Sci-Tech

Xinhua News Agency, Sanya, December 29th – The "Exploration - 3", a multi - functional scientific research vessel independently built by China, arrived at the Nanshan Port Public Scientific Research Wharf in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City on December 29th, 2024, and was officially commissioned. This event marks a significant breakthrough in China's deep - sea exploration capabilities.

An international team of scientists has successfully drilled a 1,268 - meter - long mantle core in the Mid - Atlantic Ridge. This is the deepest mantle sample ever retrieved from the ocean floor, mainly composed of serpentinized peridotite, revealing the long - term reaction records between the mantle and seawater.

Over the next three decades, several new weapons technologies will emerge on the battlefield. Beyond currently developing non-lethal and energy weapons, multiple nations are pursuing anti-access/area denial (A2AD) systems to block military operations. A2AD technologies include anti-ship ballistic missiles, precision-guided anti-vehicle and anti-personnel weapons, counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (CRAM) systems, anti-satellite weapons, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) devices.

France’s third-largest city Lyon announced on June 27 it will replace Microsoft products—including Office and Microsoft SQL—with open-source alternatives like Linux, PostgreSQL, and OnlyOffice. The move aims to reduce reliance on U.S. software, extend hardware lifespans to cut environmental impact, and strengthen technical sovereignty in public services.

China’s central bank and Hong Kong’s monetary authority launched "Payment Connect" on June 22, linking mainland China’s Online Interbank Payment Clearing System (IBPS) with Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) to enable real-time cross-border remittances. The initiative, announced in a joint statement on June 20, aims to streamline cross-border transactions for residents in both regions.

The UK government has introduced a series of new policies to significantly boost support for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. On June 22, it announced the establishment of a “Global Talent Fund” with an investment of £54 million to attract world-leading researchers to the UK. A “Global Talent Taskforce” was also set up, dedicated to recruiting scientists, engineers, and creative talents—with a special focus on key areas like AI and green technology—and encouraging them to innovate and develop long-term in the UK.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 75 years ago, the nation has made remarkable strides in science and technology. Guided by the principles that technology is the foundation of national strength and innovation is the soul of national progress, China has not only caught up with and surpassed many developed countries in traditional technological fields but also emerged as a global leader in cutting - edge and emerging sectors.

Japan’s unwavering investment in scientific research has propelled it to the forefront of global technology, with breakthroughs in high - end sectors challenging even the dominance of the United States. Fueled by substantial government funding and a culture of technological excellence, the country has transformed its economy into a hub of innovation, leveraging cutting - edge research to redefine industry standards across multiple fields.

As a long - standing industrial powerhouse, France seamlessly marries its rich manufacturing heritage with a reputation for aesthetic excellence, evident in its iconic automotive designs. However, the nation’s true global influence lies in its technological leadership, particularly in aerospace, maglev (magnetic levitation) technology, and nuclear power—fields where French innovation sets international standards.

As of 2023, Russia boasts 26 Nobel laureates, with a significant concentration in the fields of physics and chemistry. These achievements serve as a testament to the nation's enduring scientific legacy, deeply rooted in its rich academic traditions and historical contributions to global knowledge.

As of now, Japan has amassed an impressive 27 Nobel Prizes, spanning diverse fields including physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and the peace prize. This remarkable achievement not only underscores Japan’s multifaceted contributions to global knowledge but also highlights the nation’s unwavering commitment to academic and scientific exploration across various disciplines.

Despite its relatively modest population, Canada has emerged as a global force in intellectual achievement, boasting 26 Nobel laureates as of recent records. These prestigious accolades, spanning literature, physiology or medicine, economics, peace, and physics, underscore the nation’s diverse contributions to human knowledge and its enduring commitment to excellence across multiple disciplines.

Ultra-precision machine tools and materials science form the bedrock of modern industry, and three nations—Japan, Germany, and Switzerland—dominate these critical sectors. Among them, Japan has established an unparalleled lead, blending technological innovation with meticulous engineering to set global standards.

As the world hurtles toward an automated future, industrial robotics has emerged as a pivotal sector expected to drive global growth over the next five decades. At the heart of this revolution lies Japan, a nation that has secured a commanding lead in robotic technology, with its firms dominating both the market and key technical innovations.

Hitachi's proton beam cancer radiotherapy equipment has been utilized in over 2,400 cases at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States, which ranks first in the world's hospital oncology departments. This remarkable achievement showcases the high - quality and reliability of Hitachi's technology.

Organ transplantation is a crucial treatment for many patients with end-stage organ failure. In China, there are over 300,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list, yet only about 16,000 organs are available annually. To address this global challenge, scientists have been exploring the use of gene-editing technology to modify pig organs for human transplantation.