The University of Hong Kong researchers have developed a novel quantum chemistry technique to reveal complex electron and energy transfer pathways in photophysical processes. The study reveals that strong electron-electron correlations and electron-vibration couplings govern the efficient singlet fission process in organic materials.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have discovered a genuine topological Mott insulator in twisted bilayer graphene models. The system's unique properties lead to exotic behavior, including insulating and superconducting phases.
HKU astrophysicists identify historical supernova of AD 1181 with recent discovery of 'Parker's star' and its surrounding nebula Pa30. The team found the event matches ancient Chinese reports within 3.5 degrees, providing a firm historical basis for the rare Type Iax designation.
Researchers at HKU and CityU have developed a new vaccine targeting Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly Gram-negative pathogen causing severe infections. The Glycoconjugate vaccine protects against infection by triggering an immune response to kill the bacteria.
A research team led by Dr Chaogu ZHENG discovered that bacteria-derived curli amyloid fibril promotes neurodegeneration in the host. Inhibiting curli production may be a preventative treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
HKU environmental scientists have developed novel observational methods to overcome limitations in CubeSat observations, enabling more accurate tracking of fine-scale changes on Earth's surface. The research advances the monitoring of atmospheric cloud covers and improves data quality assessments for land-surface monitoring.
A research team at HKU has developed a framework to evaluate the risks of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) based on three factors: human-associated environments, gene mobility, and host pathogenicity. The framework provides a risk hierarchy for ARGs, allowing for informed decision-making on tackling environmental ARGs.
Climate change and metal pollution have substantially altered Hong Kong's marine communities, particularly in eastern waters, according to a recent study published in Anthropocene. The researchers used small fossil shells to reconstruct the ecosystem over the last 50-100 years, revealing significant impacts on rare species.
Researchers observed linked Weyl surfaces in five-dimensional space using metamaterials, introducing a unique platform for studying complex topological phenomena. The experiment revealed a higher-dimensional topological state with exotic optical properties, including negative refraction and invisibility cloaks.
A HKU team has developed a framework to determine the diet of fossil birds, allowing scientists to better understand ancient avian behavior. By combining various techniques, including medicine and materials science, the researchers identified previously unrecognized agreements on the diet of certain species.
HKU researchers found that active intercellular contraction and actin filament alignment trigger cellular anisotropy and plasticity, driving embryo elongation. This breakthrough may lead to new strategies in detecting and treating embryo diseases.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong propose that sedimentary rocks measured by Curiosity rover represent sand and silt deposited by air-fall and reworked by wind. The discovery suggests a reducing atmosphere on ancient Mars with conditions similar to those found in modern-day deserts.
Marine ecologists found that mangroves have the lowest functional redundancy among resident fauna, indicating a high risk of ecological collapse. The study suggests that even modest local losses of invertebrate diversity could have significant negative consequences for mangrove functionality and resilience.
A novel statistical method revealed the importance of climate change in controlling deep-sea biodiversity, with temperature being the primary driver. The study used long-term fossil records and Convergent Cross Mapping to detect causality, supporting evidence that climate change affects deep-sea ecosystems.
A team of researchers from HKU has developed a transferrable and integrative type I CRISPR-based platform that can efficiently edit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a superbug capable of infecting various tissues and organs. The technique enables rapid identification of resistance determinants and development of novel anti-resistance strategies.
Researchers found that songbirds can sense sweetness regardless of their primary diets, with the ability emerging early within the songbird radiation. The team identified the molecular basis of this ability and found that it has been conserved in nearly half of all birds living today.
A research team has identified a naturally abundant venom peptide from ants that can initiate an immune response via a pseudo-allergic receptor MRGPRX2. The study reveals a novel pathway for this receptor, showing P17 induces infiltration of monocytes at the injected site by activating MRGPRX2.
Ecologists from HKU have developed a novel forensic tool using stable isotope techniques to determine whether birds in the pet trade are captive or wild-caught. The tool uses carbon and nitrogen values to analyze amino acid isotopes, distinguishing between diets of captive and wild birds.
Researchers at HKU have identified 38 authentic Ag+-binding proteins in Staphylococcus aureus, revealing silver's molecular targets and mode of action. The study shows that silver-based antimicrobials can potentiate the efficacy of antibiotics, resensitize MRSA to antibiotics, and slow down antibiotic resistance evolution.
Researchers have discovered significant smoke aerosols in pre-industrial Southern Hemisphere ice core samples, revealing a much fierier past than previously thought. This finding helps to refine climate predictions by accounting for the cooling effect of smoke particles, which may have been underestimated in current models.
A study found that fish living in CO2 vents with reduced pH have higher gene expression in gonads related to pH homeostasis and metabolism. This suggests an adaptive mechanism for survival in a lower pH environment.
Researchers at The University of Hong Kong have developed synthetic biotherapeutics with anti-tumor, insulin-sensitizing, and hepatoprotective activities, offering potential treatments for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
Researchers at The University of Hong Kong have created an atomic-scale ion transistor that can selectively transport ions faster than in bulk water. The device achieves this through electrically gated graphene channels, allowing for highly switchable ultrafast ion transport.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Lingnan University found that wealth inequality is the key driver of global wildlife trade. Wealthier countries are responsible for the majority of the world's demand, with top importers including the US, France, and Italy.
A novel chemical tool, ADdis-Cys, has been developed to elucidate protein interaction networks in cells. It enables the simultaneous identification of a protein's interacting partners and pinpointing of their binding regions.
Research finds a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from Chinese inland waters over the past three decades, primarily driven by environmental alterations. The study suggests that ignoring these emissions will result in overestimating China's terrestrial carbon sink capability.
Research reveals that legal wildlife trade averages $220 billion per year, but lacks adequate traceability, leading to unnoticed over-exploitation of common species. The study suggests refining the HS Code system to improve tracking of wildlife trade and protect biodiversity.
Researchers from HKU have discovered evidence of a reduced atmosphere on ancient Mars, dating back 3.5 billion years. The team used infrared remote sensing and spectroscopy to analyze mineralogy and geochemistry of ancient rocks, revealing weathered conditions indicative of a reducing environment.
A research team led by Professor Chi-Ming Che and Dr. Jun Yang has resolved a long-standing problem in metal-metal closed-shell interaction, finding strong M-M' Pauli repulsion leads to repulsive metallophilicity. This discovery has profound implications for the fabrication of self-assemblies by transition metal complexes.
Researchers found that rising lizard temperatures and predation by snakes are changing the thermal biology of lizards, making them more active at warmer body temperatures. The study suggests that lizard body temperatures and running speeds have increased accordingly, helping them escape snakes.
The study analyzed 841 large cities' urban built-up areas expansion, population growth, and greening changes, revealing a huge pace of urbanization disparity. China demonstrated the biggest urban expansion, while cities in low-income countries lagged behind in infrastructure development and greening.
Researchers developed a novel method to discover ligands and inhibitors against membrane proteins, which are challenging to target. The method uses DNA-programmed affinity labelling and boosting sequences to improve screening specificity and abundance.
New research suggests that restoring Hong Kong's lost oyster reefs can provide significant environmental benefits, including natural water filtration and habitat for native species. The study found that just 7 square meters of a Hong Kong oyster reef can filter up to one Olympic swimming pool of water each day.
A new study by the University of Hong Kong has experimentally proven the existence of Klein tunneling, where relativistic particles can pass through barriers with 100% transmission. This breakthrough has significant implications for fundamental physics and potential applications in sound manipulation and acoustic signal processing.
The discovery of feather sheaths on the Archaeopteryx fossil provides evidence of a sequential centre-out moulting strategy, used by modern falcons to preserve maximum flight performance. This finding sheds light on the evolution of flight in birds and suggests that this strategy was present at the earliest origins of flight.
A new technology uses light to manipulate various liquids, reducing the risk of infection and contamination in medical testing. The device has great potential in fields like DNA analysis, proteomics, and clinical diagnosis, with applications in COVID-19 research.
Scientists have successfully detected a topological Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase in the rare-earth magnet TmMgGaO4 using highly sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The experiment confirms long-held theoretical predictions, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding the behavior of q...
Researchers repurpose an antirheumatic gold drug, auranofin (AUR), to revive the potency of 'last-resort' antibiotics against multi-drug resistant superbugs. The combination therapy shows promising results in eradicating multidrug-resistant bacteria in animal models.
A new study found that seabirds' arrival in the Falkland Islands 5,000 years ago transformed the ecosystem through nutrient deposition, enriching the soil and driving changes in plant community structure. The research highlights the critical link between terrestrial-marine ecosystems and emphasizes the need for long-term monitoring to ...
A team of scientists discovered that scansoriopterygids, a group of bat-winged theropod dinosaurs, were capable of clumsy gliding due to their unique wing shape. Despite their gliding abilities, they were unable to achieve powered flight and eventually became an evolutionary dead-end.
A joint research team has solved the puzzle of non-Fermi liquid behaviour in interacting electrons systems through quantum many-body computation and analytical calculations. The findings provide a protocol for establishing new paradigms in quantum metals, with potential applications in solving the energy crisis.
Researchers at HKU have identified a novel antiviral strategy for treating COVID-19, utilizing the metal-based compound ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. RBC targets the viral helicase Nsp13, reducing viral loads by over 1,000-folds and mitigating symptoms.
Researchers from The University of Hong Kong studied fossil corals and created the first palaeoecological baseline for coral communities in the Greater Bay Area. They found a 40% decrease in coral species, particularly staghorn corals (Acropora), which now occupy only 50% of their historic range.
A research team at HKUMed discovered that exosomes derived from Vδ2-T cells can effectively control EBV-associated tumours and induce T-cell anti-tumour immunity. Allogeneic Vδ2-T-Exos showed higher therapeutic efficacy than autologous Vδ2-T-Exos in humanized mice.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) team has made a breakthrough in developing miniaturized organic semiconductors for flexible electronics. The new device demonstrates a record low contact resistance, enabling significant power savings and reduced heat generation.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong used Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence to reveal the fingernail-like 'soft beak' of Confuciusornis, a feature found in every bird. The study suggests that early beaked birds were suited to eating soft foods and offers new insights into ancient bird evolution.
An international team of astronomers has reported the discovery of a planet, WD 1856 b, orbiting a white dwarf star, which is about seven times larger than the star. The planet's unusual orbit has confirmed previous theories of planetary migration from outer to inner solar systems.
Scientists at HKU and Stanford University develop a new data storage method that uses quantum geometry to store information. This technology reduces energy consumption by over 100 times compared to traditional methods, making it ideal for emerging in-memory computing and neural network computing.
The publication provides a comprehensive overview of pennaraptoran theropods, covering their fossil record, systematics, anatomy, and early flight studies. Key findings include the identification of key avian traits that originated deep within theropod evolution and the discovery of unique reproductive strategies.
An international study reconstructs powered flight potential in theropod dinosaurs, finding it evolved at least three times. Many ancestors of bird relatives experimented with wing-assisted locomotion before flight evolved.