Top 10 scientific advances unveiled

The Ministry of Science and Technology's High-Tech Research and Development Center unveiled China's top 10 scientific advances on Friday, featuring breakthroughs in basic research ranging from materials science to chemistry.

The 2022 list included achievements that have pushed the boundary of human knowledge about the universe, such as discovering the evolution of the Martian surface environment and a unique type of fast radio burst, extremely brief but bright flashes in the sky.

The other advances included an innovative way to produce hydrogen from seawater, a new process to synthesize the key industrial ingredient ethylene glycol, new solar batteries and a new method to store a massive quantity of computational data.

New developments in quantum physics, nano-materials, superconductors and probing the immune escape mechanism of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus also made the list.

The center said the goal of the list is to showcase China's latest and biggest achievements in basic research, encourage Chinese scientists and engineers to work hard in fundamental research, and promote public awareness and support for these types of scientific undertakings.

President Xi Jinping said last month strengthening basic research is an imperative for achieving quality self-reliance in science and technology and building China into a global scientific and technological powerhouse.