https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Pohang University of Science and Technology It is well known that students who prepare in advance perform better in exams. Now, it appears that the skin can do the same. Rather than scrambling to repair itself only after injury occurs, a Korean research team has demonstrated that preconditioning a subset of skin cells into a "ready state" enables the tissue to initiate rapid and effective healing immediately upon injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-pre-priming-cells-regeneration.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:10 EDT news694946221 What if chronic diseases, which are difficult to treat with medicine alone, could be managed with electricity? As "neuromodulation"—a technology that restores bodily balance by sending signals directly to nerves—gains attention, a Korean research team has brought this possibility one step closer to reality. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-spinal-cord-stays-rigid-surgery.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:40:04 EDT news694427538 Stepping away from its billions-of-years-old role as a genetic blueprint, DNA is now embarking on a new journey as an active field agent within cells. This research by a team led by Professor Jongmin Kim and Ph.D. candidate Geonhu Lee from the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) was published in Nature Chemistry. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-platform-precise-cellular-genetic-dna.html Biotechnology Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:40:03 EDT news694361701 For decades, it has been widely believed that electrons move most efficiently in materials that are clean and highly ordered. Much like water flowing more easily through a smooth pipe, conventional wisdom has held that electrical transport improves as a material's internal structure becomes more perfectly arranged. However, a recent study shows that the opposite can also be true. A research team at POSTECH in South Korea has discovered that engineered disorder can actually enhance electron transport. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-disorder-mechanism-amplifies-transverse-electron.html General Physics Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:06 EDT news693661981 A research team led by Professor Sei Kwang Hahn (Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, POSTECH) has published an Editorial for an Advanced Materials Special Issue, in collaboration with Professor Dame Molly Stevens (University of Oxford, UK) and Professor John Rogers (Northwestern University, U.S.). The editorial was recently published online in Advanced Materials and was selected as the cover article. It provides a systematic overview of the latest advances and future directions in photonic nanomaterials and health care devices. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-smart-photonic-health-devices-future.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:30:02 EDT news692550767 A research team led by Professor Jonghun Kam from POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has revealed that typhoons are a critical factor in mitigating global droughts by simulating a scenario where typhoon-induced precipitation is removed. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, delivers the message that "imagining a world without typhoons is the starting point for understanding future droughts." https://phys.org/news/2026-03-typhoons-hidden-lifeline-drying-world.html Earth Sciences Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:40:01 EDT news692442362 A new technology has been developed to suppress immune rejection, the biggest challenge in organ transplantation, without causing systemic side effects. A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Ewha Womans University has developed the "Immune-Shield" technology, which directly sprays immunosuppressants onto the surface of organs using mussel-derived adhesive protein. These findings were published in the Journal of Controlled Release. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-spray-immune-shield-coats-transplant.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:00:01 EST news692024281 POSTECH's (Pohang University of Science and Technology) Professor Inseok Hwang's team has developed ArithMotion, a mobile virtual reality (VR) system that enables anyone to express a wide range of avatar motions with ease. Using simple arithmetic-like controls, users can scale an avatar's motion up or down and reverse it into an opposite response, allowing more natural nonverbal communication without expensive equipment. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-lifelike-vr-avatars.html Software Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:40:07 EST news692022182 The human body continuously generates a rich spectrum of vibrations—often without us ever noticing. Everyday unconscious activities such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing all produce subtle yet distinct mechanical signals. Although these faint vibrations carry valuable information about physiological state, they have long been difficult to capture accurately using conventional wearable devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-body-quietest-dynamic-movements-wearable.html Engineering Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:20:05 EST news691949041 How do people's attention and actions change when a drought affects the whole country compared to when it is concentrated in one region? A research team led by Professor Jong-Hoon Kam from the Department of Environmental Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) analyzed news reports, social media posts, and internet search data using artificial intelligence (AI) during the 2022–2023 drought period. The team found that public views of disasters change depending on the size of the problem and its distance from people. The study was recently published online in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-korean-extent-drought-areas-response.html Environment Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:42:26 EST news690136921 Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed an artificial intelligence approach that addresses a key bottleneck in analog semiconductor layout design, a process that has traditionally depended heavily on engineers' experience. The work was recently published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-analog-layout.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:36:16 EST news690050162 A research team has developed the "SUPER (Synthetic Upcycling Platform for Engineering Regulators)" platform, which dramatically enhances the performance and stability of gene regulatory devices. This research was recently published in Advanced Science. The team included Professor Jongmin Kim of the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH, along with graduate students Taeyang Heo, Dongwon Park, and Woosub Shin. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-upcycling-genes-super-platform-underperforming.html Biotechnology Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:11:27 EST news689951461 A research team from POSTECH and ImmunoBiome in Korea, led by Professor Sin-Hyeog Im, has uncovered a new mechanism showing how butyrate—a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut commensal bacteria—enhances T follicular helper (Tfh) cell activity to promote antibody production and strengthen mucosal vaccine efficacy. This study identifies a new microbiota–immune–antibody production axis linking microbial metabolism to mucosal immune responses, providing a strategy to maximize the protective effects of mucosal vaccines. The findings are published in the journal Microbiome. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-gut-microbe-derived-butyrate-immune.html Immunology Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:40 EST news689511601 A research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a secure hologram platform that operates solely based on the wavelength of light and the spacing between metasurface layers. The technology makes hacking and counterfeiting virtually impossible, and is expected to be widely adopted for security cards, anti-counterfeiting, and military communications. The paper is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-unhackable-metasurface-holograms-technology-distance.html Hi Tech & Innovation Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:23:59 EST news689347382 It has been revealed that simply twisting and stacking two layers of oxide crystals can allow the atomic arrangement itself to control the behavior of electrons. Much like the new patterns that emerge when two meshes are overlapped and rotated, a twisted oxide interface forms specific atomic configurations that act as an "invisible fence," either trapping or repelling electrons. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-oxide-crystals-atomic-patterns-repel.html Nanophysics Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:54:33 EST news688748042 It has long been considered common sense that a single device performs only one function. Just as tuning a radio to a different frequency changes the channel, systems that manipulate waves have traditionally been designed to operate at only one specific frequency, requiring different devices for different frequencies. Now, however, researchers have opened up a new possibility: a single thin plate can simultaneously distinguish elastic waves of multiple frequencies and precisely direct each of them to different locations. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-elastic-metasurface-capture-multiple-frequencies.html Engineering Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:19:23 EST news688670341 Steatotic liver disease (commonly called fatty liver disease) progresses silently. Even in the absence of noticeable symptoms, changes begin to unfold inside the liver. While hepatic fat accumulation remains a defining feature of the disease, steatotic liver disease is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial condition involving metabolic dysfunction and other interacting pathological processes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-steatotic-liver-disease-precisely-3d.html Radiology & Imaging Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:39:01 EST news688228681 Could an electric vehicle travel from Seoul to Busan and back on a single charge? Could drivers stop worrying about battery performance even in winter? A Korean research team has taken a major step toward answering these questions by developing an anode-free lithium metal battery that can deliver nearly double driving range using the same battery volume. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-anode-free-battery-electric-vehicle.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:00:01 EST news685709689 A new battery technology has been developed that delivers significantly higher energy storage—enough to alleviate EV range concerns—while lowering the risk of thermal runaway and explosion. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-magnetic-lithium-enables-safe-explosion.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:13:37 EST news685703581 To increase driving range, electric vehicle (EV) batteries rely on high-nickel cathodes. However, this high nickel content has a critical drawback: battery performance degrades rapidly during charging and discharging. The primary cause has now been identified as internal structural distortion, which generates "oxygen holes" that shorten the battery's lifespan—similar to how a warped pillar can crack a building's walls. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-aluminum-stabilizes-high-nickel-cathodes.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:18:43 EST news684152281 A team of Korean scientists has developed a separator technology that dramatically reduces the explosion risk of lithium batteries while doubling their lifespan. Like an ultra-thin bulletproof vest protecting both sides, this molecularly engineered membrane stabilizes both the anode and cathode in next-generation lithium-metal batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-molecular-membrane-lithium-batteries-safer.html Engineering Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:21:36 EST news683824861 In the UK, there was a case where TGN1412, an immunotherapy under development, triggered a cytokine storm within hours of administration to humans, leading to multiple organ failure. Another example, Aptiganel, a stroke drug candidate, was also highly effective in animals but was discontinued in humans due to side effects such as hallucinations and sedation. Drugs considered safe in preclinical tests can be fatal in human clinical trials. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-ai-drug-toxicity-differences-animal.html Medications Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:58:04 EST news681739082 A South Korean research team has, for the first time, uncovered the molecular-level mechanism by which trace amounts of impurities—known as dopants—can reverse charge polarity in organic polymer semiconductors. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-concentrationcontrolled-doping-ptype-polymer-semiconductor.html Engineering Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:20:01 EDT news681131777 According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, as of early 2024, there are approximately 40 million electric vehicles (EVs) in operation worldwide. Among them, verified battery-related fires in light-duty EVs number just over 500 between 2010 and mid-2023, corresponding to a fire risk of roughly 1 in 100,000 vehicles. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-3d-porous-safer-longer-lithium.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:17:04 EDT news681128222 Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide, often triggered by chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Similar to a blocked water pipe causing backflow and pressure buildup, an occluded retinal vein leads to edema, inflammation, and neovascularization, ultimately resulting in irreversible blindness. Despite the availability of anti-VEGF injections and laser therapy, there is still no effective treatment that fully restores damaged retinal tissues, primarily due to the lack of physiologically relevant disease models. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-combating-intractable-3d-bio-retina.html Ophthalmology Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:10:01 EDT news680957889 A research team has introduced a novel cancer immunotherapy strategy. This approach involves attaching "fake targets" to tumor cells to guide immune cell attacks, overcoming the limitations of conventional antibody-based therapies. The study is published in ACS Nano. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-fake-tumor-cells-enables-antigen.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:58:03 EDT news679845481 POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) Professor Hyung Joo Lee's research team, including integrated program students Min Young Shin and Na Rae Kim, has published the results of a study analyzing how the combined effects of droughts and wildfires influence fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in California, U.S., using 15 years of data. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-impact-compound-drought-wildfire-events.html Earth Sciences Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:00:41 EDT news679752038 Uncontrolled bleeding during surgery remains one of the deadliest medical emergencies. Injuries to internal organs such as the liver or spleen are especially dangerous because bleeding is difficult to control and often life-threatening. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-bioadhesive-sponge-mussels-extracellular-matrix.html Surgery Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:00:03 EDT news679752001 A supercritical fluid refers to a state in which the temperature and pressure of a substance exceed its critical point, where no distinction exists between liquid and gas phases. Traditionally, it has been regarded as a single, uniform phase. However, a research team at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) experimentally demonstrated nonequilibrium phase separation within supercritical fluids by observing nanometer-sized "liquid clusters" that persist for up to one hour. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-supercritical-fluids-thought-uniform-liquid.html General Physics Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:00:17 EDT news678617595 In the world of metals, it has long been considered common knowledge that achieving both strength and ductility (the ability to stretch without breaking) at the same time is nearly impossible. When a metal is made stronger, it typically becomes brittle, and when it is made more ductile, it usually loses strength—like a seesaw, where one property increases as the other decreases. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-simple-treatment-yields-alloy-strength.html Engineering Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:32:04 EDT news677842322