Chinese space station experiments poised to bring tangible benefits for both space, Earth

A report released on Monday highlights research conducted aboard the Chinese space station, which aims to provide solutions for long-term space survival and develop technologies that benefit both industries and daily life on Earth.

Published by the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), the 2024 report provides a comprehensive summary of the scientific research and applications conducted in China's space station over the past two years.

It highlights 34 representative research and application achievements, as well as various science communication and cultural activities.

China has currently outlined four major research areas in space: space life and human body research, microgravity physics, space astronomy and earth science, and space technologies and applications, encompassing 32 research topics.

As of December 1, 2024, a total of 181 scientific and application projects have been conducted in orbit. Nearly two tons of scientific materials have been delivered to the station, and almost 100 types of experimental samples have been brought back to Earth.

The report also highlighted several world records, including the development of the first germplasm resources of rice and ratoon rice developed in space and the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem/precursor cells in space.

"We hope to offer solutions to the challenges of long-term human survival in space through these studies. At the same time, the key materials developed in space are expected to be applied on Earth, offering new processes, methods, and technologies to improve production and daily life," said Zhang Wei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (CSU), under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Zhang noted that the report primarily highlights results from completed experiments, while many others are still in progress.

"In our scientific experiments, particularly in microgravity fluids, several international cooperation projects are underway. Projects initiated through the United Nations are progressing, and joint China-Europe projects are also been carried out," said the researcher.

According to the report, the Chinese space station, serving as the national space lab, will conduct over 1,000 research projects in the next 10-15 years. It aims to promote science outreach and international collaboration, attract high-level teams from around the world, and advance China's space science, technology, and applications.

Chinese space station experiments poised to bring tangible benefits for both space, Earth

Logistics personnel from supermarkets and e-commerce platforms like "Gongxiao Jiangnan" are working on a hectic schedule to meet people's surging demand for essential goods during the New Year holiday by meticulously arranging storage and delivery.

Gongxiao Jiangnan is an e-commerce platform selling fresh groceries under the Supply and Marketing Cooperative of east China's Jiangxi Province.

At 02:00 in the morning, the platform's central warehouse is still bustling. Delivery staff are working around the clock to sort through tens of thousands of orders placed by urban residents, sending rice, vegetables, and cooking oil to specific storage points for further distribution.

Chen Yunchao, a delivery man for the platform, has clearly sensed the surge in orders.

"There are so many orders these days that I have to work until 06:00 in the morning almost every day to send out all the parcels," said Chen.

To ensure steady supplies, nearly 90 percent of front-line employees of e-commerce platforms under the Supply and Marketing Cooperative of Jiangxi chose to stay on duty throughout the holiday and support the daily needs of residents in 200 communities in the province.

Large amount of orders requires the platform to quicken its steps in logistics.

"We are considering increasing our delivery frequency and will refill parcel lockers twice a day," said Chen Jun, director of the platform's Procurement Department.

Back-end algorithms are also supporting the logistics during the holiday. In Jiangxi's provincial capital Nanchang, for instance, the demand for daily necessities increased by 30 percent compared with before. With the help of algorithms, an optimal amount of daily storage for each product can be accurately calculated to ensure smooth operations and reduce wastage. "Take Nanchang City as an example, we plan to deliver nearly a thousand tons of goods like grain and oil, fruits and vegetables, meat and aquatic products every day," said Zheng Zhenghao, director of the platform's Order Fulfillment Center.

E-commerce platforms ensure holiday supplies with logistics support