SHANGHAI, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Boqii Holding Limited (“Boqii” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: BQ) today announced that it will change its ratio of its American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) to Class A ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing fifteen (15) Class A ordinary shares to one ADS representing one hundred and fifty (150) Class A ordinary shares (the “ADS Ratio Change”). The ADS Ratio Change is expected to become effective on or about January 21, 2025 (U.S. Eastern Time) (the “ADS Ratio Change Effective Date”).

For Boqii’s ADS holders, the ADS Ratio Change will have the same effect as a 1-for-10 reverse split on the existing ADSs. Each ADS holder on the ADS Ratio Change Effective Date will be required on mandatory basis to surrender to The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, (the “Depositary”) for Boqii’s ADS program, every 10 old ADSs held in exchange for one new ADSs. No action is required by holders of uncertificated ADSs to effect the ADS Ratio Change as the change will be effected on the books of the Depositary.  

No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the ADS Ratio Change. Instead, the Depositary will attempt to sell any fractional entitlements to new ADSs and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the Depositary. Boqii’s ADSs will continue to be traded on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol “BQ”. As a result of the ADS Ratio Change, the ADS price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS price after the ADS Ratio Change will be equal to or greater than ten (10) times the ADS price before the change.

 About Boqii Holding Limited 

Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE American: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. It is the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with a broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and its own private label, Yoken, Mocare and D-cat, offered at competitive prices. Boqii’s online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e- commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Its Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets.

Safe Harbor Statement 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Further information regarding such risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor inquiries, please contact: 

Boqii Holding Limited
Investor Relations
Tel: +86-21-6882-6051
Email: ir@boqii.com 

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SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NASA selected 15 visionary ideas for its NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) program which develops concepts to transform future missions for the benefit of all. Chosen from companies and institutions across the United States, the 2025 Phase I awardees represent a wide range of aerospace concepts.

The NIAC program nurtures innovation by funding early-stage technology concept studies for future consideration and potential commercialization. The combined award for the 2025 concepts is a maximum of $2.625M in grants to evaluate technologies that could enable future aerospace missions.

“Our next steps and giant leaps rely on innovation, and the concepts born from NIAC can radically change how we explore deep space, work in low Earth orbit, and protect our home planet” said Clayton Turner, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington. “From developing small robots that could swim through the oceans of other worlds to growing space habitats from fungi, this program continues to change the possible.”

The newly selected concepts include feasibility studies to explore the Sun’s influence on our solar system, build sustainable lunar habitats from glass, explore Saturn’s icy moon, and more. All NIAC studies are in the early stages of conceptual development and are not considered official NASA missions.

Ryan Weed, Helicity Space LLC in Pasadena, California, proposes a constellation of spacecraft powered by the Helicity Drive, a compact and scalable fusion propulsion system, that could enable rapid, multi-directional exploration of the heliosphere and beyond, providing unprecedented insights on how the Sun interacts with our solar system and interstellar space. Demonstrating the feasibility of fusion propulsion could also benefit deep space exploration including crewed missions to Mars.

Martin Bermudez, Skyeports LLC in Sacramento, California, presents the concept of constructing a large-scale, lunar glass habitat in a low-gravity environment. Nicknamed LUNGS (Lunar Glass Structure), this approach involves melting lunar glass compounds to create a large spherical shell structure. This idea offers a promising solution for establishing self-sustaining, large-scale habitats on the lunar surface.

Justin Yim, University of Illinois in Urbana, proposes a jumping robot appropriately named LEAP (Legged Exploration Across the Plume), as a novel robotic sampling concept to explore Enceladus, a small, icy moon of Saturn that’s covered in geysers, or jets. The LEAP robots could enable collection of pristine, ocean-derived material directly from Enceladus’s jets and measurement of particle properties across multiple jets by traveling from one to another.

“All advancements begin as an idea. The NIAC program allows NASA to invest in unique ideas enabling innovation and supporting the nation’s aerospace economy,” said John Nelson, program executive for NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts in Washington.

The NIAC researchers, known as fellows, will investigate the fundamental premise of their concepts, identify potential challenges, and look for opportunities to bring these concepts to life.

In addition to the projects mentioned above, the following selectees received 2025 NIAC Phase I grants:

Michael Hecht, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: EVE (Exploring Venus with Electrolysis)Selim Shahriar, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois: SUPREME-QG: Space-borne Ultra-Precise Measurement of the Equivalence Principle Signature of Quantum GravityPhillip Ansell, University of Illinois, Urbana: Hy2PASS (Hydrogen Hybrid Power for Aviation Sustainable Systems)Ryan Benson, ThinkOrbital Inc., Boulder, Colorado: Construction Assembly DestinationGyula Greschik, Tentguild Engineering Co, Boulder, Colorado: The Ribbon: Structure Free Sail for Solar Polar ObservationMarco Quadrelli, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California: PULSAR: Planetary pULSe-tAkeRBen Hockman, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California: TOBIAS: Tethered Observatory for Balloon-based Imaging and Atmospheric SamplingKimberly Weaver, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland: Beholding Black Hole Power with the Accretion Explorer InterferometerJohn Mather NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland: Inflatable Starshade for Earthlike ExoplanetsRobert Hinshaw, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley: MitoMars: Targeted Mitochondria Replacement Therapy to Boost Deep Space EnduranceChristine Gregg, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley: Dynamically Stable Large Space Structures via Architected MetamaterialsSaurabh Vilekar, Precision Combustion, North Haven, Connecticut: Thermo-Photo-Catalysis of Water for Crewed Mars Transit Spacecraft Oxygen Supply

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the NIAC program, as it is responsible for developing the agency’s new cross-cutting technologies and capabilities to achieve its current and future missions.

To learn more about NIAC, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/niac

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SOURCE NASA

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Corn Next, a leader in sustainable innovation and biodegradable solutions, has officially launched CornNext-17, a game-changing bio-based material designed to combat the global plastic pollution crisis. Accompanying this launch is the release of the CornNext-17 White Paper, a detailed report that highlights the revolutionary features of CornNext-17, its potential to replace traditional plastics, and its critical role in supporting global sustainability initiatives.

Derived from renewable corn starch, CornNext-17 utilizes a patented fermentation-based process to create a fully biodegradable material with superior versatility and performance. Unlike traditional plastics and bio-plastics such as PLA and PHA, CornNext-17 retains its natural polysaccharide structure, enabling rapid decomposition within 30 days in natural environments while maintaining the mechanical properties necessary for diverse applications.

“CornNext-17 represents a significant leap forward in sustainable materials,” said Randy Yongzhong Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. “We are proud to offer a solution that addresses the urgent need for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics. The development of CornNext-17 is guided by our vision to revolutionize how materials are used and discarded. As a fully natural biodegradable innovation, it marks not just a breakthrough in material science, but a significant milestone in humanity’s pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future.”

Key Features of CornNext-17

Fully Biodegradable: Decomposes naturally within 30 days, leaving no harmful residues.Versatile: Suitable for a wide range of applications, including packaging, consumer goods, and industrial components.Cost-Effective: Produced through an efficient manufacturing process, offering competitive pricing.High Performance: Exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including strength, flexibility, and heat resistance.Eco-Friendly: Derived from renewable corn starch and produced without harmful chemicals.

Market Potential and Industrial Applications

CornNext-17 has the potential to transform multiple industries by replacing traditional plastics with a sustainable alternative:

Consumer Goods: CornNext-17 is ideal for creating compostable tableware, single-use products, food containers, and eco-friendly packaging solutions that cater to environmentally conscious consumers.Packaging Industry: The material’s strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat and moisture make it a superior choice for biodegradable packaging, including retail, food, and industrial applications.Agriculture: CornNext-17 can be used to manufacture biodegradable mulch films, seedling trays, and irrigation components, reducing waste and enhancing soil health.Medical and Healthcare: With its ability to decompose fully, CornNext-17 is well-suited for disposable medical supplies such as gloves, syringes, and packaging, ensuring environmental safety.Automotive: Lightweight and durable, CornNext-17 can be utilized in creating automotive components such as panels, trim, and interior parts, contributing to vehicle sustainability and fuel efficiency.Electronics: As a biodegradable alternative, CornNext-17 can replace certain plastic components in electronics, helping reduce electronic waste.

The global push for environmentally sustainable materials positions CornNext-17 to capitalize on increasing regulatory support and consumer demand for green products. Its adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly properties provide a competitive edge in addressing the growing plastic pollution crisis.

Why CornNext-17 Matters

Plastic waste remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges, with over 400 million tons of plastic produced annually and only a fraction recycled. CornNext-17’s innovative composition and rapid biodegradability make it a transformative solution for reducing reliance on petrochemical-based plastics and mitigating environmental harm.

Looking for Partnership

Corn Next is committed to advancing CornNext-17’s applications through ongoing research and development, fostering innovation in biodegradable materials. The company seeks strategic collaborations with industry leaders, partners, investors, financial institutions, government agencies, and research organizations to drive the widespread adoption of CornNext-17 and accelerate the global shift toward a more sustainable future.

Download the White Paper

Detailed information on the potential of this revolutionary material can be downloaded from Corn Next’s website at https://www.cornnext.com/CornNext-17 by clicking “Learn More.”

About Corn Next

Corn Next (or Y & J World Inc.) is a pioneering biotech company based in Irvine, California, dedicated to eliminating plastic pollution. We specialize in developing bio-based new materials such as CornNext-17, a patented, 100% natural, biodegradable material derived from renewable corn starch. Unlike traditional plastics, CornNext-17 fully decomposes within 30 days without leaving toxins or requiring costly recycling. After eight years of R&D, we transformed CornNext-17 into a granular form, securing our proprietary technology and expanding its applications. This innovation led to the world’s first corn-based drinking straw, protein spoon, dinner knife, and forks, with future uses in utensils, dental floss, packaging and more. Corn Next is committed to replacing single-use and durable plastics with sustainable, plastic-free alternatives—free from plastics, PHA, PLA, and other bio-plastics. Our mission is to drive a cleaner, greener future. For more information, please visit https://www.cornnext.com/

Contact: David Xu, Email: david.x@cornnext.com

SOURCE Corn Next Inc.