Oven-temperature process (~300℃) boosts catalyst performance sixfold

 [POSTECH–SNU cut process temperature to 300°C, halving costs and advancing renewable energy storage]

A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Seoul National University has developed a new method to activate water-splitting catalysts at an oven temperature of just 300 °C—much lower than the conventional furnace temperature of 800 °C. This low-temperature process also boosts the catalyst’s oxygen evolution efficiency by nearly sixfold. The study, led by Prof. Yong-Tae Kim and Dr. Sang-Mun Jung of POSTECH and Prof. Junwoo Son and Dr. Youngkwang Kim of Seoul National University, was recently published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Recognizing the significance of this breakthrough, the journal featured the research as its cover article on July 17.

Solar and wind power generate electricity that fluctuates with the weather. Hydrogen offers a solution to store this excess energy. Using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen allows the energy to be stored and later converted back into electrical power—enabling long-term large-scale energy storage. 

However, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode of water electrolyzers requires a high overpotential due to the sluggish kinetics of its multistep electron-transfer process. Electrocatalysts are used to accelerate the reaction, and consequently, extensive efforts have been devoted toward the development of highly active electrocatalysts for OER.

The team focused on a type of material called a perovskite, which is stable and easy to modify. However, its relatively large particle size (>100 nm) limits its catalytic activity. To overcome this, the researchers used a method called ‘Exsolution’, where metal ions in the perovskite lattice migrate to the surface and form nanoscale active particles. Normally, exsolution requires heating above 800 °C for several hours. However, by applying a technique called bead milling, the researchers achieved the same effect at just 300 °C. Bead milling grinds the material using microscopic beads, breaking it into fine particles and loosening its internal structure. This makes it easier for the metal ions to reach the surface.

The exsolved electrocatalyst generates oxygen nearly six times more efficiently than the original perovskite catalyst, while significantly reducing energy costs. This makes the method more suitable for large-scale production of hydrogen from renewable energy.

“This study marks a major step toward developing high-performance, low-cost catalysts for water electrolysis,” said Prof. Kim. “Controlling structure at the nanoscale will be key to improving system efficiency.” The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT through the H2NEXTROUND and the Nano Materials Technology Development Program.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202506227

Muscle-Inspired Sheet-Like Robot Navigates the Tightest Spaces

[POSTECH research team including Professors Keehoon Kim and Wan Kyun Chung develops sheet-type robot mimicking muscle protein movements.]

A research team including Dr. Hyung Gon Shin from Samsung Electronics' Future Robotics Division (formerly a Ph.D. researcher at POSTECH), and Professors Keehoon Kim and Wan Kyun Chung from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), has developed a thin, flexible robotic actuator inspired by human muscle proteins. As thin as paper yet capable of generating strong force, this robot can maneuver through tight spaces and manipulate objects, making it suitable for a wide range of applications—from surgical robots to industrial equipment. The study has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

Most conventional robots are built with rigid metal components, giving them strength but limiting their ability to perform delicate motions or operate in confined environments. In the medical field, there is a growing need for robots that can assist with surgeries inside the human body. In industrial settings, flexible robots are needed for tasks like inspecting complex machinery or cleaning narrow pipelines. However, technologies that combine both flexibility and strength have been lacking—until now.

The POSTECH team turned to human muscle movements for inspiration. They mimicked the function of myosin, a protein in muscles that generates large movements through repeated small contractions. Using this concept, they developed a thin, sheet-shaped pneumatic actuator^*1 . At first glance, the actuator appears to be a simple sheet, but inside it contains dozens of small air chambers and multi-layered, multi-channel air pathways.

When air is injected sequentially into the sheet, the surface protrusions move in multiple directions, gradually accumulating small forces to produce larger movements. Even when bent, the actuator can crawl like a caterpillar using only its protrusions. The surface can move in six directions—up, down, left, right, and rotation—and allows flexible control over speed and distance.

The research team validated the performance of their technology through a series of experiments. In object manipulation tests, the robot moved with delicate precision akin to human fingers, and it also successfully completed tasks involving moving objects underwater. Notably, it can handle tasks like cleaning narrow pipelines, which are difficult for conventional robots. Additionally, the team developed a mathematical model to predict the robot’s movements, laying the foundation for diverse future designs and applications.

This research is expected to bring innovative changes to both everyday life and industry. In medical settings, robots can assist with precision surgeries by navigating through small openings. In industrial environments, they can perform various tasks such as inspections in confined spaces. Additionally, when applied to home cleaning and caregiving robots, they are expected to interact with people in a more delicate and responsive manner.

Professor Keehoon Kim explained the significance of this research as “successfully integrating a complex three-dimensional pneumatic network within a thin and flexible structure, enabling multi-directional movements through a bio-inspired approach.” He added, “We hope this technology will be applied in various fields, including surgical robots, collaborative robots in industrial settings, and exploration environments.”

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Korea Leading Research Center Program, as well as the Alchemist Project funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60496-9 

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1. Actuator: A device that converts electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic energy into mechanical motion to move a robot’s joints or parts.

"High Notes from One Side, Deep Tones from the Other" – Janus-Like Wave Transmission

[POSTECH and Jeonbuk National University Team Demonstrates First Bidirectional Asymmetric Frequency Conversion in a Single System]

 A research team in Korea has experimentally demonstrated, for the first time in the world, a nonlinear wave phenomenon that changes its frequency—either rising or falling—depending on which direction the waves come from. Much like Janus, the Roman god with two faces looking in opposite directions, the system exhibits different responses depending on the direction of the incoming wave. This groundbreaking work opens new horizons for technologies ranging from medical ultrasound imaging to advanced noise control.

 The joint research team, led by Professor Junsuk Rho of POSTECH’s Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, along with Dr. Yeongtae Jang, PhD candidate Beomseok Oh, and Professor Eunho Kim of Jeonbuk National University, has experimentally demonstrated a phenomenon of bidirectional asymmetric frequency conversion within a granular phononic crystal system. Their findings were published on July 15 in Physical Review Letters, one of the world’s most prestigious physics journals.

 Many of today's technologies rely on frequency conversion: green laser pointers, for instance, double the frequency of invisible infrared light to create visible green light, while directional speaker convert ultrasonic frequencies into audible sounds. These processes typically use nonlinear effects in which the system’s response does not scale linearly with input intensity. However, such frequency conversion traditionally requires complex structures, fixed propagation directions, or external modulation methods.

To overcome these limitations, the team designed a granular phononic crystal structure consisting of connected cylindrical elements with locally varying stiffness. This structure enables the system to exhibit completely different responses depending on the wave’s propagation direction.

In their system, weak waves are mostly blocked. However, when the intensity of the incoming wave grows stronger, asymmetric frequency conversion occurs: waves entering from one side are upconverted to higher frequencies, producing sharper sounds, while those entering from the opposite side are downconverted to lower frequencies, yielding deeper tones. It is as if the same doorway emits different sounds depending on whether one approaches it from the front or the back.

Importantly, by combining nonlinear effects with spatial asymmetry and local resonance—where specific vibrations strongly amplify within certain parts of the structure—the team achieved simultaneous bidirectional frequency conversion within a single system. This has never been demonstrated before in physical experiments.

This technology holds promising potential across various fields. It could enable selective suppression of vibrations from construction or seismic activities, enhance the resolution of medical ultrasound imaging, and lead to acoustic devices capable of detecting otherwise inaudible sounds from specific directions. Moreover, it offers new possibilities in analog signal processing and next-generation frequency conversion technologies.

Professors Rho and Kim commented, “What had been only theoretically envisioned has now been experimentally verified. This technology could find widespread applications in next-generation signal processing and frequency conversion systems.”

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3n97-7kmd

From Passive to Intelligent: Bioengineered Organs Meet Electronics

 [As bioelectronics merge with tissue engineering, bioengineered organs are gaining the ability to sense, respond, and adapt in real time—ushering in a new era of smart regenerative systems.]

Bioengineered organs are no longer just structural substitutes. A new review published in Trends in Biotechnology introduces a groundbreaking concept: biohybrid-engineered tissue (BHET) platforms^*1 —living constructs integrated with electronics that can monitor, modulate, and even autonomously control their own functions.

The review, authored by Dr. Uijung Yong (Future IT Innovation Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)), Jihwan Kim (Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH), and Prof. Jinah Jang (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Convergence IT Engineering, and School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH), outlines how recent advances in biofabrication and biomedical electronics have pushed tissue engineering into new frontiers. Traditional bioengineered organs have been limited in their ability to replicate the complex and dynamic nature of human organs. BHET platforms aim to change that by turning passive constructs into intelligent systems.

The authors classify BHET platforms into three main types:

-    Tissue-sensor platforms^*2  capture real-time physiological data, such as electrical activity or metabolite levels, offering continuous insights into tissue health and function.

-    Tissue-electromodulator platforms^*3  actively control tissue behavior using targeted electrical stimulation, accelerating tissue maturation or modulating hormone release.

-    Tissue-communicator platforms^*4  integrate both sensing and stimulation to enable closed-loop feedback, allowing tissues to adapt autonomously to environmental cues, much like living organs do.

These systems have already shown promise in diverse applications: brain organoids learning through neural feedback, cardiac tissues synchronizing contractions with external pacing, and engineered β cells releasing insulin in response to electrical signals. Such platforms blur the line between biology and machine, turning tissues into responsive and programmable devices.

The review also explores future directions, including AI-driven control systems, conductive hydrogel electrodes, and scalable 3D bioprinting techniques that can bring intelligent tissue platforms closer to clinical applications.

“By incorporating bioelectronics into tissue engineering, we can create more functional and intelligent bioengineered organs,” said Prof. Jinah Jang. “Combining this with AI-based analytics will allow bioengineered organs to autonomously monitor and regulate their functions with unprecedented precision.”

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government, the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the NRF funded by the Korean Government, and the Bio Industry Technology Development Program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.018

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1. Biohybrid-Engineered Tissue (BHET) Platforms:

Platforms that integrate engineered tissues with biomedical electronics to enable continuous monitoring, modulation, and feedback control of tissue function, aiming to bridge gaps in conventional tissue engineering approaches.

2. Tissue-Sensor Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to monitor physiological signals from engineered tissues, such as electrical activity, metabolic markers, or mechanical forces.

3. Tissue-Electromodulator Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to apply controlled electrical stimulation to engineered tissues, enabling regulation of cellular behavior, promotion of tissue maturation, and enhancement of functional stability.

4. Tissue-Communicator Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to integrate sensing and stimulation within a closed-loop feedback system, enabling autonomous adaptation of engineered tissues to physiological changes and maintenance of functional homeostasis. 

Unveiling the Mystery of Electron Dynamics in the 'Quantum Tunneling Barrier' for the First Time

[POSTECH, MPK, and Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics have revealed the hidden dynamics of electrons during quantum tunneling]

Recently, Professor Dong Eon Kim from POSTECH's Department of Physics and Max Planck Korea-POSTECH Initiative and his research team have succeeded in unraveling for the first time the mystery of the 'electron tunneling' process, a core concept in quantum mechanics, and confirmed it through experiments. This study was published in the international journal Physical Review Letters and is attracting attention as a key to unlocking the long-standing mystery of 'electron tunneling,' which has remained unsolved for over 100 years.

While the idea of teleporting through walls may sound like something out of a movie, such phenomena actually occur in the atomic world. This phenomenon, called 'quantum tunneling,' involves electrons passing through energy barriers (walls) that they seemingly cannot surmount with their energy, as if digging a tunnel through them.

This phenomenon is the principle by which semiconductors, i. e., core components of smartphones and computers, operate, and is also essential for nuclear fusion, the process that produces light and energy in the sun. However, until now, while some understanding existed about what happens before and after an electron passes through a tunnel, the exact behavior of the electron as it traverses the barrier remained unclear. We know the entrance and exit of the tunnel, but what happens inside has remained a mystery.

Professor Kim Dong Eon’s team, along with Professor C. H. Keitel’s team at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, conducted an experiment using intense laser pulses to induce electron tunneling in atoms. The results revealed a surprising phenomenon: electrons do not simply pass through the barrier but collide again with the atomic nucleus inside the tunnel. The research team named this process 'under-the-barrier recollision' (UBR). Until now, it was believed that electrons could only interact with the nucleus after exiting the tunnel, but this study confirmed for the first time that such interaction can occur inside the tunnel.

Even more intriguingly, during this process, electrons gain energy inside the barrier and collide again with the nucleus, thereby strengthening what is known as 'Freeman resonance.' This ionization was significantly greater than that observed in previously known ionization processes and was hardly affected by changes in laser intensity. This is a completely new discovery that could not be predicted by existing theories.

This research is significant as it is the first in the world to elucidate the dynamics of electrons during tunneling. It is expected to provide an important scientific foundation for more precise control of electron behavior and increased efficiency in advanced technologies such as semiconductors, quantum computers, and ultrafast lasers that rely on tunneling.

Professor Kim Dong Eon stated, “Through this study, we were able to find clues about how electrons behave when they pass through the atomic wall,” and added, “Now, we can finally understand tunneling more deeply and control it as we wish.”

Meanwhile, this research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Capacity Development Project of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.213201

Ribosome Hooks a 'Ring' onto Proteins After Billions of Years

 

[POSTECH Achieves First-Ever Ribosomal Synthesis of Cyclic Peptides : Opening New Avenues for Next-Generation Drug Design]

Inside our cells, ribosomes-the tireless “protein factories” of life-have just shown off a new skill they haven’t used in billions of years.

A research team led by Professor Joongoo Lee in the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has become the first in the world to successfully expand the range of ring-shaped backbones in proteins using ribosomes, which have traditionally only produced linear backbones. The breakthrough was recently published in the online edition of the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications.

 Ribosomes are essential molecular machines found in all living organisms on Earth. Like a master builder snapping together LEGO blocks, they assemble amino acids (tiny molecular components) into the proteins our bodies need. They can join about 20 amino acids per second, a speed tens of thousands of times faster than is achievable through conventional chemical synthesis in a lab.

 However, since the dawn of life on Earth, ribosomes have only ever made proteins in a long, noodle-like linear backbone. These linear peptide bacbones, are relatively fragile and not particularly good at binding to specific targets like viruses, bacteria, or cancer cells, making them less effective as therapeutic drugs. In contrast, ring-shaped bacbones are more stable, more durable, and bind more tightly to their targets, but are notoriously difficult and complex to produce chemically. 

Inspired by the fact that many natural antibiotics like penicillin contain ring-shaped structures, the POSTECH team asked a bold question: Could ribosomes be coaxed into making these rings themselves?

Rather than modifying the ribosome itself, the researchers engineered a new set of building blocks, 26 specially designed amino acids. These new amino acids naturally attract each other inside the ribosome, forming rings during the protein-making process.

Using a cell-free protein synthesis^*1  system, the team demonstrated that ribosomes could now produce not just linear chains, but also core ring structures such as pentagons and hexagons. Remarkably, these reactions occurred under simple, biological conditions at 37°C and pH 7.5, using the ribosome’s original mechanisms, with no external intervention.

This isn’t the first time Professor Lee’s team has broken new ground. In 2022, in collaboration with Northwestern University and the University of Texas, they were the first to report that ribosomes could be used to create proteins containing six-membered rings; something never before observed in their billions of years of evolutionary history. This new study significantly expands the possibilities, introducing a wider range of materials and demonstrating that ribosomes can now form both five- and six-membered rings. Even more remarkably, the ring-formation process can be finely controlled by adjusting the design of the special amino acids. The implications are significant. This could open the door to using ribosomes as catalysts for novel chemical reactions, paving the way for next-generation therapeutics and advanced biomaterials.

“What struck me the most,” said Professor Lee, “was how similar the reactions inside the ribosome were to the chemical processes we learned in our textbooks. If we can figure out how the ribosome’s 4,500 components work together to perform what seems like molecular magic, it could deepen our understanding of both life and evolution.”

This research was supported by the Outstanding Young Scientist Grants, the Core Technology Development Program for Synthetic Biology, and the Hanwumul‑Phagi Basic Research Project of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60126-4

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1. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) : An artificial biosynthesis system that enables the synthesis of proteins or peptides in vitro without the use of living cells.

"Fluorescence ON in Cancer Cells Only" – Diagnosing Cancer with Light

 [POSTECH and Linyi University develop ‘SLY,’ a Probe That Glows Yellow Only in Tumor Cells]

A collaborative research team led by Professor Young-Tae Chang from the Department of Chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Professor Min Gao from Linyi University has successfully developed a novel fluorescent probe, SLY (Sialyl Lewis Yellow), capable of precisely identifying hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), a leading journal published by the American Chemical Society.

Glycans—carbohydrate structures present on the surface of cells—play pivotal roles in various biological processes, including cell-cell interactions, immune responses, and cancer metastasis. Among these, the sialyl Lewis family of glycans, particularly sialyl Lewis x (sLe^x) and sialyl Lewis a (sLe^a), are known to be overexpressed in several types of cancers, including liver cancer, positioning them as promising diagnostic markers. However, conventional techniques for analyzing glycans are complex and generally unsuitable for real-time imaging, underscoring the urgent need for fluorescent probes that can directly detect glycans in living cells.

The research team designed a library of fluorescent probes incorporating oxaborole as a recognition moiety and identified SLY as a probe capable of selectively targeting sialylated glycans on the cell surface. SLY demonstrated high affinity for sLe^x and sLe^a, which are overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and colorectal cancer (HT29) cells. After binding to the target glycans, SLY is internalized via caveolae-mediated endocytosis and accumulates in the mitochondria.

In vivo and ex vivo experiments using cryo-sectioned liver cancer tissues confirmed the probe’s ability to selectively label cancerous regions with high fluorescence contrast. Notably, SLY outperforms conventional probes by clearly distinguishing tumor margins within liver tissues, suggesting strong potential for use in precision diagnostics and fluorescence-guided surgery.

Professor Young-Tae Chang, who led the study, commented,

“SLY represents the first fluorescent probe capable of selectively identifying sialylated glycans on the cell surface with such precision, enabling the identification of liver cancer at the cellular level. This work opens new possibilities in glycan-based cancer diagnostics and may lay the groundwork for future applications in fluorescence-guided surgery and precision medicine.”

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Mid-Career Researcher Program and the Glocal University 30 initiative (POSTECH Molecular Imaging Center). Additional support was provided by the TIPS program of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Korea), the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Shandong Overseas High-Level Talent Program, and the Taishan Scholar Program.

DOI: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c03020

Shape Memory Polymer Dry Adhesive Technology Paves the Way for Micro-LED Innovation

[POSTECH Researchers Develop Smart Adhesive Surfaces: Firm When Stuck, Clean and Easy When Released]

 A research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), led by Professor Seok Kim in collaboration with Professor Kihun Kim (POSTECH), Professor Namjoong Kim (Gachon University), Professor Haneol Lee (Chonbuk National University), and Dr. Chang-Hee Son (University of Connecticut, USA), has developed a novel dry adhesive technology that allows everything from microscale electronic components to common household materials to be easily attached and detached. The study was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

 Micro-LEDs, a next-generation display technology, offer significant advantages such as higher brightness, longer lifespan, and the ability to enable flexible and transparent displays. However, transferring micro-LED chips—thinner than a strand of hair—onto target substrates with high precision and minimal residue has been a persistent challenge. Conventional methods relying on liquid adhesives or specialized films often result in overly complex processes, poor alignment accuracy, and residual contamination.

 In addition, researchers have struggled with the so-called adhesion paradox—the theoretical prediction that surfaces should strongly adhere at the atomic level, contrasted by the real-world difficulty of achieving strong adhesion due to surface roughness that limits actual contact area.

 The POSTECH team ingeniously leveraged this paradox. Their solution lies in the use of shape memory polymers (SMPs) featuring densely packed nanotips. At room temperature, the surface remains rough, exhibiting low adhesion. When heated and pressed, the surface smooths out—much like ironing wrinkles—and achieves significantly stronger adhesion. Upon reheating, the surface returns to its original rough state, drastically reducing adhesion and enabling easy release.

https://youtu.be/I7yKx_AwlM4?si=YGNNwHm0MU-qTslY

https://youtu.be/NKpeOyGjkUk?si=UyyOJSrivPfhIib-

 This technology provides over 15 atmospheres of adhesion strength during bonding and near-zero force detachment through a self-release function. The difference in adhesion strength between the "on" and "off" states exceeds a factor of 1,000, outperforming conventional approaches by orders of magnitude. The team demonstrated precise pick-and-place of micro-LED chips using a robotic system, and confirmed stable adhesion even with materials such as paper and fabric.

 “This innovation allows for the precise manipulation of delicate components without the need for sticky adhesives,” said Professor Seok Kim of POSTECH. “It holds significant potential for applications in display and semiconductor manufacturing, and could bring about transformative changes when integrated with smart manufacturing systems across various industries.”

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60220-7

Ancient Golden Silk Revived from the Korean Sea

[POSTECH research team recreates sea silk from discarded pen shells byssus—drawing attention as an eco-friendly and sustainable textile]

A luxurious fiber once reserved exclusively for emperors in ancient times has been brought back to life through the scientific ingenuity of Korean researchers. A team led by Professor Dong Soo Hwang (Division of Environmental Science and Engineering / Division of interdisciplinary bioscience & bioengineering, POSTECH) and Professor Jimin Choi (Environmental Research Institute) has successfully recreated a golden fiber, akin to that of 2,000 years ago, using the pen shell (Atrina pectinata) cultivated in Korean coastal waters. This breakthrough not only recreates the legendary sea silk but also reveals the scientific basis behind its unchanging golden color. The study was recently published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials.

Sea silk—often referred to as the “golden fiber of the sea”—was one of the most prized materials in the ancient Roman period, used exclusively by figures of high authority such as emperors and popes. This precious fiber is made from the byssus threads secreted by Pinna nobilis, a large clam native to the Mediterranean, which uses the threads to anchor itself to rocks. Valued for its iridescent, unfading golden color, light weight, and exceptional durability, sea silk earned its reputation as the “legendary silk.” A notable example is the Holy Face of Manoppello, a relic preserved for centuries in Italy, which is believed to be made from sea silk.

However, due to recent marine pollution and ecological decline, Pinna nobilis is now an endangered species. The European Union has banned its harvesting entirely, making sea silk an artifact of the past—produced only in minuscule quantities by a handful of artisans.

The POSTECH research team turned their attention to the pen shell Atrina pectinata, a species cultivated in Korean coastal waters for food. Like Pinna nobilis, this clam secretes byssus threads to anchor itself, and the researchers found that these threads are physically and chemically similar to those of Pinna nobilis. Building on this insight, they succeeded in processing pen shell byssus to recreate sea silk.

However, their achievement goes beyond mere replication of its appearance. The team also revealed the scientific secret behind sea silk’s distinctive golden hue and its resistance to fading over time.

The golden color of sea silk is not derived from dyes, but from structural coloration—a phenomenon caused by the way light reflects off nanostructures. Specifically, the researchers identified that the iridescence arises from a spherical protein structure called “photonin,” which forms layered arrangements that interact with light to produce the characteristic shine. Similar to the color seen in soap bubbles or butterfly wings, this structure-based coloration is highly stable and does not fade easily over time.

Moreover, the study revealed that the more orderly the protein arrangement, the more vivid the structural color becomes. Unlike traditional dyeing, this color is not applied but instead generated by the alignment of proteins within the fiber, contributing to the material’s remarkable lightfastness over millennia.

Another significant aspect of this research is the upcycling of pen shell byssus, previously discarded as waste, into a high-value sustainable textile. This not only helps reduce marine waste but also demonstrates the potential of eco-friendly materials that carry cultural and historical significance.

Professor Dong Soo Hwang noted, “Structurally colored textiles are inherently resistant to fading. Our technology enables long-lasting color without the use of dyes or metals, opening new possibilities for sustainable fashion and advanced materials.”

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502820 

In an Era Where Empathy Feels Unfamiliar, AI Now Translates Emotions

A research team at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea) has developed AI technology that helps individuals deeply understand others' emotions by analyzing individual personality traits and values and generating personalized analogy. This study was recognized with the "Popular Choice Honorable Mention Award," given to the top 5% of 74 Interactivity track demonstrations at ACM CHI 2025, the world's leading international conference in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Society is a complex community where people with different identities and diverse backgrounds live together. While people strive to understand each other, even the concept of "empathy" can sometimes feel overwhelming - because even in the same situation, emotions can differ greatly from person to person. Until now, computer-based empathy technologies have been operating on the assumption that showing the same experience would evoke similar emotions. However, reality is more complicated: emotional reactions vary widely depending on an individual's personality, past experiences, and values.

 "EmoSync", an LLM-based agent, embraces and utilizes these individual differences. By meticulously analyzing each user's psychological traits and emotional response patterns, the LLM generates personalized analogical scenarios that allow people to understand others' feelings through the lens of their own experiences.

For example, if a user struggles to empathize with subtle discrimination or exclusion in the workplace, EmoSync analyzes the user's past experiences and creates a relatable connection, such as ‘a moment of feeling excluded by peers during school days.’ This approach helps users understand others' emotions more vividly and realistically by using the lens of familiar experiences.

The research team conducted experiments involving over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds using this technology. The results showed that participants who used EmoSync demonstrated significantly improved emotional understanding and empathy compared to traditional methods. This scientifically demonstrates that personalized metaphorical experiences can genuinely enhance empathy.

Hyojin Ju, the first author of the study, said, "Our research demonstrates that AI can be used to facilitate genuine understanding and empathy among people," and added, "We will continue to develop AI technologies that help foster true understanding and empathy in real-life situations."

https://youtu.be/foPyBrJ9xg4?si=TsqBkmX88GYwqUSl

Professor Inseok Hwang of POSTECH commented, "This study is a successful example showing that generative AI can identify each user's unique emotional structure and generate personalized experiences that induce specific emotions. It represents a novel and meaningful approach-both academically and socially-to fostering empathy in ways that were not possible before."

This research was conducted by Professor Inseok Hwang and Ph.D. students Hyojin Ju, Jungeun Lee, and Seungwon Yang from POSTECH's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Jungseul Ok. The project was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Mid-career Researcher Program, the Future Convergence Technology Pioneer Project funded by the Korean government (MSIT), and the University ICT Research Center Project from the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), also funded by the Korean government (MSIT). 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3714122