Physics, in regards to life phenomenon, plays important roles in understanding fundamentals of life phenomenon quantatively and in providing the steppingstone for the applications in biotechnology, biomaterial, and medicine. However, albeit its importance and possibilities, physics research in the life phenomenon area is considered to be in the quickening period because of the complexities of biosystems that disables appropriate statistical physics curriculum to be held, hampering students from approaching the statistical physics field.An emeritus professor at POSTECH, Professor Sung Wo-kyung

At the development stage of any pharmaceutical of cosmetic products, a researcher cannot start experimenting on humans directly. The products must first be tested in cellular level and then on animals for direct effect and possible side effects and then, finally, can be used on human. However, due to the various physiological differences between human and animal, many cases show varying results and recent animal rights issue, animal testing faced many downsides. To solve this issue, Professor Kim Dong-Sung and his team has developed a three-dimensional nanofiber microwell platform made to rese

Research team of Professor Lee Seung-jae (LIFE), Sohn Hee-hwa (LIFE Ph. D), Seo Geun-hee (LIFE Ph. D) revealed that the Prefoldin-6 (PFD-6) acts as the link between HSF-1 and FOXO transcription factors, which are known to induce longevity of life while insulin hormone signals are degraded. The study was published in Genes and Development, an international journal of genetics and developmental biology.The team focused on PFD-6 in the intestinal and subcutaneous tissues. When the HSF-1 is activated while the insulin signal is degraded, PFD-6 increased the amount of proteins, which enabled FOXO t

Professor Lee In-su (CHEM) and his research team succeeded in making Janus Fe3O4 nanocube with a hole on one side by a very simple heat treatment method, and developing this particle into the swimmer, which can efficiently decompose the dyes in the water. This achievement attracted a lot of attention with a simple synthesis method, which is different from the former methods of partial etching and growth technique.The team focused on the fact that iron ions move in response to high temperatures. They surrounded nanocubes with silica, and heat-treated them for iron ions to move to nearby silica’

POSTECH’s Prof. Hwang Cheol-sang (LIFE) and Korea Institue of Science and Technology (KIST)’s Prof. Lee Cheol-ju (LIFE) have led their research team to the discovery of a mechanism that allows enzyme formylmethionyl-transferase (FMT) to involve itself in protein synthesis to aid eukaryotic species to survive in extreme conditions, and the revelation that enzyme FMT is also highly concerned with protein decomposition. These research results were published in Science magazine on Nov. 8.Prokaryotes and eukaryotes differ greatly in means of protein synthesis in that eukaryotes form proteins starti

A research team led by Professor Kim Chul-hong(CiTE) has developed a photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) that allows real-time observation of tiny blood vessels or cells in a living tissue. The photorealistic microscope will allow for more detailed pathological analyses of various diseases, such as cancer and brain tumors. The research was selected as a cover article in the Journal of Biopotonics, an international journal on optics.The researchers looked to PAM to observe tiny blood vessels in the living body. By lighting the intended area to investigate the area with a few nanoseconds of long ligh

Poong Jeon Nonferrous Metal Co., Ltd., a global midsized company with ecofriendly non-ferrous alloy technology, donated 500 million KRW to POSTECH, encouraging the strengthening of humanities and social sciences education.Song Dong-chun, chairman of Poong Jeon, recently visited POSTECH with executives including and presented 500 million KRW as a fund for the development of the Humanities and Social Sciences department. Normally, company donations are for the development of subject areas related to those companies. It is unusual for a company related to non-ferrous metal alloys and eco-friendly

Professor Kim Chul-hong (CiTE), Park Sa-ra (CiTE, Ph.D. Candidate), Professor Jeong Unyong (MSE), and Park Gyeong-bae (MSE, Ph.D. Integrated) have developed Bi2SE3 nanoplate photoacoustic contrast agent at a wavelength of 1064nm. With this nanoplate, it is possible to observe deep inside the body, which was difficult to see through photoacoustic imaging. The study was published on the cover of Nanoscale, an international journal. The research team developed Bi2SE3, a nanoplate contrast agent. When placed between the tissues to be observed, it helps to visualize the image similar to a contrast

On Nov. 29 at 19:30 P.M., a famous conductor, Gum Nan-se, and the New World Philharmonic orchestra performed at the POSTECH auditorium as a celebration for POSTECH’s 32nd anniversary, and as part of the 2018 POSTECH cultural program. The performance was open admission.The conductor Gum Nan-se is one of the most beloved composers in Korea and is known as the father of the popularization of classical music. The goal of the performance was to break the stereotype that classical music is difficult and that it is only for a high-brow audience, and to show that classical music concerts can be enjoye

“Daddy will fight to the end.” Samsung Electronics made a formal apology on Nov. 23 to all victims of work-related diseases that were employed on the chip and display production lines. Samsung’s apology was made for the first time in 11 years since Hwang Yu-mi died of leukemia after working for the company’s liquid-crystal display production line in 2007. Since her death, her father, Hwang Sang-ki, requested Samsung to take measures to prevent violations of workers’ rights. He set up an organization: the group of 53 victims named Supporters for the Health and Rights of People in the Semiconduc

Professor Baek Chang-ki (CiTE), Professor Kim Ki-hyun (CiTE), and Cho Hyeon-su (CiTE, Ph.D. Integrated) have developed a fundamental sensor technology by utilizing thermal evaporation, which detects toxic substances such as fluorine and hydrofluoric acid in trace amounts. The team fabricated fluorine‧hydrofluoric acid sensor by utilizing silicon materials and semiconductor processing technology. In addition, by optimizing thermal evaporation, the team has succeeded in detecting fluorine and hydrofluoric acid in water with high a detection limit – fluorine: 1.9ppb, hydrofluoric acid: 4.5ppb. Th

On Nov. 17, the sixth POSTECH Hackathon kicked off in room 502 of the Tae-Joon Park Digital Library. A Hackathon is a term coined by combining ‘hacking’ and ‘marathon’. It is not about what we usually think of when we hear the word ‘hacking’. It is rather a competition of ‘extreme coding’. While general development takes place over time, Hackathon is an event that increases production rates and creates diverse ideas through planning, designing and developing in a short period of time.The POSTECH Hackathon is an annual event held by PoApper, a developer network of POSTECH. This year marks the s

With electrical technologies evolving rapidly, such as electric cars and electric airplanes, the importance of batteries is underscored.Professor Park Moon-jeong (CHEM) has been put in the spotlight with her battery that can be fully charged in six minutes.When sulfur is used in a battery, it has an advantage of giving the battery a significantly higher energy density, thus capacity, compared to a lithium ion battery of the same volume or mass. However, the downside of the sulfur battery is sulfur’s low electrical conductivity, which leads to slower charging, and sulfur’s elution into the elec

Professor Kim Jong-Ku (MSE) and Graduate student Choi Il-yong (MSE) developed a sensor that can sensitively and accurately recognize a tactile response like humans by using Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) nanosprings. The research was introduced in the Advanced Functional Materials.The team strived to model a pressure device that can sense both minute pressure and vibrations based on human fingerprints and skin. By shaping ITO into a form of nanosprings, the team developed a sensitive sensor that overcomes the limitations of polymers. The nanosprings, created easily by using an oblique angle deposition

POSTECH ranked 1st in ‘Innoversity’, 1st in ‘Engineering’, and 2nd in ‘Natural Sciences’ in the ‘2018 JoongAng Ilbo University Evaluation’ conducted by Korea’s JoongAng Daily (KJD). KJD first introduced ‘Innoversity’ (the combination of ‘innovation’ and ‘university’) this year in order to evaluate the universities’ capability in leading world science and technology innovation through research achievements. Our university ranked 1st in the industry-university cooperation research ratio, and in the Patent Application rate to the US, China, Japan, and Europe, ranking 1st overall in ‘Innoversity’.

The government is introducing emergency measures to tackle fine-dust pollution, including limiting the number of diesel vehicles on Korea’s roads. As part of plan to combat the particulate fine dust problem, measures to tackle fine dust will be reinforced and support programs for diesel vehicles will be abolished. The repeal of a ‘clean diesel policy’ was one of the strongest measures. Enacted in 2009, the policy granted benefits to around 950,000 owners of low emission diesel vehicles, including discounts on parking fees and tolls. Diesel cars were encouraged when first introduced to Korea in

Student Leadership Election Committee (SLEC) held the joint speech session of candidate campaigns for Senior Leadership of Student Union of POSTECH (SU) and Female Student Union (FSU) on Oct. 30. During the session, candidates announced their election promises and had a question period. It was broadcasted live by PBS, and several students attended and gave out questions about candidates’ election promises. Because there was no candidate for Dormitory Union (DU) until the last day for the candidate registration, Oct. 22, the election for representatives of DU will be conducted by DU, not SLEC.

El Niño, a phenomenon where sea surface temperature of the tropic pacific rises, affects precipitation and atmospheric circulation around the globe, causing anomalous climate. The problem with El Niño is that it can only be detected merely six months before its occurrence.Professor Kug Jong-seong from the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering (DESE) at POSTECH and Park Jae-heung, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hawaii, along with the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology have announced in Scientific Reports that El Niño and La Niña can be predicted 17 m

Professor Cha Hyung-Joon (CE) and his team developed a system which utilizes a bioengineered mussel adhesive protein (MAP) to deliver drugs for selective parts of treatments and to improve cancer treatments.Generally, as drugs can only be applied to the body as a whole, resulting in many side-effects, thus limiting the treatment process. Accordingly, the development of an effective drug delivery system that allows for a selective delivery has been called for. Existing systems apply drugs directly to tumors, but were without an adhesive function that allowed drugs to hold on in designated areas

The POSTECH Graduate School of Information Technology(GSIT) will be the first to introduce an online short-term master’s courses called the ‘Nano Master’ program out of all Korean universities. The online courses will focus on popular current fields in Korea – specifically blockchain and artificial intelligence.GSIT will offer a few courses of the blockchain and artificial intelligence master’s degree online; if one completes all quizzes, assignments, projects, and exams and acquires a grade of at least 70% from the online course, GSIT will accept the equivalent offline course as ‘completed’.