For the first time, researchers have experimentally discovered optical meron-antimeron pairs—a novel class of topological quasiparticles that were originally conceived in particle physics and later found in magnets, but had never been realized in optics. By employing group representation theory, the team not only generated these states in deep-subwavelength plasmonic systems but also established a complete symmetry classification that dictates their topological invariants. This framework reveals a fundamental chirality-parity locking effect and enables the creation of isolated merons. Harnessing the robustness of these symmetry-protected states, the work demonstrates an ultra-sensitive sensing application with a record λ/133 resolution, bridging abstract theory to practical photonic technology.

As an emerging branch of clinical medicine, microbiota medicine has attracted worldwide attention from clinicians, medical educators, patient communities, and industry. However, this developing field still lacks consensus on its fundamental principles as well as guidelines for clinical and educational practice. An expert panel was convened by the journal Microbiota Medicine Research at the 2025 CHINAGUT Conference to develop the principles and practice guidelines of microbiota medicine.

Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have developed two innovative deep-learning algorithms, ClairS-TO and Clair3-RNA, that significantly advance genetic mutation detection in cancer diagnostics and RNA-based genomic studies.

The School of Computing and Data Science (CDS) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has embarked on a new chapter, launching its first-ever dual-site semester across Hong Kong and Shanghai. As the 2025–2026 academic year enters its second semester, CDS students in the exclusive Tech Immersion Fellowship programme can now split their studies between HKU’s main campus and the newly opened HKU-CDS Teaching and Research Site in Shanghai—a strategic move that redefines cross-border tech education.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the South China University of Technology (SCUT) formalised a partnership through a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to establish the Hong Kong Base of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science (SKL-SBUS). A launch ceremony was held today (21 January) at the Convocation Room, HKU, marking a strengthened partnership between the two universities in the fields of architecture and urban science.

A recent study led by the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital, has demonstrated that combining an innovative coronary imaging technology known as the caFFR system, with diabetes drug SGLT2 inhibitors can significantly reduce the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), heart failure and death among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease. This dual‑pronged strategy provides a precise measurement of coronary blood flow while lowering glucose levels, offering an effective approach to treating exceptionally high-risk patients. The findings were published in the Diabetes and Metabolism Journal.

Talking to oneself is a trait which feels inherently human - but it’s not just humans who can reap the benefits of such self-talk. Published in Neural Computation, scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have demonstrated the potential of inner speech to improve AI learning, showing how AI models can generalize across different tasks more easily when supported by both inner speech and short-term memory.