News & Stories
2026
News
HKUST Faculty and Students Gather on Campus to Celebrate the Successful Launch of the Shenzhou‑23 Manned Spacecraft (Chinese Version Only)
神舟二十三號載人飛船順利升空,並首次有香港載荷專家參與國家航天任務,為香港航天發展譜寫嶄新篇章。為見證這歷史性時刻,香港科技大學(科大)約50名師生今日齊聚校園,共同觀看電視直播,現場氣氛熱烈高漲。當火箭騰飛一刻,師生們紛紛報以熱烈掌聲及歡呼,對能夠同步見證國家航天任務圓滿成功,均感到無比激動與自豪。 近年來,科大科研團隊積極及深度參與國家航天任務。在現場觀看直播的師生之中,不少亦曾參與由科大團隊牽頭研製的全球首款輕小型、高分辨率、高精度二氧化碳與甲烷點源協同探測儀——「天韻相機」(MUSICO)項目。該項目由多位科大教授領導,包括科大土木及環境工程學系講座教授蘇慧教授、土木及環境工程學系系主任兼講座教授張利民教授,以及新興跨學科領域學部副教授翟成興教授。 曾於美國太空總署(NASA)任職長達17年的大氣科學專家蘇慧教授表示:「看到火箭順利升空,大家心情都無比激動,難以言喻。航天任務從研發到發射,每一個環節都需要大量專家與科研人員傾注心力,付出巨大努力;當中涉及的技術攻關與嚴謹測試,確實不計其數。我們亦特別為今次有來自香港的載荷專家參與其中而深感自豪,衷心祝願她在天宮太空站上各項任務圓滿成功。」
News
World’s First Lightweight High Resolution High Precision CO₂ and CH₄ Point Source Detector “MUSICO” Arrives at Tiangong Space Station via Tianzhou-10
The world’s first lightweight, high‑resolution, high‑precision synergistic observatory for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emission point sources – named “MUSICO”, Multi‑Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory, led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) – was successfully launched aboard the Tianzhou‑10 cargo spacecraft on May 11 and has arrived at China’s Tiangong Space Station. This is not only Hong Kong’s first scientific payload deployed on the national space station, but also a historic breakthrough for the city in the development of high‑end aerospace instruments. The project fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s strong capability to build national‑level cutting-edge scientific payloads, to participate in long‑term space station missions, and to play a key role in addressing global climate change while serving the nation’s strategic “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals.
News
HKUST Study Reveals Why Tropical Cyclones Rainfall Surges Before Landfall
A research team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has analyzed 40 years of data covering around 1,500 tropical cyclones and discovered that average rain rates surge by more than 20% in the 60 hours before landfall. The study is also the first to clearly identify the physical mechanisms behind this increase, showing that rising humidity over coastal areas and enhanced land-sea frictional contrasts strengthen convection, intensifying rainfall ahead of landfall. The results provide valuable insights for improving coastal disaster preparedness and early‑warning systems.
2025
News
HKUST-Led Study Warns of Climate “Whiplash” Threatening Global Stability by 2064
A groundbreaking climate study led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with an international research team, reveals that a under high-emission scenario, Northern Hemisphere summer monsoons region will undergo extreme weather events starting in 2064. Asia and broader tropical regions will face frequent "subseasonal whiplash" events, characterized by extreme downpours and dry spells alternating every 30 to 90 day which triggers climate disruptions with catastrophic impacts on food production, water management, and clean energy systems.
News
HKUST Launches UN-Backed International Coordination Office for Urban Climate Resilience
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today officially launched the International Coordination Office for Urban-PREDICT, a flagship initiative of the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO), cementing its position as a global leader in urban climate science. The inauguration ceremony, attended by prominent international scientists, policymakers, and industry experts, was followed by the Urban Climate Prediction and Resilience Roundtable, marking a momentous step in global efforts to address urban climate risks through cutting-edge science and cross-sector collaboration.