Tsinghua University

Stories

First thorium nuclear clocks begin ticking in Vienna and Beijing

As of October 2026: Built one of the first two nuclear clocks

For 70 years, the world's most precise clocks have counted the vibrations of electrons orbiting an atom. In early October 2026, two teams — one in Vienna, one in Beijing — unveiled the first clocks that read time from the ticking of a thorium nucleus instead.

Updated Oct 11

China's airborne wind energy breakthrough

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Key research partner in SAWES development

In 1957, Chinese aerospace pioneer Qian Xuesen proposed capturing wind energy by wrapping turbines in circular housings at high altitudes. Seven decades later, a Beijing startup realized the vision: on September 19-21, 2025, China flew the S1500, a helium-filled turbine the size of a basketball court, at 1,500 meters in Xinjiang's desert, generating one megawatt. No other country has come close.

Updated May 23