In 2018, a number of major STI achievement were shown to the public in China. The world's first cloned monkey was born. Asia's deepest scientific drilling program was completed. The artificial sun achieved a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius. These achievements indicated that China has made a huge leap in science and technology.

 

 

I. The world's first cloned monkey was born in China

On January 24, CAS announced that Zhongzhong, the world's first monkey cloned through somatic cell nuclear transfer was born on November 27, 2017, and the second, Huahua was born ten days later. CELL, the international authoritative journal, publicized online the achievement as a cover story.

 

II. China launched its first seismo-electromagnetic satellite

On February 2, China successfully launched its first seismo-electromagnetic satellite "Zhang Heng-1" using carrier rocket Changzheng-2D at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This indicates that China has become one of the few countries in the world that have on-orbit geophysical field detection satellites with multi-loads and high precision.

 

III.Asia's deepest scientific drilling program was completed

A scientific drilling program in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, called the Songke Second Drilling Well, has completed an exercise that successfully reached 7,018 meters underground. It was the deepest drilling point in Asia since the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program was established 22 years ago.

 

IV. China's largest cutter-suction dredger completed its first sea trial

Tiankun, China's first self-designed and self-built cutter-suction dredger completed its first sea trial on June 12. It is the largest of its kind in Asia.

The dredger with a cutter power of 6,600 kilowatts, 140 meter's length and 27.8 meter's width can excavate 6,000 cubic meters an hour at a maximum depth of 35 meters. Its total installed power reaches 25,843 kilowatts.

 

V. Prof. Yuan's team succeeded in planting seawater rice in desert

On July 22, Qingdao Seawater Rice R&D Center announced that the over 80 rice varieties including seawater rice planted by Prof. Yuan Longping's team became mature, exceeding the world's rice yield of 4.539 ton/hectare. This marks that the team's trial in desert area is successful.

 

VI. China's domestic large amphibious aircraft AG600 completed its first water take-off and landing

On October 20, China's domestic large amphibious aircraft Kunlong AG600 completed its first water take-off and landing in Jingmen, Hubei Province. This marks another important breakthrough in large aircraft manufacturing and fills the domestic gap in the R&D of amphibious aircraft.

 

VII. World's first PBMR steam reactor passed acceptance check

On October 31, the world's first PBMR steam reactor was checked and passed the acceptance test. As one of the most critical devices in HTGR nuclear power system, steam generator is called the lung of nuclear power system.

 

VIII. China's artificial sun achieved a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius for the first time

On November 12, Institute of Plasma Physics of CAS announced that the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), the artificial sun made many major breakthroughs, including achieving an operation temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius.

 

IX. Chang'e 4  lunar probe was launched successfully

On December 8, China's Chang'e 4 lunar probe was launched successfully via a Long March 3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, thus starting a new journey of lunar exploration. In the later phase, the probe experienced earth-moon transfer, braking at perilune and circumlunar flight. Ultimately it achieved soft landing at the far side of the moon for the first time in human history.

 

X. Beidou-3 starts serving the world

On December 27, at a press conference of the State Council Information Office, the spokesman of Beidou Satellite Navigation System announced  that the basic system of Beidou-3 has been completed and put into operation for global service. This symbolizes that Beidou system is able to offer its service scope to cover the world and starts to enter into global era.