The 2025 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing has set a high bar for global innovation, as China's 10 scientific advances of 2024 were unveiled at a vibrant opening ceremony. Hosted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and organized by its High Technology Research and Development Center, the forum showcased breakthroughs that are poised to reshape everything from lunar research to next-generation computation.
1. Lunar Mysteries Unlocked: Samples from the Chang'e-6 mission have revealed evidence of volcanic activity on the moon's far side dating back 2.8 billion years. The unique composition of basalt, breccia, and glass fragments offers fresh insights into the moon's complex geological history.
2. A New Era for Artificial Intelligence: The development of the "Taichi" photonic chiplet marks a milestone in AI research. With an efficiency of 160-Tera Operations per Joule and a novel in-situ photonic training architecture, this breakthrough paves a high-speed, energy-efficient path in the post-Moore era.
3. Safer Neuropsychiatric Innovations: Groundbreaking research into monoamine neurotransmitter transporters has shed light on how psychiatric drugs interact on a molecular level. The discovery of novel binding sites could lead to safer, more effective treatments with reduced addictive risks.
4. Atomic-Scale Nanolasers: Scientists have engineered nanolasers with atomic-scale feature sizes that even form coherent images of the characters "中" and "国." These lasers promise to enhance imaging technologies and communications with low energy consumption and blistering modulation speeds.
5. Cooling Breakthroughs: A discovery in a cobalt-based material has revealed a spin supersolid state exhibiting a giant magnetocaloric effect. This quantum marvel enables ultra-low temperature refrigeration without helium-3, opening new avenues in cryogenic technology.
6. Advancing Immunotherapy: In a significant leap for medical science, allogeneic CAR-T therapy using universal cells from healthy donors has successfully treated severe autoimmune diseases. This innovative approach could improve treatment accessibility and reduce costs.
7. Genetic Insights into Infertility: Research into the effects of an extra X chromosome on male germ cell development has revealed that disruptions in gene regulation start as early as the fetal stage, offering crucial insights into infertility challenges.
8. Quantum Gravity Steps: The experimental observation of graviton-like modes in GaAs quantum wells has provided stimulating progress in quantum gravity research. This discovery also bolsters our understanding of semiconductor structures and paves the way for topological quantum computing.
9. Powering the Future: A novel actinide-based radio photovoltaic micronuclear battery has achieved an 8,000-fold boost in energy conversion efficiency. This record-breaking design points to inventive strategies for radioactive waste recovery and sustainable energy solutions.
10. Galactic Evolution Unveiled: In an astute astronomical study, scientists observed that galaxies with more massive supermassive black holes have significantly less cold gas—the essential ingredient for star formation—affirming the pivotal role of black holes in galactic evolution.
Under the theme "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's forum, running until March 31, not only highlights China’s cutting-edge research but also emphasizes the critical role of global collaboration in shaping our technological and scientific future. These advancements inspire a new generation of innovators, tech enthusiasts, and global citizens to explore and drive change on the world stage.
Reference(s):
China's 10 scientific advances of 2024 released at ZGC Forum
cgtn.com
