Complex systems are characterized by randomness and disorder and are difficult to understand. This year’s Nobel Prize recognizes new methods for describing them and predicting their long-term be haviour.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 was awarded “for groundbreaking contributions to our under-standing of complex systems” with one half jointly to Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann “for the physical modelling of Earth’s climate, quantifying(量化) variability and reliably predicting global warming” and the other half to Giorgio Parisi “for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations(波动) in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales”.

One complex system of vital importance to humankind is Earth’s climate. Syukuro Manabe dem-onstrated how increased levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere lead to increased temperatures at the surface of the Earth. His work laid the foundation for the development of current climate models.

About ten years later, Klaus Hasselmann created a model that links together weather and cli-mate, thus answering the question of why climate models can be reliable despite weather being changeable and chaotic. He also developed methods for identifying specific signals, fingerprints, that both natural phenomena and human activities imprint in the climate. His methods have been used to prove that the increased temperature in the atmosphere is due to human emissions of CO_2.

Around 1980, Giorgio Parisi discovered hidden patterns in disordered complex materials, whose discoveries are among the most important contributions to the theory of complex systems. They make it possible to understand and describe many different and apparently entirely random materials and phe-nomena, not only in physics but also in other very different areas, such as mathematics, biology, neuroscience and machine learning.

“The discoveries recognized this year demonstrate that our knowledge about the climate rests on a solid scientific foundation, based on a thorough analysis of observations. This year’s laureates have all contributed to us gaining deeper insight into the properties and evolution of complex physical sys-tems,” says Thors Hans Hansson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.

Gong Linna, renowned Chinese musician and founder of Chinese New Art Music, put her music teaching methods to practice for the first time at the Tracing Roots practice concert and music festival of the Affiliated High School of Peking University on May 23.

The first song of the concert，Search High and Low，is an allusion(暗指)to the classical poem Li Sao, “The road ahead will be long. I shall search high and low.” “It’s arranged to be sung by all performers，indicating that we should all search high and low for our roots,” Gong says.

To explore the education and the popularization of Chinese music, in 2017，Gong established a research and development team, which includes ethnomusicologist, Du Yaxiong, and music historian, Zhao Zhongming, to deliberate her music teaching methods and summarize the vocal skills of Chinese music.

Gong believed that the popularization of Chinese music should rely on primary and secondary schools rather than music academies. The children’s passion for music and their outstanding performance amazed Gong, “When singing, they are completely immersed in the music. Music brings light and richness to one’s spiritual world. So, learning to sing is never about passing examinations, but about enjoying the music.”

Lu Yueming, instructor of the school’s art center, said, “The children worked really hard and kept in mind Gong’s instructions. Seeing their performance, I know that they truly fell in love with traditional Chinese music.”

Lu Yueming, instructor of the school’s art center, said, “The children worked really hard and kept in mind Gong’s instructions. Seeing their performance, I know that they truly fell in love with traditional Chinese music.”

“Seeing the children perform my pieces, I realized I should write more songs for them,” Lao Luo, Gong’s husband said proudly. “It’s a great encouragement for me to see how much they like the songs, and they really need content related to Chinese culture.” With an international vision, Gong will continue to write songs based on Chinese folk music or ancient poems.

Gong said children should learn about the beauty of Chinese music. Only when you know about your own sounds, can you have cultural confidence.

China’s disability-related expense at all levels has increased year by year. Last year saw the completion of the National Ice Sports Arena for People With Impairments in light of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. The Games officially opened on March 4, marking not only a great event for the Olympic family, but also the advancement of China’s path for developing the cause of people with disabilities.

Protection of those differently abled in employment, social security, public facilities, and education keeps improving in laws and regulations ensuring the rights and interests of persons with disabilities.

China has 85 million people with disabilities, who need more attention and help—from government and public alike. The possibility of people with disabilities falling back to poverty is high; the total amount of public services for people with physical impairments is not enough and their distribution remains uneven; their diverse needs, such as education, medical services, and recovery, are not adequately met; discrimination, too, still occurs; less developed and rural areas are not suitable for them.

According to the arrangements for the protection and development of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period issued in July 2021, basic systems providing multi-level social security will be in place by 2025 to ensure the livelihood of this social group continues to improve. By 2035, the differently abled will live a richer material and cultural life, and the gap between them and the average national level will have been remarkably narrowed.

To achieve these goals, the Chinese Government is revising regulations on the employment of those differently abled, aiming to help them live better and more fulfilled lives through their work. In addition, the country is accelerating the upgrading of the social security system, so that the differently abled with unstable income will be included in government aid under China’s social safety net program.