2025 has been a whirlwind for science fans, especially in the Chinese mainland! Dive into the top five most-read stories that felt straight out of sci-fi 🚀🔬✨
1. Next-generation semiconductor 🚀
This July, scientists from the Chinese mainland unveiled a breakthrough in chip-making: a novel solid-liquid-solid growth technique to mass-produce golden semiconductors made of indium selenide. By precisely controlling the atomic ratio of indium to selenium, they can now create wafer-scale 2D semiconductors that outperform your average silicon chip. Talk about future-ready tech! 💻🔋
2. Engineering deserts into green zones 🌵➡️🌳
In June, the Chinese mainland completed a massive barrier belt along the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. After decades of effort, this green checkerboard grid now holds back the sands during the short summer rains. Meanwhile, a solar-panel-plus-crop system spans over 3,000 kilometers across the Taklimakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, earning a spot among the 2025 Top 10 Global Engineering Achievements. Talk about eco-innovation! ☀️🌾
3. Humanoid robots step into the spotlight 🤖🎉
This February, on the eve of the Spring Festival Gala, 16 humanoid robots developed by Unitree wowed audiences by flawlessly tossing and catching handkerchiefs on stage. Not quite Olympic gymnast level—yet—but a giant leap in robotic motion. Later in the year, the first humanoid robot half marathon and Humanoid Robot Games showed these bots are ready to race from the lab into real life. Ready or not, here they come! 🏃♂️⚙️
4. Natural blocker of cancer growth 🌿🛑
Back in January, researchers from the Chinese mainland identified silybin, a compound from traditional Chinese medicine, as a potential natural blocker of liver cancer cell growth. Early lab tests show it disrupts tumor metabolism and slows down cancer progression. While still at the preclinical stage, this fusion of ancient wisdom and modern biology could open new paths for future therapies. 🤞🔬
5. Ghost particle detector confirms physics mystery 🕵️♂️🌌
In November, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in the Chinese mainland delivered its first major result: confirmation of the solar neutrino tension, a puzzling mismatch in how we understand particle physics. And with Hailing, the deep-sea neutrino detector, set for deployment next year, scientists are gearing up to listen to cosmic whispers from the ocean floor. Keep your telescopes—and bathyscopes—ready! 🌊🔭
From boosting life on Earth to probing the cosmos, 2025 shone a spotlight on the Chinese mainland's scientific leaps. Which field do you hope sees the next big breakthrough? What's your science-inspired 2026 resolution? Share your thoughts below! 💬✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
