The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings co-hosted "The Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future" today (12 January 2026), convening six Nobel laureates for thought-provoking discussions on how fundamental research drives progress in science, technology, health, and the global economy. Held at the Grand Hall of the Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre on the Centennial Campus, the forum drew an audience of over 800 participants, fostering interdisciplinary exchange among some of the world’s most distinguished scientific minds.

Researchers have developed a novel data-driven Faraday polarimetric decoupling method, offering a robust technical solution to the challenge of atomic density fluctuations inatomic gyroscopes. The study, published in Defence Technology, introduces a framework that integrates finite-element simulation with neural networks to isolate density disturbances from signal measurements.

A research team led by Professor Yuyu Zhou from the Department of Geography at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has unveiled a critical “warming paradox” in global urban greening strategies, challenging the universal assumption that vegetation always cools cities and providing a new roadmap for “smart greening” to combat urban heat islands effectively. By analysing high-resolution satellite and climate data from over 700 megacities, the study also demonstrates that in arid regions, urban greenery can actually increase surface temperatures.

Radio telescopes are instruments that capture faint radio signals from space and convert them into images of celestial bodies. To observe distant black holes clearly, multiple radio telescopes must capture cosmic signals at exactly the same time, acting as a single unit. Research teams at KAIST have developedr a new reference signal technology that uses laser light to precisely synchronize the observation timing and phase of these telescopes.

Given the ubiquitous presence of water during catalyst synthesis, storage, and application, interactions between water and molecular sieves, along with their consequent effects on frameworks and catalytic reactions, have attracted widespread attention from both academia and industry. This review summarizes the current understanding of water-molecular sieve interactions and elucidates the multiple roles of water in molecular sieve catalysis, providing valuable insights for optimizing catalytic performance in water-involved reactions.

A team from Lanzhou University of Technology have developed a novel NiTi shape memory allow (SMA) with harmonic microstructures fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM). This work explores the relationship between microstructural evolution at various deformation stages and corrosion behaviour in seawater environments. The study reveals that in its initial states, the alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance, primarily owing to dense and stable passivation films composed mainly of TiO₂ and NiO. Post-fracture, the formation of fragmented amorphous phases and nanocrystalline grains accelerates corrosion processes. Leveraging first-principles calculations and electrochemical analysis, the team provides insights into microgalvanic reactions and phase interactions that influence corrosion resistance, paving the way for advanced smart materials in marine applications.

A team at the Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry and the Institute of Advanced Carbon Conversion Technology, Huaqiao University has developed a coordination-pyrolysis strategy to fabricate a highly dispersed copper sulfide (CuS) nanosheets supported on N-doped porous carbon precatalyst (CuS@NC). The covalent S species trigger the deep-reconstruction of CuS nanosheets, and the in-situ generated SO₄^2- not only promotes the formation of Cu^2+δ species but also facilitates the cleavage of α–C–H and –O–H bonds in HMF. The optimized CuS@NC achieved a high current density of 335 mA cm^-2 at 1.5 V vs. RHE, representing a remarkable 628% enhancement over the control catalyst.

Discover a game-changing method for removing thermal barrier coatings in the aerospace industry! Researchers have found a way to use soluble sugar abrasives to efficiently and cleanly remove coatings, solving a major challenge. Learn how this eco-friendly solution enhances efficiency and paves the way for greener maintenance technologies.

A recent study published in Engineering by Daiwei Li, Xiliang Zhang, and their colleagues from Tsinghua University offers a systematic evaluation of a promising solution: coal-to-nuclear (C2N) conversion, i.e. repowering the to-be-retired coal-fired power plants with nuclear power, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs).