Within a single day, four groundbreaking scientific achievements from China made headlines in Nature, sending shockwaves through the global science community!

On April 8, 2026, the world-renowned academic journal Nature simultaneously published four original research breakthroughs led by Chinese scientists. The team of Qikun Xue developed a high-temperature superconductor operating at ambient pressure with a critical transition temperature of 63K—breaking the world record; a Chinese R&D team overcame the challenge of P-type two-dimensional materials, paving the way for 2nm and even 1nm chip fabrication processes—the final "last mile" in semiconductor manufacturing; CRISPR gene editing successfully cured severe beta-thalassemia, enabling patients to be completely free from lifelong blood transfusions; and researchers developed a "non-explosive" sodium battery capable of withstanding 300°C oven exposure without catching fire.

As news spread, it immediately sent tremors through the global scientific community. This was not an isolated incident—it is emblematic of China’s comprehensive surge in fundamental scientific research capabilities.

In March 2026, Nature released its special supplement, Nature Index 2026 – China, based on data from 2025. The report shows that China continues to widen its lead in the Nature Index, with projections indicating it may achieve twice the share of the United States within the next two years. According to Simon Baker, editor-in-chief of the Nature Index, as the private sector plays an increasingly significant role in China’s scientific ecosystem, funding for research will reach new heights, further fueling sustained growth in scientific output.

An exclusive forecast analysis conducted by the “Frontiers of Science and Innovation Policy” program at the University of California, San Diego, suggests that within the next two to three years, China could surpass the United States to become the country receiving the highest level of public funding for scientific research.

Looking at the most credible metric—patent strength—news from Xinhua reports that according to a press release issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in March 2026, China ranked first globally in 2025 with 73,718 PCT international patent applications, marking a 5.3% increase from 2024. The United States followed with 52,617 applications, followed by Japan (47,922), South Korea (25,016), and Germany (16,441). These patents span core frontier fields including superconductivity, semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and new energy technologies—marking China’s transition from leading in quantity to now leading in quality.

To me, the old Western narrative—that China focuses only on technology while neglecting originality, excelling merely in application but not in foundational research—is no longer valid. These four Nature breakthroughs represent many true “from zero to one” advances in basic science—not mere incremental technological improvements. What does this signify? It indicates that China has established a complete innovation chain, spanning from fundamental research and applied basic research to industrialization, and has truly reached the pinnacle of global scientific excellence.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862411886930944/

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