The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) have announced the world’s top 10 scientific and technological achievements of 2024. At a press conference held on Wednesday in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in east China, CAE Vice President Wang Chen unveiled the groundbreaking innovations set to shape the future.
The list, selected by esteemed academicians of CAS and CAE who hold the nation’s highest academic titles in science and engineering, features remarkable advancements across various fields. Highlights include the 3D printing of functional human brain tissue—a significant step toward understanding and treating neurological disorders—and the world’s first bilingual brain-reading device that enables individuals with speech impairments to communicate again.
Other notable achievements are Willow, Google’s new quantum chip that has reached an unprecedented accuracy milestone, and the Euclid Space Telescope’s first capture of the “cosmic atlas,” offering new insights into the universe’s mysteries. The compilation also features the creation of the largest brain gene regulatory network atlas and an ultra-precise 3D atlas of cancer cells, both promising to revolutionize medical research and treatment.
The successful fifth test flight of the SpaceX Starship, which achieved the recovery of its first-stage rocket, marks a significant leap in space exploration technology. Medical breakthroughs also made the list, including the world’s first stem cell therapy aimed at restoring human vision, the first live human transplant of a pig kidney, and a successful trial of a long-acting HIV preventive injection.
This annual event, now in its 31st year, aims to highlight significant scientific progress and promote public understanding of science and technology. The selection of these top 10 achievements underscores global collaborative efforts in advancing science and reflects China’s growing role in the international scientific community.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
