News & Stories

A research team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has achieved a major scientific breakthrough by developing the first artificial cilia system capable of replicating the fast, complex, three-dimensional motion of natural cilia found throughout the human body. The study, recently published in Nature titled “3D-printed low-voltage-driven ciliary hydrogel microactuators”, marks a significant advance in soft robotic materials and bio‑inspired micro‑engineering.Cilia—microscopic hair-like structures—play vital roles in clearing mucus from the lungs, circulating cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and supporting reproductive processes. For decades, scientists have sought to recreate their sophisticated mechanics, but achieving realistic motion in engineered systems has remained a persistent challenge.

An international interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. Richard GU Hongri, Assistant Professor of the Division of Integrative Systems and Design at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges a centuries-old understanding of friction. For over 300 years, scientists have adhered to Amontons’ law, which posits that friction increases monotonically with the load pressing two surfaces together. However, this new study reveals that friction can manifest even without physical contact, opening avenues for the development of wear-free technologies and reshaping our comprehension of this fundamental rule that governs everyday activities from walking to braking a car.

Have you ever wondered how mussels instantly glue themselves to rocks, allowing them to survive the crushing force of ocean waves? They complete this process in under 30 seconds. Yet, in a laboratory, replicating this process of molecular self-assembly, known as liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), typically takes dozens of minutes, if not hours. A research team of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recently solved this long-standing puzzle using large-scale molecular dynamics simulation and theoretical analysis, revealing the secret to nature’s incredible speed and providing implications for instant biocompatible surgical glues.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announced the launch of a five-year research initiative, the HKUST Healthy Longevity Study. This pioneering study focuses on older Chinese adults in Hong Kong and aims to uncover the key determinants of “healthy longevity.” The findings will provide a scientific foundation for developing more precise and personalized health management strategies, contributing to the advancement of healthy aging across society.

Led by scholars from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a research team has discovered that, since the early 2000s, both sea surface temperature changes near the equator and the associated atmospheric adjustments over the Pacific have accelerated markedly—becoming a key driver of the increasingly rapid loss of Arctic sea ice during autumn. The findings highlight that, under ongoing global warming, climate linkages between distant regions are far more dynamic and complex than previously understood.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today showcased its award-winning inventions, which were recognized at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). The University's 62 participating teams won a total of 62 accolades, including 13 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 20 Gold Medals, 20 Silver Medals, and 9 Bronze Medals. This year's achievements set a new record for the University and make it the highest-awarded higher education institution in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is pleased to receive approval from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government to establish two new research centers under the third InnoHK research cluster, SEAM@InnoHK. The research centers will focus respectively on renewable energy and storage, as well as power semiconductors and related applications. These centers aim to drive innovation in green and low-carbon energy transition and advanced manufacturing, thereby supporting Hong Kong's alignment with the national 15th Five‑Year Plan's priorities on sustainability, while strengthening the city's strategic role in the new wave of global technological advancement.The two new HKUST-led research centers include:

A research team led by Prof. SUN Jianwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has achieved a groundbreaking advance in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. The team has developed an air-stable chiral phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective approach to synthesize enantioenriched S(IV)-stereogenic vinyl sulfinamides—an under-explored class of organosulfur compounds with promising antiviral activity.