国内英语新闻:China's science popularization goes online: report

BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- More Chinese are getting their science news or knowledge through online platforms than from traditional media like newspapers and televisions, a recent report has showed.

The report by China Research Institute for Science Popularization, also shows that the mobile Internet is attracting science fans. About 69 percent of China's 750 million online population used mobile phones to obtain science news and knowledge.

The main audience is people aged 18 to 40, accounting for more than 70 percent.

Researchers found that websites, online forums, and social media are three main platforms of science popularization, after a follow-up study of 20,000 news websites, nearly 1,000 newspapers, tens of thousands microblog accounts, and 70 mobile applications. The most popular topics are about health care, environment and emergency escape.

The report said that public interest of space exploration and astronomy keeps growing, which requires more scientists and organizations to share and talk. Emerging subjects such as quantum science, dark matter and artificial intelligence will be key content of China's science popularization in the future.

The report also shows that the most widespread rumors are about aliens and wormholes, accounting for 54.1 percent of all rumors of science. Researchers call on more scientists to take up the cause and government to strengthen efforts to monitor and dispel rumors.