Editor's Note

As Science and Technology Daily (S&T Daily) approaches its 40th anniversary, we are humbled by the warmth and wisdom shared with us by scientists from around the world. Their words remind us why this work matters, not just reporting breakthroughs, but connecting people through science.

Over the years, we have strived to make complex ideas clear, to bring research out of labs and into public conversation, and to show how innovation shapes lives. Researchers and scholars have placed their trust in us, calling our pages "a window," "a bridge," even "a daily ritual."

We are proud to stand with those who believe knowledge should be shared and real progress is driven by collaboration across borders.

This milestone is not ours alone. It belongs to everyone who reads us, writes for us, and interacts with us. Thank you for walking this path.

Professor Jon Garibaldi

Provost, University of Nottingham Ningbo China

On behalf of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), it is with great pleasure that I extend our warmest congratulations on the remarkable occasion of S&T Daily's 40th anniversary.

For four decades, your publication has served as a vital bridge between academia and society, translating complex research into accessible insights that empower communities, inspire innovation, and foster global scientific dialogue. Your unwavering commitment to demystifying science and amplifying its societal value has made you a trusted voice in the global sci-tech landscape.

Our partnership is anchored in a profound alignment of beliefs. Together, we share the conviction that the true measure of discovery lies in its benefit to society, from pioneering technologies that transform industries into solutions that address the world's challenges.

As featured in your reports, the work of our scholars, from Dr. Adam Rushworth's hands-on engineering and sustainable manufacturing to Professor Enrico Marsili's research in green chemistry, vividly illustrates how the integration of theory and practice cultivates a new generation of problem-solvers.

Your coverage of these endeavors, alongside that of colleagues like Dr. Maria Julia Trombetta and Professor Alain Chong, highlights a powerful synergy at UNNC: Our distinctive model of international research cooperation is intrinsically geared towards creating sustainable solutions for pressing global challenges.

By bringing these stories to light, you have showcased our core belief that such collaborative, impact-driven research is fundamental to scientific and societal progress.

As you celebrate this milestone, we look forward to deepening our partnership and advancing our shared mission: to enhance public scientific literacy, foster sustainable development, and inspire the innovators of tomorrow.

May S&T Daily continue to illuminate the path forward, connecting minds and hearts in pursuit of a more innovative and sustainable future.

Once again, congratulations on your 40 years of excellence and impact.

Professor Abolfazl Bayat

Professor, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

In an age defined by rapid technological advancement and complex global challenges—from climate change to artificial intelligence—an informed public is essential for the healthy growth of any society. The popularization of science and technology and making a connection between scientists and people, in particular the young generation, is a critical issue which is needed more than any other times.

When citizens understand scientific principles and technological implications, they can make right choices for their own lives, engage meaningfully in public debates and move beyond misinformation and fear.

From an economic perspective, a public comfortable with technology indeed adapts more swiftly to new industries, driving national competitiveness.

As we celebrate the 40th birthday of Science and Technology Daily, I would like to thank all the people working there for their pivotal role in communicating national scientific strategies and technological breakthroughs to a broad audience.

The mission of newspapers extends beyond just reporting as they are active in fostering a culture of innovation aligned with national development goals. Since China is going through an important transition from manufacturing to technology, the role of S&T Daily is very important for shaping public understanding and enthusiasm for the nation's scientific trajectory.

I hope that the newspaper continues its constructive role and wish it great success in the years to come.

Professor Francesco Faiola

Researcher,  the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

On the 40th anniversary of S&T Daily, I'm delighted to extend my warmest congratulations. As a scientist who has worked in China for over a decade, I offer these wishes with the same kind of poetic warmth you might feel from the Tuscan sun.

To me, the English edition of your newspaper has been like a Galileo's telescope — an elegant guide offering a clear view into the grand hall of Chinese science and technology. Starting my day by browsing it at my desk has become a cherished ritual. Its accurate translations and nuanced interpretations of major breakthroughs allow researchers like me, from diverse cultural backgrounds, to truly feel the pulse of innovation in China.

I'll never forget your coverage of my team's work on stem cell toxicology models. Your reporters, with the precision of Venetian craftsmen, brought the essence of our research to life. That article was more than just a report; it built a bridge for collaboration, allowing laboratories across the country to engage with our work almost instantly.

It is also an honor to have been asked for my opinion in your pages over the years. I still remember the first time I discovered S&T Daily. I asked myself, "Will I ever accomplish something here meaningful enough to be featured?" To now be both a subject and a contributor is a point of great personal and professional pride.

Though forty years may be a blink in history, your newspaper has achieved something extraordinary. You are not just a chronicler of progress, but a disseminator of the spark of innovation. When your reports, carrying the wisdom of China, travel across the oceans, and when young students feel inspired by your words to pursue their passion — that is the most powerful proof that technology can change the world.

I want to congratulate the entire staff at S&T Daily. Every interaction I have with you is filled with passion and warmth; you always make me feel at ease and valued.

May S&T Daily continue to shine as a bright lighthouse for our community, illuminating the path of exploration. I look forward to witnessing more scientific miracles with you in the next four decades — more moments where the "impossible" is turned into "possible."

Professor Arup Neogi

Professor, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

In the spirit of the lamplight burning in laboratories everywhere, let us reaffirm: Science knows no borders, and innovation knows no end.

Since your origin as China Science and Technology News in 1986 and the transition to S&T Daily in 1987, you have grown into an essential platform for China's innovation story and for the world to understand it.

Over four decades, S&T Daily has done something both difficult and deeply important: It has made science public.

By reporting cutting-edge advances, explaining the national science and technology agenda, promoting practical achievements, and advocating scientific spirit and literacy, your newsroom has strengthened the bridge between laboratories and society.

At the same time, you have helped connect Chinese science with global science. Your role as a "window" — linking China's scientific community to broader society and the world — matters more than ever, as international collaboration becomes essential for tackling shared challenges in health, climate, energy, and information technology.

Your reporting has repeatedly highlighted that cooperation can be built on openness, mutual benefit, and shared progress — values that sustain discovery across borders and generations.

On a personal note, I am grateful for your thoughtful coverage of scientists working in China, including your feature on my own journey and research in photonics and light-matter interactions. It captured a motivation many researchers share: to translate fundamental ideas into technologies that improve real lives, and to build bridges between disciplines and between nations.

As you enter your fifth decade, I hope S&T Daily continues to champion rigorous, accurate science journalism, amplify young voices, and deepen dialogue between China and the international community.

Denis Simon

Non-Resident Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

It is with great admiration and respect that I extend my warmest congratulations to S&T Daily as you celebrate the 40th anniversary of your founding.

Launched at a pivotal moment in China's reform era, during the early stages of the country's historic transformation in science and technology, your publication has grown into one of the most welcome voices chronicling innovation, discovery, and scientific progress in China. Over four decades, you have earned a solid reputation for clarity, depth, and accuracy — qualities that have made your newspaper an indispensable platform for scientists, educators, policy makers, and international observers alike.

Since your first issue appeared, S&T Daily has served not only as a news outlet, but as a national bridge linking research communities, industry leaders, and government decision-makers. The paper has documented the evolution of China's S&T system from its early efforts to rebuild its research capacity, to the milestones in fields such as space science, biotechnology, quantum information, engineering, deep-sea exploration, and artificial intelligence. Your reporting has helped citizens across China better understand the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies, while at the same time providing the scientific community with a reliable platform to share breakthroughs, debate ideas, and evaluate the implications of new knowledge.

Equally important is your role on the global stage. At a time when science and technology increasingly transcend borders, S&T Daily has served as a window through which the world can observe, interpret, and engage with China's rapidly advancing innovation landscape. Scholars, specialists, and media professionals around the world have turned to your reporting to better understand the thinking of China's scientific community, the direction of national research priorities, and the pace of discovery in laboratories, universities, and companies from Beijing to Shenzhen, from Shanghai to Chengdu. You have made China's S&T developments accessible to an international audience, enriching global dialogue and fostering scientific exchange.

As you look ahead to the next chapter, I have no doubt that S&T Daily will continue to illuminate the frontiers of knowledge, inspire curiosity, and deepen intellectual exchange across cultures and nations. On this important anniversary, I extend my warm congratulations and best wishes for your continued success in the decades to come.

Professor Manzoor Hussain Soomro

Vice President, Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of S&T Daily, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to its leadership as well as the team of talented science journalists and technical staff. S&T Daily's journey for 40 years is not only a journey of consistent progress towards economic and socio-cultural development and prosperity of China, but it has also recorded and shared the continuous development with the Chinese.

It has educated billions of people around the world on the developments of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the world in general, but more so in China.

It also covers the stories of STI leaders from different parts of the world and their collaborations with Chinese institutions, including myself. It has interviewed me on different occasions on my lifelong effort of promoting youth science and science education and empowerment of girls and women, that I call the 40 percent talent of the world!

I cherish every interaction with S&T Daily, and wish them greater success beyond my lifetime.

Professor Peter R. Taylor

Vice-dean of Tianjin University’s School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Why is it important to have media like S&T Daily?

Science and technology, generally, impact everyone's lives, every day, very often without our being conscious of it. So it is very valuable to have a reminder of this. Of course, typically what people want to learn or read about is "the latest thing," whether that is a new treatment for cancer, or technology like AI. And these things are typically newsworthy, so media outlets like to jump in them, to maintain or boost circulation, and perhaps to attract advertisements.

However, mainstream media often report these things in a rather superficial way, and, what is worse, incompletely, or even incorrectly. This is where it is essential to have media focused on science and technology, so that their readership can obtain an accurate and reliable description of whatever the latest thing is.

There is a different dimension to this sort of reporting, however, and one that is often overlooked.

In many cases, especially in basic research, the source of funding for the work, comes from government agencies, such as national science foundations. But they, in turn, obtain that money from people paying taxes, and it is entirely proper that taxpayers can see or read about what their taxes are paying for.

This is another function (an essential one, in my view) that is played by media such as S&T Daily: reporting on what the taxpayers' contributions are being used for.

It is not just about discussing the latest hot topics, but measured reporting more generally on progress in science and technology. S&T Daily does an excellent job of fulfilling these aims, so I am delighted to wish them a happy 40th birthday, and continued success in reporting for the next 40 years!