Liang Wenfeng, founder of Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, and geoscientist Du Mengran have been named to Nature's prestigious '10' list for 2025, recognizing their groundbreaking contributions to artificial intelligence and marine science. The annual selection spotlights individuals shaping critical scientific narratives worldwide.
Liang's Beijing-based company made global waves in January 2025 with its R1 AI model, described by Nature as 'a cost-effective breakthrough that reshaped perceptions of global AI capabilities.' The journal noted the innovation 'challenged assumptions about U.S. technological dominance' in this strategic field.
Du earned recognition for leading record-breaking dives to the hadal zone, Earth's deepest marine layer. Her team's discovery of animal ecosystems in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench – nearly 10 kilometers below sea level – has rewritten biological understanding of extreme environments. Nature called the findings 'a triumph of human exploration with implications for life's resilience.'
These achievements highlight China's growing role in cutting-edge research. Business analysts suggest Liang's work could accelerate AI adoption across Asian manufacturing sectors, while Du's discoveries may inform new environmental protection strategies for vulnerable marine ecosystems.
