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Some Chinese nuclear experts estimate that Japan has the capacity to develop nuclear weapons in less than three years. Photo: Shutterstock
Science

Chinese nuclear experts believe Japan could build nukes in less than 3 years

Late US statesman Henry Kissinger’s dire warning about Tokyo aiming to become a nuclear power by 2028 is being re-examined by Beijing.

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UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

China puts drone rules into law as low-altitude economy takes off

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China National Nuclear Corporation

China hits milestone in building Beishan laboratory for managing nuclear waste

Science

A year after near total blackout, China builds world’s largest smart transformer

Chinese engineers’ powerful breakthrough could solve risks of renewable energy shock after low wind swing almost shut down the national grid.

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China unveils the world’s most powerful smart direct current transformer, which can significantly reduce the blackout risk of renewable energy. Photo: Handout
China unveils the world’s most powerful smart direct current transformer, which can significantly reduce the blackout risk of renewable energy. Photo: Handout
SCMP Highlights

Deceiving US experts; proving Einstein wrong: 2025 China science breakthroughs

From the detonation of a hydrogen-based explosive to ending a century-old debate, here are some of the major science developments of the year.

Science

Top biotech scientist Chen Xiaoyuan denies harassment claim, says he will appeal

Professor is the subject of social media claims and counterclaims after NUS alleged his behaviour was ‘unsolicited and unwanted’.

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China's space programme

Beijing extends Mars mission lead; stranded crew returns: China’s year in space

From the US-China race to bring rocks back from Mars to a ‘tit-for-tat’ orbital stand-off, here are some of the year’s most notable space stories.

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 24. Photo: AFP
A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 24. Photo: AFP
Science

In world first, Chinese surgeons save patient’s ear with graft onto foot

The ear was torn off in an industrial accident and was successfully reattached to the woman’s scalp several months later.

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Made in China 2025

China’s rising biotech clout on show in flurry of billion-dollar licensing deals

A burst of overseas licensing pacts is spotlighting China’s biotech sector, as Jacobio, Coherent Biopharma and Harbour BioMed land deals.

Science

China’s new quantum computer hits stability milestone, beating Google on efficiency

Chinese team is first outside the US to cross key threshold that determines whether practical quantum computers can work reliably at scale.

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Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China stand in front of the Zuchongzhi 3 superconducting quantum computing system. Photo: Handout
Science

China’s military maglev achieves 0-700km/h acceleration in less than 2 seconds

Feat seen to catapult China into global top tier of ultra-high-speed maglev technology and unlock new possibilities for hyperloop transport.

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Footage of the test aired by state broadcaster CCTV shows a vehicle flashing across the maglev track, leaving a trail of mist in its wake. Photo: CCTV
Footage of the test aired by state broadcaster CCTV shows a vehicle flashing across the maglev track, leaving a trail of mist in its wake. Photo: CCTV
Science

Bronze Age cemetery offers clues on how ancient Chinese brewed red rice wine

Vessels found in tombs at Mogou in modern-day Gansu contain traces of a fermentation starter of the type still used to make sake today.

Science

Chinese team tackles a century-old physics puzzle: can we travel back in time?

Theoretical breakthrough shows that time’s arrow can emerge naturally from how quantum parts become interconnected.

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SCMP Highlights

7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2025

From a world-leading statistician to a mathematics luminary, here are some experts who made the move.

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(From left) Joshua Zahl, Chen Jing and Zhou Ming. Photo: Handout/Tsinghua University
Science

Lard can actually keep you fit and feeling more comfortable, Chinese study finds

Long-held beliefs about animal fats being unhealthy are challenged as scientists discover consumption at moderate levels can have benefits.

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A scientific study has found that in moderation, lard can have health benefits. Photo: Shutterstock Images
A scientific study has found that in moderation, lard can have health benefits. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Science

China urged to sue over Japanese royal’s role in Unit 731 crimes

Emperor Hirohito should be held accountable, according to scholars who say the wartime ruler was shielded from prosecution by US policy.

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Science

Second reusable rocket recovery failure in a month puts China 10 years behind US

Chinese state-owned and commercial developers are racing to catch up on a decade of the technology’s deployment.

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Science

Chinese researchers show how a word could let spies take control of a robot army

Demonstration at cybersecurity event highlights a flaw that could turn one robot into a ‘Trojan horse’ that can seize control of others.

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The team that identified the security flaw has urged manufacturers to establish their own security systems or seek external help. Photo: Xinhua
The team that identified the security flaw has urged manufacturers to establish their own security systems or seek external help. Photo: Xinhua
Science

Well-preserved section of China’s 2,200-year-old four-lane highway discovered

Stretch of Qin Straight Road reveals sophisticated construction techniques including rammed-earth slope reinforcements and filled valleys.

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Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s shock rise, China’s robot boot camps: 7 AI breakthroughs in 2025

From DeepSeek sending shock waves through tech market to China’s robot boot camps, here are some of the major AI developments of the year.

Science

Exclusive | ‘No need to explain’: leading mRNA vaccine expert Hu Haitao leaves US for China

China is catching up fast in mRNA-related fundamental research and technological development, Hu says.

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Leading mRNA immunologist Hu Haitao has joined the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Microbiology in Beijing. Photo: Handout
Science

In eastern China, ancient ruins push back the date of Yangtze delta’s earliest cities

Excavations at the Doushan site near Wuxi suggest water may have spurred the development of the oldest centres in the area.

The prehistoric Doushan site in Wuxi is believed to date back about 6,000 years. Photo: Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
The prehistoric Doushan site in Wuxi is believed to date back about 6,000 years. Photo: Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Science

China speeds up armour steel production by 30%, US Conshohocken plant folds

Chinese military supplier solves tech snag to boost manufacturing levels, while American counterpart ceases operations due to financial loss.

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Science

Targeted jamming incident blinds GPS and BeiDou in east China’s Nanjing

Food delivery, drone control and ride-hailing apps paralysed during satellite navigation blackout in city of nearly 10 million.

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US-China relations

US-based scientist Valery Fokin wins Vyzov Prize, beating fierce Chinese rivals

USC chemistry professor is awarded one of Russia’s top science honours, topping competition from 40 countries.

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Valery Fokin has been awarded the Vyzov Prize for his discovery of a “molecular snap” reaction that has become a widely used tool across scientific disciplines and has enabled the creation of DNA imaging technologies, diagnostic methods and clinical drugs. Photo: Vyzov Foundation
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