Major breakthroughs in China's science and technology in 2021

11. 'Chinese artificial sun' sets new world record

In an experiment on May 28, Chinese scientists set a new world record of achieving a plasma temperature of 120 million degrees Celsius for 101 seconds, a key step toward the test running of a fusion reactor.

The breakthrough was announced by Gong Xianzu, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and in charge of the experiment conducted in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province.

The experiment at the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the "Chinese artificial sun," also realized a plasma temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius, lasting for 20 seconds.

12. Chinese scientists for the first time synthesize starch from carbon dioxide

Chinese scientists have developed an artificial method of synthesizing starch from carbon dioxide, a global first. The study was conducted by the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and published online on the journal Science on Sept 24.

Experts said if such technique can be scaled-up to the level of industrialization, it may revolutionize how this key nutrient and industrial ingredient is made, since it does not require farming and processing large quantity of starchy crops such as sweet potato and maize, thus saving more water, fertilizer, and arable land. It may also be used to recycle carbon dioxide, a common industrial waste and a greenhouse gas, into a consumable product.

13. China achieves quantum computational advantage in two mainstream technical routes

On Oct 25, two studies led by renowned Chinese quantum physicist Pan Jianwei, were published online in the journal Physical Review Letters and Science Bulletin.

A quantum computer prototype named "Jiuzhang 2.0" with 113 detected photons was established, achieving major breakthroughs in quantum computational speedup; "Zuchongzhi 2.1" - a 66-qubit programmable superconducting quantum computing system was also successfully designed, significantly enhancing the quantum computational advantage.

This remarkable feat makes China the first country to achieve a quantum computational advantage in two mainstream technical routes - one via photonics quantum computing technology and the other through superconducting quantum computing technology.

14. Baihetan hydropower station begins operation

On June 28, the first two generating units of the world's largest hydropower station under construction were put into operation, contributing to the country's green development and carbon-neutrality goals.

The Baihetan hydropower station is located on the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River in Southwest China, with an investment of 220 billion yuan ($34.07 billion). With construction starting in 2017, it has the world's largest installed capacity for a single generating unit and is the world's second-largest in terms of overall capacity.

As a major power source for China's west-to-east power transmission project, it is expected to make a substantial contribution to China's efforts to meet its goal of peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

15. Long March carrier rocket sets new record for launch missions

On Dec 30, China successfully sent a new communication technology experiment satellite into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

The satellite was launched by a Long March 3B carrier rocket at 0:43 am (Beijing Time) and has entered the planned orbit. The launch marked the 405th mission of Long March series carrier rockets.

The Long March carrier rocket series has completed 48 launch missions in 2021, setting an all-time high in the total number of annual space launches.