While it is well known that the genesis of many inventions (such as paper, gunpowder, printing and the compass) was ancient China, what is perhaps less well known is that China is responsible for several scientific breakthroughs and discoveries that continue up to the present day. Maybe this is not so surprising considering the amount of money that the government invests in research, yet China’s reputation (deserved or not) for plagiarizing or copying practically everything (the Global Times calls this "academic depravity") has overshadowed its recent scientific achievements in the eyes of the West. However, China is striving to clean up its act and "take its rightful historical place" as a leader of invention and innovation. Here are a few recent examples.

1) Treating leprosy – October, 24th 2011

According to the Deccan Chronicle, Xinhua news agency reported that scientists from the Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology have recently discovered a way to diagnose leprosy in its early stages, opening the gateway to finding new treatments for the debilitating and disfiguring disease. This is especially poignant when you realise that 10% of all leprosy sufferers in the world are in China. While leprosy was nearly wiped out in Europe centuries ago, the disease still affects people in developing countries.

2) Getting human blood from rice – November, 1st 2011

We have all heard the phrase, "you can’t get blood from a stone" but it would seem that scientists at Wuhan University have worked out how to get blood from rice. The idea isn’t as crazy as it sounds, for what the boys in the white coats are actually extracting is human serum albumin (HSA), a key component of blood, which is used for treating liver disease, nasty burns and can reduce the risk of transmitting disease from inadequately screened blood donors. The serum is extracted from genetically modified rice seeds and scientists can remove nearly 3g of HSA from a kilo of seeds. 

3) Saving the planet – July, 6th 2011

China sparing the environment! Believe it or not, scientists at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China have been developing an insulation material that will dramatically reduce the amount of energy a building consumes by more than a third. According to an article published by ningboguide.com, the material is so lightweight that it can be applied to many areas of your home, including the ceiling or walls. The super thin substance can be preset to start absorbing heat only after a predetermined temperature has been exceeded, enabling homeowners to make drastic savings on their electricity and fuel bills. The overall effect of the wide application of this material, says inventor Professor Darkwa, "could make a major impact in the world’s efforts to reduce carbon emission". It could also make a major impact to Professor Darkwa’s bank balance. Still, what’s good for the environment is good for the future; well done chaps.

4) Efficient uranium – January, 3rd 2011

Hidden Harmonies China Blog writes how scientists in Gansu have recently found out a way to make uranium more efficient - at least 60 times more so. The use of nuclear fuel for power is certainly controversial, but the scientists from China National Nuclear Corp have found a technique that enables them to reuse spent uranium and to make existing supplies potentially last for centuries. While this is indeed a scientific breakthrough, it is not immediately clear how much environmental damage this process will cause, especially through the improper storage of radioactive waste.

5) Drugs for the masses – June, 13th 2011

According to business website istockanylist, a pharmaceutical company called Shandong Luoxin Pharmacy Stock Co., Ltd. has become the first company in China to start manufacturing cefazedone sodium for injection. What? Well, this is an important scientific development because cefazedone sodium is one of the main chemicals used in the manufacture of antibiotics. Although this is currently manufactured by foreign drug companies, it is the first drug of its kind to be manufactured in China, and represents a greater focus on investment in modern medicine within the country. While part of the reason for allowing this to happen is undoubtedly encouraged by money, it’s still a landmark development in the rapid economic growth of the Middle Kingdom.

6) Giant panda breeding – December, 7th 2010

And finally, a story to put a smile on your face. Scientists at Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre have successfully managed to breed 300 animals in captivity. Time once appeared to be running out for the notoriously shy panda, and for many years efforts to get pairs in captivity to breed amounted to very little. However, according to the BBC website, the breakthrough happened when "panda mothers were tricked into caring for twins as staff stealthily rotated them between their mother and the incubators". When this technique was employed, the survival rate for abandoned cubs went up by 98%. It is believed that staff at the institute hope to begin a programme of successful reintroduction of pandas into the wild.

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Keywords: new scientific breakthroughs in China science in China science and technology in China new discoveries in China