Chinese automotive heavyweight, Guangzhou Automotive Corporation (GAC), has revealed what it says is the world’s first internal combustion engine for passenger vehicles powered almost exclusively on ammonia. Unveiled at the company’s annual technology showcase in Beijing, the environmentally friendly, two-litre, 161-horsepower motor produces 90 per cent fewer harmful emissions than gasoline and diesel engines. While…
Chinese officials have approved the country’s first thorium-based nuclear reactor at the Hongshagang Industrial Cluster in Wuwei City. The experimental reactor could open the door to a cheap and safe alternative to uranium-based nuclear energy in the future, according to those close to the project. Located in the far reaches of China’s north-western Gobi Desert,…
Chinese engineers have unveiled the world’s most powerful hydrogen-powered locomotive as the country seeks to decarbonise its freight and passenger rail network. Developed and assembled by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) in Datong, Shanxi Province, “Ningdong” is powered by hydrogen energy and can operate non-stop for nearly 190 hours before needing to refuel.…
A Shanghai-based team of medical researchers claims to have developed a targeted drug delivery “nanoplatform” that fights cancer by locating malignant tumours and deploying medicine to attack the diseased area. The scientists say the novel treatment inhibits the spread of cancer while simultaneously assisting with the body’s immune response. While the treatment could see use…
Chinese scientists have created a floating hydrogen farm that harnesses both the power of the winds and the seas to convert seawater into clean hydrogen gas, without the need for the often energy-intensive desalination process typical in the industry. The offshore platform, dubbed ‘Dongfu Number One’ by its creators, completed a successful 10-day continuous operation…
Chinese engineers have revealed plans to drill a 10-kilometre-deep borehole into the Earth’s crust in an attempt to further our understanding of the planet’s inner workings. Drilling began in late May in the Tarim Basin and will penetrate rock formations from a time when dinosaurs ruled the world. Scientists are hopeful the megaproject will reveal…
After more than a decade of research and development, China’s C919 narrow-body passenger jet has completed its maiden commercial voyage, flying between Shanghai and Beijing. Flight ‘MU9191’ was operated by China Eastern Airlines and carried 130 excited passengers. Chinese officials are hopeful the domestically produced airliner will make the country self-reliant in the industry and…
A group of scientists has developed highly-elastic silicon solar cells that fold like paper. The thin and flexible solar-powered material can be used in areas ranging from aerospace to electronic wearables, according to the Chinese-based research team. Silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells account for an estimated 95 per cent of the market and have been used…
Researchers from China’s Jiangnan University have developed a method to 3D-print complex shapes in mid-air, without the need for a supporting structure. The team’s novel technique involves a quick-curing ceramic paste that allows for the creation of previously impossible designs. Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, traces its origins back to the streets…
Chinese aerospace chiefs are considering deploying a helicopter in the country’s latest effort to retrieve samples from one of our closest planetary neighbours, Mars. The Tianwen-3 Mars mission is expected to go ahead sometime near 2028. It promises to be the Chinese National Space Agency’s (CNSA) most complex endeavour to date, requiring the launch of…