International Young Scientist Awards

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the demand for innovative data storage solutions. Traditional storage infrastructures are being re-evaluated to meet the unique requirements of AI applications, leading to several notable developments Disaggregated Data Centers Modern data centers are transitioning from homogeneous server architectures to disaggregated models, where storage , processing power, and memory exist separately in different machines and resource pools. This approach allows for more efficient resource allocation tailored to specific tasks, enhancing performance and sustainability. For instance, Zhichao Cao, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, is developing innovative data storage solutions designed to optimize performance and resource management in such disaggregated settings. AI-Driven Storage Systems Integrating AI into storage management has led to the development of predictive and responsive storage system...

 A recent study has revealed a puzzling discrepancy in our understanding of the universe’s expansion rate, suggesting that our current cosmological models may need a significant overhaul. The crux of the issue lies in the Hubble constant (H₀), a measure of the universe's expansion rate, which appears to differ depending on how it is calculated. For decades, scientists have relied on two primary methods to determine H₀. The first involves observing the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, and extrapolating the universe's expansion rate using early-universe physics. The second method uses the local universe, measuring distances to nearby galaxies via "standard candles" like Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae. However, these two methods yield conflicting results. The CMB method, based on data from missions like Planck, estimates H₀ to be around 67.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec (km/s/Mpc) . In contrast, local measurements...

  The 2025 World Economic Forum, being held in Davos from Monday to Friday under the theme " Collaboration for the Intelligent Age ", is expected to foster a spirit of cooperation and optimism in the digital age in a more sustainable way, despite the different positions of the participants and global uncertainties. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily. Projected estimates indicate that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems will necessitate over $1 trillion in investments for cloud and enterprise data center infrastructure within the next five years. The AI infrastructure includes servers equipped with graphics processing units (GPUs) or custom accelerators, dedicated networks, storage solutions and specialized facilities, which are all factors that demand significant capital investment. Therefore, evaluating the scale, potential returns and environmental impact of AI's rapid development and application is essential. The rise of AI will si...

  Building Urban Resilience to Climate Change is an essential framework for cities to safeguard their infrastructure, ecosystems, and populations from the increasing threats of climate change. As urban areas grow and climate impacts intensify, it's crucial to develop adaptive measures that not only reduce vulnerabilities but also promote sustainable urban development. This approach involves a variety of strategies, including enhancing green infrastructure, improving water and energy management, promoting low-carbon transportation, and integrating climate adaptation into urban planning. Urban resilience focuses on creating systems that are both adaptable and responsive to climate stressors like heatwaves, flooding, and storms. By prioritizing nature-based solutions such as urban parks, green roofs, and wetlands, cities can mitigate heat island effects, improve air quality, and protect biodiversity. Moreover, integrating sustainable architecture, resilient infrastructure, and effici...

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and MXenes, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. However, their application potential in diverse fields, including electronics, energy, and biomedicine, is closely linked to their stability under biological and environmental conditions. Understanding the degradation behavior of 2D materials is critical to ensuring their reliable and sustainable use. Biological Degradation: When exposed to biological environments, 2D materials interact with biomolecules, enzymes, and cells, leading to structural and chemical changes. For example, graphene oxide and TMDs may undergo oxidation or enzymatic degradation when exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or specific enzymes like myeloperoxidase. These interactions can alter their morphology, electrical conductivity, and surface chemistry, potentially limiting their long-term biocompatibi...

  Indian glaciers in the Himalayas, often referred to as the " water towers of Asia, " are retreating at an unprecedented pace due to the impacts of climate change. Scientists and policymakers voiced their concerns at the United Nations, highlighting the alarming acceleration in glacial melting driven by rising global temperatures, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and local environmental factors such as deforestation and urbanization. The retreat of these glaciers has far-reaching implications. Millions of people depend on the glacier-fed rivers of the Himalayan region, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, for drinking water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. As the glaciers shrink, water availability becomes increasingly erratic, leading to potential droughts during dry seasons and floods during the monsoon. Additionally, the rapid melting contributes to sea-level rise and increases the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), threatening downstream com...

  The year 2024 was a landmark period for India in science and technology, with achievements spanning diverse fields such as space exploration, renewable energy, healthcare, and artificial intelligence . These accomplishments not only showcased India’s technical prowess but also underscored its commitment to addressing global challenges through innovation. As India strides confidently into 2025, the nation’s aspirations in science and technology are defined by its growing ambition to lead the world in innovation, sustainability, and equitable growth. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion and a burgeoning economy, India’s scientific and technological expectations are intertwined with its developmental goals and global responsibilities. Driving Self-Reliance through Innovation India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative has set the tone for technological self-sufficiency. By 2025, the country expects significant progress in sectors like advanced manufacturing, a...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, driving efficiencies, and unlocking unprecedented opportunities. To maximize its potential, integrating AI development with Concurrent Design Engineering (CDE) offers a transformative approach. CDE emphasizes parallel processes and cross-disciplinary collaboration, enabling faster, more innovative solutions that align with complex, dynamic requirements. By embedding AI in the CDE framework, organizations can streamline product design and innovation processes. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets, predict design outcomes, and optimize decision-making , reducing the iterative cycles traditionally required in design engineering. Machine learning models integrated into CDE platforms empower engineers to simulate, test, and refine concepts in real-time, fostering a seamless interplay between ideation and execution. Moreover, the synergy of AI and CDE accelerates time-to-market while maintaining high-quality standards . AI-driven...

China’s surging electric vehicle (EV) output has ignited demand for automotive chips, but domestic firms remain reliant on foreign suppliers for more than 90 per cent of their needs, according to analysts and industry insiders. Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Development Research Centre of the State Council have repeatedly underscored China’s low self-sufficiency in automotive semiconductors. “Currently, the self-sufficiency rate of automotive chips in China is less than 10 per cent,” according to Luo Daojun, deputy director of the Institute of Components and Materials at MIIT, who was a keynote speaker at several industry conferences this year. Wang Qing, deputy director at the Development Research Centre, told another conference last year that China’s dependency on foreign auto chip suppliers was as high as 95 per cent. “For computing and control chips, the self-sufficiency rate is less than 1 per cent, while for power and memory c...