The number of single-person households in South Korea has exceeded 8 million, accounting for 36% of the total, marking an all-time high. A Seoul Metropolitan Government survey found that 62% of single-person households experience 'loneliness', deepening feelings of isolation and mental health issues. KAIST researchers have gone beyond the limitations of smartphones and wearables, utilizing in-home IoT data to reveal that a disruption in daily rhythm is a key indicator of worsening mental health. This research is expected to lay the foundation for developing personalized mental healthcare management systems.

Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have developed a polymer that adopts a coiled spring configuration at low temperatures and unfolds again upon heating. Furthermore, the molecule can break down into smaller molecules under certain conditions.

The rapid and energy-efficient synthesis of high-performance catalysts is a critical hurdle in advancing clean energy technologies like hydrogen production. Addressing this challenge, a research team at KAIST has now developed a novel platform technology that utilizes a 0.02-second flash of light to generate an ultrahigh temperature of 3,000 °C, enabling the highly efficient synthesis of catalysts. This breakthrough process reduces energy consumption by more than a thousandfold compared to conventional methods while increasing hydrogen production efficiency by up to six times, marking a significant step toward the commercialization of clean energy.

Leading maritime engineering specialists, marine ecologists, and biodiversity experts, gathered in Barcelona between 7 and 9 October to officially kick start the project’s vision on climate-resilient coastal landscapes. Hosted by the Maritime Engineering Laboratory from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the meeting focused on setting the strategic direction of the project, aligning the scientific, technical and communication objectives and establishing synergies between project partners across Europe and beyond.