POSTECH secured a dramatic victory after a fierce battle with KAIST. This year, the 23rd KAIST-POSTECH Science War (KPSW) was held at POSTECH from Sept. 18 to 19. The campus was filled with the enthusiasm of students from both universities. This year’s KPSW drew massive attention, as KAIST had been on a winning streak since 2022. The event adopted the slogan “DAWN,” hoping that POSTECH could reclaim the championship title. Living up to these expectations, POSTECH won KPSW with an overall score of 4:3, breaching the long midnight of defeat. The competition featured seven events: hacking, AI, e-

On Sept. 2, a report published by the United Nations Environment Programme officially acknowledged that exceeding the 1.5°C threshold under the Paris Agreement is virtually inevitable. This warning provides a clear rationale for why higher education institutions must accelerate their transition toward sustainable campuses.POSTECH has actively led joint efforts with other universities such as the joint declaration of the “Sustainable Campus Initiative” alongside Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University. This declaration goes toward daily administrative decision-making

Professor Sang-min LEE of the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH has successfully designed one-component quasisymmetric protein nanocages using AI. Through joint research with Prof. David BAKER of the University of Washington, the team uncovered a design principle by which a single protein self-assembles into structures featuring both pentagonal and hexagonal arrangements. The findings were published in Nature.Protein nanocages are hollow structures self-assembled from dozens to hundreds of proteins, gaining attention as therapeutic gene delivery vehicles and vaccine platforms. Howe

A research team led by Professor Yong Young NOH of the Department of Chemical Engineering (CE) at POSTECH has developed a surface reconstruction strategy to address the instability of tin-based halide perovskite transistors. The research addresses the challenge of improving p-type semiconductor performance, one of the “Top 10 Future Unsolved Problems” selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and was published in Nature.Tin-halide perovskites have attracted attention as next-generation semiconductor materials because of their efficient charge transport and low processing temperatures. Howev

On Sept. 16, the government of South Korea officially announced its plan to introduce Mifegyne, an oral medication used for early pregnancy termination. HAN Seong-suk, the prime minister of South Korea, presided over a policy coordination meeting at the Government Complex Seoul and declared the government’s policy to “gradually introduce abortion medication for pregnancies of nine weeks or less.” According to the phased roadmap presented by the government, the drug will be prescribed and dispensed exclusively within hospitals during the initial two years to manage safety and prevent misuse. On

The Postech Times interviewed Hoyoung JEONG (CSE 23), who was awarded a Korean Society for Brain and Neural Science conference (KSBNS) Outstanding Poster Presentation Awards for research on computational biology.Tell us about your current research field. I am working on analyzing molecular phenomena in living organisms using computers. In particular, I focus on the basal ganglia—the brain region that controls functions such as movement, reward, and emotion—which may seem somewhat intangible. Tell us about the award and your thoughts on receiving it.I am honored to receive the Outstanding Poste

Since the start of the semester, POSTECH’s campus dining services have changed to focus on expanding menu choices and adding convenient meal options. Oasis cafeteria has diversified its à la carte menu, while Haedong-Aurum Hall has begun offering sandwiches and salads. Meanwhile, e-Sports COLOSSEUM has suspended lunch service following the reassignment of kitchen staff. Students welcomed the menu diversification of Oasis, although the concentration of diners at Oasis early in the semester also caused long waits and difficulty finding seats.The most notable change is the diversification of à la

POSTECH marks its 40th anniversary this year. The university is carrying out various projects to celebrate the occasion and look back on its history. Rather than making the anniversary a one-time event, POSTECH has found ways to bring it into daily life.One of these projects is a PONIX brand emoji for everyday use on KakaoTalk. “Baby Ponix’s Punny Life” features POSTECH’s official mascot, PONIX. The Mueunjae Student Council proposed the project. The designs include symbols from different departments, reflecting the academic paths of Postechians. BAE Jun-yeong, president of the 8th Mueunjae Stu

For Postechians, there are many important facilities on campus. However, if there is one facility that stands out above all others, it would undoubtedly be the 78 Stairs. The reason for the 78 Stairs’ importance is quite simple: it serves as a bridge between the dormitories and lecture buildings. The importance becomes more prominent during the morning rush, when every second and minute counts. However, if you head toward the 78 Stairs now, you will find this familiar landmark is under repair. For a deeper understanding, the brief history of the 78 Stairs may help explain what is happening. Or

The Postech Times sought the opinions of Professor EunJeong MA (BME) and Prof. Sungchul KIM (LIFE) on the medical potential of human gene editing, the appropriate scope, and ethical issues of its use.Before Editing Genes: Questions Beyond ScienceFor technologies such as gene editing, with profound social and clinical impact, we must consider the broader sociostructural values and implications. Historically, many technologies that emerged as medical or scientific innovations later sparked social debates about human identity, family, inequality, law and regulation, and even national policy.A rep

My first month at POSTECH can be measured in countless GS25 visits, dozens of awkwardly pronounced Korean phrases, and hours spent keeping up with the locals’ study rhythm. Leaving home at 18 and moving to a completely new country to study as part of POSTECH’s first international undergraduate cohort was absolutely bold of me. Yet in this short amount of time, I have experienced so many things that have changed how I view my surroundings and even myself.I still remember how, at 80% humidity and 34-degree heat, with my entire life packed into two suitcases, I was climbing the hill to reach the

We have been told that we should foster our creativity and originality, that we should be able to think outside the box, that we should value the process more than the result. However, does an exam consisting almost entirely of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) help us build the qualities we are told to possess? I doubt it. It asks us to choose one of the given answers, ignores the logical steps, and assesses us solely on the final answer. I believe that out of an obsession with objectivity and fairness, Korea is sacrificing quality in education.I spent my high school years in Geneva, Switzerla

Have you ever generated an image using Large Language Models (LLMs), such as Gemini or ChatGPT? They produce new images and documents in the blink of an eye, when it would have taken several hours and specialized abilities if it were for us to make those. Therefore, many assume that the data learning and collecting process are automatized, unable to see the human labor that lies behind them. But that is not the case. Browsing the Internet, you might have stumbled upon unsettling, harmful images generated by LLMs. To prevent this from happening, there is a process called data labelling, also kn

Within the month of September, two record-setting Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) factorizations were announced back to back, both accomplished with the help of AI coding agents. Cognition researcher Eric LU used the company’s Devin agents to factor RSA-260 on Sept. 3. 16 days later, Stephen A. WEIS, a security engineer at Anthropic, used Claude to factor the larger RSA-896. For anyone who trusts encryption to protect their private information, the pace raises an obvious question: how much closer are computers to breaking the keys used today?RSA is a widely used encryption algorithm named after it

Ticket scalping has long been a problem in the entertainment industry, but the issue became particularly apparent following the 2026 release of The Odyssey. As demand for screenings at Seoul’s Yongsan IMAX theater surged, tickets appeared on online resale platforms for prices several times higher than their original value. However, the problem extends far beyond a single movie. Concerts and sporting events have also struggled with ticket scalping. In the past, regulations largely focused on the use of macros. Yet scalpers found alternatives, such as proxy ticketing and account transfers. This

Korea has a highly competitive automobile market where domestic and foreign manufacturers compete for consumers. Among them, domestic brands such as Hyundai and Kia have been the most popular choices for Korean customers because of their affordable prices and accessible service networks. Therefore, the title of Korea’s best-selling car has traditionally belonged to domestic carmakers. However, in May, Tesla Model Y became the first foreign vehicle in Korean car market history to rank as the country’s best-selling car of the month. It ranked second in June, then reclaimed the top spot in July a

You’re probably familiar with the novel If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light by KIM Cho-yeop. However, the work I’d like to introduce today is a science fiction play of the same name, based on the novel, performed at the Pohang Culture & Arts Center on Sept. 11 and 12.The play and novel essentially share the same approach: the implicit “promise” made to the audience and the reader. It is the promise that this space is not the Main Auditorium of Pohang Culture & Arts Center, but rather an old space station abandoned on the edge of the universe. The production cleverly brings the isolated stati

This year marks a significant milestone for POSTECH as it welcomes international undergraduate students for the first time in its 40-year history. On Sept. 7, 19 new Postechians from around the globe began their academic journey at POSTECH, Mueunjae School of Undergraduate Studies. The students have officially joined the university following the freshman orientation held between Sept. 2 and 5, although no separate matriculation ceremony was held.The new students were admitted through two international admissions tracks. The first is open to applicants who, along with both of their parents, hol

Since Aug. 3, POSTECH has expanded its shuttle bus service, increasing the number of buses from one to three and reducing the interval between buses from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. The expanded service also includes longer operating hours and new stops outside the campus, including Yugang Intersection, Hyoja Market, and the area around Lotte Mart. The changes are intended to make it easier for students and other members of the POSTECH community to travel both around campus and to nearby areas.The shuttle bus expansion comes after several months of discussions at POSTECH about improving mobility

A research group at POSTECH, led by Professor Sin-Hyeog IM (LIFE) and Haena LEE (Integrated Ph.D. candidate) have first uncovered the key mechanism of Tfr cell formation. The research was published in Nature Communications. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system malfunctions and mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues instead of protecting them. This happens when antibodies, which are supposed to attack viruses or bacteria, transform into autoantibodies that attack the body. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are representative examples. Currently used autoimmune diseases’ treatments a