Protein designers have now created new calcium channels, built bottom-up from scratch. Naturally occurring ion channels, present in the membrane of excitable cells, generate electrical impulses. These electrophysiological signals help direct muscle contraction, the heartbeat and the release of neurotransmitters. Synthetic ion channels could serve as tools for biomedical research, from neuroscience experiments to heart biology models and synthetic cell signaling circuits. 

A joint research team from POSTECH, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies has developed a 3D-bioprinted retina-on-a-chip and retinal vein occlusion model.

Rechargeable aqueous metal-ion batteries are promising alternative energy storage devices in the post-lithium-ion era due to their inherent safety and environmental compatibility. Among them, aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) stand out as next-generation energy storage systems, offering low cost, high safety, and eco-friendliness. Nevertheless, the instability of Zn metal anodes, manifested as Zn dendrite growth, interfacial side reactions, and hydrogen (H2) evolution, remains a major obstacle to commercialization. To address these challenges, extensive research has been conducted to understand and mitigate these issues. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in Zn anode stabilization strategies, including artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers, structural optimization, electrolyte modification, and bioinspired designs. These approaches collectively aim to achieve uniform Zn deposition, suppress parasitic reactions, and enhance cycling stability. Furthermore, it critically evaluates the advantages and feasibility of different strategies, discuss potential synergistic effects of multi-strategy integration, and provide perspectives for future research directions.

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based image segmentation algorithm that can rapidly reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) structures from two-dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of biological samples captured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The Advanced Robotics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST, Chairman Young-Shik Kim), led by Principal Researcher Cheol Hoon Park, has developed an automated weaving system that enables the continuous mass production of fabric muscle, a lightweight yet powerful artificial muscle actuator.

The year 2025 records more than 14,000 individual satellites and 27,000 tracked objects in orbit (including inactive satellites, rocket stages and larger debris). The risks of overcrowding in space include collisions, light pollution, cyber-attacks, and malfunctioning communications with Earth. 

To face this challenge, a consortium of universities and companies - including the Italian AIKO - launched the ASIMOV project with the aim of creating an intelligent “space autopilot”. It is designed to autonomously approach, map and monitor inactive or non-cooperative objects (such as failed satellites) for inspection, maintenance or removal

The Concrete Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing Platform (CHAMP) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville revolutionizes construction research with robotic arms for 3D printing and sensor placement. Developed by UT’s Future of Construction Initiative, CHAMP fosters multidisciplinary collaboration, enabling breakthroughs in sustainable materials, advanced technologies, and AI-driven construction processes to address modern infrastructure challenges.