 9:58 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan and sent the Yaogan-39 satellite into the preset orbit.

BIOCRUSTS ON GREAT WALL

New research has revealed that large portions of the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are protected by a biological community found on the surface of the ancient ramparts.

According to a study published on Saturday in the journal Science Advances, the biological soil crusts or biocrusts, consisting of photosynthetic bacteria, mosses and lichens, aid in increasing the ancient structures' stability and fend off erosion caused by rain and wind.

IRON-RICH MAIZE

Chinese scientists have discovered a key gene that regulates the loading of iron into maize kernels, providing a scientific basis for cultivating iron-enriched maize varieties and potentially helping to address iron deficiency anemia.

By utilizing the discovery, scientists can cultivate maize with the iron content in the kernels greatly increased to 70.5 mg per kg, which is more than twice the iron content in common maize varieties.

The study was conducted by a joint research team from the Institute of Crop Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Henan Agricultural University, and published online in the latest issue of the academic journal Science. Enditem

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