BEIJING: The Tianlai experimental array, China's pioneering dark energy radio detection initiative, has been officially recognized as a SKA Pathfinder by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an intergovernmental organization comprising 10 international member states. This certification, learned from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, marks a significant milestone, offering new avenues for scientific exploration and the testing of innovative detection technologies for the SKA. According to Emirates News Agency, the Tianlai project is situated at an observation station in Hami, within Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Primarily focused on conducting neutral hydrogen surveys, the project aims to study the large-scale structure of the universe, dark energy, and other cosmological topics. The project utilizes both cylindrical and dish-shaped antennas, with the cylindrical array featuring three paraboloid reflector antennas, each equipped with 96 feeds, and t he dish array comprising 16 six-meter diameter parabolic antennas. Astronomical observations have determined that approximately 70 percent of the universe consists of dark energy, contributing to the universe's accelerated expansion. As a certified SKA Pathfinder project, the Tianlai array is poised to test technologies for detecting neutral hydrogen and extracting faint 21-centimeter hydrogen signals. "These techniques can be applied to the SKA project. Through practical observations and data analyses, we can identify real-world issues that theoretical analyses alone cannot fully address," stated Chen Xuelei, chief scientist of the Tianlai project and researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories. Robert Braun, the science director of the SKA, emphasized that the Tianlai project will set the stage for the forthcoming SKA radio observatory. Despite the organization being in its initial operational phase, existing radio antennas and experimental projects are expected to continue to contribute valuabl e insights for scientific plans and research foundations. Furthermore, the technologies developed through the Tianlai project hold potential applications for future large-scale astronomical telescope projects. The SKA itself is a next-generation giant radio telescope array currently under construction, representing a collaborative effort among 10 countries, including China, South Africa, the UK, and Australia. The SKA Pathfinder project encompasses various significant scientific instruments globally related to SKA science and technology.