This study investigates the innovative application of Chinese calligraphy within the signage system of Xi'an Metro Line 14.Unlike conventional metro typography,Line 14 employs distinct calligraphic font strategies that correspond to the cultural and historical contexts of its respective sections,thereby transforming its signage into a dynamic carrier of regional identity and cultural narrative. The research proposes and elaborates on a three-phase methodological framework—exploration,transition,and development—to systematically integrate traditional calligraphy into modern public wayfinding systems.This framework addresses the core challenge of balancing aesthetic cultural expression with functional legibility,a persistent issue in environmental graphic design.The research employed a practice-based methodology,centered on the font design case of Xi'an Metro Line 14.It critically analyzed the current state of calligraphic font application in metro signage.To solve the identified practical pain points—simplification,contextual adaptation,and multi-font coordination—a three-phase design method was developed and implemented:① Reference&Optimization:Drawing upon the mature style of master calligraphers like Yan Zhenqing to establish a foundational aesthetic and cultural tone.② Deconstruction&Recombination:Breaking down calligraphic structures and recomposing them to meet standardized requirements and enhance legibility.③ Multi-reference&Coordination:Ensuring visual harmony within the entire font family and adapting the design to various physical signage scenarios. The application of this methodological framework to Xi'an Metro Line 14 successfully resolved key technical issues.It produced a calligraphic font set that maintains the artistic charm and cultural gravitas of traditional calligraphy while fulfilling all modern functional requirements for public signage.The case demonstrated a viable pathway for integrating profound historical cultural symbols into contemporary engineering and design projects.The resulting font system not only improves wayfinding efficiency but also actively shapes a unique cultural ambiance,reinforcing the city's identity. This study constructs a generalized,operable design path and methodology for integrating traditional calligraphic art into contemporary metro wayfinding systems.The proposed"reference-optimization,deconstruction-recombination,multi-reference coordination"framework offers a systematic solution that transcends individual case studies.It provides both theoretical reference and practical guidance for other cities seeking to incorporate local cultural heritage into their public transportation infrastructure.The research highlights the significant academic and practical value of bridging cultural studies,design innovation,and engineering applications,contributing to the creation of more humane and culturally resonant urban spaces.
Liquid metals such as gallium-or bismuth-based alloys,along with their derived materials,can achieve reversible transitions between liquid and solid states as well as between flexible and rigid states at room temperature.Owing to their plentiful outstanding tunability in physical state and intrinsic properties,these materials are driving profound transformations across rather wide fields such as physics,chemistry,biomedicine,electrical engineering,robotics,data center cooling and advanced energy etc.,giving rise to a wide range of cutting-edge interdisciplinary frontiers and strategic emerging industries.Consequently,research and development in the area has evolved from a previously niche topic into a remarkable surge of scientific and technological focus.To better advance the revolution of this cutting edge frontier,it is crucial to identify and interpret the developmental natures of the liquid metal science,technology and industry,prospect their future trends and propose solid ways to speed up the innovation activities. In this article,we begin by interpreting the material demands driven by representative technological advances in modern and contemporary human history,thereby introducing the development landscape of room-temperature liquid metals in the 21st century and the sequential emergence of the science and technology tree they lighted up and the evolutionary trends.Then,we review the history of liquid metal research and applications,dividing it into several stages:High-melting-point metals such as gold,silver,and copper that bridge classical and modern times;Traditional toxic and highly reactive liquid metals like mercury and sodium-potassium alloys;and Currently prominent highly safe room-temperature liquid metals,including gallium and bismuth-based alloys.On this basis,we highlight the foundational discoveries and typical technological breakthroughs of room-temperature liquid metals,which have been hailed as"The Second Revolution in Human Utilization of Metals".Based on a discussion of the liquid metal genome and combinatorial materials,we elucidate the exceptional enabling characteristics of liquid metals for various materials,as well as their functional scalability and vast development potential.Using liquid metal chip cooling,printed electronics and semiconductors,biomaterials science,and transformable robotics as illustrative examples,we outline the transdisciplinary and pan-disciplinary cross-fertilizing nature of liquid metals and their advancement styles.We interpret the typical paradigms over the fundamental researches and engineering practices.And through deep integration with established subjects and industries,we distill a corresponding cluster of cross-disciplines enabled from liquid metals.Furthermore,we also explore AI pathways for accelerating innovation and empowering talent cultivation in unconventional areas.Through an overview of the development trajectory of liquid metal science,we outline both accidental and inevitable breakthrough features during their evolution,as well as the characteristics of disruptive versus incremental innovations in the area. The emergence of room-temperature liquid metals is characterized by a pronounced transdisciplinary nature and extensive interdisciplinary integration,which has largely reshaped conventional understandings of traditional materials,fluid machines,and rigid matter.The technology tree illuminated by liquid metals has exhibited vigorous vitality,opening up vast development spaces for materials science and engineering,while also providing fertile ground for cultivating innovative talent in interdisciplinary fields.The liquid metals profoundly trigger fundamental and practical research paradigm shifts and game changing industries,offering abundant innovation opportunities across many frontier scientific and technological fields.Proactively exploring and harnessing the boundless possibilities embedded in liquid metals will accelerate the formation of more interdisciplinary fields,key technologies,and industrial clusters. Overall,liquid metal science and technology bridges both microscopic fundamental sciences and macroscopic industrial applications,exhibiting a breadth of scope that is rarely seen among most of today's fields.This article deepens the understanding of the general liquid metal sciences,engineering and interdisciplinary subjects and offers guiding insights for the evaluation,forecasting and incubation of emerging directions,and is expected to foster more bottom-up innovations and promote the establishment of ever diverse cross-disciplines.
Desertification is a major environmental challenge affecting ecological security,regional development,and human well-being in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide.Under the combined influences of climate change and human activities,land degradation processes have become increasingly complex and uncertain.In China,desertification control has gradually evolved from project-based interventions toward systematic governance.Although the Three-North Shelterbelt Program has achieved remarkable success in reducing sand hazards and improving ecological conditions,long-term challenges remain,including the complexity of aeolian processes,rigid water-resource constraints,and the sustainability of ecological engineering.These challenges highlight the need for a new governance paradigm capable of integrating ecological restoration,resource management,and regional development. This study aims to establish a scientific framework for holistic desertification control based on systems thinking and integrated governance.The objectives are to clarify the theoretical foundations of holistic desertification control,develop a conceptual framework centered on the"Three Comprehensives and Two Viabilities",and propose implementation pathways for advancing high-quality desertification control in China. Drawing upon theories from geography,ecology,hydrology,aeolian science,and complex systems science,this study synthesizes existing knowledge,policy requirements,and practical experiences from desertification control in China.Through theoretical analysis and conceptual framework construction,the study integrates natural processes,resource constraints,ecological functions,geographical units,and socio-economic factors into a unified governance framework. The results indicate that holistic desertification control is supported by five theoretical foundations.First,aeolian processes are characterized by multi-factor interactions,nonlinear dynamics,and feedback mechanisms among wind,sediment transport,landforms,vegetation,and human activities.Second,water resources constitute the fundamental constraint on ecological restoration in arid regions,where limited availability and uneven spatial-temporal distribution determine the scale and sustainability of management activities.Third,ecosystem stability provides the ecological basis for long-term restoration effectiveness through maintaining structural integrity,functional continuity,and resilience to disturbances.Fourth,the integrity of geographical units emphasizes the interconnected nature of mountains,oases,rivers,and deserts and highlights the importance of governance based on complete geographical and hydrological systems.Fifth,the coordination of human-environment relationships ensures that ecological restoration can be sustained through the integration of environmental protection,livelihoods,and regional development. Holistic desertification control provides a systematic framework for addressing the growing complexity of desertification governance in arid regions.By integrating ecological processes,water-resource constraints,geographical integrity,ecosystem stability,and human-environment interactions,the proposed framework promotes coordinated governance across multiple elements,processes,and spatial units while ensuring sustainability and operational viability.It offers both theoretical support and practical guidance for advancing the Three-North Project and achieving sustainable desertification control in China.
This article investigates science-fictional narratives through the lens of engineering aesthetics,with the aim of clarifying how engineering-oriented imagination is aesthetically articulated and why it matters for contemporary philosophy of technology and culture.While science fiction is frequently discussed in terms of scientific plausibility,technological imagination,or narrative innovation,existing scholarship rarely adopts the contemporary distinction between science-technology-engineering(STE)as a systematic analytic framework.This article addresses that gap by arguing that engineering constitutes a distinct aesthetic and philosophical dimension within science fiction,one that cannot be reduced to scientific theorization or technological instrumentality.The study focuses on engineering science fiction as a mode of speculative world-making in which large-scale systems,infrastructures,and integrated socio-technical environments become central aesthetic objects. The primary objective is to(1)differentiate science,technology,and engineering at the level of philosophical motivation and operative logic;(2)conceptualize the engineering sublime as a key aesthetic effect of engineering-oriented science fiction(includes utopian stories);and(3)explain how engineering imagination contributes to the reconstruction of modern experience,particularly through a Benjaminian account of"new sensibility".The article further aims to demonstrate the academic value of engineering aesthetics for cross-disciplinary dialogues among science fiction studies,aesthetics,and engineering philosophy. The study adopts a conceptual-analytical approach combining(1)philosophical differentiation of STE,(2)theoretical reconstruction of major science-fiction frameworks,and(3)close theoretical reading of canonical aesthetic and cultural-philosophical sources.First,it clarifies STE by distinguishing science as concept-and model-driven construction,technology as instrumental practice and mediation,and engineering as"one-off systemic construction"oriented toward feasibility under complex constraints.Second,it revisits key ontological accounts of science fiction by Darko Suvin and Fredric Jameson,treating utopian system-building as theoretical resources for identifying engineering-oriented narrative operations.Third,it reinterprets Immanuel Kant's theory of the sublime,using the categories of mathematical and dynamical sublimity to analyze how engineering systems produce artificial transcendence through scale,integration,and complexity.Finally,it draws on Walter Benjamin's reading of Lesabéndio to examine how engineering aesthetics participates in reshaping sensuous experience under industrial modernity. The article establishes four main findings.(1)Engineering-oriented science fiction foregrounds a sensuous register of systemic integration,in which infrastructures and engineered environments function as narrative engines and aesthetic forms.(2)Utopian and system-building writing can be understood as engineering speculation,insofar as it integrates scientific rationalities,techno-logical mediations,and social conditions into coherent,large-scale imaginaries that exceed individual experience.(3)The engi-neering sublime is characterized not by nature's overwhelming power,but by the artificial transcendence of socio-technical sys-tems and by the cognitive inaccessibility of professional complexity.This expands Kant's mathematical sublime:the unintuitive grasp of abstract and integrated complexity becomes a primary source of sublimity,and speculative elaboration becomes a cen-tral narrative mechanism that renders such complexity partially intelligible rather than merely alienating.(4)Beyond sublimity,Benjamin's interpretation of Lesabéndio indicates that engineering imagination also points toward new sensibilities that recon-struct modern experience and collective affect under technological modernity. The study's contribution lies in articulating engineering aesthetics as a transferable analytic vocabulary for interdisciplinary research and scholarly exchange across science fiction studies,aesthetics,and engineering philosophy.It also carries implications for engineering ethics and education by highlighting science fiction as a reflective medium for rehearsing systemic responsibility within future-oriented technological cultures.
This paper proposes and elaborates in detail a novel space infrastructure concept for future deep-space exploration—the"Space Wheel"system.Built upon the coupling of classical orbital mechanics and rotational dynamics,this concept employs ultra-long flexible tethers connecting a momentum station to one or more docking stations,thereby creating a platform capable of high-performance momentum exchange with spacecraft.The core mechanism operates as follows:a spacecraft briefly docks with a rapidly rotating grapple station(docking station),co-rotates through a segment of circular motion,and is then released at an optimal phase—gaining or losing significant velocity.Theoretically,the maximum achievable Δv can approach twice the docking station rotational velocity.This principle offers a transformative pathway toward drastically reducing propellant consumption and enhancing transportation efficiency in deep-space missions.Besides rotating space ladder,Moon space wheel,the paper also systematically outlines Space Wheel applications across four representative scenarios.First,on small bodies—such as Phobos,Deimos,or near-Earth asteroids—a momentum anchor can be firmly affixed to the surface(e.g.,at the poles)to construct a"Martian Moon/Small-Body Space Wheel".Due to sufficient total mass to absorb repeated momentum exchanges without significant orbital perturbation,such systems could operate stably for decades.They would enable low-cost insertion into or escape from Martian orbit,as well as support in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)operations on asteroids.Second,a"Lunar Ferry"is envisioned in a highly eccentric Earth orbit,with its perigee within low Earth orbit(LEO)and apogee extending to the vicinity of the Moon.With an orbital period of approximately half a month,this ferry could encounter Earth once every one revolutions while also approaching the Moon periodically.Equipped with multiple rotating docking stations,it could provide scheduled,point-to-point cargo or crew transfer between Earth and the Moon.Third,the concept is extended to heliocentric orbits via the"Interplanetary Ferry":Its perihelion could be placed near Earth's orbit—or even Venus's—while its aphelion reaches Mars,Jupiter,or the asteroid belt.By selecting resonant orbital periods(e.g.,1.5,2,3-12 Earth years)and strategically distributing aphelion longitudes,a network of such ferries could form an"interplanetary bus system"spanning from Mercury to the asteroid belt and beyond,accommodating diverse mission launch windows and trajectory requirements.Fourth,all these configurations can be adapted for human spaceflight.Thanks to tether lengths of tens of kilometers and controllable angular velocities,the Space Wheel can generate artificial gravity ranging from 0.1g to 1g—effectively mitigating physiological degradation caused by prolonged weightlessness,such as muscle atrophy,bone loss,and cardiovascular deconditioning.Moreover,the system's projected multi-decade service life justifies higher initial construction costs,enabling the integration of thick radiation shielding layers around crewed docking modules to significantly enhance protection against galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events during deep-space transits. Despite its compelling potential,the realization of the Space Wheel faces several critical engineering challenges:The development of ultra-lightweight tether materials capable of spanning tens of kilometers while exhibiting exceptional specific strength,resistance to atomic oxygen erosion,and resilience against micrometeoroid impacts;Autonomous rendezvous,rapid capture,and safe release mechanisms for spacecraft interfacing with high-speed rotating grapple stations under dynamic conditions;Attitude stabilization,vibration suppression,and orbital maintenance for extremely large,flexible multi-body systems;Future challenges in space traffic management,collision avoidance,and international coordination should large constellations of such systems be deployed.Nevertheless,ongoing advances in carbon nanotube fibers,graphene-reinforced composites,AI-driven autonomous operations,and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing capabilities are steadily rendering these challenges tractable. The paper concludes by proposing a phased,incremental development roadmap:Near-term:Conduct sub-kilometer to kilometer-scale technology demonstration missions in LEO to validate rotational dynamics,artificial gravity generation,and docking reliability;Mid-term:Deploy the first-generation Lunar Ferry prototype to support logistics for lunar gateways and crewed lunar landings;Long-term:Integrate Space Wheels into Mars exploration and asteroid mining campaigns,ultimately establishing an interplanetary momentum-exchange network that synergizes with orbital propellant depots,deep-space relay stations,and in-orbit assembly platforms—forming a sustainable,high-efficiency infrastructure for solar system transportation and resource utilization. In summary,while the Space Wheel remains a conceptual proposal,its unique advantages in reducing mission cost,enhancing operational flexibility,and enabling long-duration human presence in deep space position it as a compelling and forward-looking architecture—one that could play a pivotal role in humanity's sustained expansion into the solar system in the latter half of the 21st century.This English version maintains fidelity to the original Chinese extended abstract,uses precise aerospace terminology,and adopts a formal academic style suitable for conference proceedings,white papers,or high-level concept publications in journals such as Acta Astronautica,Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets,or Space Policy.Let me know if you'd like a shorter abstract,keyword list,or adaptation for a specific publication format.
The high proportion of renewable energy grid integration imposes greater demands on the adequacy of various regulatory capacities,including peak shaving,frequency regulation,ramping,and reserve capacity.Currently,China has initiated capacity compensation mechanisms based on capacity pricing but has yet to establish a capacity market.Market mechanism designs—including compensation calculations,cost allocation,and balancing responsibility assignment—remain constrained by the absence of assessment methods for evaluating the flexible regulation contributions of different types of entities.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop a differentiated assessment method for effective capacity across multiple entities.This approach will provide theoretical support for advancing China's capacity pricing compensation mechanisms,capacity market development,and the design of market systems for reserve,ramping,and ancillary services. The proposed multi-type entities effective capacity assessment methodology integrates historical forecast and actual output data of the subject units,operational and regulation performance parameters,along with historical system load data and inter-provincial interconnection data.It differentiates the assessment of system power,frequency regulation,ramping capability,and reserve capacity performance for various unit types from the perspectives of power contribution during critical periods and flexible regulation capability.The fuzzy TOPSIS method resolves uncertainties and ambiguities in unit reliability levels,reasonably reflecting different unit types'ability to ensure long-term system capacity adequacy and respond to short-term regulation demands.Furthermore,this study quantifies the system's demand for different capacity types and their value by calculating multi-type capacity supply-demand coefficients and system capacity shortfall risk indicators.Based on this,the effective capacity correlation coefficients for diverse units under multi-type capacity demands are computed using a unified evaluation model and process. The paper designs quantitative indicators for unit reliability levels by considering power contributions during critical periods and flexible regulation capabilities.It proposes system capacity value assessment indicators that incorporate multi-type capacity supply-demand coefficients and capacity shortfall risks to determine the actual contribution capacity of different unit types toward supporting system capacity adequacy and flexibility.Through case study analysis,this paper quantitatively calculates the reliability assessments and system capacity values of different units,thereby enabling differentiated evaluations of the effective capacity of various unit types.The case study validates that the proposed effective capacity evaluation method can assess differentiated effective capacities for various entities,including renewable energy sources,under different seasonal conditions.Simultaneously,the case study conducts a differentiated dynamic assessment of changes in the effective capacity coefficients of various entities under different capacity supply-demand scenarios,further demonstrating the applicability of the proposed multi-entity effective capacity evaluation method to changes in system capacity supply-demand conditions. This multi-type entities effective capacity evaluation method balances agent reliability levels and system capacity value,providing a rational approach to quantify the differentiated contributions of various agents to power system capacity adequacy.It lays a theoretical foundation for China to explore establishing reliable capacity assessment mechanisms for diverse agents and developing capacity compensation mechanisms tailored to different agent types.
With the release of the Opinions on Strengthening Science and Technology Education in Primary and Secondary Schools by the Ministry of Education in October 2025,the cultivation of engineering literacy has emerged as a core priority in the reform and advancement of science education in China.This policy explicitly emphasizes the need to integrate engineering thinking and practical ability training into the entire process of primary and secondary education,marking a critical shift from traditional knowledge-centered science teaching to competency-oriented education.As a unique literary and ideological carrier that integrates imaginative engineering scenarios with in-depth philosophical speculation,Engineering Science Fiction(ESF)breaks the boundaries between abstract theoretical knowledge and concrete educational practice,thereby offering a viable and innovative practical pathway to fulfill this significant transformation in science education. From the theoretical perspective of philosophy of engineering-with a focus on core viewpoints such as the sociality,ethics,and systematicity of engineering a activities-this study selects the classic science fiction anthology Walking with Robots as a core case study.By adopting a combination of text analysis and theoretical deduction,it explores the intrinsic mechanism and feasible paths for the integration of ESF into science education practice,aiming to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for improving the effectiveness of engineering literacy cultivation. The research first clarifies the connotation and characteristics of ESF,distinguishing it from traditional science fiction by its emphasis on engineering design logic,technological implementation processes,the interaction between engineering and society.On this basis,it systematically analyzes the multi-dimensional pedagogical value of ESF in science education:it can stimulate students'interest in engineering,compliment the limitations of traditional engineering education that lacks contextualization,and lay a foundation for the formation of students'comprehensive engineering literacy. Secondly,the study conducts an in-depth interpretation of the philosophical implications of engineering embedded in Walking with Robots.Centering on key themes such as artificial intelligence application,robotics ethics,engineering problem-solving thinking,and interdisciplinary social contexts reflected in the anthology,it reveals how ESF constructs a realistic and reflective engineering cognitive shift of students from fragmented"machine imagination"-which focuses only on the appearance and simple functions of technology-to systematic and structures"engineering thinking"that emphasizes logical reasoning,overall design,and ethical balance. Specifically,ESF highly aligns with the educational goals of engineering literacy in science education through three core dimensions:knowledge concretization,which transforms abstract engineering principles into perceptible story plots;thinking visualization,which presents complex engineering logic through narrative clues to facilitate students'understanding and mastery;and ethical contextualization,which places engineering activities in specific social and ethical frameworks to cultivate students'sense of engineering ethics.Through vivid contextualized narratives,ESF not only provides a safe and controllable simulated field for students to perceive the core logic of engineering,experience potential engineering ethical dilemmas,and practice decision-making solutions,but also relies onf its inherent interdisciplinary attributes to serve as a cognitive scaffold for students to initially construct a macro-engineering perspective integrating Science,Technology,Engineering,Society,and Ethics.This perspective helps students understand the interconnection of various disciplines in engineering practice and establish a holistic cognition of engineering's social value and responsibility. The study concludes that ESF,as a bridge connecting the abstract theory of philosophy of engineering with specific science education practice,effectively compensates for the disconnect between theory and practice in current engineering literacy cultivation.it provides a theoretically grounded,operationally feasible,and student-centered pathway for cultivating students'engineering literacy,which is of great significance for promoting the in-depth reform of science education and improving the quality of engineering talent cultivation at the basic education stage.
