Weekly Digest: CityUHK research team develops 3D-printed biomimetic “mechanoelectrical” smart materials inspired by sea urchin spines, and more ..

By rahmat hidayat

Monday, March 2, 2026

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Weekly Update   View this email in your browser Press Releases  Announcements  Events  Opportunities  More Press Releases CityUHK research team develops 3D-printed biomimetic "mechanoelectrical" smart materials inspired by sea urchin spines By City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) A research team at CityUHK has discovered for the first time that the naturally occurring porous ceramic structure within sea urchin spines possesses an unexpected capability for mechanoelectrical perception. Lingnan University welcomes nearly 200 higher education leaders from all over the world to its internationalised learning environment and "Study in Hong Kong" advantages By Lingnan University Lingnan University welcomed nearly 200 higher education leaders from all over the world at its Tuen Mun campus today (27 February). The visit was one of the main activities of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition. Yes! The role of YAP and CTGF as potential therapeutic targets for preventing severe liver disease By The University of Osaka Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that a specific signaling pathway, the integrin αV–YAP–CTGF axis in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, may be associated with the development of liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer in patients with chronic liver congestion. Japanese pigmented rice contains unique beneficial fats By Hokkaido University Study of 56 japonica rice varieties finds black and green rice to be healthier choices Predicting extreme rainfall through novel spatial modeling By Osaka Metropolitan University An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team used hourly precipitation data from 1981 to 2020 and spatial modeling to predict extreme precipitation events for the next 100 years in Japan. Molecular identification of an enzyme reported over 60 years ago By Ehime University Biochemical and structural biological analysis of a hypothetical gene (protein) within a gene cluster related to metabolic pathway of L-threonate, a four-carbon sugar acid, revealed it's enzyme function as a L-threonate 3-dehydrogenase and physiological role for metabolic diversity. "Even Adult Brains Remodel Themselves" ... Successfully Identified How "Sensory Checkpoint" Upgrades in Adulthood for the First Time in the World By Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) - The brain continues to grow even after adolescence ... Here we grow: chondrocytes' behavior reveals novel targets for bone growth disorders By The University of Osaka Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a mouse model for achondroplasia. The model identified the importance of a signaling molecule called FGFR3 and a pathway called CREB in regulating bone growth. Atomic Precision Unlocks Smarter Oxygen Reduction Catalysts By Tohoku University A single atom can make all the difference. Researchers at Tohoku University have shown that subtle changes in the nitrogen coordination around cobalt dramatically reshape oxygen reduction reaction performance, a cornerstone process for fuel cells and clean chemical production. Starving cancer: Nutrient deprivation effects on synovial sarcoma By Osaka Metropolitan University Glutamine transporter inhibition has been found to suppress cell growth CityUHK and global climate experts warn that El Niño could hammer the Hong Kong economy hard and reduce life expectancy By City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) A recent study co-led by CityUHK found that strong El Niño events cause deeper, longer-lasting harm to human health than previously understood—by slowing long-term improvements in mortality rates for many years, shortening life expectancy, and generating major economic costs. Researchers Create Distortion-Resistant Energy Materials to Improve Lithium-Ion Batteries By Tohoku University We all want cheap, long-lasting, green, and efficient energy. Researchers are helping to make this dream a reality with a new distortion-resistant material that greatly improves these aspects of a battery's cathode. Scientists create the most detailed molecular map to date of the developing Down syndrome brain By Duke-NUS Medical School Duke-NUS scientists have identified how a small number of overactive genes may drive widespread changes in brain function in Down syndrome, helping explain how an extra chromosome affects learning and memory. Lingnan's President S. Joe Qin welcomes Financial Secretary Paul Chan's 2026–27 Budget By Lingnan University Lingnan University President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, Prof S. Modern science catches up with native knowledge with discovery of Clerodendrum kelli By Ateneo de Manila University The indigenous Bugkalot people of Nueva Ecija call it "kelli" but science has only now been able to identify it as a distinct species and given it a formal scientific name Ateneo spearheads int'l cooperation for future light-based electronics By Ateneo de Manila University The Ateneo de Manila University'Research on Optical and Electronic Systems (ROSES) Laboratory, the Philippines' first and only facility dedicated to locally designing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and training PIC designers. AI gets water right: A hydration shield forms a protective coat boosting protein stability By National Taiwan University In our recent JACS paper, we demonstrate that AI-designed ubiquitin-fold proteins achieve extraordinary stability not by tightening their hydrophobic cores, but by reorganizing surface charges to program a structured hydration shell. DGIST Professor Minyoung Song's team present next-generation ultra-compact UWB transmitter technology at ISSCC 2026, the "Olympics of Semiconductors" By Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) - DGIST Professor Minyoung Song's team develops a low-power digital IR-UWB transmitter that maximizes spectrum utilization while complying with global spectrum regulations - Achieves 9 times higher area efficiency than before, with expectations for communications and high-precision localization app Lingnan University study finds only 26% of parents willing to assist children in buying property Scholars note unequal housing opportunities may have long-term implications for population structure and social mobility By Lingnan University Home ownership remains one of the most important decisions in life. A study conducted by Lingnan University's School of Graduate Studies examined intergenerational housing support from the perspective of parents. Methane's missing emissions: The underestimated impact of small sources By Osaka Metropolitan University More thorough testing of methane and ethane emissions in Osaka, Japan, identified numerous natural gas-related large methane sources that were mostly overlooked in current predictions. These sources may be useful future targets for mitigating emissions. Relics, Rituals, and Later Refurbishments: Chennai's Santhome Church By MAP Academy From apostolic legend to colonial revival, the Santhome Cathedral Basilica stands at the crossroads of faith, history, and architecture. See more Press Releases Get a Newsroom Membership to post Press Releases Announcements DGIST Officially Launched Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management ... Spring 2026 as the First Semester Space data to support environmental protection for Palawan and Tubbataha under new PhilSA agreements Donghwan Kim, distinguished professor at Korea University, appointed as DGIST's new Vice President for Research: Claims to lead the institution's leap toward a Korean-style Lincoln Laboratory Bringing quantum science into public spaces: UOsaka named the Quantum City for Asia Winners announced for the 2026 Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature Events Andragogy for Impact Conference 2026 GITEX AI ASIA 2026 ChinaBio® Partnering Forum 2026 ITEX 2026 ASIAWATER 2026 See more Events Join our community to post Events Opportunities Showcase Your Invention on a Global Platform Submissions open for Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus photography award (Deadline extended) Research Fellow (Cancer Science Institute X Next&Bio) JR: 30957 Scientific Manager (Cancer Science Institute) JR: 30819 Scientific Program Officer (Cancer Science Institute) JR : 30869 See more Opportunities Join our community to post Opportunities Asia Research News The Research Communication Experts OUR COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Join our community Follow Asia Research News! 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