2025: Year of Transformation in Global Science and Technology Innovation

The year 2025 has marked an extraordinary momentum in the development of science and technology. With full support from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Science and Technology Daily has identified the top 10 achievements transforming the global technological landscape, from artificial intelligence to space exploration.

Open Source AI Dominance: DeepSeek Model Shifts Paradigm

Leading AI innovations come from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that launched the open-source large model DeepSeek-R1 in January. This achievement proves that with intelligent algorithm optimization and mature technical innovation, large models can achieve peak performance without relying on massive raw computational power. As a result, the AI race has shifted from a “computing resource war” to a “efficiency competition,” empowering developers worldwide to create their own solutions.

This wave of innovation is also evident in brain-computer interface development. The China Brain Science and Intelligence Technology Center, in collaboration with Huashan Hospital, successfully conducted the country’s first invasive brain-machine interface clinical trial in June. Neural-enabled robotic arms successfully performed complex tasks such as typing and gaming within just a few weeks of training, placing China as the second country after the US to reach this stage.

Breakthrough in Clean Energy: EAST Breaks Plasma Record

In renewable energy, the China Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) achieved a historic milestone on January 20 by maintaining stable plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds—almost 18 minutes. This represents significant progress in nuclear fusion research, overcoming one of the most complex challenges in plasma control and bringing the world closer to unlimited clean energy.

Computing Revolution: From Quantum to Analog Matrix

Quantum achievements also made history with Zuchongzhi 3.0, a Chinese superconducting quantum computer prototype with 105 measured qubits and 182 couplings. This system set a world record by solving a random quantum circuit sampling problem 10 trillion times faster than the most advanced supercomputers today.

Meanwhile, in October, a team from Peking University introduced a high-precision analog matrix computing chip capable of surpassing traditional digital GPUs in energy efficiency and processing power by up to 1,000 times. This innovation opens new possibilities for complex applications in large-scale scientific computing.

Biotechnology and Materials: Fundamental Discoveries Changing Understanding

A century-old biological puzzle has finally been solved when a team from Shandong Agricultural University discovered the mechanism by which single plant cells can develop into complete organisms. This discovery about plant cell totipotency opens new doors for genetic improvement of crops and more effective agricultural biotechnology.

In materials science, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Physics Institute successfully created the world’s first large-scale two-dimensional metal material. This ultra-thin metal, just one atom thick—much thinner than human hair—was published in Nature and received international recognition, opening limitless possibilities in two-dimensional material research.

Space Exploration: Lunar Data and Cosmic Observations

The Chang’e-6 mission provided groundbreaking insights into the far side of the Moon through in-depth lunar sample analysis. The research revealed the history of lunar volcanic activity, ancient magnetic fields, and mantle composition, dramatically enhancing our understanding of this natural satellite. This discovery marks a historic achievement in human space exploration.

Globally, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory supported by NSF-DOE released its first images, capturing millions of distant stars and galaxies at an unprecedented scale, offering new perspectives on the structure of the universe.

Practical Applications: Electromagnetic Aircraft Carrier and Medical Robotics

On November 5, China’s Fujian aircraft carrier was officially commissioned in Sanya with a flag-raising ceremony. As the world’s first aircraft carrier equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults for launching aircraft, Fujian showcases technology and facilities demonstrated for the first time, marking a leap forward in maritime defense.

In healthcare, intelligent surgical robots successfully performed cholecystectomy procedures without human intervention, while AI-based devices combined with brain decoders can translate thoughts directly into continuous text without speech.

Photonic and Quantum Computing: Surpassing Electronic Limits

Photonic computing chips have surpassed traditional electronic hardware, with systems from Singapore achieving double the latency and inference time improvements compared to commercial GPUs. Google also introduced Quantum Echoes algorithms demonstrating quantum supremacy verifiable against classical computers.

Fundamental Physics Validation and Climate Warning

The gravitational wave GW250114 has validated Stephen Hawking’s 1971 Area Theorem with extremely high precision, confirming fundamental theory predictions after more than five decades.

However, serious warnings come from the Global Tipping Point Report 2025, compiled by 160 international scientists. The report warns that Earth has reached its first climate tipping point, with rising temperatures threatening vital coral reef ecosystems.

These achievements reflect a sustained commitment to scientific and technological innovation, supported by strategic policies that strengthen core technological breakthroughs, promote the integration of scientific research with industry, advance education-science-technology-talent coordination, and promote Digital China initiatives.