The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has successfully observed, for the first time, the multiple freezing-melting process of water under ultrahigh pressure exceeding 2 gigapascals (2 GPa) at room temperature on a microsecond (μs, one-millionth of a second) timescale.

This breakthrough led to the world’s first discovery of a previously unknown crystallization pathway of water and a new 21st ice phase, named Ice XXI.

Liver fibrosis is a major health threat, and current therapies remain limited. To advance treatment options, researchers at Yangzhou University studied how dihydroartemisinin affects liver fibrosis. Their analysis revealed that dihydroartemisinin upregulates CHAC1 transcription via H3K9 acetylation, prompting ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells and slowing fibrosis. These findings point to promising new molecular targets for combating liver fibrosis and improving patient outcomes.

Carbon-supported single-atom catalysts with metal-N moieties are promising for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. In a breakthrough, a team of researchers from Chung-Ang University proposes a metal–organic framework-engaged dual-level engineering strategy to fabricate a hierarchical porous carbon nanofiber with low-coordinated single-atom catalysts. This technology is expected to lead to safer and more efficient batteries, quickening the transition to clean energy and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Short ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) treatment optimizes cell adhesion on plastic culture substrates by selectively enriching adhesion proteins, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Their latest study explains the underlying reason why there is an optimal UVO treatment time, with the optimal surface condition arising when the ability to selectively adsorb and immobilize key adhesion proteins is maximized. This study paves the way for the design of polymeric materials used in medical research.

Wearable microfluidic sensors are promising for efficient sweat analysis, with applications in sports, healthcare, worker safety, and more fields. Recently, researchers from Chung-Ang University have successfully demonstrated next-generation soft, skin-interfaced 3D microfluidic systems for accurate and comprehensive sweat rate, cumulative loss, and biochemical content assessment. This cutting-edge technology is expected to revolutionize real-time and non-invasive tracking of health status and disease progression.