Technology for People: Recognized Worldwide

Dr. Kwak So-na of KIST Wins Award at ACM SIGCHI International Conference

National Research Council of Science & Technology

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Sonya S. Kwak, Senior Researcher at the KIST Center for Intelligence and Interaction (first on the left in the fifth row)

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Credit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST)

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Oh Sang-rok) announced that Senior Researcher Sonya S. Kwak of the Center for Intelligence and Interaction received the “SIGCHI Special Recognition Award” from ACM SIGCHI, an academic society in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), at the CHI 2026 international conference held in Barcelona, Spain, on April 15.

This award is significant as it signifies international recognition of her innovative design approach to naturally integrating robots into everyday environments, as well as its potential for industrial and societal expansion, within the fields of human-robot interaction and robotic product design.

ACM SIGCHI (Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction) is the world’s largest academic community in the field of HCI, leading research trends by organizing major international conferences, including CHI. In particular, the SIGCHI Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the field, as they comprehensively evaluate not only academic contributions but also industrial and societal impact.

Dr. Kwak has proposed a new design paradigm in the fields of HCI and robotic product design, expanding the concept of robots from standalone machines to “robotic products” integrated into everyday objects and environments. In her early research, she applied social cues—such as personality, language, gaze, and gestures—observed in human-to-human interactions to robots, empirically elucidating their impact on user perception, trust, and acceptance, and establishing design principles for human-robot interaction.

Subsequent research evolved toward redefining the form and concept of robots. Moving beyond traditional human- and animal-centric designs, the study introduced the concept of “robotic products”—everyday objects such as cups, furniture, and doors that incorporate perception, cognition, and action capabilities. This proposed a new approach to bridging the gap between user expectations and current technological capabilities.

Furthermore, the research proposed a multi-robot system framework in which multiple robotic products collaborate to provide services, and introduced the concept of a “mediator” to integrate and manage these systems, thereby presenting a collaborative robot ecosystem. This research has led to practical implementations, manifesting in various forms such as the commercialization of the educational robot HangulBot, the multi-robot collaboration system CollaBot, the modular robotic furniture oOoBOT, and the transformable robotic space PopupBot. These examples demonstrate the potential for human-centered robot design and the creation of smart environments.

This award is significant not only for the technology itself but also because it signifies international recognition of KIST’s research philosophy, which places “people” at the center. Given ACM SIGCHI’s rigorous evaluation criteria and high level of competition, the award underscores the global competitiveness of research that redefines human-centered design by embedding robotic intelligence into everyday objects and environments.

Dr. Kwak stated, “This award is a result of the international recognition of the importance of human-centered robot design and industry-academia collaborative research,” adding, “We will continue to expand our research toward enabling robots to operate naturally within everyday environments and improve the quality of life.” Dr. Kwak’s research team plans to continuously expand its research on human-centered robot services, including AI-based interactive robotic furniture, multi-robot collaboration systems, and hyper-personalized smart spaces.

 

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KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://kist.re.kr/eng/index.do

 

New research uncovers hidden risks of chemical mixtures

The EU project PANORAMIX, coordinated by DTU, indicates that mixtures of man-made chemicals present in human blood or breast milk may affect reproductive health and child development - even when individual substances are within accepted safety levels

Technical University of Denmark

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In everyday life, people are exposed to many chemicals at the same time. These exposures come from water, food, and the surrounding environment.

While chemical risk is typically assessed one substance at a time, new results from the PANORAMIX project show that this approach does not capture the full picture.

Using a combination of chemical profiling and effect-based bioassays, the researchers assessed real-life mixtures across environmental, food, and human samples. 

The results suggest that combined exposures can lead to measurable biological effects that are not explained by known chemicals alone, indicating that current assessments may underestimate the overall risk.

“Most of the mixture effects we measure in real-life samples cannot be traced back to the chemicals we currently monitor. Relying only on targeted chemical monitoring systematically underestimates the actual risk,” says Professor Anne Marie Vinggaard, DTU National Food Institute. She continues:

“Combining effect-based bioassays with chemical profiling is the way forward.”

Widespread exposure but few key drivers of risk

A large number of chemicals - including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial compounds - were identified in environmental samples, foods, and humans, including breast milk and umbilical cord blood. This confirms a continuous exposure pathway from the environment to people, also during the early stages of life. 

The study also shows that environmental chemicals in mixtures act according to the principle of concentration addition, meaning that even low levels can combine into measurable biological effects.

A limited number of known substances contribute substantially to the overall risk, including PFAS, bisphenol A, and legacy pollutants such as dioxins and PCBs. Although many of these are already restricted, they remain present in the environment and continue to contribute to human exposure. 

Epidemiological analyses further indicate that prenatal exposure to PFAS is associated with lower birth weight, while higher exposure to phthalates may be associated with higher ADHD scores in children, underlining the relevance for public health.

The results are directly relevant to EU chemical legislation and support the inclusion of mixture effects and combined methodological approaches in future risk assessment.

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FACTS

PANORAMIX

Title: Chemical mixtures from environment to humans: a One Health approach to risk assessment

• Funded under the EU Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call (Grant Agreement No. 101036631)
• Coordinated by DTU National Food Institute
• 11 partners from 6 European countries
• Duration: 2021–2026

PANORAMIX combined targeted and non-targeted chemical analysis, in vitro bioassays and epidemiological data from up to 10 European countries to assess the effects of chemical mixtures across environment, food and humans. 

Read more

Read the latest publication from the project in Environ. Sci. Technol.: Determination of Chemical Mixtures in Environmental, Food, and Human Samples Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Based Suspect Screening Approaches
Find all publications and additional information on the PANORAMIX-project website

 

Eating legumes, soy products may help improve COPD symptoms

Isoflavones in these foods may reduce inflammation for people with COPD

COPD Foundation

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Miami (April 23, 2026) – Consuming legumes and soy-based foods may help improve symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by reducing inflammation and irritation, according to a new study in the March 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is a progressive, inflammatory lung disease that affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Previous research has identified diet and nutrition as modifiable risk factors for chronic lung disease, including COPD.

This new study examined how increased isoflavone consumption impacted participants’ breathing symptoms, cough, and overall lung health. Isoflavones are a natural substance, commonly found in legumes and soy-based foods.

Participants were all former smokers and completed questionnaires regarding diet and symptoms, in addition to lung function tests and clinical assessments, at baseline, three months, and six months. Isoflavone consumption was reported as the average intake at each of the three visits or at all visits that consumption data was available.

Study results showed people with higher isoflavone consumption experienced fewer breathing-related symptoms, including reduced coughing and less difficulty clearing mucus, and improved lung health.  

“Research has proven diet and nutrition can impact lung health. We need to further understand which specific nutritional components are responsible for reducing the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like COPD,” said Daniel C. Belz, M.D., MPH, of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and lead author of the study. “Additionally, larger studies are necessary to explore how increasing isoflavone consumption helps improve COPD symptoms and overall lung health.”

To access current and past issues of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, visit journal.copdfoundation.org.

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About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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Journal

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Journal of the COPD Foundation

DOI

10.15326/jcopdf.2025.0695 

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Isoflavone Intake is Associated With Decreased Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Morbidity

UH OH. WAIT, WHAT?!

New 3D device harnesses living brain cells for computing

Princeton University, Engineering School

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Biological neurons growing over and through a layer of a 3D electronic mesh. Researchers programmed the device to recognize patterns. Image courtesy of the researchers

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Credit: Courtesy of the researchers/Princeton University

Princeton researchers have combined brain cells and advanced electronics into a single 3D device that can be programmed to recognize patterns using computational techniques.

Past attempts at using brain cells to do computation have relied on 2D cultures grown in a petri dish or 3D clusters that are probed and monitored from outside. The Princeton device takes a different approach, working from the inside out.

Using advanced fabrication techniques, the team created a 3D mesh made of microscopic metal wires and electrodes supported by a thin epoxy coating. Because the coating is so thin, it has just the right amount of flexibility to interface with the soft neurons that grow around it. The team used the mesh as a scaffold to culture tens of thousands of neurons into a vast 3D network that can be used to do computation.

The study was published in Nature Electronics on Apr. 23.

The researchers said the new integrated approach enabled them to record and stimulate the neurons’ electrical activity at a much finer scale than past approaches. They tracked the evolution of the system over a period of more than six months, experimenting with ways to strengthen and weaken connections between key neurons, and ultimately trained an algorithm that could recognize patterns of electrical pulses.

In one test, they used pairs of distinct spatial patterns. In another, they used distinct temporal patterns. The system correctly distinguished among the patterns in both tests. The researchers said they hope to scale the system to the point where it can do increasingly complex tasks.

The work was led jointly by Tian-Ming Fu, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute; James Sturm, Stephen R. Forrest Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Kumar Mritunjay, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical and computer engineering.

While initially developed to study fundamental problems in neuroscience, the team realized it could shed light on a key bottleneck of modern AI technology: energy consumption.

“The real bottleneck for AI in the near future is energy,” said Fu. “Our brain consumes only a tiny fraction — about one millionth — of the power consumed by today’s AI systems to perform similar tasks.”

Mritunjay, the paper’s first author, said that systems like this, called 3D biological neural networks, “not only help uncover the computing secrets of the brain but can also assist in understanding and possibly treating neurological diseases.”

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Journal

Nature Electronics

DOI

10.1038/s41928-026-01608-1 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

A three-dimensional micro-instrumented neural network device

Article Publication Date

23-Apr-2026

Artist's rendering of a biocomputing device that combines biological neurons with advanced electronics into a network that can be programmed to recognize patterns. Image by Kate Zvorykina/Ella Maru Studio, Inc. 

Credit

Kate Zvorykina/Ella Maru Studio, Inc.

WORD OF THE DAY

A sinking lithospheric root raised Mongolia’s Hangay Mountains

New study identifies oroclinal bending as the trigger for lithospheric foundering and surface uplift

Geological Society of America

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Central Mongolia’s Hangay Mountains rise more than four kilometers above sea level, forming a dramatic dome that shapes the region’s climate. But for decades, geologists have been puzzled: what caused this massive mountain range to form so far from any active plate boundary? Unlike the linear Himalayas, which are still rising from the collision of India and Asia, the dome-shaped Hangay Mountains show little internal deformation, suggesting a different and previously unknown mechanism.

In a new study published in Geology, an international research team led by Professor Pengfei Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reports the first discovery of Cretaceous magmatism in the Hangay Mountains, allowing them to establish a spatial and temporal link between deep geodynamic processes and surface uplift. By analyzing the ages and geochemistry of newly discovered volcanic rocks, the team found that a dense piece of lithospheric mantle beneath the Hangay Mountains broke off and sank into the deeper mantle about 125–114 million years ago.

This “foundering” event triggered melting of the mantle, generated magma, and caused the overlying crust to dome upward, creating the dome-shaped Hangay Mountains we see today. Remarkably, this foundering happened after an ancient plate boundary bent into a giant U-shape—a process called oroclinal bending—which thickened the lithosphere at the most-curved part of that bend to facilitate the subsequent foundering.

The findings offer a new model for understanding how mountains can form in the middle of continents, far from plate boundaries. They also reveal a surprising link between deep Earth processes and surface landscapes: large-scale oroclinal bending can drive a lithospheric root to sink, which in turn triggers volcanism, builds topography, and even influences regional climate by creating rain shadows. This study opens fresh questions about how such “intracontinental” mountains may have shaped Earth’s habitability over deep time, and it could help scientists better interpret similar mountain ranges elsewhere on our planet.

Citation: Ling, J., et al., 2026, Early Cretaceous uplift of the Hangay Mountains (central Mongolia): A consequence of lithospheric foundering following oroclinal bending: Geology, https://doi.org/10.1130/G54383.1

Sign up for e-Alerts for Geology, GSA Bulletin, and Geosphere: https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/GSA/Pubs/jrnlAccess.aspx

About the Geological Society of America

The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society with more than 18,000 members across over 100 countries. As a leading voice for the geosciences, GSA advances the understanding of Earth's dynamic processes and fosters collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers. GSA publishes Geology, the top-ranked “geology” journal, along with a diverse portfolio of scholarly journals, books, and conference proceedings—several of which rank among Amazon’s top 100 best-selling geology titles.

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Journal

Geology

DOI

10.1130/G54383.1 

Article Title

Early Cretaceous uplift of the Hangay Mountains (central Mongolia): A consequence of lithospheric foundering following oroclinal bending

Article Publication Date

20-Apr-2026

From air to tea: new sensor reveals invisible pollution in minutes

Fine particulate matter in the air or nanoparticles in water – a remarkable new technology developed at TU Wien makes it possible to detect tiny amounts of a wide range of substances in a very short time

Vienna University of Technology

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Jelena Timarac Popovic

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Credit: Romana Maalouf Photography

Over many years, researchers at TU Wien have developed an unusual new measurement technique: nanomembranes and infrared light are used to detect extremely small quantities of different substances. It has now been demonstrated that the technology is ready for practical use and outperforms existing methods by orders of magnitude in many respects. Environmental pollutants can be detected in the nano- or picogram range – results that previously required days or even weeks can now be obtained within minutes.

This measurement technique has been developed and refined at TU Wien over the past years in collaboration with the spin-off company Invisible-Light Labs, founded by Prof. Silvan Schmid together with Dr. Josiane P. Lafleur, Dr. Niklas Luhmann, and Dr. Hajrudin Bešić. The resulting product, EMILIE™, is now commercially available, and the first scientific publications have appeared. In two research articles, the team has demonstrated how well the new method performs: in Science Advances, it was applied to aerosols in the air, and in ACS Nano to nanoparticles in water – even enabling the detection of minute traces released from a nylon teabag into tea. “We have now reached the decisive milestone: we were able to show that our method delivers excellent results in real-world applications and clearly outperforms other techniques.”

Making the invisible visible with light

“In principle, it is already possible today to detect almost any chemical substance in trace amounts,” says Silvan Schmid, head of the research team. “For example, a sample can be illuminated with many different wavelengths in the infrared range. Different molecules respond to different wavelengths – and from that, we can determine which molecules are present in the sample.”

However, this approach has its limitations: a sufficient amount of the target substance is required to generate a measurable signal. Other, irrelevant components of the sample can obscure the signal of interest and render it invisible – much like the noise of a jackhammer drowning out the song of a bird.

The nanomembrane trick

“In recent years, we have developed a detection method that makes it possible to reliably measure extremely small quantities of material,” says Silvan Schmid. The method analyzes particles that accumulate on a tiny membrane. The membrane, together with the particles, is illuminated with infrared light. Certain wavelengths are strongly absorbed by the particles, causing them – and thus the membrane – to heat up slightly. This leads to a tiny change in the membrane’s vibrational behavior – similar to how a drum sounds slightly different depending on its temperature. These changes can be measured with great precision, allowing even very small particle quantities to be chemically identified.

Greenland air and a nanoliter of tea

In the past, detecting ultrafine particulate matter in air required special filters through which air had to be pumped for days or even weeks until a sufficient amount of particles had accumulated. With the new membrane-based approach, far fewer particles are needed – results can be obtained after just 15 to 45 minutes. This 100-fold reduction in sampling time enables cost-effective field studies of the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols – from densely populated urban areas to remote polar regions.

Prof. Julia Schmale from the Extreme Environments Research Laboratory (EERL) at EPFL in Switzerland used the new method to investigate aerosols from Arctic and Antarctic regions in order to better understand their impact on the climate. The sensors are both highly sensitive and sufficiently portable to be deployed on tethered balloons in polar regions, allowing researchers to study the vertical distribution and chemical composition of airborne particles.

“Thanks to the high sensitivity of our method, Julia Schmale’s team can analyze the chemical composition of particles with high temporal resolution. It is now possible, using tethered balloons, to observe how the chemical composition of aerosol particles changes over short timescales and how it varies between ground level and higher altitudes – something that was practically impossible with previous methods,” explains Josiane P. Lafleur, CEO of Invisible-Light Labs.

The technology also works extremely well for liquids: the research group led by Silvan Schmid at TU Wien analyzed just 100 nanoliters of tea water – roughly one thousandth of a drop. Even in this tiny amount, they were able not only to detect components of the tea itself, but also traces of nylon released from the teabag.

“We have demonstrated that our method represents a major step forward in environmental analytics,” says Silvan Schmid. “Together with Invisible-Light Labs, we now aim to further commercialize this technology and hopefully contribute to more effective environmental protection.”

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Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.aeb2254 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Quantifying submicrometer atmospheric aerosol chemical composition using nanoelectromechanical Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Article Publication Date

22-Apr-2026

 

Why heat deaths occur during low-level alerts - new UK study

Public misunderstanding and low engagement with warnings leaving vulnerable groups exposed, researchers say

University of East London

Many heat-related deaths in England occur during lower-level alerts that the public is least likely to respond to, with new research from the University of East London highlighting a critical gap between warning systems and public behaviour.

Based on a nationally representative survey of more than 1,000 adults in England, the research highlights widespread gaps in awareness, understanding and response to heat health alerts.

Key findings include:

• Nearly one in three people (30%) had not received a heat-health alert at all
• Over 40% of those who had received alerts said they ignored them
• Only 25% said they would act on yellow alerts, compared to a much higher response to red warnings
• Older adults (65+) were among the least likely to take action unless alerts reached the highest level

Older people - who account for more than 90% of heat-related deaths - are also among those least likely to respond to lower-level alerts, suggesting those most at risk may be missing critical opportunities to protect themselves.

The research also highlights inequalities in who receives and engages with alerts, with older adults and lower-income groups less likely to encounter warnings in the first place, pointing to gaps in reach and digital exclusion.

Beyond awareness, the study found that many people do not perceive heat as a serious personal risk, or lack clear guidance on what action to take. Misunderstanding of alert levels is common, and unclear messaging may be contributing to widespread inaction.

Researchers warn that the current system risks creating a false sense of security during lower-level alerts, when people are less likely to act despite real and present dangers.

Dr Mehri Khosravi, Senior Research Fellow at the University of East London and lead author of the study, said,

“Too many people are not seeing, not understanding, or not acting on heat alerts – and that is putting lives at risk. Lower-level warnings in particular are being overlooked, despite posing real danger.”

She added,

“We need to rethink how we communicate heat risk, especially with the elderly who are mostly digital exclusive. Alerts must be clearer, more relevant and more actionable, especially for those most vulnerable, if they are to prevent avoidable deaths.”

The research, entitled The heat is on: Understanding public responses to heat-health alerts in England, co-authored by Dr Mehri Khosravi, Angela Afua Assan, and Dr Gloria Osei, is published in Energy Research & Social Science.

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Journal

Energy Research & Social Science

DOI

10.1016/j.erss.2026.104685 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

The heat is on: Understanding public responses to heat-health alerts in England