China ‘To Pass United States In Science’ In Two Years

By on March 30, 2011 in News 51

MAI0002272_PFor years we were warned that American students trailed other nations’ in math and science  — now the chickens have come home to roost. The BBC reports that in 2013 China will pass the United States as the global leader in scientific output. But can scientific progress really be measured? And, must it be viewed as a battle between nations? This issue may be as much about Western fears as anything else:

The country that invented the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing is set for a globally important comeback. China is on course to overtake the US in scientific output possibly as soon as 2013 – far earlier than expected.

That is the conclusion of a major new study by the Royal Society, the UK’s national science academy. The study, Knowledge, Networks and Nations, charts the challenge to the traditional dominance of the United States, Europe and Japan. The figures are based on the papers published in recognized international journals listed by the Scopus service of the publishers Elsevier.

In 1996, the first year of the analysis, the US published 292,513 papers – more than 10 times China’s 25,474. By 2008, the US total had increased very slightly to 316,317 while China’s had surged more than seven-fold to 184,080. After displacing the UK as the world’s second leading producer of research, [China] could go on to overtake America in as little as two years’ time.

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  • Hadrian999

    not surprising considering that science is met with open hostility by many americans

    • Jose pachecoAdelfa

      Hostility to science in America comes from a people which is the most stuppid I met during 30 yars I worked in contact with people from all over the world. People like this are easily manipulated and if aone looks at journal, radios and tv’swe can realize that. All of them are rulled by manipulators. Wake up stuppid americans. You large scientific development is not due to americans but to foreigners from all over the world.

  • Hadrian999

    not surprising considering that science is met with open hostility by many americans

  • DeepCough

    Even less surprising that 2008 was the end of the Bush administration, which did more to quell scientific research and ruin public education than any other administration.

  • DeepCough

    Even less surprising that 2008 was the end of the Bush administration, which did more to quell scientific research and ruin public education than any other administration.

  • MrPINKi

    Science schmience

  • MrPINKi

    Science schmience

  • mrtastycakes

    China has long since lost its ability to innovate. Their high output is due to exploitation of other countries technology, which is produced faster in vertically-integrated command economies.

  • mrtastycakes

    China has long since lost its ability to innovate. Their high output is due to exploitation of other countries technology, which is produced faster in vertically-integrated command economies.

  • Ma’at

    America is a dump run by morons creating a slave class for corporations. But hey … they got a Creationism Museum.

    I wonder if America realizes it is the joke of the Western World and it’s pickemup truck civilization is gonna get smoked? Doubt it. Too stupid.

    • Brideshead2536

      What does it matter if they realize it? They won’t care, as long was they’ve got their guns and their NASCAR to keep them entertained.

    • Jose pacheco

      American people is dominated by nazi-zion-fascism of Israel trough the control of jewsh americans born in USA. Worst Nazi-zion-fascisme is that of non jewsh which is put in practice by all the people belonging to any secret organization. Zionist jews are so powerfull because they control the FED which is a private bank. YOu beleave that. Money of a country like USA produced and controled by private a organzation insted of the State itself? Taht why USA is making wars around the world under the orders and to the interest of Israel and nazi-zion-fascism.
      Wake up stuppid americans.

      • De Carabas

        Those are some carefully constructed misspellings and grammatical errors. Why?

  • Ma’at

    America is a dump run by morons creating a slave class for corporations. But hey … they got a Creationism Museum.

    I wonder if America realizes it is the joke of the Western World and it’s pickemup truck civilization is gonna get smoked? Doubt it. Too stupid.

  • Clambert

    Increased scientific “output” means nothing. It’s about the quality of the work that’s published. America has stricter rules on what gets published than journals from other countries or international journals. If you read publications from other countries, they’re severely lacking compared to ours.

  • Clambert

    Increased scientific “output” means nothing. It’s about the quality of the work that’s published. America has stricter rules on what gets published than journals from other countries or international journals. If you read publications from other countries, they’re severely lacking compared to ours.

  • sluggo21

    Increased scientific “output” means nothing. It’s about the quality of the work that’s important. American journals have stricter rules on what they will publish than other countries’. Plus, since federal funding for research is dwindling, opportunities for research are shrinking. If your read publications from other countries’ researchers, they pale in scope and depth compared to ours.

    • Synapse

      Exactly. China will be publishing more papers. Quality is more important than quantity, and we have not been told any measurement relevant to that factor.

  • sluggo21

    Increased scientific “output” means nothing. It’s about the quality of the work that’s important. American journals have stricter rules on what they will publish than other countries’. Plus, since federal funding for research is dwindling, opportunities for research are shrinking. If your read publications from other countries’ researchers, they pale in scope and depth compared to ours.

  • @Ma’at

    @ Ma’at, the guys that are driven the pick up trucks will smoke you for sure. I think I speak for most Americans, “Bring it, any day, any time…”

    Oh yes, the day when China will create the Segway, iPad, the Internet. Maybe someday we can just copy all of them. Their tunnels are collapsing on them as we speak.

    • MoralDrift

      you are in denial, we are run by assholes and unless we stop them we will get what we desrve

  • @Ma’at

    @ Ma’at, the guys that are driven the pick up trucks will smoke you for sure. I think I speak for most Americans, “Bring it, any day, any time…”

    Oh yes, the day when China will create the Segway, iPad, the Internet. Maybe someday we can just copy all of them. Their tunnels are collapsing on them as we speak.

  • wow

    Google “Modern Chinese Innovations” and see if you can come up with anything other than horse stirrups, steel or windmills.

    • Tuna Ghost

      To be fair, those three are pretty awesome

  • wow

    Google “Modern Chinese Innovations” and see if you can come up with anything other than horse stirrups, steel or windmills.

  • Anonymous

    you are in denial, we are run by assholes and unless we stop them we will get what we desrve

  • Penis

    thanks religion, you’ve held us back once again

  • Penis

    thanks religion, you’ve held us back once again

  • Brideshead2536

    What does it matter if they realize it? They won’t care, as long was they’ve got their guns and their NASCAR to keep them entertained.

  • Tuna Ghost

    To be fair, those three are pretty awesome

  • Me

    Haha, Bully’s of the world, your time is coming!! Self inflicted too which is even more humourous, lol

  • Me

    Haha, Bully’s of the world, your time is coming!! Self inflicted too which is even more humourous, lol

  • Jose pacheco

    American people is dominated by nazi-zion-fascism of Israel trough the control of jewsh americans born in USA. Worst Nazi-zion-fascisme is that of non jewsh which is put in practice by all the people belonging to any secret organization. Zionist jews are so powerfull because they control the FED which is a private bank. YOu beleave that. Money of a country like USA produced and controled by private a organzation insted of the State itself? Taht why USA is making wars around the world under the orders and to the interest of Israel and nazi-zion-fascism.
    Wake up stuppid americans.

  • Jose pachecoAdelfa

    Hostility to science in America comes from a people which is the most stuppid I met during 30 yars I worked in contact with people from all over the world. People like this are easily manipulated and if aone looks at journal, radios and tv’swe can realize that. All of them are rulled by manipulators. Wake up stuppid americans. You large scientific development is not due to americans but to foreigners from all over the world.

  • emperorreagan

    American scientific output is too focused on just military applications. While some of them do eventually lead to neat civilian gadgets or general scientific breakthroughs, most of them are dead ends for anything but killing people more efficiently. The US is cutting funding in other departments that fund basic science research.

    The other element is that manufacturing is intertwined with innovation. All of those manufacturing jobs the US shed also involved overhead jobs in engineering. That engineering knowledge base which can spur innovation, which taught young engineers, and transferred knowledge back and forth from academia as engineers from industry earned master’s degrees, is disappearing with those blue-collar jobs it supported.

  • emperorreagan

    American scientific output is too focused on just military applications. While some of them do eventually lead to neat civilian gadgets or general scientific breakthroughs, most of them are dead ends for anything but killing people more efficiently. The US is cutting funding in other departments that fund basic science research.

    The other element is that manufacturing is intertwined with innovation. All of those manufacturing jobs the US shed also involved overhead jobs in engineering. That engineering knowledge base which can spur innovation, which taught young engineers, and transferred knowledge back and forth from academia as engineers from industry earned master’s degrees, is disappearing with those blue-collar jobs it supported.

  • Jeff

    From Canada here.
    I’ll tell you that after visiting several provinces that the U.S. truly is thought out to be a sly, manipulative, corporation run country that everyone is waiting to see fall, in one way or another. I love Americans, obviously, or else I wouldn’t indulge in so many fictional TV shows and movies in which I feel relaxed seeing the typical Manhatten or LA setting, but, your government’s corruption, or at least, the undeniably cover-ups, will end up kicking America right in the ass.

    Focusing heavily on the military, and having so many facilities and weapons, doesn’t entitle the respect. Yet they seem so reluctant to go to war. Yeah right. Such buuuuuuuuuuuullshiiiiiiiiit.

    Also, I love how people assume America has the most intelligent, of this and that, or the highest grade of quality and language. I’ve always noticed how Asians seem more collected, to themselves, but still, on the fucking ball. Where as America, you turn on CNN, and it’s people of all different food-flourished moods and outspoken behavior laying down mentality after mentality and thinking they’re way of thinking is spot on.

    Not really. Everything in the western world has gone to our heads. Fuck the western world.
    But damn, what a nice view.

  • Jeff

    From Canada here.
    I’ll tell you that after visiting several provinces that the U.S. truly is thought out to be a sly, manipulative, corporation run country that everyone is waiting to see fall, in one way or another. I love Americans, obviously, or else I wouldn’t indulge in so many fictional TV shows and movies in which I feel relaxed seeing the typical Manhatten or LA setting, but, your government’s corruption, or at least, the undeniably cover-ups, will end up kicking America right in the ass.

    Focusing heavily on the military, and having so many facilities and weapons, doesn’t entitle the respect. Yet they seem so reluctant to go to war. Yeah right. Such buuuuuuuuuuuullshiiiiiiiiit.

    Also, I love how people assume America has the most intelligent, of this and that, or the highest grade of quality and language. I’ve always noticed how Asians seem more collected, to themselves, but still, on the fucking ball. Where as America, you turn on CNN, and it’s people of all different food-flourished moods and outspoken behavior laying down mentality after mentality and thinking they’re way of thinking is spot on.

    Not really. Everything in the western world has gone to our heads. Fuck the western world.
    But damn, what a nice view.

  • Synapse

    Exactly. China will be publishing more papers. Quality is more important than quantity, and we have not been told any measurement relevant to that factor.

  • Mr. Jacob Leisler

    “China ‘To Pass United States In Science’ In Two Years”

    First, the title of the articles sends up red flags, as such a statement is obviously meaningless, because NO ONE can predict with dependable accuracy what will transpire (events, discoveries, etc.) next year, let alone in “two years” — especially when one considers that A LOT can happen in that time frame, and usually does!

    Second, the title begs the following questions: China will pass the US based on what SOURCE, in what SENSE, and which SCIENCE (over 600 come to mind!)???

    Meaningless drivel like this article contribute to the dumbing of America. People need to exercise their minds and realize what is important and noteworthy, and what is fluff and nonsense.

  • Mr. Jacob Leisler

    “China ‘To Pass United States In Science’ In Two Years”

    First, the title of the articles sends up red flags, as such a statement is obviously meaningless, because NO ONE can predict with dependable accuracy what will transpire (events, discoveries, etc.) next year, let alone in “two years” — especially when one considers that A LOT can happen in that time frame, and usually does!

    Second, the title begs the following questions: China will pass the US based on what SOURCE, in what SENSE, and which SCIENCE (over 600 come to mind!)???

    Meaningless drivel like this article contribute to the dumbing of America. People need to exercise their minds and realize what is important and noteworthy, and what is fluff and nonsense.

  • Rongallagher92

    Everyone rips on America…I understand we are not the best country and many people make our country look totally horrible. However these are just prejudices. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, that is the saying you should be going by. Many people in America don’t fit in to any of the stereotypes. Besides…Other countries are way worse off…I would personally take my “Nascar loving, slave class population” over some country that murders woman and kids because they are too smart or have too much food.

  • Rongallagher92

    Everyone rips on America…I understand we are not the best country and many people make our country look totally horrible. However these are just prejudices. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, that is the saying you should be going by. Many people in America don’t fit in to any of the stereotypes. Besides…Other countries are way worse off…I would personally take my “Nascar loving, slave class population” over some country that murders woman and kids because they are too smart or have too much food.

  • De Carabas

    Those are some carefully constructed misspellings and grammatical errors. Why?

  • Validemail

    Yes, but will they still put pee pee in your coke?

  • Validemail

    Yes, but will they still put pee pee in your coke?

  • Smokinpug
  • Smokinpug
  • MadocComadrin

    Well, seeing as we’re just looking at paper output, I had a professor that moved to the US from China, who said that many of the papers published (and the research behind them) there were either falsified, rushed, or just utter crap. He said that they were too focused on getting the numbers than anything else.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Miller/100000952005408 Bruce Miller

    China combs the entire Asian gene pool for the best the brightest, then caters to them with free education, money and projects to pursue, like the Thorium fueled LFTR reactor technology, about to burst onto the nuclear scene soon, possibly powering a whole new Asian Empire, safely, cleanly and for at least 1000 years. U.S. has championed sports stars, muscle men, great tall slim athletes, in a world where physical prowess is bliss, size counts over smart, and handsome means all, has given them preferential breeding rites, even at high school levels, and has systematically rejected, buffoon-ed, maliciously cartooned, the intellectually gifted as socially awkward, “nerds”, of little value, and certainly “out of the race” for breeding purposes, not likely to “get” the pretty girl, or the big pay check, and belonging hidden away in some lofty Ivory tower, filled with dusty manuals and manuscripts, as parasites on the “normal” society, but tolerated, because, “We are really nice people”.
    China makes no distinction as to sex! Bright is bright! Intellectual accomplishment counts for bothsexes and is championed in all programs. U.S. has placed the doll from Hitler’s “Pure Race” programs of the 1930′s, the Barbie Doll, as the standard for U.S. women to meet, by dieting, exercise, by hair dying, “corrective surgeries” even!  Did you know that “Barbie” originated this way? Do you realize the huge fortunes that have been made, following this dictate of the Great American Corporate Propaganda machines? Do you see this as an abhorrent distortion of reality? Do you realize, that this single sick notion has limited half the U.S. population to the task of “mindless sex toy” for the “Ken dolls” on the athletic fields? For mostly commercial gains? ROI? for corporations? All the while, China forges ahead, with a “Better Idea”? No wonder Capital around the world is moving away from U.S. towards Asia, and China in particular! 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Miller/100000952005408 Bruce Miller

    China combs the entire Asian gene pool for the best the brightest, then caters to them with free education, money and projects to pursue, like the Thorium fueled LFTR reactor technology, about to burst onto the nuclear scene soon, possibly powering a whole new Asian Empire, safely, cleanly and for at least 1000 years. U.S. has championed sports stars, muscle men, great tall slim athletes, in a world where physical prowess is bliss, size counts over smart, and handsome means all, has given them preferential breeding rites, even at high school levels, and has systematically rejected, buffoon-ed, maliciously cartooned, the intellectually gifted as socially awkward, “nerds”, of little value, and certainly “out of the race” for breeding purposes, not likely to “get” the pretty girl, or the big pay check, and belonging hidden away in some lofty Ivory tower, filled with dusty manuals and manuscripts, as parasites on the “normal” society, but tolerated, because, “We are really nice people”.
    China makes no distinction as to sex! Bright is bright! Intellectual accomplishment counts for bothsexes and is championed in all programs. U.S. has placed the doll from Hitler’s “Pure Race” programs of the 1930′s, the Barbie Doll, as the standard for U.S. women to meet, by dieting, exercise, by hair dying, “corrective surgeries” even!  Did you know that “Barbie” originated this way? Do you realize the huge fortunes that have been made, following this dictate of the Great American Corporate Propaganda machines? Do you see this as an abhorrent distortion of reality? Do you realize, that this single sick notion has limited half the U.S. population to the task of “mindless sex toy” for the “Ken dolls” on the athletic fields? For mostly commercial gains? ROI? for corporations? All the while, China forges ahead, with a “Better Idea”? No wonder Capital around the world is moving away from U.S. towards Asia, and China in particular!