Nie Jiahui, a high school graduate from Beijing who received his acceptance letter on August 10 to become a physics major freshman at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), said he was thrilled to receive a special message from space.

As one of the students accepted for enrolment as undergraduates by UCAS, Nie was lucky to receive the first offer package sent by the university, which includes a vinyl disk containing the sounds of 15 pulsars.

The signals were recorded using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope in Guizhou Province, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope. Thirteen of them were released publicly for the first time.

Nan Rendong, chief scientist and engineer of the telescope, is a 1978 alumnus of the university and also an outstanding representative of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“The mysterious and wonderful sound seems to have taken my thoughts to outer space. This is the most advanced gift I have received and I will treasure this package for the rest of my life,” Nie said.

In 2019, Nie participated in the university’s summer camp for high school students, and then made up his mind that UCAS would be the ideal university where he could realize his scientific dreams.

Li Shushen, the university’s president, said in a letter to prospective undergraduate freshmen that the 150-second-long “echoes of the universe” were meant to let them physically experience the scientific progress the nation has made, and encourage them to answer the call of duty to remain curious and eager as they learn and explore science and innovation.

Talented young people should undertake the major historical mission in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, matching their pursuit of personal ideals with the call of the new era, Li said.

The university also made headlines with its acceptance package last year, which included the Chinese-made Loongson 3 computer chip with the aim of reminding talented young people that a small and unassuming gadget can change the world.

Source: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences