Toward New Frontiers: A Review of CAS Highlights in 2025----Chinese Academy of Sciences

China Launches Tianwen-2 to Retrieve Asteroid Samples

China launched its first asteroid sample-return mission, Tianwen-2 on May 9, an endeavor to shed light on the formation and evolution of asteroids and the early solar system.

Chinese "Artificial Sun" Sets Milestone Record towards Fusion Power Generation (Jan. 21)

EAST, or China’s "artificial sun," has achieved a remarkable scientific milestone by maintaining steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for an impressive 1,066 seconds. This accomplishment sets a new world record and marks a significant breakthrough in the pursuit of fusion power generation.

Zuchongzhi-3 Sets New Benchmark with 105-Qubit Superconducting Quantum Processor (Mar. 3)

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have made significant advancements in random quantum circuit sampling with Zuchongzhi-3, a superconducting quantum computing prototype featuring 105 qubits and 182 couplers.

2D Metals: Chinese Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Atomic Manufacturing (Mar. 13)

Researchers from the Institute of Physics have developed a convenient, universal, atomic-level manufacturing technique—called vdW squeezing—for the production of 2D metals at the angstrom thickness limit.

Chinese Scientists Develop AI Tool to Predict Liver Cancer Recurrence (Mar. 17)

A Chinese research team led by SUN Cheng from the University of Science and Technology of China has developed an AI tool that predicts liver cancer recurrence risk with 82.2% accuracy.

"Black Soil Granary" Initiative Advances Nationwide Monitoring, Breeding, and Smart Agriculture (Apr. 10)

On April 9, the 2025 annual working meeting of the "Black Soil Granary" science and technology initiative was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, highlighting a series of research and application outcomes aimed at safeguarding China's black soil resources and strengthening agricultural sustainability.

Chinese Research Team Launches Clinical Trial for Invasive Brain-computer Interface (Jun. 16)

Researchers from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology have made progress in invasive brain-computer interface technology, achieving complex real-world operations such as mind-controlled wheelchairs.

Key Evidence Links Harbin Individua's Nearly Complete Skull to a Denisovan (Jun. 18)

FU Qiaomiei's team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology confirmed that a nearly complete hominin skull discovered near Harbin belongs to the Denisovan lineage. The skull dates back at least 146,000 years.

Scientists Demonstrate Constant-time Assembly of Record Large-scale Neutral-atom Arrays (Aug. 18)

Researchers have used AI to assemble the world's largest defect-free atomic array, comprising up to 2,024 atoms in two- and three-dimensional configurations within a constant time of 60 milliseconds.

Chinese Scientists Pioneer "Ship-Submersible Coordination" Operations in the Arctic (Oct. 30)

A Chinese scientific expedition team successfully completed a manned deep-sea diving mission in the Arctic. They completed 43 dives and achieved the world's first manned dive on the Gakkel Ridge.

China Achieves Thorium-uranium Nuclear Fuel Conversion in Molten-salt Reactor (Nov. 4)

Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics have achieved the first-ever thorium to uranium nuclear fuel conversion in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, and obtained valid experimental data following thorium fuel loading.

Scientists Identify Strongly Cohesive Behavior of Chang'e-6's Far-Side Lunar Samples (Nov. 25)

A research team from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics conducted fixed-funnel and rotating-drum experiments to measure the angle of repose, a key parameter reflecting the flowability of granular materials.