Top 10 Scientific Advances of 2025 in China
“Top 10 Scientific Advances in China” selection aims to thoroughly implement the important instructions of President Xi Jinping on scientific and technological innovation, especially his remarks in a recent instruction on work related to the NSFC, adhere to the strategic guidance of the “Four Orientations”, showcase significant achievements in China’s basic research, and thereby empower scientists and researchers to yield a greater output of original innovations. Since its launch in 2005, this annual event has been held for 20 sessions. The selected advances each year epitomize the landmark achievements in China’s basic research, consistently inspiring researchers and drawing widespread attention from both the scientific community and society at large.
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1
First insights into the lunar far side’s evolutionary history and giant impact effects from Chang’e-6 samples
The Chang’e-6 mission has, for the first time, returned lunar soil samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the Moon’s far side, providing invaluable material to unravel the evolutionary history of the lunar far side. Through detailed analysis of these samples, this research has achieved multiple original breakthroughs. A new type of impact-derived lunar rock has been identified. Dating on these impact-melt rocks constrains the formation ages of the Moon’s largest impact basin, the SPA basin, and its interior, the Apollo basin, to 4.25 billion years and 4.16 billion years ago, respectively. These constraints provide key chronological markers for understanding the early impact history of the Moon. The research reports the first measurements of water content and chemical composition for the lunar far-side mantle. The new results reveal that the far-side mantle is drier and more isotopically depleted in Sr–Nd than its nearside counterpart, with a U–Pb isotopic ratio that deviates from the near-side mantle’s evolution trend. These findings indicate that the giant impact modified the nature of the lunar mantle beneath the SPA basin. The first paleomagnetic record from the lunar far side has been obtained, discovering a reinforced magnetic field intensity around 2.8 billion years ago. This discovery indicates that the lunar magnetic field did not decay monotonically but experienced fluctuations. These advances extend the lunar near-side–far-side asymmetry observed in the crust to the deep mantle, refresh our knowledge of the spatial and temporal evolution of the Moon’s paleomagnetic field, reshape our understanding of the early impact history and its effects on the lunar far side, and mark a new phase in lunar science characterized by an integrated understanding of coupled endogenic and exogenic geological processes. Main contributors: WU Fuyuan, CHEN Yi, XU Yigang, LI Chunlai, LIN Yangting, HU Sen, YANG Wei, CAI Shuhui, CHE Xiaochao, LONG Tao, HUI Hejiu Main supporting institutions: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS; Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS; National Astronomical Observatories, CAS; Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; Nanjing University
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2
Innovative method for large-scale fabrication of flexible and ultraflat diamond membranes
Diamond is hailed as the “ultimate semiconductor material” due to its exceptional hardness, ultrahigh carrier mobility, high dielectric breakdown strength, outstanding thermal conductivity, and wide bandgap characteristics, exhibiting transformative potential across numerous fields. However, traditional fabrication techniques are almost incapable of producing large-scale, ultra-thin diamond films, severely restricting its industrialization process. This research has developed an “edge-exposed exfoliation” method by modeling the asymmetric nature of defects at the as-grown and buried surfaces of the membrane, which can achieve scalable production of inch-scale flexible, ultrathin, ultraflat diamond films using a “one-step process”. By optimizing peeling angle and thickness parameters through theoretical modeling, this method accomplishes in seconds what traditional techniques such as laser slicing or substrate etching require tens of hours to complete, significantly improving production efficiency and reducing costs. The resulting sub-micron-thick diamond membranes feature surface roughness below the nanometer scale and can be bent in 360 degrees. Their ultraflat surfaces are fully compatible with existing semiconductor CMOS processes, and their flexibility paves the way for applications like “elastic strain engineering” and “strain sensing”, which is unattainable with conventional rigid diamond bulk materials. This method is expected to accelerate the application of diamond membranes in next-generation high-performance electronics, flexible optoelectronics, quantum technologies, and related fields. Main contributors: CHU Zhiqin, LIN Yuan, LI Kwai Hei, WANG Qi Main supporting institutions: The University of Hong Kong; Southern University of Science and Technology; Dongguan Institute of Opto-Electronics Peking University
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3
Controlled nuclear fusion devices achieve “hundred-million-degree” operational conditions
Controlled nuclear fusion, with its advantages of abundant resources, environmental friendliness, and inherent safety, is recognized as one of the crucial pathways to ultimately solving the energy problem for humanity. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) and the Huanliu-3 nuclear fusion device (HL-3) have both achieved operation at 100 million-degree Celsius regime. The EAST team has resolved key issues in core-edge integration and plasma-wall interactions, targeting frontier physics of steady-state high-performance tokamak plasmas. Steady-state long-pulse high-mode plasma operation has been achieved at temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius for a duration of 1,066 seconds, verifying the feasibility of steady-state high-mode plasma operation for fusion reactors. The operation marks humans have firstly replicated experimental conditions required for future fusion reactors, which is of great importance for the development and operation of fusion power plants. The HL-3 team has overcome key technologies such as high-power microwave gyrotrons and high-power neutral beam heating, to meet the critical threshold conditions required for burning plasma. This progress realized high-parameter operation with an ion temperature of 117 million degrees Celsius and an electron temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius. Furthermore, under sustained high-mode operation with plasma currents exceeding 1 M Ampere and ion temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius, the fusion triple product has been increased by nearly tenfold to the order of 10 20 keV·s·m -3 . The research lays the foundation for the burning plasma experiments of controlled nuclear fusion devices. Main supporting institutions: Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS; Southwestern Institute of Physics, China National Nuclear Corporation
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4
Deciphering how ceramide receptors negatively respond to microbiotaderived metabolites to regulate disease onset
Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases pose a serious threat to human health worldwide. The traditional etiological framework centered on high cholesterol fails to fully explain the pathogenesis and progression of these diseases, leaving a significant number of patients with residual risk. Recent studies have identified ceramide, an endogenous host lipid, as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, since the ceramide was discovered in 1884, its receptors and regulatory mechanisms have remained an unsolved mystery for over a century, severely hindering research into targeted interventions. This research is conducted from the perspectives of receptor recognition, metabolic regulation, and disease intervention. For the first time, the research identified the ceramide receptors FPR2 and CYSLTR2 and revealed the molecular mechanisms by which ceramide exacerbates cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The research systematically clarified that ceramide serves as a key messenger for the host to perceive fungal enzymes and their metabolites in the gut, and discovered that FF-C1, a novel secondary metabolite produced by gut fungi, regulates ceramide levels by inhibiting the intestinal ceramide synthase CerS6, thereby improving cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This research solves the century-old mystery of ceramide, revolutionizes the traditional cholesterol-centered therapeutic framework, and breaks through the core bottleneck in the development of drugs for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Main contributors: JIANG Changtao, KONG Wei, SUN Jinpeng, QIAO Jie, WANG Kai, YU Xiao, ZHENG Jingang, ZHENG Minghua Main supporting institutions: Peking University; Shandong University; China-Japan Friendship Hospital; Wenzhou Medical University
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5
Gene-edited pig liver transplanted into human body breaks through the barrier of cross-species organ transplantation
Organ shortage represents a critical bottleneck constraining the development of organ transplantation, while xenotransplantation serves as a pivotal approach to address this shortage. This research achieved a major breakthrough by successfully transplanting a genetically modified pig liver into a human recipient. To overcome barriers including immunological rejection and physiological incompatibility in xenotransplantation, a six-gene editing strategy was used for donor pigs: knockout of three porcine antigen genes ( GGTA1 , B4GALNT2 , and CMAH ) to prevent hyperacute rejection; insertion of two human complement regulatory protein genes ( hCD46 and hCD55 ) to inhibit complement activation-mediated humoral immune rejection; and insertion of one human thrombomodulin gene ( hTBM ) to ameliorate coagulation disorders. Concurrently, building upon the standard triple immunosuppressive regimen (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone) used in allotransplantation, a targeted “seven-drug immunosuppression” protocol was developed specifically for xenotransplantation: the addition of anti-thymocyte globulin and anti-CD20 antibody to suppress cellular immune rejection; anti-C5 antibody to reduce complement-mediated cytotoxicity; and anti-TNF-α antibody to attenuate systemic inflammatory responses. This research employed a heterotopic auxiliary liver transplantation technique, preserving the recipients native liver to minimize surgical trauma, reduce operative risks, and facilitate future applications as a bridge therapy. This research represents a significant clinical breakthrough in pig liver xenotransplantation, providing crucial theoretical foundation and technical support for the advancement of cross-species organ transplantation Main contributors: DOU Kefeng, WANG Lin, DONG Hailong Main supporting institution: Fourth Military Medical University
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6
Mechanism analysis and multidimensional targeted intervention of inflammaging
Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of organ aging and establishing systematic intervention strategies represent a core challenge in aging biology and translational medicine. This research has transcended the limitations of single-dimensional studies. By integrating the three dimensions of proteostasis, metabolic regulation, and stem cell function, the team systematically elucidated the spatiotemporal dynamics and molecular drivers of multi-organ aging in humans. This research mapped the aging trajectory and characteristics across a 50-year human lifespan, revealing that amyloid beta accumulation and inflammatory stress serve as core driving mechanisms of organ aging. Subsequently, they identified the kidney-derived endogenous metabolite betaine as a natural inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory kinase TBK1, which mimics the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise at the molecular level, thereby providing a candidate molecule with a defined target for delaying aging. Addressing the core issue of stem cell exhaustion, this research engineered stem cells to promote nuclear retention of the longevity factor FOXO3 using synthetic biology. In aged non-human primate models, these cells improved multi-tissue aging markers, suppressed chronic inflammation, and exhibited the potential to reverse aging-related decline in cognitive and reproductive functions. This research forms a closed-loop research paradigm, from mechanism elucidation to target discovery and intervention validation, deepening the understanding of the nature of inflammaging and opening a new research avenue for the precise intervention of aging-related diseases. Main contributors: LIU Guanghui, WANG Si, ZHANG Weiqi, QU Jing, SONG Moshi, YANG Jiayin Main supporting institutions: Institute of Zoology, CAS; Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Center for Bioinformation and Beijing Institute of Genomics, CAS; West China Hospital of Sichuan University
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7
Flourishing chemosynthetic life at the greatest depths of hadal trenches
Through extreme deep dives by the manned submersible Fendouzhe, researchers have discovered a thriving ecosystem in the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleutian Trenches of the Northwest Pacific. Located at abyssal depths of 5,800 to 9,533 meters, this ecosystem represents the deepest-known chemosynthetic community on Earth. This massive seabed ecosystem stretches for over 2,500 kilometers across the seafloor. Instead of relying on sunlight for energy, these lives harnesses chemical reactions from geological fluids to obtain the energy necessary for metabolism. These communities are dominated by frenulate siboglinids and vesicomyid bivalves, which sustain themselves by relying on fluids rich in hydrogen sulfide and methane that seep upward along geological faults. The research further reveals the existence of a previously unknown, massive methane reservoir and a methanogenic biosphere in the deep hadal sedimentary layers. This groundbreaking discovery offers a new perspective for understanding the complex mechanisms of hadal ecosystems. It also greatly expands our understanding of the limits of life and challenges the traditional scientific view that “deep-sea life primarily derives energy from sinking organic matter from the upper ocean”. The findings also confirm that chemosynthetic ecosystems in hadal trenches are far more complex and active than previously imagined. Main contributors: Global Trench Exploration and Dive Programme (Global TREnD) Team Main supporting institution: Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, CAS
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8
A full-featured hybrid 2D/silicon flash memory chip
Confronted with the fundamental challenge of Moore’s Law approaching its physical limits, two-dimensional semiconductors with thicknesses of only one to three atomic layers are internationally recognized as a key pathway to technological breakthrough. Both industry and academia are striving to validate the advantages of two-dimensional electronics through heterogeneous system integration. However, the atomic structure of two-dimensional semiconductors is as thin and fragile as cicada wings, making large-scale integration extraordinarily challenging. This research achieves a full-chain breakthrough from fundamental device mechanisms in two-dimensional electronics to engineered system-level integration through atomic-scale fabrication technology (ATOM2CHIP). Its technological blueprint encompasses full-stack on-chip integration processes and cross-platform system design, enabling atomic-scale “conformal adhesion” integration between two-dimensional semiconductors and CMOS chiplets, as well as monolithic high-density interconnection and protocol-based communication within heterogeneous circuits. The research pioneers the two-dimensional semiconductor/ silicon hybrid architecture (“Changying”) flash memory chip, which is a high-complexity, instruction-driven, fully functional chip supporting 8-bit instructions and 32-bit parallel processing, with an integration yield as high as 94.3%. This achievement is supported by complete independent intellectual property rights in China and establishes a new paradigm for atomic-scale chip integration. Main contributors: ZHOU Peng, LIU Chunsen Main supporting institution: Fudan University
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9
Thorium-uranium fuel conversion achieved in a molten salt reactor
The molten salt reactors (MSRs), which use high-temperature molten salt as the coolant, belong to the fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy system. MSRs are internationally acknowledged as the most suitable reactor type for thorium fuel utilization, boasting advantages including inherent safety, atmospheric pressure operation, water-free cooling, and high-temperature heat output. This research addressed fundamental theoretical bottlenecks in the integrated design of the reactor core and primary loop, establishing a multi-physics design methodology that enables synergistic optimization of structural integrity and heat transfer efficiency. It elucidated the in-service performance and microstructural evolution mechanisms of critical structural materials under extreme conditions, developing robust technical capabilities for property regulation and precision fabrication. By revealing the intrinsic interaction mechanisms between fuel media and structural materials, this research formulated integrated strategies for fuel chemistry management and corrosion inhibition. These efforts culminated in the successful construction of the liquid-fueled thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor (TMSR-LF1), and subsequently a landmark proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating thorium-to-uranium conversion, providing direct evidence of key nuclide evolution and validating the scientific feasibility of this innovative fuel cycle pathway. This milestone achievement constitutes a key juncture in the three-step development strategy for thorium-based molten salt reactors “experimental reactor – research reactor – demonstration reactor”. It lays the foundation for China to take the lead in the industrial application of TMSRs and the large-scale utilization of thorium resources, further consolidating China’s leading position in the global research on molten salt reactor systems. Main supporting institution: Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS
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10
Creation of high-performance flexible tandem solar cells for aerospace applications through novel interfacial regulation methods
Flexible perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic technology, characterized by low cost, high efficiency, light weight, flexibility, and a high power-to-weight ratio, represents a critical direction for next-generation aerospace photovoltaic applications. However, this technology still faces challenges related to interfacial delamination and performance degradation under mechanical stress such as bending or thermal expansion/contraction, which limit device efficiency and stability. This research has proposed two innovative interfacial regulation strategies based on the principle of opto-electro-mechanical synergistic modulation. First, they constructed a buffer layer with a “loose-tight” bilayer structure, achieving synergistic stress dissipation and efficient charge transport at the nanoscale. This approach yielded an internationally certified efficiency exceeding 33.3% (1 cm 2 ) for a small-area flexible tandem cell, while full-wafer-scale devices achieved a certified efficiency of 29.8% (261 cm 2 ), demonstrating excellent bending resistance and wide-temperature-range stability. Second, they developed an indium cerium oxide thin film preparation method using reactive plasma deposition, which enhanced self-assembled monolayer coverage and interfacial charge transport efficiency. Through in-situ annealing, they prepared zinc-doped indium oxide front transparent electrodes, which improved both the optoelectronic performance and mechanical properties of the devices. This resulted in flexible solar cells achieving a certified efficiency of 33.6% with an open-circuit voltage of 2.015 V. The devices exhibited excellent stability under repeated bending and damp-heat conditions, maintaining an extrapolated lifetime exceeding 2,000 hours under continuous illumination. This research opens up new application scenarios for the silicon-based photovoltaic industry and shows significant potential in fields such as aerospace. Main contributors: ZHANG Xiaohong, LIU Jiang, YANG Xinbo, HE Bo, LI Zhenguo, XU Xixiang, QU Minghao Main supporting institutions: Soochow University; Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
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中国科技网
2025年度“中国科学十大进展”发布
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人民日报
2025年度“中国科学十大进展”揭晓——攀登！直抵科学高峰
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人民日报
经济热点快评丨“中国科学十大进展”发布，哪些新趋势值得关注？
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