As we bid farewell to 2024, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the remarkable scientific developments this year has brought, especially in China. Without a doubt, 2024 has been a year of extraordinary scientific discoveries across all fields globally. However, China has undeniably taken the lead, contributing the lion’s share of research papers and scientific outputs.
In this report, we will explore the Top Science Stories from China in 2024—innovations that are set to shape the future for decades to come. These breakthroughs not only highlight China’s growing influence in the global scientific landscape but also promise to drive technological progress and sustainability on an unprecedented scale. From space exploration to green energy, artificial intelligence, and beyond, China’s achievements in 2024 have paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in the years ahead.
In 2024 China made abundant scientific and technological breakthroughs.
CMG
In addition to major policy events like the National Sci-Tech Conference, National Science and Technology Award Conference, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Engineering assemblies on June 24, this report will focus on the scientific outputs these policies have driven. While these gatherings set the strategic direction, it’s the resulting breakthroughs in fields such as space exploration, AI, green energy, and biotechnology that will shape China’s scientific future for years to come.
China’s Lunar Mission Achieves Key Milestones
On June 25, 2024, the return capsule of China’s Chang’e 6 mission touched down on Earth, bringing back the world’s first samples collected from the Moon’s far side. This marks a major milestone in China’s space exploration program, as the mission has significantly expanded our understanding of the Moon’s composition and potential resources, especially from a previously unexplored region.
The results of these samples were published on nature On December 20, whereby the Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers, utilizing samples from the far side of the Moon brought back by Chang’e 6, discovered that the Moon’s magnetic field may have experienced a resurgence in intensity around 2.8 billion years ago.
Additionally, building on the success of Tianwen-1, Tianwen-2 is scheduled to launch in 2025, according to Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), as reported by The Paper on September 24. With this upcoming mission, along with others in the pipeline, we can expect exciting developments from China’s ambitious space program in the near future.
Breakthroughs in Quantum Communication
China has been a leader in quantum communication, and in 2024, researchers successfully developed the world’s first long-distance, ultra-secure quantum satellite communication network.
On January 12, the China Meteorological Administration announced a significant advancement in the country’s meteorological data infrastructure. China has accelerated the informationization of weather data by launching a new generation of supercomputing systems for meteorology. This upgraded system boasts 6.5 times greater computing power, enhancing the country’s ability to process and analyze vast amounts of meteorological data more efficiently and accurately.
Furthermore, Chinese scientists reported a breakthrough in room-temperature superconductivity, a major step toward practical applications for superconducting materials. This could potentially lead to significant improvements in energy transmission and computing.
Breakthroughs with Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
In 2024, Chinese researchers introduced an advanced AI-powered cancer detection system that surpasses traditional diagnostic methods in both accuracy and speed. This cutting-edge technology enables the detection of cancers at much earlier stages, representing a significant breakthrough in healthcare diagnostics and offering new hope for more timely and effective treatments.
China aslo continues to lead the way in stem cell research, particularly in the field of regenerative medicine. In 2024, Chinese scientists successfully grew lab-grown human organs from stem cells, a major breakthrough that could pave the way for organ regeneration and transplants in the future.
Moreover, researchers in China created the world’s first entirely artificial life form through synthetic biology. This accomplishment, building on years of genetic engineering, opens the door to future applications in medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation. These are but few stories in health and biotechnology which will definetly shape the future of healthcare and the biotech industry.
China’s Green Energy Revolution: Fusion Energy Milestone
China’s ITER fusion reactor project reached another milestone in 2024, achieving a new record in plasma confinement. This progress brings China closer to achieving clean and limitless energy through nuclear fusion, an important step in addressing global energy demands and environmental sustainability.
China is leading the Green energy sector in both research and production
Scientific China
2024 have also witnessed the construction of the world’s largest floating solar farm in 2024. Located on a reservoir in Anhui province, this massive solar project covers over 40 square kilometers and has the potential to generate enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
Batteries are at the heart of the green energy revolution. In 2024, Chinese researchers unveiled a next-generation lithium-ion battery with 50% greater energy density than current models. This breakthrough in battery technology promises to increase the range of electric vehicles (EVs) and improve the efficiency of energy storage systems, making renewable energy sources more practical and reliable for daily use.
Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Prototype
Despite its lack of an advanced commercial aerospace industry, China made significant progress in hydrogen-powered aviation with the unveiling of a new aircraft prototype. This eco-friendly development aligns with China’s ambitious carbon-neutral goals and could help revolutionize the aviation industry by reducing its carbon footprint.
humanoid robots
In February 2024, the “Q Family” humanoid robots, developed by the research team at the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made their highly anticipated public debut in Beijing. These advanced robots showcase cutting-edge artificial intelligence and robotics technology, marking a significant milestone in China’s progress toward creating more sophisticated, human-like robots capable of interacting in various social and industrial environments.
