Transforming 2024: How China’s Breakthroughs in Quantum Technology and Healthcare are Shaping the Future

China and the United States are in a competition in science and technology. In 2024, some of China’s top scientists highlighted key advancements that have put the country ahead in various fields, like space and deep-sea exploration, as well as in chips and quantum technologies.

On January 22 in Nanjing, prominent scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) shared the nation’s top 10 achievements from the previous year. Sun Peijie, a professor at the CAS Institute of Physics in Beijing and one of the researchers recognized, noted that these rankings were made by experts from the two academies and reflect significant scientific progress.

Here are the 10 most notable scientific achievements in China from last year, as judged by the country’s leading scientific experts.

Leading in Space Exploration

One standout achievement was the Chang’e-6 lunar mission. This exciting mission made history by collecting samples from the moon’s far side, a region that remains largely unexplored. Launched early last year, Chang’e-6 was a complex 53-day journey that ended with the collection of rocks from the Apollo basin, part of the immense South Pole-Aitken Basin.

In June, the spacecraft returned to Earth carrying nearly 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds) of lunar samples, marking a historic first for any mission. This not only pushes the boundaries of lunar research but also enhances our understanding of the moon’s geology.

The accomplishments in space are just one piece of a larger picture. China is making strides in various scientific fields, contributing to global knowledge and technology. As we look forward, these advancements set the stage for even more exciting discoveries in the years to come.