Get a comprehensive picture of the world's technological frontiers. Save this menu and outline.

Facing the world's technological frontiers is one of the important missions of science popularization in the new era. The world's technological frontiers represent the most advanced part of scientific and technological development and are an important force in promoting social progress and sustainable development. Through science popularization, it not only enhances the public's understanding of the world's technological frontiers and promotes the improvement of the scientific and cultural quality of the whole people, but also plays an important role in promoting research on the technological frontiers, improving scientific and technological innovation capabilities, and continuously enhancing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

In September 2022, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Popularization of Science and Technology in the New Era", which clearly requires that we focus on the "four aspects" (facing the world's scientific and technological frontiers, facing the main battlefield of the economy, facing the major needs of the country, and facing the people's life and health) and high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, comprehensively improve the scientific literacy of the whole people, and build a fertile ground for innovation, so as to better serve the central work of the Party and the country with high-quality development of science popularization. The world's scientific and technological frontier refers to the research direction or field that is forward-looking, innovative and leading in the current field of science and technology. It represents the most advanced part of scientific and technological development, has the characteristics of high innovation, multidisciplinary intersection, high risk, long-term impact and international competition, and is an important force to promote social progress and sustainable development. These frontiers mainly involve various disciplines such as agricultural science, botany and zoology, ecology and environmental science, earth science, clinical medicine, biological science, chemistry and materials science, physics, astronomy and astrophysics, mathematics, information science, and their cross-integration .

In order to facilitate the effective and meaningful popular science and help the public systematically understand (avoid fragmentation) the overall picture of the world's scientific and technological frontiers, a menu and outline (not limited) for popular science on the world's scientific and technological frontiers are specially listed here.

1. Agricultural Sciences

The current cutting-edge research areas of agricultural science will help improve agricultural production efficiency, reduce resource consumption and environmental pollution, and provide healthier, safer and more sustainable agricultural products. The key points of popular science are as follows:

1. Gene editing and transgenic technology:

- Explore the application of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 in agriculture, which can precisely modify crop genes to improve yield, disease resistance and resilience to stress.

- Research the potential of genetic engineering technology, which can introduce foreign genes to improve the traits and quality of crops.

2. Digital Agriculture and Precision Agriculture:

- Digitalize and automate agricultural production and improve the accuracy and efficiency of crop management through the use of technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis.

- Use remote sensing technology and drones to monitor farmland, providing real-time crop growth information to help farmers make decisions.

3. Intelligent agricultural machinery and robotics technology:

- Research and develop intelligent agricultural machinery, such as self-driving tractors and smart harvesters, to improve operation efficiency and reduce labor costs.

- Develop agricultural robots that can automate repetitive tasks such as weeding, spraying and picking.

4. Greenhouse Agriculture and Vertical Farms:

- Explore greenhouse agricultural technology, which can grow crops in harsh climate conditions, extend the growing season, and provide stable yields and quality.

- Research vertical farm technology to achieve high-density planting of crops through multi-layered planting systems, saving land and water resources.

5. Circular agriculture and ecological agriculture:

- Promote the circular agriculture model, maximize resource utilization and reduce environmental pollution through the recycling of agricultural waste and the circular coordination of animal husbandry and planting.

- Promote ecological agricultural practices, such as organic farming and ecological conservation farming, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and provide healthy and environmentally friendly agricultural products.

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2. Botany

The main points of the popular science of botany are as follows:

1. Plant genomics: studies the genome structure and function of plants, explores the regulatory mechanisms and characteristics of plant genes, and the technical methods of genome editing and modification.

2. Growth and Development: Study the growth and development process of plants, including cell division, formation and differentiation of plant organs, and the response and adaptation of plants to environmental stimuli.

3. Plant signal transduction: Study the signal transduction mechanism within plants, including the synthesis, transmission and action of plant hormones, as well as the signal pathways related to plant growth, flowering, disease resistance and stress resistance.

4. Plant stress biology: Study the mechanisms of plant adaptation to stress, including plant physiological and molecular responses to stress conditions such as drought, high temperature, salinity, diseases and insect pests.

5. Plant natural products: Study the natural products synthesized and accumulated by plants, including compounds in medicinal plants, volatile substances in aromatic plants, etc., as well as genes and metabolic pathways related to plant secondary metabolism.

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3. Zoology

The main points of the frontier science of zoology are as follows:

1. Animal behavior: studies the behavioral patterns and social structures of animals, exploring the interactions between individuals and groups of animals, courtship and reproductive behaviors, food acquisition and other behavioral characteristics.

2. Evolutionary Biology: studies the principles and mechanisms of animal evolution, including natural selection, genetic variation, speciation, etc., as well as their relationship with environmental factors and lifestyle.

3. Neuroscience: studies the structure and function of the nervous system of animals, including the electrophysiological properties of nerve cells, neural signal transmission, perception and cognition.

4. Animal Ecology: studies the relationship between animals and their ecological environment, including animal habitat use, food chains and food webs, migration and relocation, ecosystem function and stability, etc.

5. Animal Conservation Biology: Studies the theory and practice of animal conservation, including issues such as biodiversity conservation, species protection, habitat restoration, and the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

4. Ecology and Environmental Sciences

The main points of the popular science on ecological and environmental science are as follows:

1. Climate Change and Adaptation: Study the impact of climate change on ecosystems and the adaptation strategies of organisms to climate change. This includes studying issues related to climate change such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, sea level rise, and extreme weather events.

2. Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration: Research on how to conserve and restore biodiversity, including protecting key species, maintaining ecosystem functions, establishing protected areas and adopting sustainable resource management methods.

3. Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Development: Research on the value and contribution of ecosystems to humans, including the provision of food, water, air purification, soil conservation and other ecosystem services, as well as policies and practices to promote sustainable development.

4. Eco-informatics and big data applications: Research on how to use information technology and big data analysis to solve ecological and environmental problems, including the application of new technologies such as biological remote sensing, ecological simulation, data mining and visualization in ecological research.

5. Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration: Research on control measures for pollutant emissions, environmental pollution and ecosystem damage, including the development and application of environmental monitoring technology, waste treatment and ecological restoration technology.

6. Ecological cooperation and sustainable development: Research cross-sector and cross-border ecological cooperation mechanisms to promote global environmental protection and the realization of sustainable development goals.

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5. Earth Sciences

The main points of the popular science of the frontier of earth science are as follows:

1. Geodynamics: The study of the structure and movement of the Earth's interior, including plate tectonics, seismic activity and volcanic eruptions, in order to reveal the evolution of the Earth and the mechanism of crustal movement.

2. Geochemistry and Geophysics: studies the composition, properties and changes of the earth's materials, as well as the physical processes inside the earth, including the earth's magnetic field, geothermal activity and the formation and metamorphism of rocks.

3. Earth Surface Processes: Study of the morphological changes and landform development of the Earth’s surface, including processes such as river erosion, wind erosion, glacial erosion, and coastal erosion, as well as related soil formation and ecosystem changes.

4. Hydrology and Water Resources Management: Studies the water cycle and the distribution and utilization of water resources on Earth, including the formation and changes of groundwater, rivers, lakes and glaciers, as well as methods of water resources management and sustainable utilization.

5. Climate and Meteorology: studies global and regional climate patterns, climate change, and the development and changes of weather phenomena to reveal the mechanisms of the climate system and future trends, as well as its impacts on the environment and human society.

6. Earth-Ecosystem Interactions: Studies the interactions between the Earth system and ecosystems, including the impacts of ecological processes on surface characteristics and chemical cycles, and the impacts of human activities on ecosystems and the Earth.

7. Earth Resources Exploration and Development: Research on the exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources, energy resources and water resources on the earth, including mineral resource exploration technology, oil and gas resource development and the utilization of renewable energy.

8. Earth Monitoring and Remote Sensing Technology: Research on the use of remote sensing technology and earth observation data to monitor earth changes and environmental conditions, including the application of satellite remote sensing, laser measurement and earth observation network technologies in earth science.

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VI. Clinical Medicine

The key points of popular science on the frontiers of clinical medicine are as follows:

1. Gene editing and gene therapy: The emergence of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 enables us to precisely modify human genes, thereby treating some existing difficult-to-cure genetic diseases.

2. Precision medicine: Through comprehensive analysis of the patient's individual genome, phenotype and environmental factors, personalized diagnosis, treatment and prevention can be achieved to improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary drug use.

3. Immunotherapy: Using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. This includes the use of CAR-T cell therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, etc.

4. Wearable medical devices: such as smart bracelets and smart watches, which can monitor patients’ physiological parameters, exercise, sleep and other information, providing doctors with more accurate diagnosis and treatment basis.

5. Application of artificial intelligence in clinical medicine: Machine learning and deep learning algorithms can help doctors quickly analyze large amounts of clinical data, assist in diagnosis and formulate treatment plans.

6. Organ transplantation and 3D printing technology: Through 3D printing technology to print biomaterials, important progress has been made in the field of regenerative medicine. Organ transplantation is also developing, such as liver transplantation, kidney transplantation, etc.

7. Advanced imaging technologies: such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can provide high-resolution, high-quality images of the human body for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

8. Mental health and brain research: By studying the brain, we can better understand the mechanisms of mental illness and develop more effective treatments.

7. Biological Sciences

The main points of popular science on the frontier of biological science are as follows:

1. Gene editing and gene therapy: Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 have led to revolutionary research progress, which can precisely edit the genome of an organism and are expected to be used to treat genetic diseases. Gene therapy is the use of genetic engineering technology to repair or replace a patient's abnormal genes to treat diseases, including cancer, genetic diseases, etc.

2. Stem cell research: Stem cells are a type of cell that has the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into a variety of cell types. Stem cell research has broad application prospects in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and disease treatment, including organ transplantation, tissue repair and drug screening.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics: The development of artificial intelligence technology has provided great support for bioinformatics, including big data analysis and mining in the fields of genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics. Artificial intelligence can help accelerate the development of new drugs, early diagnosis of diseases and the realization of personalized medicine.

4. Synthetic biology: Synthetic biology is a discipline that transforms and creates life by synthesizing and redesigning biological systems. It involves genome design, the construction of synthetic biological components and biological circuits, and can be used in areas such as bioenergy production, environmental remediation and new drug development.

5. Genomics and single-cell sequencing: Genomics studies the composition and function of the genome of organisms through whole-genome sequencing. Single-cell sequencing technology can deeply study the gene expression and gene mutation of individual cells, and reveal the mechanisms of cell development, tissue regeneration and disease occurrence.

6. Precision medicine: Precision medicine aims to develop personalized diagnosis and treatment plans based on each patient’s genomic information and personal characteristics. This personalized medical model can improve treatment effects and reduce side effects, and has important application value for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and genetic diseases.

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8. Chemistry and Materials Science

The key points of the popular science of frontier chemistry and materials science are as follows:

1. Nanomaterials: Introduce the concept and characteristics of nanomaterials, including size effect, quantum effect, etc. Explore the application of nanomaterials in biomedicine, energy storage and conversion, sensors and electronic devices.

2. Two-dimensional materials: Introduce the structure and properties of two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, boron nitride, etc. Explore the application potential of two-dimensional materials in electronics, optoelectronics, catalysts and sensors.

3. Conjugated polymers: Introduce the structure and properties of conjugated polymers, including electrical conductivity and photoelectric properties. Explore the applications of conjugated polymers in organic electronics, flexible electronics and wearable devices.

4. Electrocatalysis: Introduces the principles and mechanisms of electrocatalysis, as well as the design and synthesis of catalysts. Explores the application of electrocatalysis in energy conversion fields such as batteries, fuel cells and water electrolysis.

5. Sustainable Chemistry: Introduces the concepts and principles of sustainable chemistry, including green synthesis and circular economy. Explores the application of sustainable chemistry in reducing environmental pollution, improving resource utilization efficiency and building a sustainable society.

6. Biomaterials: Introduces the classification and application of biomaterials, including the fields of biomedicine and tissue engineering. Explores the application of biomaterials in drug delivery, tissue repair and artificial organs.

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9. Physics

The key points of the popular science of frontier physics are as follows:

1. Quantum computing: Introduces the basic principles and concepts of quantum computing. Explores the application of quantum computing in solving complex problems and cracking codes.

2. Particle Physics: Introduces the study of elementary particles (such as quarks and leptons) and the fundamental structure of the universe. Explores the importance of particle physics in understanding the origin of the universe and the exploration of new particles.

3. String Theory: Introducing string theory as a new field of theoretical physics. Discussing the importance of string theory for solving the problem of quantum gravity and unifying particle physics.

4. Condensed matter physics: Introduces the importance of condensed matter physics in studying the properties of solids and liquids. Explores the application of condensed matter physics in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology.

5. Cosmology: Introduces the science of cosmology, which studies the origin and evolution of the universe. Explores the importance of cosmology in understanding dark energy, dark matter, and the accelerated expansion of the universe.

6. Photonics: Introduce the application of photonics in the fields of optical communication, optical storage and optoelectronics. Explore the potential of photonics in solving problems of information processing and energy conversion.

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10. Astronomy and Astrophysics

The main points of the popular science of astronomy and astrophysics are as follows:

1. Black holes and gravitational waves: Black holes are extremely curved regions of space that have such a strong gravitational pull that not even light can escape. Recently, through gravitational wave observations, scientists have directly detected the existence of black holes for the first time and conducted more in-depth research on their properties and formation. Gravitational waves are long-predicted oscillations in space-time that were first observed in 2015. They originate from extremely powerful astronomical events, such as the merger of two black holes or the explosion of a star. Gravitational wave observations provide us with a new way to explore extreme objects in the universe and the origin of the universe.

2. Interstellar planets and extrasolar life: Interstellar planets are planets that exist around other stars. Scientists have begun to discover a series of exoplanets, some of which may have conditions suitable for the existence of life. Researchers are trying to answer the question of whether there is other life in the universe by detecting and analyzing the atmosphere and composition of these interstellar planets. By studying life forms in special environments on Earth, such as microorganisms in extreme environments and ancient fossils, scientists are also trying to explore the mysteries of the origin and evolution of life.

3. Dark matter and dark energy: Dark matter is a substance in the universe that does not emit light and does not interact with electromagnetic waves, while dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that causes the accelerated expansion of the universe. The existence of these two remains an unsolved mystery, but they account for the vast majority of the energy and mass of the universe. Scientists are working hard to reveal the properties of dark matter and dark energy and further understand the evolution of the universe by observing and simulating cosmic structures, galaxy clusters, and cosmic microwave background radiation.

4. Explosive cosmology: Explosive cosmology explores the evolution of the universe and high-energy processes of matter by observing and studying explosive events of cosmic phenomena, such as supernova explosions or gamma-ray bursts. These cosmic explosions release huge amounts of energy and have important effects on the structure of the universe and the formation of galaxies. By using methods such as multi-band observations, particle physics, and numerical simulations, scientists are revealing the physical mechanisms in explosive cosmology, the origin of cosmic rays, and the generation and evolution of ultra-strong magnetic fields in the universe.

5. Galaxy evolution: Galaxies are huge celestial structures composed of stars, gas, dust and other materials. Researchers are revealing the generation laws of large-scale structures in the universe by observing and simulating the formation and evolution of galaxies, and on this basis understand the formation and development of stars, galaxy mergers, and supermassive stars and cosmic black holes.

11. Mathematics

The main points of the popular science of mathematics frontiers are as follows:

1. Group theory and algebraic geometry: Group theory studies the foundation of abstract algebraic structures, focusing on groups and exploring the laws of symmetry and transformation. It has important applications in fields such as physics, cryptography, and computer science. Algebraic geometry studies the relationship between algebra and geometry, and studies geometric shapes and structures by introducing geometric methods into algebraic equations. It has wide applications in fields such as machine learning and image processing.

2. Topology and Geometry: Topology studies the properties of space, focusing on shape and deformation rather than measurement and size. It has important applications in fields such as network analysis, data mining, and materials science. Geometry studies the shape of space, focusing on measurement and size. It has wide applications in fields such as computer graphics, computer-aided design, and robotics.

3. Number theory and cryptography: Number theory studies the properties and relationships of integers, including prime number distribution, integer factors, and congruence. It has important applications in cryptography, coding theory, and computer security. Cryptography studies methods and technologies for protecting information security, including cryptographic algorithms, identity authentication, and digital signatures. It plays a key role in network security and data protection.

4. Algorithms and Complexity Theory: Algorithms study the methods and steps for solving problems, including designing efficient algorithms and solving the difficulty of computational problems. They are widely used in fields such as computer science and operations research. Complexity theory studies the complexity of problems and the demand for computing resources, including the solvability and difficulty of computational problems. They are important in fields such as artificial intelligence and optimization problems.

5. Probability and Statistics: Probability theory studies the regularity and probability distribution of random phenomena, including random processes and random variables. It is widely used in risk assessment and decision analysis. Statistics studies the methods and techniques of data analysis and inference, including data collection, description, analysis and model building. It has important applications in empirical scientific research and market research.

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12. Information Science

The frontier of information science involves many fields, from traditional computer science to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, network security, etc. The key points of its popularization are as follows:

1. Artificial Intelligence: The goals, definitions, and development history of artificial intelligence; the basic principles and applications of machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning; research and applications in artificial intelligence fields such as natural language processing, computer vision, and intelligent robots.

2. Quantum computing: basic concepts and principles of quantum computing; differences and advantages over traditional computers; key technologies of quantum computing such as qubits, quantum gates, and quantum entanglement; current research progress and application prospects of quantum computing.

3. Network Security: Threats and challenges of network security; basic concepts and technologies such as cryptography, security protocols and identity authentication; common methods and strategies for network attacks and defenses; research and applications in emerging fields such as blockchain technology and decentralized security networks.

4. Data Science and Big Data Analysis: basic concepts, processing procedures and application areas of data science; big data collection, storage and processing technologies; core algorithms of data science such as data mining, machine learning and predictive analysis; applications such as business intelligence and decision support systems based on data analysis.

5. Bioinformatics: research objects and goals of bioinformatics; analytical methods of bioinformatics such as genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics; key technologies such as biological sequence alignment, protein structure prediction and gene expression regulatory networks; applications of bioinformatics in medical and biological science research.