Press releases

Dr Judyanna Ng, Senior Lecturer of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), displayed her innovative design in an extraordinary and glamorous knitwear fashion show in Hong Kong "Knitwear Symphony 2011" staged on the 19th January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Takashi Kawai, a Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, analyses the current boom in 3D entertainment and the potential future applications of 3D technology.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has further extended its collaboration with the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (HKSH) in providing the highly popular Master of Nursing Programme for degree holders of other disciplines to join the profession. HKSH will also introduce new scholarship and bursary for students.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Geoscience: Variable melting of Himalayan glaciers; Immunology: Antibody diversity linked to gut mucosal defense; Geoscience: Coal contribution to Permian extinction; Chemical Biology: An inhibitor sneaks in; And finally…Neuroscience: Strengthening memories during sleep.

Researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center have discovered a series of genes that control cell division and cell growth

Helical molecules that contract reversibly when oxidized pave the way to new single-molecule electrochemical switches

Polymer films that unfurl in the light could be the first of a new family of functional materials

A new study on social cognition has clarified a key role for the medial frontal region of the cerebral cortex in differentiating between the actions of oneself and the actions of others.

New findings reported this week in Science by researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) shed first-ever light on the neural mechanisms that enable board game experts to quickly generate optimal moves.

‘Social’ robots with human-like mannerisms allow for more natural interactions with human users.

Forensic scientists have developed an automated system to extract volatile data from mobile phones

Computer-aided molecular design can help scientists find more efficient catalysts for polymerization reactions

Photonics and microelectromechanical systems fabricated separately on different wafers can now be aligned precisely by finishing with a single processing step

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Social evolution: Small farmers; Comment: Prenatal genetic testing is here at last; Social evolution: Small farmers; Quantum physics: Solid-state spins entangled by the billions; Social evolution: Too risky to succeed?; And finally… To sleep, perchance to dream.

Officials of international health agencies are recommending a pilot roll-out of cholera vaccination in Haiti, despite the fact that even using the world’s entire stockpile of doses would leave most Haitians without vaccine.

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology have managed to sustain the growth of chicken embryos outside the egg.

Neuroscientists have uncovered why relatively minor details of an episode are sometimes inexplicably linked to long-term memories.

Major floods in many parts of the world have been reported in the international news. Alongside the devastation in Australia and South America, both Sri Lanka and the Philippines have experienced flash flooding after intense rainfall. Experts in floods who are available for comment are listed in this article.

Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is pleased to announce the first projects to be supported under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund.

As food prices rise around the globe, Africa faces increased challenges to feed its citizens. IDRC’s grant will support AGRA’S innovative research to improve agricultural productivity and access to markets.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Geoscience: Reduced climate cooling from snow and ice; Geoscience: Sea ice impedes mercury breakdown.

Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University have carried out a pioneering study on the factors behind motorcycle accidents.

In November last year, the UN reported that there are many more people with cellphones in the Indian population than those with access to a toilet.

Humanized mouse models help clarify the origins of leukemia and the cellular processes that lead to its recurrence, providing hope for a cure for this intractable blood disease.

Simulations have explained the peculiar nature of molecular hydrogen vibration under high pressure

A newly proposed superconducting device could lead to the first observation of particles that are their own antiparticles

Showing of “The Tiger Factory” during the Directors' Fortnight Section

The release of “Biographies of the Great Men of Saga, Shigenobu Okuma” (To be published January 2011).

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has developed a software application to test soil strength and gradient in order to help the government tackle the problem of landslides in the country.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Astronomy: Clustering galaxies seen in the very early Universe; Comment: Counting the cost of corruption in earthquake zones; Neuroscience: Modelled tinnitus treatment rings true; Quantum physics: Entangled light stored in crystals; And finally... Teething trouble .