https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) A KAIST research team has identified the real reason why anticancer drugs kill cancer cells—targeted anticancer therapies do not simply block cancer proteins but rather shut down the "protein factories" inside the cells, forcing them to undergo self-destruction. Consequently, the "two-faced protein" that plays a key role in this process is gaining attention as a breakthrough for treating patients with drug resistance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-protein-discovery-leukemia-drugs-succeed.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:20:03 EDT news696164761 A new technology has been proposed that could fundamentally solve the issue of smartphones overheating during high-spec gaming or extended video streaming. Researchers at KAIST have discovered the principle of processing signals using the minute vibrations of magnets (spin waves) instead of electrons. This method significantly reduces heat generation and power consumption while enabling instantaneous frequency switching within the several GHz range. This breakthrough is expected to pave the way for smart devices with less heat and longer battery life, as well as ultra-low-power, high-speed computing. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-boost-strange-magnetic-rewrites-chips.html Condensed Matter Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:10:06 EDT news696007861 A new technology allows light to be "designed" into desired forms, potentially making AI and communication technologies faster and more accurate. A KAIST research team has developed an "integrated photonic resonator"—a core component of next-generation optical integrated circuits that process data using light. Interestingly, the research was led by an undergraduate student. This technology is expected to serve as a key foundation for next-generation security technologies such as high-speed data processing and quantum communication. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-tiny-resonator-ai-chips-communications.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:40:01 EDT news695575202 Expectations are rising for all-solid-state batteries—the "dream battery" with low fire risk—not only for electric vehicles but also for various fields such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). A research team at KAIST has presented a new design principle that simultaneously overcomes the limitations of solid electrolytes, which were previously vulnerable to air exposure and suffered from low performance. This technology is gaining significant attention as it can enhance both battery safety and charging speeds, demonstrating the feasibility of commercializing next-generation all-solid-state batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-oxygen-anchoring-air-stable-solid.html Engineering Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:20:01 EDT news695563663 What if ChatGPT answered with the name of a minister from a year ago when asked, "Who was the minister inaugurated last month?" This is a prime example of the limitations of AI that fails to properly reflect the latest information. A KAIST research team has developed a new evaluation technology that automatically reflects changing real-world information while catching "temporal errors" that may appear correct on the surface. This is expected to drastically improve AI reliability. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-ai-temporal-errors-reliability-medical.html Computer Sciences Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:40:04 EDT news695374741 Wireless sensors used in wearable smart devices and medical equipment must be capable of detecting minute changes while maintaining high operational stability. However, existing technologies often utilize excessively high frequencies, leading to electromagnetic interference (EMI) or potential health risks to the human body. To address these fundamental issues, a Korean research team has developed a low-frequency-based wireless sensor technology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-frequency-wireless-sensor-tracks-artery.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:40:04 EDT news695315048 Instead of applying ointment and attaching a bandage, a "smart patch that regulates treatment intensity on its own just by being attached" has appeared. A research team has developed a "self-regulating OLED wound healing patch" that combines light and drugs to pull up the wound recovery speed by about twice. It is expected to develop into an intelligent treatment technology where light regulates drug release according to the patient's condition in the future. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-oled-patch-automate-drug.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:40:03 EDT news695305461 A KAIST research team has developed quadrupedal robot technology that not only enables walking by estimating terrain without visual information, but also allows the robot to perceive its surroundings through cameras and LiDAR sensors and make its own decisions while walking, much like animals that visually examine terrain and adjust their steps. This technology is also expected to be extended to various robotic platforms such as wheeled-legged robots and humanoid robots. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-robot-danger-route-powers-obstacles.html Robotics Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:20:08 EDT news695290202 In the process of converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals such as ethylene—a key precursor for plastics—a major challenge has been the flooding of electrodes, where electrolyte penetrates the electrode structure and reduces performance. KAIST researchers have developed a new electrode design that blocks water while maintaining efficient electrical conduction and catalytic reactions, thereby improving both efficiency and stability. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-electrode-technology-efficiency-plastic-precursors.html Polymers Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:04 EDT news694773151 Professor Gyu Rie Lee of the Department of Biological Sciences successfully designed artificial proteins that selectively recognize specific compounds using AI through joint research with Professor David Baker. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, is characterized by using AI to design proteins that recognize specific compounds from scratch (de novo) and implementing them as functional biosensors. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ai-proteins-built-specific-compounds.html Biotechnology Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news694958188 For smartphones and computers to become smaller and faster, technologies capable of precisely controlling electrical properties at the nanoscale—beyond what is visible to the naked eye—are essential. In particular, ferroelectric materials, which can maintain their electrical state without external power, are gaining attention as key components for next-generation memory and sensor technologies. However, due to their extremely small size, there have been limitations in precisely observing the internal changes occurring within these materials. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-roadmap-atomic-microscopy-generation-semiconductor.html Nanomaterials Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:50:01 EDT news694871162 A breakthrough technology has emerged to fundamentally solve the camera protrusion/thickness issue, which has been a persistent limitation as smart devices become thinner. A KAIST research team has developed an ultra-thin camera that achieves a wide 140-degree field of view (FOV) without any lens protrusion. This technology is expected to be applied across various fields, including medical endoscopes, wearable devices, and micro-robots. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-ultra-thin-camera-degree-view.html Engineering Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:40:05 EDT news694787522 While mixing materials typically leads to instability, there exists a phenomenon known as high entropy, where increasing compositional complexity can actually enhance stability. KAIST researchers have leveraged this principle to enable faster proton transport and more efficient reactions within electrochemical cells, developing a technology that significantly improves hydrogen production efficiency. This breakthrough is expected to reduce hydrogen costs and accelerate the transition to clean energy. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-high-entropy-hydrogen-production.html Engineering Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:01 EDT news694694242 From smartphone facial recognition to autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI) has long been protected as a black box. However, a joint research team from KAIST and international institutions has uncovered a new security threat capable of peeking at AI blueprints from behind walls. The team also presented corresponding defense technologies. This discovery is expected to be utilized in strengthening AI security across various sectors, including autonomous driving, health care, and finance. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-ai-blueprints-stolen-small-antenna.html Security Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:40:02 EDT news694274582 In chemical processes for producing pharmaceuticals, catalysts are a core technology that determines production speed and cost. However, until now, there has been a trade-off between "precise but disposable catalysts" and "reusable catalysts." A KAIST research team has developed an eco-friendly catalytic technology that combines these two types, operating solely with light and air. This opens a pathway to producing pharmaceutical ingredients more cheaply and cleanly, with expected reductions in carbon emissions and environmental pollution. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cyclic-catalysts-sunlight-air-regenerate.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:40:06 EDT news694099741 Hygiene in everyday items that touch the body—such as clothing, masks, and toothbrushes—is critically important. The underlying principle of how graphene selectively eliminates only bacteria has now been revealed. In Advanced Functional Materials, a KAIST research team presents the potential for a next-generation antibacterial material that is safe for the human body and capable of replacing antibiotics. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-graphene-oxide-bacteria-human-cells.html Bio & Medicine Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:30:01 EDT news693754306 A KAIST research team has solved the "solar cell dilemma," in which increasing efficiency shortens lifespan, while extending lifespan lowers efficiency. The team developed a technology to precisely control the internal structure of a surface passivation layer in perovskite solar cells, successfully achieving both high efficiency exceeding 25% and long-term stability at the same time. The study is published in the journal Joule. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-perovskite-solar-cells-efficiency-lifespan.html Engineering Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:01 EDT news693822601 Morning-blooming morning glories and flowers that release fragrance at night seem as if they know the time. A KAIST research team has uncovered, at the molecular level, the workings of a "biological clock" aligned with insect behavior. This study suggests potential applications in technologies for controlling flowering time and fragrance. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-biological-clock-blooming-scent-insects.html Plants & Animals Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:10:01 EDT news693821101 A toxic gas known for its "rotten egg smell" has been transformed into a therapeutic tool. A research team at KAIST has developed a technology to precisely control hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using electrical signals, bringing us one step closer to precision medicine that targets only the desired areas while minimizing side effects. The work is published in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-bioelectronic-platform-enables-precise-h8322s.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:20:01 EDT news693650402 While space structures and robotic arms require lightweight actuation devices capable of repetitive movement, conventional motor-based systems face limitations due to their heavy weight and complex structures. A KAIST research team has developed a smart material-based actuation technology that operates rapidly in less than a second without a motor, suggesting new possibilities for next-generation robotics and space deployable structures. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-robotic-motors-shifting-actuator.html Robotics Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:04 EDT news693650702 From smartphones to large-scale AI servers, most digital information in modern society is stored in NAND flash memory. KAIST researchers have developed an innovative technology that can overcome the limitations of next-generation semiconductors, where more data must be stored in smaller spaces. This advancement is expected to serve as a key enabling technology for realizing ultra-high-capacity memory. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-storage-capacity-smart-gate-semiconductor.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:30:10 EDT news693505262 Skyrmions, in which electron spins inside a magnet are arranged like vortices, are a key structure in next-generation spintronics technology. KAIST researchers have shown that skyrmions can form using only the fundamental physical interactions within magnets, without requiring special physical conditions. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-exotic-physics-formation-mechanism-skyrmions.html General Physics Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:03 EDT news693138181 Cells in our bodies produce RNA based on genetic information stored in DNA, and RNA serves as a blueprint for making proteins. Researchers at KAIST have discovered a new phenomenon: Removing "circular RNA" that accumulates in cells as we age can slow down aging and extend lifespan. This study provides crucial clues for uncovering the principles of aging and developing treatment strategies for related diseases. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-circular-rna-cells-lifespan-elegans.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:00:02 EDT news693066602 While large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are adept at answering countless questions, they often remain unaware of a user's minor habits or previous conversational contexts. This is why AI, despite being deeply integrated into our daily lives, can still feel like a "stranger." Overcoming these limitations, researchers at KAIST, led by Professor Hoi-Jun Yoo from the Graduate School of AI Semiconductors, have developed the world's first AI semiconductor, dubbed "SoulMate," which learns and adapts to a user's speech style, preferences, and emotions in real-time—becoming a true "digital soulmate." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-soulmate-llm-evolves-specific-characteristics.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:40:06 EDT news693044581 Research is actively underway to develop a "dream memory" that can reduce heat generation in smartphones and laptops while delivering faster performance and lower power consumption. Korean researchers propose a new possibility for controlling magnetism using the exchange interaction of electron orbitals—the motion of electrons orbiting around an atomic nucleus—rather than relying on the conventional exchange interaction of electron spin, the rotational property of electrons inside semiconductors. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-electron-orbitals-method-magnetism.html Condensed Matter Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:40:03 EDT news692890029 What if electronic circuits could be created simply by drawing lines with a pencil on paper or leaves—and then immediately applied to soft robots or skin-attached health monitoring devices? Korean researchers have developed an electronic materials technology that forms electrically conductive liquid metal in a fine powder form, allowing circuits to be drawn directly on a wide variety of surfaces. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-mechanically-liquid-metal-powder-users.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:20:03 EDT news692890041 Technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted from factories and power plants into useful chemical feedstocks are considered key to achieving carbon neutrality. However, rapid degradation of catalyst performance has long hindered commercialization. KAIST researchers have now developed a "self-regenerating" catalyst that restores its activity during operation, offering a potential solution to this challenge. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-regenerating-catalyst-advancing-conversion-technology.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:20:03 EDT news692525761 More than 500 years ago, Michelangelo spent four years painting "The Creation of Adam" on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, struggling with paint dripping onto his face. He described the process as "closer to torture than painting." Now, researchers at KAIST have developed a technology that can effectively "hold up falling paint." Beyond ceiling paintings, this principle could help solve the problem of liquid films collapsing on inclined surfaces, with potential applications in precision coating, electronic circuit printing, 3D printing, and fluid control in space environments. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-annoyance-hindered-michelangelo-creation-adam.html Engineering Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:06 EDT news692527599 Drug addiction carries an extremely high risk of relapse, as cravings can be reignited by minor stimuli even long after one has stopped using. Previously, this phenomenon was attributed to a decline in the function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which regulates impulses. However, a joint international research team has recently revealed that the cause of addiction relapse is not a simple decline in brain function, but rather an imbalance in specific neural circuits. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-pv-inhibitory-neurons-prefrontal-cortex.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:40:01 EDT news692370421 Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines have gained attention as a next-generation pharmaceutical technology. mRNA therapeutics work by delivering genetic instructions that enable cells to produce specific proteins for therapeutic effects. However, their efficacy has been reported to decline in elderly individuals or patients with obesity. To address this limitation, Korean researchers have newly designed a key regulatory region of mRNA that improves therapeutic protein production efficiency, developing a next-generation mRNA platform that maintains effectiveness even in aging and obesity conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-mrna-platform-effective-aging-obesity.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:20:05 EDT news692362446