The Chinese Academy of Engineering released the world's top ten engineering achievements "China Sky Eye" and "Gene Scissors" and other selected

Chen Jianfeng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and executive editor of the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, released the results of the "2021 Global Top Ten Project Achievements".　Photo by Sun Zifa, a reporter from China News Service

Beijing, December 14 (Reporter Sun Zifa) The "2021 Global Top Ten Project Achievements" organized by the Chinese Academy of Engineering "Engineering" was released in Beijing on the 14th, and the 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST), known as the "China Sky Eye", the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology research and development and application of "gene scissors", and the public health epidemic prevention and control against the new crown epidemic were selected.

This is the first time that the Chinese Academy of Engineering has selected and released the world's top ten engineering achievements, and the participating projects are major achievements in engineering science and technology that have been completed globally in the past 5 years, and have been verified by practice and have global influence, which can reflect the highest level of current engineering science and technology in one or more fields. The selection activity is jointly served by the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the experts of the "Global Engineering Frontier" Project Group of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, following the three principles of independence, objectivity and scientificity, and after global nomination, expert selection and recommendation, and public questionnaire survey, the selection results of the "2021 Global Top Ten Engineering Achievements" were finally determined:

—AlphaGo and AlphaFold. In 2016, AlphaGo defeated human Go nine-dan players for the first time; in 2018, AlphaFold predicted the three-dimensional spatial structure of human proteins with high precision. Organically combined with massive data, advanced algorithms, super computing power and domain knowledge, a new generation of artificial intelligence has opened a new stage of cognitive decision-making empowerment, and increasingly shows broad application prospects.

——Research and development and application of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to scientists who developed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. This new technology, known as "gene scissors", has brought about new changes in molecular biology through the accurate and efficient modification of genomes through DNA shearing, and has great technical potential in the fields of genetic disease and tumor treatment, genetic screening and detection, animal and plant breeding and improvement.

------------------ The polar ultraviolet lithography system uses extreme ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 13.5 nanometers as the light source, which can advance the minimum process node of the chip process to 7 nanometers, 5 nanometers or even 3 nanometers. In 2019, the Dutch company Asmail successfully launched a new generation of extreme ultraviolet lithography systems, representing the most advanced fifth-generation lithography system today, which is expected to push the limits of Moore's Law physics to new heights.

——Fifth generation mobile communication technology. In 2018, the world's first 5G technology standard was formulated; in 2019, 5G technology achieved large-scale commercial deployment for the first time. 5G technology with high speed, low latency and large connection characteristics can be used to enhance mobile broadband, ultra-high reliability and low latency communication and massive machine communication, realize human-machine-thing interconnection, and greatly accelerate the pace of digital transformation of human society.

- 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope. In 2020, fast, the world's largest and most sensitive single-aperture radio telescope, was officially opened for operation. Fast uses the karst depression as the site, lays a 500-meter spherical crown-shaped active reflective surface composed of thousands of units, drags the feeder platform and the parallel robot with a light cable, and realizes the high-precision positioning of the telescope receiver. FAST makes human beings' eyesight to explore the unknown airspace of the universe deeper and more open-minded.

- Hybrid rice. Hybrid rice mainly uses male sterile lines as genetic tools to cultivate high-yielding, disease-resistant and high-quality rice varieties with hybrid advantages. In 2020, the third generation of hybrid rice cultivated by the Chinese team of scientists set a new record of 1530.76 kg of double-cropping rice per mu. The successful research and development and large-scale promotion of hybrid rice is a major breakthrough in the world's crop science and technology, and provides an important guarantee for global food security.

- The InSight Mars landing probe. In 2018, the US InSight unmanned probe successfully landed on Mars. As the first probe to specialize in the internal structure of Mars, InSight carries advanced equipment to explore the crust, mantle and core of Mars, aiming to understand how Mars formed and evolved and how active it is today. This marks the progress of humanity from the detection of terrestrial planets to the "inner world" of planets.

-- Public health and epidemic prevention and control against the new crown epidemic. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have taken steps to respond to it. Many countries such as China, New Zealand, and South Korea have used scientific epidemic prevention and control strategies to carry out large-scale nucleic acid detection, big data tracking and traceability and health code identification, early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment, implement differentiated and precise prevention and control of zoning and grading, and orderly promote the resumption of work and production, effectively controlling the large-scale spread of the epidemic.

——The Three Gorges Water Conservancy Hub Project of the Yangtze River. In 2020, after more than 20 years of construction and operation, the Three Gorges Water Conservancy Hub Project of the Yangtze River in China completed the overall acceptance. This is currently the world's largest water conservancy hub project, with more than 20 economic and technical indicators ranking among the forefront in the world, with more than ten functions such as flood control, power generation, shipping, ecological water replenishment, etc., and exerting huge economic and social benefits and ecological benefits of energy conservation and emission reduction.

——UHV transmission project. UHV transmission is the most efficient and economical long-distance transmission method today. In 2009, China's first 1,000 kV UHV AC transmission project was put into operation; in 2019, the world's first plus or minus 1,100 kV UHVDC transmission project was completed and put into operation in China. China has the world's largest UHV transmission network, which has achieved cross-regional and large-scale optimal allocation of energy.

Chen Jianfeng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and executive editor of the journal, released the selection results. He said that the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering began to organize the selection of the world's top ten engineering achievements in 2021, aiming to promote engineering progress, lead engineering innovation, give play to the academic leading role of academic journals, and guide the global public to pay attention to and support the cause of engineering.

This selection activity attracts a wide range of engineering and scientific and technological personnel from all over the world, and the selection results have three characteristics: first, to make original breakthroughs in core science or technology, or to solve long-standing bottlenecks or difficulties, and have significant competitiveness in single or multiple scientific and technological indicators, ranking the world's leading level; second, in technology integration, system integration, to achieve engineering safety, precision, green and other aspects of distinctive innovative characteristics, or in the allocation of resources and organizational management of major projects The third is to achieve obvious economic and social benefits in driving industrial development, promote high-quality economic and social development, and enhance the productivity level of all mankind.

Academician Chen Jianfeng said that the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, jointly founded by the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Higher Education Press, is committed to building a world-class comprehensive authoritative journal of engineering science and technology, and providing a platform for the release and exchange of major innovative achievements in high-level engineering science and technology for the world. In the future, the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering will organize the "Global Top Ten Engineering Achievements" selection activity once a year and release it to the world. (End)