Engineering & Technology

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.

A group of Hokkaido University researchers has developed a paper-based device that can easily and cheaply measure lithium ion concentration in blood, which could greatly help bipolar disorder patients.

Following the completion of the 2017 World Bank project in Vietnam, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) is extending its reach to another ASEAN country, Cambodia, by building the capacity of higher education teachers to enhance access to quality education there.

Researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology develop a simple approach for controlling the otherwise random formation of cracks in flexible thin-film conductors, greatly increasing the durability of flexible electrodes and transistors against bending and folding.

Announcement of Results

The group clarified for the first time whether formate dehydrogenase reduces carbon dioxide, biocarbonate ion, or carbonate ion to formic acid. Points to a catalyst in developing and designing an artificial photosynthesis system that efficiently converts carbon dioxide into organic molecules.

A research team led by Prof. Yi-Chun LU from the Faculty of Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has taken a critical step forward in improving high-energy batteries by introducing a novel electrolyte to the aqueous lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. This electrolyte is commonly used in skin cream. It is inexpensive, inflammable, less toxic and is eco-friendly, yet can create stable voltage for common usage. The breakthrough was recently published in the world-leading scientific journal, Nature Materials, a sister journal of Nature.

A search engine retrieves authenticated Islamic content from the Internet.

A biodegradable sanitary pad made from sago starch could add to efforts aimed at protecting the environment from plastic waste.

Scientists are finding safer ways to keep drug-loaded microrobots attached to cancer tissue.

Springer Nature and UNESCO have signed an agreement to publish open access books on a range of issues cutting across major research areas such as education, culture, the natural sciences, the human and social sciences and communication and information

Application period now open for award programme that acknowledges and celebrates outstanding women working in STEM* research and outreach

Approach means Plan S-funded authors will be able to continue to submit research to these journals

New white paper analyses data from Springer Nature authors and interviews with institutions to better understand the fragmented and varied funding currently available for article processing charges (APCs)

New transformative read and publish deal agreed with Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

A range of essential textbooks from all disciplines will be freely available to support higher education institutions worldwide

Springer Nature achieves new milestone in 2019 in publishing over 100,000 OA articles in one year, and is the largest OA publisher of primary research

Springer Nature Group commits to be net carbon neutral this year, as part of an ongoing reduction in emissions and broader responsible business programme.

A technology to further accelerate the commercialization of Colloidal Quantum Dot(CQD) Photovoltaic(PV) devices, which are expected to be next-generation photovoltaic devices, has been developed.

Two Kavli IPMU string theorists and a condensed-matter theorist have found a quantum mechanical anomaly in the duality between the electric field and the magnetic field, which could play a role in removing an inconsistency in string theory.

A research team led by Professor Kin-ming KWAN from the School of Life Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recently discovered a novel mechanism by which extrinsic signaling factors modulate the fate transition of neural progenitors to allow the generation of specific neuronal subtypes. This work provides important insight into stem cell biology and the regeneration of neuronal cells, and contributes to the development of neurological therapy for diseases like autism spectrum disorders and hereditary cerebellar ataxia. The research is published in the renowned international scientific journal Cell Reports.

Principal Researcher Soon Moon Jeong at DGIST developed in-plane electro-luminescent(EL) technology that inserts electrodes into a luminous layer

Concurrent Exhibition at ITEX'20: World Young Inventors Exhibition, incorporating Asian Young Inventors Exhibition and Malaysian young Inventors Exhibition.

In a recent study published in Autophagy, researchers at Kanazawa University show how abnormalities in a gene called TPR can lead to pediatric brain cancer

Singapore's National Supercomputing Centre fast track access for researchers involved in COVID-19 research. Applications are open from now until 23 September 2020.

Human motor control has always been efficient at executing complex movements naturally, efficiently, and without much thought involved. This is because of the existence of motor synergy in the central nervous system (CNS). Motor synergy allows the CNS to use a smaller set of variables to control a large group of muscles; thereby simplifying the control over coordinated and complex movements.