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The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)


KAIST tames a semiconductor greenhouse gas 6,000 times more potent than CO₂ with the ‘power of disorder’

KAIST researchers have developed a new catalyst that can remove tetrafluoromethane (CF₄), a greenhouse gas 6,000 times more potent than CO₂, with high efficiency. The catalyst, called entropy-stabilized aluminate (ESA), harnesses the power of disorder to stabilize its structure and maintain performance over extended periods.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 2, 2026

KAIST skin-conformable micro-LED mask boosts skin rejuvenation, brightening, and synergistic benefits with polynucleotide (PN) injections

A KAIST-developed micro-LED mask boosts skin rejuvenation and brightening through close skin contact, while PN injections provide synergistic benefits for skin regeneration and recovery. The mask achieves 340% greater improvement in deep skin elasticity than conventional LED masks.

KAIST opens the era of industrial-scale microbial foods, proposing growth strategies for the next-generation protein market

KAIST researchers analyzed key challenges in microbial food industry and proposed growth strategies for next-generation protein market. The study emphasizes the importance of manufacturing readiness, market entry strategies, and regulatory compliance in commercializing microbial foods.

Neural implant in Korea remotely controlled from the United States, bringing brain research into the IoT era

A team of Korean researchers has created a miniaturized wireless brain implant that can deliver drugs and light to precisely modulate targeted neurons remotely. The device overcomes distance and location constraints, enabling long-term studies of brain disorders and therapeutic devices.

KAIST uses surface ‘defects’ to enhance droplet formation and removal, achieving up to 5.5 times the heat transfer performance of conventional surfaces

Researchers created a technology that controls the thickness and structure of a polymer coating, allowing more water droplets to form and detach quickly. This enhances heat transfer performance during condensation, improving energy efficiency in power plants and industrial applications.

KAIST develops core technology to reverse biological changes once thought irreversible, opening new possibilities for aging and cancer research

A KAIST research team has identified the molecular lock that keeps cells trapped in an altered state, opening a new path toward releasing that lock and reversing a cell's fate. The team developed a fundamental control technology called ROOT that can regulate these circuits and restore biological states to their original condition.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 21, 2026

KAIST solves 3D memory reliability problem with "oxygen tunnel" structure, boosting AI chip performance and reducing power consumption

KAIST researchers develop a new 'oxygen tunnel' structure to stabilize oxygen vacancies in oxide semiconductors, achieving world-class current density and data retention time. The technology is expected to improve next-generation compute-in-memory systems and accelerate AI era advancements.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 19, 2026

KAIST turns once-troublesome protons into an energy storage resource for batteries

A KAIST research team has developed a new electrode material that sequentially stores zinc ions and protons, enabling high storage capacity and fast charging/discharging performance. The material achieved 368.7 mAh g⁻¹ storage capacity and retained 46.9% of its capacity even at 16-fold increased charging/discharging rates.

Patient-specific "blood–brain tumor barrier chip" predicts how glioblastoma patients will respond to treatment

A Korean research team developed a patient-specific blood-brain tumor barrier-on-a-chip model to predict individual responses to glioblastoma therapies. The chip recreates a patient's own tumor cells together with the surrounding peritumoral vascular environment, allowing for precise predictions of treatment responses.

KAIST controls the rotation direction of light without complex new materials

Researchers at KAIST create microscale chiral pinwheel arrays through self-assembly of achiral liquid-crystal molecules, enabling circularly polarized light with a desired rotation direction. This breakthrough simplifies the production of chiral optical materials, paving the way for next-generation displays and optical communications.

KAIST develops high-efficiency, eco-friendly hydrogen separation membrane that filters hydrogen through a molecular “network”

The KAIST research team has successfully developed a new, eco-friendly hydrogen separation membrane that filters hydrogen through a molecular network. The membrane achieved a high bridge connectivity degree of 73% and showed significant improvements in hydrogen permeability and selectivity.

KAIST shapes a "templates a ‘gas lattice’ in porous materials”: the moment gas forms a crystal-like lattice

A KAIST research team has demonstrated for the first time that a porous material can arrange disordered gas molecules into a crystal-like structure. Using xenon as a model system, they identified a specific cobalt-based material that stabilizes xenon in a regular lattice, showcasing a breakthrough in gas crystallization.

KAIST brings ‘giant batteries’ closer to commercialization in the AI data center era

A KAIST research team has developed a process that cuts the production time for vanadium redox flow batteries' core material by 67%, overcoming a critical bottleneck to commercialization. This breakthrough could significantly accelerate the development of large-capacity energy storage technology.

KAIST develops marine carbon removal technology that turns carbon dioxide in seawater into “stone” for permanent storage

Researchers at KAIST have developed a technology converting CO2 dissolved in seawater into calcium carbonate, enabling permanent storage and helping the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide. The system reduced electricity consumption by up to 54% and produced high-purity hydrogen and magnesium hydroxide.

KAIST develops AI that generates feasible plans for delivery, production, and workforce scheduling

A research team at KAIST has developed RL-SPH, a reinforcement-learning-based method that can independently generate feasible solutions satisfying all constraints. The technique achieved a 100% feasibility rate across five benchmarks, reducing the primal gap by an average of 28.6 times and improving search efficiency.

KAIST develops a way to combat cancer cachexia, the wasting syndrome that debilitates patients

A KAIST research team has developed an RNA-based therapeutic strategy that blocks a brain signal to prevent muscle loss and extend survival in cancer patients. The treatment showed significant improvements in both muscle loss and metabolic dysfunction, with a notable increase in survival rates among treated mice.

KAIST identifies a molecular “switch” that activates cell growth signaling, suggesting a potential basis for next-generation anticancer therapy

A research team at KAIST has uncovered the molecular mechanism by which amino acid signals activate cell growth signaling. The findings suggest a potential basis for next-generation anticancer therapies that target abnormal growth signaling in tumor cells.

KAIST develops low-temperature technique for growing crystal-aligned semiconductor films

Researchers developed a self-aligned, thin-film growth technology to grow tellurium film in a uniform crystal orientation at a low temperature of 150°C. This approach enables the precise fabrication of high-quality semiconductor films for next-generation semiconductors and optoelectronic devices.

KAIST develops ultra-precise inspection technology to prevent electric vehicle battery fires

A KAIST research team has developed a non-contact, non-destructive method to measure minute variations in battery electrode thickness, improving battery safety and quality by identifying invisible defects during manufacturing. The technology combines terahertz waves with an optical frequency comb for ultra-precise measurements.

A single blood sample may improve the prediction of colorectal cancer recurrence or metastasis, kaist study finds

A joint KAIST research team developed a new framework for analyzing networks of circulating amino acids, reflecting the body's metabolic state. They showed that this approach can predict recurrence or metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer more accurately than current methods.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2026

KAIST opens a new era of Webtoons: From “viewing” to “experiencing”

A KAIST research team developed an XR comics platform, ComiXR, that enables users to read and create comics in immersive environments. The platform demonstrated increased immersion when comic elements were positioned at different depths and incorporated sensory experiences such as facial expression tracking.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 20, 2026

KAIST uncovers the “hidden key” to immunotherapy for intractable brain tumors

A KAIST research team identified a previously unrecognized immune mechanism through which anti-CTLA-4 promotes B-cell responses in tumor-draining lymph nodes. This response is critical for the antitumor effects of anti-CTLA-4 therapy, opening a new avenue for treating intractable brain tumors like glioblastoma.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalScience Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 18, 2026

KAIST develops robot that judges its surroundings and walks, runs, and jumps like an animal

KAIST develops robot that can autonomously choose gait strategy for its surroundings, switching between walking, running, jumping, and other locomotion skills. The team generated 15.5 hours of training data using computer simulations alone, enabling the robot to move quickly and stably in real outdoor environments.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2026

KAIST delivers world's first multi-country projection of the future impact of climate change on mental health

A joint KAIST–University of Tokyo research team found that temperature-related suicide mortality is expected to rise globally due to climate change. Regional differences in future rises are driven by varying temperature-suicide relationships, with East Asia and South America projected to see relatively small increases.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2026

KAIST opens the era of “space sensors” with optical functions reconfigurable by electrical signals alone

Researchers from KAIST and MIT create a transmissive mid-infrared spatial light modulator that can perform various sensor functions using electrical signals alone. The device has demonstrated stable performance after over 16,700 switching cycles and is expected to enable software-defined sensors with reconfigurable optical hardware.

KAIST develops AI technology to detect early warning signs of cerebrovascular disease at home

A KAIST-led research team developed an AI framework that analyzes real-life daily activity and environmental data from older adults to identify digital behavioral markers of cerebrovascular disease risk. The study found that irregular daily rhythms, low indoor humidity, and changes in sleep patterns can serve as important clues for det...

KAIST study finds politically salient immigration issues can lead to higher industrial pollution

A KAIST study found that immigration-related legislation can lead to increased toxic chemical releases from manufacturing facilities in the US. The research team analyzed data from 14,390 facilities and found a significant increase in pollution when political attention shifted to immigration.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalJournal of Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 9, 2026

KAIST automates the search for “dream semiconductor” 2D semiconductors

Researchers at KAIST developed technology to automatically identify and fabricate two-dimensional semiconductors, revealing the relationship between thickness and performance. The technology enables data-driven research and accelerates the commercialization of AI semiconductors and ultra-low-power semiconductors.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 8, 2026