On October 22nd, at the “Gexi Lun Dao” Science Forum held in Haidian, Beijing, the 2024 event kicked off with the theme “An Extraordinary Tide.” The forum focused on various groundbreaking fields, including the creation of China’s aerospace miracles, achieving hypersonic flight, revealing new cellular structures, appreciating the beauty of Chinese calligraphy, awakening dormant ancient Buddha statues, pursuing extreme precision in heavy machinery, and rescuing endangered marine creatures. Seven speakers shared their exploration stories and research experiences.
Academician Long Lehao, one of China’s first generation of aerospace engineers and a prominent figure in the field, discussed his journey in China’s rocket development. As the chief designer of the Long March series of rockets and the deputy chief designer of the China’s lunar exploration project, he provided insights into the development stories of the Long March rockets and their future prospects, allowing the audience to appreciate the spirit of Chinese aerospace.
Professor Yu Li from Tsinghua University introduced a new organelle called the “migrasome,” discovered in migrating cells, in his 2014 paper. In his talk, he explained the relationship between migrasomes and diseases, enhancing public awareness of this fascinating cellular structure.
Xiao Zhong, an associate researcher at the Yungang Research Institute, spoke about his work on the restoration of a collapsed stone block from Cave 20 of the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. He shared the process of restoring the towering stone statue that had never been revealed to the public, presenting the grandeur of the Yungang Grottoes.
How can one appreciate the art of calligraphy? Fang Jianxun from Peking University’s Calligraphy Education and Research Center guided the audience through various calligraphic works, enabling them to experience the beauty and charm of different styles.
Precision in heavy machinery is challenging; however, through the friction between metals, hand-crafted precision can achieve micro and even nano-level tolerances, known as the highest degree of accuracy in machining. Ye Hui, a top-level technician from China Aerospace Science and Technology, shared his journey from an inexperienced apprentice to a skilled grinding master over more than 20 years, achieving what is referred to as “aerospace precision.”
The ocean, as the cradle of life on Earth, is facing unprecedented challenges. Ren Hui, a science communicator and founder of the WeChat public account “Wandering Nature,” passionately discussed his efforts in marine conservation, highlighting several endangered marine species and sharing his experiences in protecting these marine animals.
Cui Kai, a researcher from the Institute of Mechanics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spoke about hypersonic flight. He described how hypersonic planes could make the world feel like a global village by reaching any location within hours. However, significant technological breakthroughs are still needed. Cui detailed advancements in aerodynamics for hypersonic aircraft and presented new perspectives on their design, illustrating a promising future for hypersonic travel and the dream of flying higher, faster, and farther.
The “Gexi Lun Dao” forum is co-hosted by the Computer Network Information Center and the Office of Cybersecurity and Informatization at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aiming to explore the development of technology, education, life, and the future under the spirit of “investigating things to know the truth.”
