Zhejiang University's strength should not be underestimated.

Headlined on the front page of the South China Morning Post, Zhejiang University has surpassed Harvard University in the Nature Index academic rankings.

According to the 2026 Nature Index, Zhejiang University has overtaken Harvard University to become a world-leading academic institution. This marks the first time since the index was established in 2014 that Harvard has lost its top position. Tsinghua University ranks third.

Chinese institutions dominate this year’s list, with nine out of the top ten coming from China—up from eight last year. Among the top twenty institutions, China accounts for seventeen, with Stanford University ranking twelfth and MIT ranking seventeenth.

Universities from China also occupy 24 of the top 30 spots. The University of Tokyo in Japan ranks 23rd, Oxford University in the UK ranks 28th, and Cambridge University ranks 30th. The 2026 Nature Index ranking excludes government agencies and corporations. In the ranking including governmental bodies, the Chinese Academy of Sciences again surpasses Harvard University, maintaining its long-standing leadership. The Nature Index is a database tracking institutional affiliations and relationships, part of Nature Research Intelligence, an AI-driven service.

The 2026 edition was released on Wednesday. The index tracks research contributions across 178 high-quality academic publications spanning natural sciences, health sciences, applied sciences, and social sciences.

Additionally, the newspaper highlighted that the People's Liberation Army Navy has mobilized "super weapons," reportedly under development, which would be the largest gun of its kind in the world today.

The 155-mm large-caliber naval gun currently being tested by the Chinese Navy, if successfully deployed, will become the largest main gun on active or developing warships worldwide.

Experts analyze that the weapon has already undergone live-fire sea trials aboard the Type 910 integrated test ship.

Core Performance Breakthroughs

Caliber and Power: Featuring a 155-mm caliber (significantly larger than the current 130-mm standard), each shell carries approximately 2–3 times the explosive charge of a 130-mm round, greatly enhancing destructive capability.

Range and Accuracy: With a barrel length of 62–70 calibers, combined with rocket-assisted or glide-guided shells, the maximum range can exceed 150–200 kilometers, and it features BeiDou/inertial composite guidance, enabling “missile-level” precision strikes.

Sustained Firepower: Leveraging onboard water-cooling systems, it overcomes the heat dissipation limitations of land-based artillery, allowing sustained high rate of fire (approximately 10–15 rounds per minute). One hour’s firepower delivery equals that of an entire army artillery company.

Strategic Advantages and Comparisons

Cost Control: Compatible with China’s existing 155-mm ammunition system; the cost of a single guided shell is only several tens of thousands of RMB, avoiding the fate of the U.S. Zumwalt-class destroyer, whose project failed due to prohibitively expensive specialized ammunition (up to $800,000 per round).

Filling the Gap: Bridges the firepower gap between low-cost close-in weapons and expensive cruise missiles, particularly suitable for sustained fire support and anti-drone swarm missions during amphibious landing operations.

Potential Carrier Platforms

Most likely to be equipped on upgraded variants of the Type 055 destroyer (Type 055B) or the rumored new large destroyer class weighing 18,000–20,000 tons.

It may also enhance the shore-strike capabilities of the Type 071 and Type 075 amphibious assault ships.

This advancement signifies China’s navy achieving a leap from "following" to "leading" in large-caliber naval guns, positioning it as the world’s first navy capable of operationalizing a 155-mm naval gun.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867834848075852/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.