Engineering & Technology

A multi-institutional research team led by Osaka University has engineered a way to preserve the electrical properties of materials as they are shrunk to the nanoscale. The use of the soft substrate hexagonal boron nitride reduces damage to the atomic structure caused by strain, allowing materials to keep their conductive properties as films as thin as 12 nm.

Aeration tanks in wastewater treatment plants are revealed as contributors to the emission and enrichment of airborne antibiotic resistance genes, raising significant public health concerns.

Microdroplets of acidic solution on small aluminum surfaces were subjected to an electric current, transforming the metal into glass-like TAlOx.

A research team from Osaka University and Diponegoro University, Indonesia has developed two new autonomous navigation systems for cyborg insects to better navigate unknown, complex environments. The algorithms utilized only simple circuits that leveraged natural insect behaviors, like wall-following and climbing, to navigate challenging terrain, such as sandy, rock-strewn surfaces. For all difficulties of terrain tested, the cyborg insects were able to reach their target destination, demonstrating the potential of cyborg insects for surveillance, disaster-site exploration, and more.

Gate-controllable TMD spin valves enable ultralow power, high-speed operation, offering efficient read/write performance for spintronic memory.

A collaboration led by researchers at Osaka University has developed a versatile platform with an electrically controlled nanogate that can be used for applications in sensing, chemical synthesis, memristors, and neuromorphic computing. The nanogate, which consists of a pore in a membrane, is closed by the formation of a precipitate and opened by the dissolution of the precipitate, which are regulated by the applied voltage.

Researchers at Osaka University developed advanced terahertz photodetectors containing ‘living’ microelectrodes. A vanadium dioxide (VO2) layer was precisely deposited on a silicon substrate. Temperature regulation modulated the size of conductive metallic areas in VO2, forming a dynamic microelectrode network that selectively enhanced the response of the silicon substrate to terahertz light. These advanced photodetectors reveal the potential of modifiable metamaterials such as VO2 to overcome the performance limitations of traditional materials.

- DGIST Prof. Park Kyung-joon’s team has developed the world's first formula to optimize DDS communication performance for multi-robot collaboration and scalability in ROS 2-based robotic systems. - The research findings are presented at IEEE INFOCOM 2025, the world's leading international conference in the field.

- DGIST Professor Kyung-In Jang’s team develops a smart patch capable of simultaneous electrical and optical cardiovascular health monitoring and immediate drug delivery using a foldable structure - Anticipated to evolve into an intelligent healthcare platform for real-time monitoring and the treatment of cardiovascular and chronic diseases

- A research team led by DGIST Prof. Kim Hoe Joon and Dr. Jeong Soon Moon has developed a self-power generation technology that uses motion and pressure to produce electricity and light simultaneously - It is stable even underwater and is expected to be used in various fields, such as disaster rescue

This pyroclastic material—usually considered as waste—is rich in iron, enabling it to efficiently block X-rays and gamma rays.

This novel finding regarding the nonreciprocal diffraction of acoustic waves could open doors for next-generation communication devices.

Researchers have discovered that the gemstone spinel is capable of storing quantum information, making it a viable material in the field of quantum technology.

The team’s findings have potential applications in photonics and memory devices.

Researchers use high-brilliance synchrotron radiation to identify the half-metal mix with the highest half-metallic nature.

The algorithm uses data from existing materials to accurately predict the strength and flexibility of new unknown polymers.

Three researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) are pioneering diverse technologies for greener, safer, and more efficient transport.

Ultrasound charging for biomedical devices penetrates the body better and researchers have shown that the receiver’s shape improves energy transfer.

Inspired by elephants, researchers grow fungus in elephant-skin patterns to create better insulation for buildings.

Nanopapers that swell into larger 3D structures pave the path towards designs of intelligent materials like robotic sensors and tissue engineering.

Touch sensors for robots and bionic applications can now work from 100 mm away, offering new sensitivity for 3D recognition and wireless data transmission.

A new model for light emission from ultrathin materials could ease the development of photonic devices and quantum technology.

The sticky secret of a gecko’s foot has inspired scientists to develop robots that can pick up and release fragile objects without damage.

Electron spin states can now be efficiently explored at much higher resolution, opening new opportunities for faster electronics including quantum computers.

Novel crystal patterning method shows promise for photomechanical applications

SUTD researchers designed a novel nonlinear chiral metasurface that could generate circularly polarized light more easily, expanding optics-based applications.

Crossing the uncanny valley, Batteries that don’t explode, Tiny climate change fighters, Liver-friendly mushroom & Foetal defence. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Deformation in thin membrane can be measured using simple method

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a technology for voltage-controlled magnetization switching, which has the potential to be implemented in next-generation computational memory. This advanced technology enables low-energy data writing operations with non-volatility, making it scalable for future applications that require stable and reliable memory.

How do Directional Connections Shape Complex Dynamics in Neuronal Networks?