Engineering & Technology

The electron is an elementary particle, a building block on which other systems evolve. With specific properties such as spin, or angular momentum, that can be manipulated to carry information, electrons are primed to advance modern information technology. An international collaboration of researchers has now developed a way to extend and stabilize the lifetime of the electron's spin to more effectively carry information.

Intermetallic alloys potentially have high strength in a high-temperature environment. But they generally suffer poor ductility at ambient and low temperatures, hence limiting their applications in aerospace and other engineering fields. Yet, a research team led by scientists of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has recently discovered the disordered nanoscale layers at grain boundaries in the ordered intermetallic alloys. The nanolayers can not only resolve the irreconcilable conflict between strength and ductility effectively, but also maintain the alloy’s strength with excellent thermal stability at high temperatures. Designing similar nanolayers may open a pathway for the design of new structural materials with optimal alloy properties.

Jointly organised by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Science Centre Singapore

While scientists still don’t fully understand the diverse nature of RNA molecules, it is believed that the proteins binding to them, called RNA-binding proteins, are associated with many disease formation. A research led by biomedical scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has developed a novel detection method, called CARPID, to identify binding proteins of specific RNAs in the living cells. It is expected the innovation can be applied in various cell research, from identifying biomarkers of cancer diagnosis to detecting potential drug targets for treating viral diseases.

IBM teams up with UN SDSN Youth Philippines to deliver a highly trained artificial intelligence chatbot on COVID-19.

Filipino youth organization, UN SDSN Youth – Philippines, is paving the way for accessible information on the current pandemic.

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) received numerous international recognitions and honours for its research excellence at different invention exhibitions worldwide in 2019. In appreciation of the concerted efforts of its scholars across different disciplines, the University organised the “EdUHK Award Winning Innovations Salon” in January 2020 to showcase and promote its endeavours in knowledge transfer.

The Academy of Film (AF) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will offer its Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Acting for Global Screen programme starting in the 2020/21 academic year. The course seeks to be the most competitive undergraduate programme in acting performance available, with cross-cultural and global enrichments that fully meet the needs of stage acting, acting with the aid of media technology, acting for the screen and social media in film industries.

A unique artificial intelligence approach is sifting through samples to find undiscovered fundamental particles that might clarify unexplainable physical phenomena.

Acute kidney injuries can sometimes trigger the deterioration of small blood vessels and capillaries, leading to chronic kidney disease. But, this process is not completely understood. Now, for the first time, researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Korea, in collaboration with teams from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA, have successfully used ultrasound super-resolution (USR) imaging to observe this process in live mice, revealing the promise of USR as a powerful diagnostic and research tool, and enhancing understanding of the disease.

Scientists in Korea explain a new process that maximizes photon conversion in 2D materials, which could innovate photonic-based applications

15 organizations recognized for their exemplary performance and valuable contributions in shaping new trends across Asia-Pacific

"Neuromorphic" refers to mimicking the behavior of brain neural cells. When one speaks of neuromorphic computers, they are talking about making computers think and process more like human brains-operating at high-speed with low energy consumption.

A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has unveiled a novel material that could enable major leaps in the miniaturization of electronic devices.

A newly launched scholarship, up to HK$1.56 million(around USD 200,000), is set to attract high-calibre PhD candidates from around the world to City University of Hong Kong (CityU).

With governments, including Singapore’s, discouraging large-scale events such as conferences, MIT Technology Review and Koelnmesse are shifting their EmTech Asia event online.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are sponge-like organic-inorganic hybrid materials and have a variety of uses due to their ultra-high “porosity,” or the ratio of pores or air pockets to the solid material. Through a technique called “post-synthetic modification,” Professor Jinhee Park and her research team were able to enhance and modify the function of these materials for specific purposes.

To extend its joint research training arrangements with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has signed an agreement on academic and educational collaboration with the Hiroshima University (HU).

The MarTech Summit takes its first steps out into the virtual world! Taking place on the 16th and 17th of June, the Virtual MarTech Summit will gather over 1000 attendees from a range of backgrounds, the only common denominator is the love of MarTech.

Considering hydrogen as a clean energy for future, scientists have been striving to develop novel processes to produce hydrogen efficiently and cost-effectively. A team comprised of scientists who specialized in structure materials at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has developed a high-performance electrocatalyst based on an innovative concept originally for developing alloys. The new electrocatalyst can be produced at large scale and low cost, providing a new paradigm in a wide application of hydrogen production by electrochemical reaction in future.

The Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic cooperation with the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE) under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Kingdom of Cambodia on 7 May 2019, with the aim of building the capacity of Cambodian universities for quality enhancement of higher education teaching and learning. This was the first international MoU signed by the Ministry.

An adenovirus is now better able to target and kill cancer cells due to the addition of an RNA stabilizing element.

Nature Index 2020 South Korea, published in the May 28 issue of Nature, investigates South Korea’s strategy to become a “first mover” by investing in basic research grants and original discoveries.

Publisher becomes largest research publisher to sign DORA (San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment), joining thousands of research institutions, publishers, imprints and funders in the commitment to ensure a balanced and fair approach to research assessment

Open access book output has doubled in two years, supporting Springer Nature’s commitment to open research

First open access publisher, BMC celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Scientists are unraveling the properties of electricity-conducting plastics so they can be used in future energy-harvesting devices.

The weak performance of Hong Kong children in age-appropriate tests of theory of mind (ToM) has been well documented. The awareness of mental states, such as the thoughts, wants, motives and feelings of others, and the realisation that these may differ from our own are vital for social interaction and can affect learning. Therefore, the delay in acquiring this social-cognitive skill is worrying and raises questions: What are the factors that affect the pace of reaching these developmental milestones, and can children catch up?

Wastewater could be used as a surveillance tool to monitor the invasion, spread and eradication of COVID-19 in communities.

Researchers have succeeded in detecting anti-avian influenza virus antibody in blood serum within 20 minutes, using a portable analyzer they have developed to conduct rapid on-site bio tests. If a suitable reagent is developed, this technology could be used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19.