Core Viewpoint - The Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment, a significant scientific project in China, has officially commenced operations, marking a major milestone in the country's contributions to fundamental physics research and neutrino studies [2][3]. Group 1: Project Background - The Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment is the successor to the Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment, which established China's leading position in the field of neutrino research [3]. - The project was conceived in 2008, officially approved in 2013, and construction began in 2015, taking a total of 17 years to complete [2][3]. Group 2: Challenges and Achievements - The construction faced numerous challenges, including unexpected water inflow during excavation and the need for innovative solutions due to the project's unprecedented scale and precision [4]. - The successful completion of the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment is seen as a testament to the dedication and spirit of Chinese scientists, showcasing their commitment to advancing fundamental science [4][5]. Group 3: Cultural Impact - A literary work titled "Micro Light Will" has been published, documenting the 17-year journey of the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment, highlighting the experiences of researchers involved [5]. - This book serves not only as a record of scientific achievement but also as a means to inspire and convey the spirit of scientific pursuit in China [5].

Group 1 - The sudden resignation of NSF Director S. Panchanathan was prompted by a 55% budget cut ordered by the Trump administration, leading to the termination of half of the NSF's 1,700 staff members [1][2] - NSF has been perceived as a "fortress of basic science" in the U.S., but the scientific community is now lamenting its destruction under the current administration [2][3] - The NSF's funding has historically been limited, receiving only about 1.5% of the total U.S. annual R&D expenditure, indicating that the vision outlined by Vannevar Bush in "Science: The Endless Frontier" has never been fully realized [10][24] Group 2 - NSF has faced internal conflicts since its inception, with challenges from applied sciences and political pressures to align more closely with national interests, diverging from its original mission of supporting pure scientific research [11][28] - The establishment of the Engineering Directorate in 1981 marked a significant shift, allowing engineering to gain equal footing with basic sciences within NSF, reflecting a broader trend of NSF's evolving focus [14][20] - Recent legislation, including the CHIPS and Science Act, has further emphasized the importance of applied research and technology, indicating a departure from the original intent of NSF as a purely scientific institution [23][25] Group 3 - The NSF's current operational model has shifted to balance both basic science and applied technology, contradicting the initial vision of being a non-political entity focused solely on fundamental research [24][28] - The emphasis on technology within NSF has increased significantly, with the term "technology" appearing 230 times in recent legislative texts, compared to only 163 mentions of "science" [26][28] - The NSF's alignment with U.S. national interests has deepened, particularly in response to geopolitical challenges, marking a significant departure from its founding principles [29][30]

Core Points - The 2025 Future Science Prize winners have been announced, recognizing significant contributions in various scientific fields [1] Group 1: Life Sciences Award - The Life Sciences Award was given to Ji Qiang, Xu Xing, and Zhou Zhonghe for their discovery of fossil evidence linking birds to dinosaurs [3] - This research transformed the hypothesis of birds originating from dinosaurs into a widely accepted scientific theory [3] - The awardees have made significant contributions to the understanding of the evolutionary link between theropod dinosaurs and birds through phylogenetic analysis and anatomical studies [3] Group 2: Material Sciences Award - The Material Sciences Award was awarded to Fang Zhong, Dai Xi, and Ding Hong for their contributions to the computational prediction and experimental realization of topological electronic materials [4] - Topological electronic materials are considered one of the most groundbreaking advancements in condensed matter physics, exhibiting unique topological properties that lead to stable surface conductive states [4] - The awardees developed a comprehensive set of computational methods to predict various topological materials, including topological insulators and Weyl semimetals, and successfully verified the existence of Weyl fermions experimentally [5] Group 3: Mathematics and Computer Science Award - The Mathematics and Computer Science Award was presented to Lu Zhiyuan for his pioneering contributions in non-volatile semiconductor memory technology [9] - Lu Zhiyuan's innovations include high-density 4-bit per cell NVM storage and advanced 3D NOR flash technology, which have laid the foundation for future developments in non-volatile memory technology [9] - His work is expected to significantly impact fields such as artificial intelligence, mobile communications, cloud computing, and edge computing [9] Group 4: Future Science Prize Overview - The Future Science Prize was established in 2016 to honor outstanding scientific achievements in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, regardless of the nationality of the recipients [10] - Each award category offers a prize of approximately 7.2 million RMB (equivalent to 1 million USD) [11] - The 2025 Future Science Prize Week will take place from October 22 to 26 in Hong Kong, featuring discussions on cutting-edge scientific topics and a grand award ceremony [11]