Research Fronts 2025: Mapping the evolving landscape of global science and technology

Public summary

* Research Fronts 2025 maps global science, identifying 128 hot/emerging fronts across 11 broad areas.

* Key themes include the planetary boundaries framework, high-throughput single-cell, petawatt-class lasers, etc.

* AI evolved from a supplementary tool into a core engine, reshaping research paradigms across all areas.

* The work offers science insights to support future innovation and strategic decision-making.

Abstract

This study employs co-citation analysis of highly cited core papers, complemented by expert interpretation, to identify 128 hot and emerging research fronts for 2025 across 11 broad areas of natural and social sciences. By combining a macroscopic overview with microscopic examinations, the study characterizes the developmental momentum of each area and conducts in-depth interpretations of selected key fronts to elucidate their strategic value and scientific breakthroughs. Prominent themes garnering significant attention include the planetary boundaries framework, high-throughput single-cell technologies, high-temperature polymer dielectrics, petawatt-class lasers, dark matter detection, etc. Furthermore, organized basic research utilizing large-scale infrastructure and deep interdisciplinary integration is actively expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. Crucially, the findings demonstrate a flourishing scientific revolution characterized by the rapid emergence of new theories and technologies. The analysis highlights a profound paradigm shift in which artificial intelligence (AI) transcends its role as a mere tool to become the core engine reshaping research across mathematics, life sciences, and social sciences. Ultimately, by illuminating these specific focal points, this study serves as a vital resource for researchers and policymakers to monitor the evolving trajectory of basic science and future development trends.