China's National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has once again showcased the nation's prowess in basic research by unveiling its Top 10 Scientific Advances of 2025. Announced on March 25, 2026, at the opening of the ZGC Forum, this prestigious list highlights groundbreaking achievements selected from over 600 nominations by more than 3,000 experts, including nearly 500 academicians. These advances span space exploration, materials science, energy, life sciences, and deep-sea research, reflecting China's strategic focus on original innovation addressing global challenges and national priorities.
The selection process underscores NSFC's commitment to frontier science, with many contributions stemming from collaborations between top universities and research institutes. Institutions like Peking University, Fudan University, and the University of Science and Technology of China played pivotal roles, demonstrating how higher education drives China's scientific leadership. Among the highlights are revelations from the Chang'e-6 mission about lunar farside basalts and innovations like the LightGen photonic chip from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Tsinghua University, exemplifying photonic computing's potential.
🌕 Chang'e-6 Unveils Lunar Farside Evolution and Giant Impacts
The top-ranked advance comes from the Chang'e-6 mission, which returned the first samples from the Moon's far side South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. Researchers, led by teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Institute of Geology and Geophysics and Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, analyzed these regolith samples to date the SPA basin formation at approximately 4.25 billion years ago and the Apollo basin at 4.16 billion years ago. The discovery of lunar farside basalts originating from an extremely depleted mantle source reveals a drier far-side mantle with distinct isotopic signatures compared to the near side. This asymmetry extends deep into the lunar mantle, reshaping our understanding of the Moon's dichotomy.
Further, evidence of a magnetic field rebound around 2.8 billion years ago suggests prolonged volcanic activity and internal dynamics on the far side. Involved universities include Nanjing University, contributing to mineral analysis. These findings, published in high-impact journals, not only refresh timelines of inner solar system impacts but also inform future lunar exploration and resource utilization. For Chinese higher education, this interdisciplinary effort involving geochemistry and planetary science departments highlights training in advanced spectrometry and isotopic dating techniques.
The process involved step-by-step sample preparation: initial classification, mineral separation using acid dissolution and heavy liquid methods, precise U-Pb dating via secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and isotopic tracing with multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Implications extend to understanding giant impact events that sculpted the solar system, with potential applications in astrobiology and planetary defense.
💎 Scalable Flexible Ultra-Flat Diamond Films Revolutionize Electronics
Positioned second, an innovative "edge-exposed peeling" method enables the mass production of inch-scale flexible diamond films thinner than 1 micrometer, with sub-nanometer surface roughness and 360-degree bendability. Developed by researchers from the University of Hong Kong, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and Peking University, this breakthrough uses asymmetric growth interfaces modeled via plasma dynamics simulations.
Diamond films, known for their superior thermal conductivity (over 2,000 W/m·K) and hardness, were previously limited by brittleness and scalability. The new technique reduces fabrication time from hours to seconds, making them compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes for flexible electronics, quantum devices, and high-power semiconductors. In higher education, SUSTech's materials science program exemplifies how targeted NSFC funding fosters such innovations, training students in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and nanofabrication.
- Key benefits: High thermal management for 6G chips, flexible heat spreaders for wearables.
- Risks: Ensuring uniformity at scale; ongoing research at Peking U addresses doping for semiconductors.
- Comparisons: Outperforms graphene in thermal stability, rivals silicon carbide in power handling.
Real-world case: Potential integration in next-gen smartphones, reducing overheating by 50%. Future outlook points to commercialization by 2030, boosting China's semiconductor self-reliance.Official NSFC details
☢️ Fusion Milestone: '100 Million Degrees' Steady-State Operation
EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) and HL-3 tokamaks achieved plasma temperatures exceeding 100 million °C, with EAST sustaining high-confinement mode for 1,066 seconds and HL-3 hitting 117 million °C ion temperatures. Led by CAS Hefei Institutes of Physical Science and Southwestern Institute of Physics, this advances the fusion triple product to 10²⁰ keV·s·m⁻³, a step toward practical reactors like ITER.
The step-by-step achievement involved integrated upgrades: superconducting magnets, radio-frequency heating, and real-time control systems. Universities contribute through plasma physics PhD programs, supplying talent. Implications: Clean, limitless energy; China aims for demo reactor by 2035. Stakeholder views from global fusion community praise the record confinement time.
🧬 Ceramide Receptors Unlock Cardio-Metabolic Treatment Paths
Peking University and Shandong First Medical University teams discovered FPR2 and CYSLTR2 as ceramide receptors, linking them to atherosclerosis and diabetes. Fungal metabolite fumigaclavine A inhibits CerS6, reducing ceramides and improving outcomes in mouse models. This addresses residual cardiovascular risk beyond statins.
Process: High-throughput screening identified receptors; cryo-EM structures revealed binding; gut microbiota modulation validated mechanisms. Peking U's pharmacology department leads clinical translation. Stats: Ceramides elevate risk 2-3x; new drugs could cut events 20-30%. Future: Human trials by 2028.
🐷 Xenotransplantation: Gene-Edited Pig Liver Success
Air Force Medical University achieved the first human implantation of a six-gene-edited pig liver, using GGTA1 knockout and human transgenes, with seven-drug immunosuppression preventing hyperacute rejection. Heterotopic placement allowed monitoring without replacing the native liver.
Timeline: CRISPR editing since 2023; surgery in 2025. University biomedical engineering programs train surgeons in gene therapy. Impacts: Bridges organ shortage (China: 300k waitlist annually); ethical debates balanced by life-saving potential.
👴 Inflammatory Aging Interventions
CAS Institute of Zoology and Capital Medical University identified amyloid-inflammation axes in aging; betaine mimics exercise via TBK1 inhibition; FOXO3-engineered stem cells reversed primate aging markers across tissues.
Spans 50-year human data; stem cell therapy improved lifespan 20% in models. Sichuan U West China Hospital tests clinically. Actionable: Betaine supplements as geroprotector.
🌊 Deepest Ocean Chemosynthetic Life
CAS Deep Sea Institute found ecosystems at 9,533m in Mariana Trench, powered by serpentinization fluids, spanning 2,500km. Challenges organic-fall dependency; methane reservoirs noted.
"Fighter" submersible enabled sampling. Oceanography depts at Chinese universities analyze biodiversity.
🖥️ 2D-Silicon Hybrid Flash Chip
Fudan University developed ATOM2CHIP: 94.3% yield 2D NOR flash supporting 32-bit processing. Conformal adhesion integrates atomics with CMOS.
Revolutionizes post-Moore scaling; Fudan microelectronics leads.
⚛️ Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Cycle
CAS Shanghai Applied Physics validated U-Th conversion in 2MWt reactor, corrosion-resistant design.
☀️ 33.6% Flexible Tandem Solar Cells
Soochow University and Longi achieved 33.6% efficiency perovskite/Si cells, stable 2,000h bending.
Spotlight: LightGen Photonic Chip from Leading Universities
While not in the top 10, SJTU and Tsinghua's LightGen all-optical AI chip integrates 2M photonic neurons, outperforming Nvidia A100 by 100x in vision tasks like image generation.Science publication Funded by NSFC, it exemplifies university-led photonics.
Implications for Chinese Higher Education and Global Science
These advances position Chinese universities as innovation hubs, with NSFC grants fueling PhD training and labs. Global collaborations grow; outlook: AI-fusion integration by 2035. For academics, opportunities abound in research jobs.
