Core Insights - The "Xuelong 2" icebreaker successfully completed China's 41st Antarctic expedition, marking the longest single-vessel mission in China's polar research history, lasting 208 days and covering over 40,000 nautical miles [1][2] Group 1: Expedition Highlights - The expedition featured a significant highlight of conducting joint research in the Ross Sea ecosystem during the Antarctic autumn, extending research efforts into harsher natural conditions [1] - The joint mission involved 12 scientists from 8 countries, including the UK, US, Australia, and Thailand, completing 24 comprehensive ocean survey stations and deploying 34 observation buoys [1][2] - The expedition collected over 5,000 samples, including water, sediment, and biological samples, leading to three main new findings regarding water structure and biological activity in the Ross Sea [1] Group 2: Biological Discoveries - In terms of low-nutrient organisms, primary production in the Ross Sea was found to be inactive, while high biomass of zooplankton was observed in the ice-interior lakes [2] - The western Ross Sea slope area was identified as having dense populations of Antarctic krill, with various bird and mammal species concentrated in the ice edge area [2] Group 3: Public Engagement and International Cooperation - The "Xuelong 2" served as a platform for public education, hosting an open day in Thailand that attracted over a thousand visitors, and facilitating an international academic conference on polar science [2] - The vessel will be open to the public in Haikou from June 2 to June 3 and June 5 to June 7, showcasing China's polar research achievements and contributions to international polar governance [2]