korea

Traffic is among the biggest sources of air pollution, but what if the very roads they drive on could help clear the air? Engineers in Korea have now demonstrated that photocatalytic concrete can help reduce pollution in tunnels.

The flexible "fingers" at the tip of an elephant's trunk have provided the inspiration for a robotic gripper capable of picking up and holding onto a variety of objects both large and small – from a thin acupuncture needle to a large packaging box.

The Cordyceps fungus has evolved a terrifying ability to hijack the bodies of insects – but it's also being studied for an impressive range of potential medicinal effects. Researchers have found a way to boost production of its key chemical by 100x.

Korean startup Plana Aero, founded by the guy that led Hyundai/Supernal's early eVTOL program, has begun work on a new long-range, hybrid-electric VTOL air taxi that'll carry up to seven people about 350 miles at speeds up to 217 mph.

Finding a scratch on your car is a special kind of heartbreak, but in the future they might be gone before you even notice. Scientists in Korea have developed a coating that self-heals scratches in as little as 30 minutes when exposed to sunlight.

Perovskite solar cells have come a long way in a short time, but there’s still room for improvement. Engineers have now added a layer of quantum dots to the recipe, resulting in a more stable solar cell with near-record efficiency.

As useful as steel is, its main weakness may be its vulnerability to corrosion. Researchers in Korea have now developed a new alloy coating that boosts steel’s resistance to rust, by adding a simple extra step in the surface treatment.

A popular design in the pursuit of fusion power is the tokamak and an exciting example of these donut-shaped reactors can be found at the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, where a new record for maintaining super-hot plasma has reportedly been set.

The Korean entertainment industry is already renowned for its insane production values, but hold onto your seats, Kweebs; CJ ENM is about to get hold of a Mandalorian-style virtual set, so the next wave of k-pop videos will be absolutely next-level.

The vast majority of water on Earth is undrinkable, but desalination could be a vital technology to meet the world’s drinking water needs. Now, Korean engineers have developed a new nanofiber membrane that can operate efficiently for long periods.

Scientists in Korea are touting their newly unveiled robotic hand as the world’s strongest, with an ability to handle objects three times its own weight but also to take on delicate tasks like playing a piano or serving a glass of water.

From London’s Aquatics Centre to the Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion to the Guangzhou Opera House, Zaha Hadid’s architectural style remains individualistic. Now the Pritzker winning Iraqi born designer can add Korea’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza to her team’s resume.