Kaist

KAIST Develops New Concept Hologram Technology Whe..

  <(From Left)Dr. Joonkyo Jung. Professor Jonghwa Shin>     A new type of hologram technology has been developed that uses the motion of light as a “key,” revealing information only under specific conditions. This is gaining attention as a novel approach that can simultaneously overcome the limitations of existing optical communication and security technologies. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 4th of May that a research team led by Professor Jonghwa Shin from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a next-generation vectorial hologram metasurface that uses the “total angular momentum (TAM)＊” of light as a key for information selection, enabling the realization of different vectorial images depending on the state of the incident light.  ＊Total Angular Momentum (TAM): a physical quantity that represents both the vibration direction (polarization) and rotational (twisting) properties of light, enabling the creation of precise vectorial images whose intensity and polarization distribution vary depending on the state of light Previously, research utilizing either the vibration direction of light, known as “polarization,” or the property of light twisting in a helical form, known as “orbital angular momentum (OAM),” had been actively pursued. However, independently controlling these two properties within a single device had long been considered an unsolved challenge in the field of optics. To address this, the research team precisely designed nanoscale structures much smaller than the thickness of a human hair and implemented a “bi-layer metasurface” by stacking them in two layers. A metasurface is an optical device based on ultra-fine artificial structures designed to freely control the direction and properties of light. This device uses the “total angular momentum (TAM),” which combines the polarization and degree of twist of light, like a complex encryption key. In other words, the device responds and reconstructs hidden information only when light with a specific vibration pattern and a specific number of twists is incident. With this technology, even if light appears identical externally, the information cannot be read without the designated “light key,” ensuring high security. <Conceptual Diagram of the Study> In addition, the twisting state of light (OAM) can theoretically take on a very wide range of values, significantly increasing the amount of information that can be carried by a single light beam. This also enables expansion into ultra-high-capacity optical communication technologies capable of transmitting far more data simultaneously than before. In particular, this study is meaningful in that it goes beyond simple intensity-only image implementation and achieves a “vectorial hologram” that precisely controls the vibration direction (polarization) of light at each point in the image. A vectorial hologram is a high-dimensional holographic technology that represents not only the intensity of light but also its vibration direction information. <Vector hologram that generates independent intensity and polarization images depending on the conditions of the incident light> This achievement is the first demonstration that two key properties of light—polarization and twist—which had been difficult to separate physically, can be independently controlled within a single device. This is expected to enable applications not only in next-generation display technologies such as immersive holograms, smart glasses, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) devices, but also in various fields including anti-counterfeiting security labels and ultra-high-speed optical communication. Professor Jonghwa Shin stated, “This study demonstrates that polarization and twist, which are fundamental properties of light, can be combined into a single independent information key and freely utilized,” adding, “It will evolve into a key platform for security systems that are difficult to replicate and for ultra-high-speed, ultra-high-capacity optical communication technologies.” This study, with Dr. Joonkyo Jung as the first author, was published online on March 12 in the international journal Advanced Materials.  ※ Paper title: “Arbitrary Total Angular Momentum Vectorial Holography Using Bi-Layer Metasurfaces,” DOI: 10.1002/adma.202519106 This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT through the “Nano Materials Technology Development Program” and the “Group Research Support Program,” as well as by the Ministry of Trade.      

Abandoned Fallen Leaves Transformed into ‘Biodegra..

  <(From left) (Top to bottom) Professor Jaewook Myung of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Shinhyeong Choe, Ph.D candidate Yongjun Cho, M.S candidate Hoseong Moon, (Center) Ph,D candidate Pham Thanh Trung Ninh>     Fallen leaves, which were discarded every year, have been transformed into a resource that can replace waste plastics, a major nuisance in rural areas. A research team at our university has developed biodegradable agricultural vinyl made from fallen leaves, presenting a new way to solve the problem of conventional plastic vinyl, which has been pointed out as a cause of soil pollution.   KAIST announced on April 30th that a research team led by Professor Jaewook Myung of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering developed an eco-friendly agricultural mulch film (an agricultural vinyl that covers the soil to suppress weeds and maintain moisture) that decomposes in the ground using fallen leaves collected from the campus and near the Gapcheon River in Daejeon. This research is significant in that it converted fallen leaves, which are non-edible biomass (plant resources not used for food) that were discarded as useless, into high-value functional materials.   Mulch films, widely used in agricultural fields, are essential materials for suppressing weed growth and maintaining soil moisture. However, most films currently used are made of polyethylene (PE, a representative petroleum-based plastic), making them difficult to collect after use. Residuals left in the soil turn into microplastics (plastic particles so small they are invisible to the naked eye), causing environmental pollution.   To extract key components from fallen leaves, the research team utilized a Hydrated Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES, a special eco-friendly solvent with low toxicity) that mixes citric acid and choline chloride. Through this, they extracted nanocellulose (plant-derived nanofibers with high strength and eco-friendliness) obtainable from plant cell walls and combined it with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, a water-soluble and naturally degradable polymer material) to produce a composite film. In particular, the eco-friendliness was further enhanced by performing all manufacturing processes based on water instead of harmful organic solvents.   The "fallen leaf film" developed in this way showed sufficient performance even in actual agricultural environments. As a result of the experiment, it effectively blocked ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) and exhibited moisturizing performance that suppressed soil moisture loss to a level of about 5％ for 14 days. In addition, ryegrass grown using this film showed better growth status than cases where no film was used. <Figure 1. An eco-friendly strategy that upcycles low-utilization fallen leaves into biodegradable mulching film for natural soil, along with the concept of applying sustainable plasticulture.>     <Figure 2. A schematic diagram of the fabrication process and self-assembly mechanism by which a mulching film is formed through complex hydrogen-bonding interactions> Biodegradation performance was also confirmed. As a result of testing under soil conditions, the developed film decomposed by 34.4％ in about 115 days, showing a faster decomposition rate than conventional biodegradable films. Furthermore, it was confirmed that plant toxicity (harmful effects on plant germination or growth) did not occur during the decomposition process, thus not affecting the germination and early growth of ryegrass and bok choy.   Professor Jaewook Myung said, “This research is meaningful in that it went beyond simply processing fallen leaves and converted them into functional materials that can protect the agricultural environment. Through the use of fallen leaves that do not compete with food resources and water-based processes, it can be utilized as a sustainable alternative technology for agricultural plastics.”   This research was participated in by Pham Thanh Trung Ninh, a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as the first author. The research results were published on February 6, 2026, in ‘Green Chemistry,’ an international academic journal in the fields of chemistry and environment, and were selected as the journal’s inside front cover. ※ Paper Title: All-water-based fabrication of biodegradable mulch films from dead leaves via complex hydrogen-bonded networks, DOI: 10.1039/d5gc06616f (Author Information: Pham Thanh Trung Ninh (KAIST, First Author), Shinhyeong Choe (KAIST), Yongjun Cho (KAIST), Hoseong Moon (KAIST), Jaewook Myung (KAIST, Corresponding Author) total of 5 persons) <Figure 3. The inside front cover page of the latest issue of the Green Chemistry journal> Meanwhile, this research was conducted with the support of the Excellent Young Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea under the Ministry of Science and ICT and the KAIST Grand Challenge 30 project funds.      

Professor Hyun Myung Selected for Research Grand P..

  < KAIST Research Day Group Photo >     KAIST held the ‘2026 KAIST Research Day’ at the Chung Kunmo Conference Hall in the Academic Cultural Complex at the main Daejeon campus on the morning of the 28th starting at 10:00 AM. ‘Research Day’ is an annual festival for campus researchers that has been held since 2016. It serves as a platform to reward and encourage excellent researchers for their hard work and to exchange R&D information by introducing selected outstanding research achievements. Notably, this year’s award scale was expanded to further encourage researchers and foster an environment conducive to research immersion. The number of Research Award recipients increased from two to four, and Special Research Award recipients from one to two. During the event, Professor Hyun Myung (School of Electrical Engineering), who was selected as the recipient of the Research Grand Prize—the highest research honor—delivered a commemorative lecture titled “Spatial AI-based Autonomous Robot Navigation.” < Professor Hyun Myung Delivering His Lecture > Professor Hyun Myung developed proprietary autonomous robot navigation technology based on spatial AI and applied it to various robot platforms. Recently, he has also been pursuing commercialization through a startup venture. Since joining KAIST in 2008, he has been dedicated to researching autonomous mobile robot technology, applying it to various platforms such as wheeled robots, walking robots, and drones. Furthermore, he has proven his technical prowess by winning numerous international competitions. “By focusing on spatial AI and autonomous navigation technology—the core fields of robotics—for the past 17 years, I have been able to contribute to the localization and independence of mobile robot technology in Korea through industry-academic cooperation and startups,” Professor Myung stated in his acceptance speech. “I am grateful and pleased to have had the opportunity to nurture such excellent research talent.” < Professor Hyun Myung Receiving His Award > In addition, Professor Jae-Hung Han (Department of Aerospace Engineering), Professor Byung-Kwan Cho (Graduate School of Engineering Biology), Professor Joseph Searing (School of Computing), and Professor Hyun-Joo Lee (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) were selected as recipients of the Research Award. The Special Research Award was presented to Professor Sun-Chang Kim (Graduate School of Engineering Biology) and Professor Woo-Young Cho (School of Electrical Engineering), while Professor Jae Kyoung Kim (Department of Mathematical Sciences) was selected as the recipient of the Innovation Award. Furthermore, Professor Himchan Cho (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Professor Jung-Yong Lee (School of Electrical Engineering) received the Convergence Research Award as a team. Professor Ji-Joon Song (Department of Biological Sciences) was selected for the International Collaborative Research Award, and Professor Bongjin Kim (School of Electrical Engineering) for the QAIST Creative Challenge Research Award. The ceremony also included awards for the ‘2025 Top 10 KAIST Research Achievements’ and the ‘KAIST 14 Future Leading Technologies,’ recognizing outstanding accomplishments in national strategic technology sectors with significant academic, social, and economic impact. President Kwong Hyoung Lee remarked, “Today’s Research Day is a meaningful occasion to share challenging and innovative ideas and to celebrate the achievements of our outstanding researchers. KAIST, which aims for the world’s first and best research, will continue to contribute to the development of the nation and human society through research and leap forward as a leading global institution in science and technology.” < 2026 Research Day Poster >    

KAIST Identifies Multiple Viruses and Variants Sim..

  <Professor Sungmin Son, (From Upper Left) Professor Dan Fletcher, Professor Melaine Ott>   As the spread of infectious diseases accelerates, technologies that can accurately distinguish multiple viruses in a single test are becoming increasingly important. KAIST and an international research team have developed a new diagnostic technology that simultaneously identifies various viruses and variants by controlling the “speed” of gene scissors. This technology is expected to transform responses to emerging infectious diseases, as it can detect multiple infections at once while reducing the complexity of testing procedures. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 26th of April that a research team led by Professor Sungmin Son from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, in collaboration with researchers from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the Gladstone Institutes, has developed a new ribonucleic acid (RNA) diagnostic technology that can distinguish multiple viruses and variants simultaneously by utilizing the reaction speed of gene scissors. The tool used by the research team is a CRISPR-based protein called Cas13. Gene scissors are proteins that locate and cut specific genetic material, becoming activated when they recognize their target. Cas13 specifically targets RNA. When it finds its target, it becomes activated and cuts surrounding RNA, generating a fluorescent signal. Existing technologies require the use of different gene scissors or various fluorescent colors to detect multiple viruses simultaneously, making the system complex and difficult to apply in real-world settings. The research team took a different approach. They focused on the fact that when gene scissors bind to their target, the speed of “cutting” varies depending on the type of virus. By observing at the single-molecule level within tiny droplets, they confirmed that unique reaction speed patterns emerge depending on the combination of guide RNA and target RNA. Guide RNA is an RNA molecule that provides “positional information,” guiding the gene scissors to their target. < Conceptual diagram of kinetic barcoding using the reaction rate of the CRISPR Cas13 enzyme. The dashed area on the right represents the guide RNA region modified to control the reaction rate. > Based on this, the research team developed a “kinetic barcoding” technology that uses differences in reaction speed like a barcode. This method interprets reaction speeds as signal patterns to distinguish different viruses. Through this technology, it became possible to simultaneously identify multiple viruses and variants using only a single type of gene scissors. < Multiplex virus detection using microdroplet-based kinetic barcoding > In addition, by adjusting the design of guide RNA, the cutting speed of gene scissors can be tuned, enabling scalable and simultaneous detection of a wide range of viruses. The testing process has also been greatly simplified. In conventional methods, detecting RNA viruses requires a “reverse transcription” process that converts RNA into DNA, but this technology enables direct detection of RNA as it is. Reverse transcription is a step that increases testing time and complicates procedures. When tested on actual clinical samples, the technology successfully distinguished various respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants in a single reaction. Professor Sungmin Son stated, “This study goes beyond simply determining whether a virus is present, and is the first case to use the reaction speed of gene scissors as a new form of diagnostic information,” adding, “It will become a next-generation platform capable of diagnosing various infectious diseases at once in the field.” This study was led by Professor Sungmin Son of KAIST as the first author and co-corresponding author, and was published on March 31, 2026, in the world-renowned journal in bioengineering, Nature Biomedical Engineering.  ※ Paper title: “Programmable kinetic barcoding for multiplexed RNA detection with Cas13a,” DOI: 10.1038/s41551-026-01642-6 This research was supported by KAIST’s New Faculty Settlement Research Fund and by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAID).      

11 KAIST Professors, Including Professor Meeyoung ..

  <(Top row from left) Professors Meeyoung Cha, Won Do Heo, Byungha Shin, Kyung Min Kim, Sue Moon, and Juyoung Kim (Bottom row from left) Professors Jinwoo Shin, Young Jae Jang, Song Chong, Inkyu Park, and Taek-Soo Kim>   To mark Science and ICT Day, 11 faculty members from KAIST received government awards at the "2026 Science and ICT Day Ceremony" hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Professor Meeyoung Cha (School of Computing) was awarded the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Innovation Medal/Hyeoksin-jang), Professor Won Do Heo (Department of Biological Sciences) received the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Ungbi Medal), and Professor Byungha Shin (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) was honored with the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Doyak Medal). Professors Jinwoo Shin (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI), Young Jae Jang (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering), and Song Chong (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI) were awarded the Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes/Hongjo Geunjeong Medal) for their contributions to Information and Communications. In addition, Professor Kyung Min Kim (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Professor Sue Moon (School of Computing) received the Science and Technology Medal. Professor Juyoung Kim (School of Electrical Engineering), serving as the CEO of HyperAccel, was awarded the Industrial Service Medal for Information and Communications Merit. Professor Inkyu Park (Department of Mechanical Engineering) received the Presidential Citation, and Professor Taek-Soo Kim (Department of Mechanical Engineering) received the Prime Minister's Citation. In the category of Science and Technology Promotion, Professor Meeyoung Cha received the Order of Science and Technological Merit, Innovation Medal (2nd Class). Professor Cha has led research on solving social issues such as poverty detection based on big data. She was recognized for her contributions to creating academic and social value as the first Korean director at the Max Planck Institute. In the National R&D Performance Evaluation category, Professor Won Do Heo, who has led world-class research in biological sciences, received the Ungbi Medal. Professor Heo pioneered the field of molecular optogenetics in Korea and has contributed to the development of treatment technologies for brain diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Professor Byungha Shin received the Doyak Medal for his achievements accumulated over 20 years in the field of solar cells and optoelectronic materials/devices, specifically for developing high-efficiency devices. Professor Jinwoo Shin received the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for his world-class research in AI and computer science, as well as his contributions to revitalizing the domestic physical AI industry through collaboration with robotics companies. Professor Young Jae Jang was also awarded the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for establishing a manufacturing physical AI verification system based on cooperation between regions, universities, and research institutes, and for developing "KAIROS," the world's first robot operating platform, which contributed to manufacturing innovation and balanced regional development. Professor Song Chong received the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for his role as the founding dean of Korea’s first Graduate School of AI, contributing to the cultivation of high-level AI talent and the establishment of an academic foundation. Furthermore, Professor Kyung Min Kim received the Science and Technology Medal for developing the world’s first high-dimensional brain-inspired computing technology that utilizes both heat and electricity, securing original technology for next-generation semiconductors. Professor Sue Moon received the Science and Technology Medal for her outstanding research in computer network performance measurement, online social network analysis, and ultra-high-performance network systems, as well as her efforts in promoting gender equality. Professor Juyoung Kim, as the CEO of the startup HyperAccel, received the Industrial Service Medal for developing "LPU," an AI semiconductor specialized for LLM inference, overcoming the limitations of GPU-centric AI infrastructure and contributing to high-efficiency, low-power AI systems. Professor Inkyu Park received the Presidential Citation for developing the world's first original technologies for ultra-low-power gas sensors and multi-sensors for smart healthcare. Professor Taek-Soo Kim was honored with the Prime Minister's Citation for leading global techniques in measuring and improving the mechanical properties of advanced thin-film materials, contributing to the development of the semiconductor and display industries. The ceremony was held on the 21st at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies. A total of 164 individuals were recognized for their contributions to Science, Technology, and ICT. Among them, 148 received their awards on-site, with a total scale of 36 Orders of Merit, 22 Medals, 47 Presidential Citations, and 59 Prime Minister's Citations.        

AI Computation Enables Clearer Views of the Deep B..

  < Professor Iksung Kang, KAIST >   Observing the depths of a living brain with clarity has traditionally required expensive, high-end equipment. However, a KAIST research team has advanced neuroscience research by developing a physics-based AI computational algorithm that restores blurred images into sharp ones without the need for additional optical measurement hardware. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on April 21st that Professor Iksung Kang (School of Electrical Engineering), in collaboration with Professor Na Ji's research team at UC Berkeley, has developed a technology that accurately corrects image aberrations in microscopes used for live biological imaging. Notably, the experimental design and algorithm development – the core components of this technology – were led by Professor Kang during his postdoctoral fellowship in Professor Na Ji’s group. This breakthrough was achieved using Neural Fields — a neural network-based technology that continuously represents 3D spatial structures to simultaneously reconstruct clear images and volumetric forms. The research team utilized Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy, a core technology for observing deep within living biological tissues by using two low-energy photons simultaneously to selectively illuminate specific points. However, as light passes through thick tissue, it bends and scatters, causing the image to become blurred — much like how objects appear distorted underwater. This phenomenon is known as optical aberration. Previously, correcting these distortions required adding complex and costly hardware, such as wavefront sensors, which measure exactly how much the light path has deviated. < Framework for Integrated Distortion Correction in Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy > In contrast, the research team developed an algorithm that inversely calculates how light was distorted using only the captured image data and corrects it. In other words, it is a method of restoring image clarity by analyzing blurred photos, without relying on any additional equipment. The core of this technology is a machine learning algorithm based on the Neural Fields model. This algorithm tracks the distortion process that occurs as light travels, implementing an integrated technology that compensates not only for optical aberrations caused by biological tissue but also for microscopic movements of the living specimen and alignment errors of the microscope itself. As a result, the team successfully and reliably obtained high-resolution, high-contrast images from deep within biological tissues, without any separate aberration measurement or correction devices. This research is particularly significant because it overcomes the conventional limitation that “better images require more expensive equipment” by solving the problem through a software-based approach. This is expected to lower the burden of research equipment costs and allow more researchers to perform precise brain observations. < Comparison of images using a framework that integrates correction for optical aberrations, sample motion, and microscope errors (AI-generated image) > Professor Iksung Kang stated, “This research opens the way to see more accurately inside living organisms by combining optics and artificial intelligence technology. Moving forward, we plan to develop this into an intelligent optical imaging system where the microscope itself finds the optimal image.” This study was published on April 13th in Nature Methods, a leading methodology journal in the field of life sciences. Paper Title: Adaptive optical correction for in vivo two-photon fluorescence microscopy with neural fields DOI: 10.1038/s41592-026-03053-6 Authors: Iksung Kang (KAIST, Co-corresponding & First Author), Hyeonggeon Kim, Ryan Natan, Qinrong Zhang, Stella X. Yu, & Na Ji (UC Berkeley, Co-corresponding Author)    

Zero-Crease Foldable Technology to Shift the Parad..

  < Professor Phil-Seung Lee (center), Master’s graduate Jun-han Bae (top left) >   The "crease," long considered the biggest weakness of foldable smartphones, has been pointed out as a major obstacle to market expansion, causing screen distortion and reduced durability over repeated use. A research team at KAIST has presented a solution to this problem, marking a turning point for foldables to leap forward as the standard for next-generation smartphones. Furthermore, the technology is expected to establish itself as a core component of the future mobile industry, expanding into various devices such as laptops. KAIST announced on April 20th that a research team led by Professor Phil-Seung Lee of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed an original technology capable of fundamentally solving the crease issue that occurs at the folding area of foldable smartphone displays and has registered a patent for it. The team has secured global technological competitiveness by filing patent applications in the United States, China, and the European Union (EU), in addition to South Korea. While global smartphone companies have attempted to solve this issue through massive R&D investments for years, they have yet to achieve the complete removal of the crease. Consequently, the industry has identified the crease problem as the single greatest barrier to the widespread adoption of the foldable smartphone market. The research team began their study to resolve the inconveniences they personally experienced while using mobile foldable phones. After disassembling dozens of used foldable phones and repeating various experiments, they derived a solution by innovatively redesigning the "adhesive area" between the display and the supporting plate. The core of the design is ensuring that deformation is not concentrated in a specific folding area but is instead distributed to the surrounding sections. Through this, they perfectly demonstrated the feasibility of a "crease-free foldable" while maintaining normal smartphone functionality. To verify performance, the team shone a straight-line LED light onto the screen. Unlike commercial products where the light refracts and the straight line appears curved at the fold, the prototype maintained a sharp, straight reflection without any distortion. Notably, no visual distortion appeared even under conditions sensitive enough to detect minute curves with a crease depth of less than 0.1mm. < Display surface reflecting a straight-line LED lamp > This technology presents a new design paradigm that surpasses the limitations faced by the current industry. It not only fundamentally suppresses the formation of creases but also ensures superior durability by minimizing deformation even after tens of thousands of folding cycles. Furthermore, because the structure is intuitive and simple, it can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes. It is expected to have high industrial utility, as it can be expanded beyond smartphones to various foldable display devices, including tablets and laptops. < Core idea of the invention: (a) Adhesive and non-adhesive areas of a conventional foldable smartphone, (b) Adhesive and non-adhesive areas in this invention, (c) Stress distribution in a conventional foldable smartphone display, (d) Stress distribution in a foldable smartphone display applying this technology > Industry experts anticipate that the commercialization of this technology will encourage global companies—which have been hesitant to enter the market due to crease issues—to participate. This is projected to significantly improve consumer satisfaction and accelerate the growth of the stagnating foldable market. Professor Phil-Seung Lee stated, "We have solved a challenge that global giants could not resolve, using a relatively simple and clear method. We expect this technology to spread across next-generation displays, including laptops and tablets, further strengthening Korea's technological competitiveness." Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the "2022 Daedeok Innopolis Campus Project," and the patent for the related original technology was registered on September 9, 2025.    

Professor Yiyun Kang Selected as TED 2026 Main Sta..

  < Professor Yiyun Kang (Photo Credit: Ryan Lash / TED) >     KAIST announced on April 17th that Professor Yiyun Kang of the Department of Industrial Design has been selected as a speaker for the Main Stage at TED 2026, the world-renowned knowledge conference. Founded in 1984 under the motto "Ideas Worth Spreading," TED is an American non-profit knowledge platform where scholars, innovators, and artists from around the globe gather annually to lead global discourse. Previous Korean speakers on the Main Stage include novelist Young-ha Kim (2012) and violinist Ji-hae Park (2013). In 2011, roboticist Professor Dennis Hong stood on the main conference stage as the first Korean-American speaker.   < TED Lecture Photo (Photo Credit: Ryan Lash / TED) > Professor Kang’s selection is particularly significant as it marks the first time since TED moved its venue to Vancouver, Canada, in 2014 that a Korean national—an artist and scholar actively based in South Korea, rather than an overseas resident or defector—has been invited to the Main Stage. Furthermore, it marks the return of a Korean speaker to the main stage after a 12-year hiatus, serving as a symbolic milestone. The TED 2026 annual conference is being held from April 13 to 17 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada, under the theme "ALL OF US." Professor Kang took the Main Stage on April 15, the third day of the conference, to present visual insights and philosophical solutions for a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI), humans, and nature must coexist. The lecture video will be edited and released globally via the official TED website and YouTube channel this coming July. In this talk, Professor Kang defines AI and the climate crisis as "problems we understand intellectually but fail to feel physically," noting that data- and information-centric communication methods often lower our sense of reality. She proposes the potential of art as a means to bridge this gap. Specifically, Professor Kang will demonstrate on stage how to transform complex challenges into visual and sensory experiences through cases from her own projects. Notably, this presentation transcends traditional lecture formats, structured as an "Immersive Talk" that transforms the entire stage into an artistic space. Rather than just listening, the audience participates by experiencing the content with their entire bodies. Professor Yiyun Kang is a world-class media artist and researcher who crosses the boundaries between sensation and technology, and materiality (physical forms) and immateriality (elements like light, video, and data). She leads the Experience Design Lab (XD Lab) at KAIST and has consistently explored the convergence of technology and art through collaborations with NASA, Google Arts & Culture, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). "Humanity is currently at a critical turning point that will determine the coexistence of technology and nature," Professor Kang stated. "Through this TED stage, I aim to ensure that AI and the climate crisis are perceived not just as mere information, but as realities of our lives. I hope to create a practical opportunity to expand fragmented individual perceptions into collective human solidarity through the creative energy of art."   < TED 2026 Professor Yiyun Kang (Source: TED Website) >  

Development of Dream Battery Material： Air-Stable ..

  <(Bottom row, from left) Dr. Jae-Seung Kim (Seoul National University), Prof. Dong-Hwa Seo (KAIST), Researcher Heeju Park (KAIST), Researcher Jiwon Seo, Researcher Jinyeong Choe. (Top row, from left) Researcher Hae-Yong Kim (Dongguk University), Prof. Eunryeol Lee (Chungbuk National University), Prof. Kyung-Wan Nam (Dongguk University), Prof. Yoon Seok Jung (Yonsei University)>   Expectations are rising for all-solid-state batteries—the "dream battery" with low fire risk—not only for electric vehicles but also for various fields such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). A research team at our university has presented a new design principle that simultaneously overcomes the limitations of solid electrolytes, which were previously vulnerable to air exposure and suffered from low performance. This technology is gaining significant attention as it can enhance both battery safety and charging speeds, demonstrating the feasibility of commercializing next-generation all-solid-state batteries. KAIST announced on April 16th that a research team led by Professor Dong-Hwa Seo from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, through joint research with teams from Dongguk University (President Jae-Woong Yoon), Yonsei University (President Dong-Sup Yoon), and Chungbuk National University (Acting President Yu-Sik Park), has developed a design technology for solid electrolytes used in all-solid-state batteries. This technology maintains structural stability even when exposed to air while dramatically increasing ionic conductivity. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries are spotlighted as next-generation batteries due to their low fire risk. Among these, halide-based solid electrolytes—which contain halogen elements such as chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br)—are advantageous in terms of performance due to their high ionic conductivity. However, they are known to be difficult materials to manufacture and handle because they are highly vulnerable to moisture in the air, which easily degrades their performance. To solve this problem, the research team introduced a new structure called "Oxygen Anchoring." This method involves stably bonding oxygen inside the electrolyte to strengthen its structural intergrity, a process in which the element Tungsten plays a key role. < Research image on tungsten-based oxygen fixation strategy > As a result, it was confirmed that the electrolyte maintains a stable structure without collapsing, even in air-exposed environments. Furthermore, the research team improved battery performance in addition to stability. The changes in the internal structure of the electrolyte widened the pathways for lithium ions, allowing them to move more smoothly and increasing the ion migration speed. It was confirmed that the oxygen-incorporated material exhibited an ionic conductivity approximately 2.7 times higher than that of conventional zirconium (Zr)-based halide solid electrolytes. Another feature of this technology is that it is not limited to a specific material. The research team applied the same strategy to various halide solid electrolytes, including those based on zirconium (Zr), indium (In), yttrium (Y), and erbium (Er), and confirmed similar effects. This demonstrates that it is a "universal design principle" applicable to a wide range of battery materials. < Research image (AI-generated image) > The research team expects this technology to contribute to the development of solid electrolytes that possess both air stability and high performance. Professor Dong-Hwa Seo stated, "This study presents a new material design principle that optimizes multiple performances through a structural design strategy that simultaneously improves air stability and ionic conductivity. It will serve as a key indicator for future all-solid-state battery research and process development." This study involved Jae-Seung Kim (formerly KAIST, now SNU), Heeju Park, and Hae-Yong Kim as joint first authors. The research included contributions from Eunryeol Lee, Heewon Kim, Soeul Lee, Jinyeong Choe, Jiwon Seo, Hyeon-Jong Lee, Hojoon Kim, Jemin Yeon, and Yoon Seok Jung. The findings were published on March 6, 2026, in the international academic journal Advanced Energy Materials. Paper Title: Universal Oxychlorination Strategy in Halide Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202506744 This research was conducted with support from the Samsung Electronics Future Technology Promotion Center and the Nano and Materials Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea. Computational studies were performed using the resources of the National Supercomputing Center.            

Breakthrough in Data Processing via Light Control...

  < (From left) Undergraduate researcher Taewon Kim and Professor Sangsik Kim >   A new technology has been developed that allows light to be "designed" into desired forms, potentially making Artificial Intelligence (AI) and communication technologies faster and more accurate. A KAIST research team has developed an "integrated photonic resonator"—a core component of next-generation optical integrated circuits that process data using light. The research is particularly significant as it was led by an undergraduate student. This technology is expected to serve as a key foundation for next-generation security technologies such as high-speed data processing and quantum communication. KAIST announced on the 15th that a research team led by Professor Sangsik Kim from the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Jae Woong Yoon’s team from the Department of Physics at Hanyang University (President Kigeong Lee), has developed a new integrated photonic resonator structure capable of freely controlling optical signals by utilizing light interference (the phenomenon where two light waves meet and influence each other). Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) process data at ultra-high speeds and with low power consumption using light. They are garnering significant attention as a fundamental platform technology for next-generation fields such as AI, data centers, and quantum information processing. The core of this technology lies in the precision with which light can be controlled. Specifically, the ability to freely adjust the spectrum (color or wavelength distribution) and phase response (timing or wave position) of optical signals is essential for implementing high-performance optical communication and computing. However, conventional methods have faced fundamental limitations. The integrated photonic resonator (optical resonator) focused on by the research team is a key optical device that traps light in a specific space to amplify it or select specific colors (wavelengths), similar to how the body of a musical instrument amplifies sound. However, existing single-bus resonators have had limitations in precisely adjusting the phase and spectrum of optical signals. To overcome these challenges, the research team introduced a "dual-bus" structure. This design allows light that has passed through the resonator to recombine with light that has not, enabling precise control over interference. This allows for the free design of optical signals into desired forms, making it possible to control various types of light signals that were previously difficult to implement. By applying this technology, the research team secured new characteristics for more precise control of wavelength properties and presented new possibilities for non-linear frequency conversion research (changing the color of light). Utilizing this technology enables faster and more accurate data processing, which is expected to provide the groundwork for performance enhancements in future high-speed data centers, AI accelerators, and quantum communication systems. This research is especially meaningful as it was led by an undergraduate student. Taewon Kim, an undergraduate student who conducted the study through the KAIST Undergraduate Research Program (URP), stated, "I was able to develop the resonator principles I learned in the Introduction to Integrated Optics class into actual device designs and a published paper."   < Research Image of the Dual-bus Resonator > Professor Sangsik Kim remarked, "This study goes beyond proposing a new device; it demonstrates that by precisely analyzing previously overlooked optical characteristics, physical limitations can be overcome. We expect this to contribute broadly to the development of optics-based AI accelerators and optical communication technologies." KAIST undergraduate student Taewon Kim participated as the lead author of this study, and the results were published on March 6th in the international optics journal, Laser & Photonics Reviews. Paper Title: Dual-bus resonator for multi-port spectral engineering DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202502935 Authors: Taewon Kim, Mehedi Hasan, Yu Sung Choi, Jae Woong Yoon, and Sangsik Kim This research was supported by the KAIST URP Program, the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), the U.S. Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).  

AI Fixed ＇Temporal Errors＇... Enhancing Reliabilit..

  <Ph.D candidate Soyeon Kim, (From Left)Jindong Wang (Microsoft; currently at the College of William & Mary), Xing Xie (Microsoft), and Steven Euijong Whang (Professor at KAIST)>   What if ChatGPT answered with the name of a minister from a year ago when asked, "Who was the minister inaugurated last month?" This is a prime example of the limitations of AI that fails to properly reflect the latest information. Our university’s research team has developed a new evaluation technology that automatically reflects changing real-world information while catching "temporal errors" that may appear correct on the surface. This is expected to drastically improve AI reliability. KAIST announced on April14th that a research team led by Professor Steven Euijong Whang from the School of Electrical Engineering, in joint research with Microsoft Research, has developed a system that automatically evaluates and diagnoses the temporal reasoning capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) using temporal database technology. For AI to earn user trust, the ability to accurately understand real-world information that changes moment by moment is essential. However, existing evaluation methods only checked whether the answer matched or failed to sufficiently reflect complex temporal relationships, making it difficult to properly evaluate various question scenarios occurring in actual environments. To solve this, the research team introduced "Temporal Database" design theory—which has been verified over the past 40 years—into AI evaluation for the first time. By utilizing the temporal flow and relational structure of data, the core of this technology is the automatic generation of 13 types of complex time-based problems from the database itself, without the need for humans to manually write evaluation questions. <Schematic Diagram of the Evaluation Framework Proposed in This Study> In particular, this technology is evaluated as a major innovation because it shifts from the traditional method where humans manually created problems to a method where evaluation questions are automatically generated based on data. Furthermore, by automating the entire process from problem generation to answer derivation and verification based on the database, the burden of maintenance can be drastically reduced without the need to manually modify questions as was previously required. When real-world information changes, the evaluation questions, answers, and verification criteria are automatically updated simply by updating the corresponding content in the database. While the input of the latest information itself is handled by external data or administrators, this technology is structured to perform the overall evaluation automatically after such data is updated. Additionally, moving beyond the existing method of simply judging whether the final answer is correct or incorrect, the research team introduced a new metric that verifies the logical validity of dates or periods presented during the answering process. Through this, they achieved a performance improvement in detecting "Temporal Hallucination" phenomena—where an answer appears correct but has the wrong temporal basis—by an average of 21.7％ more accurately than before. Applying this technology can significantly reduce evaluation maintenance costs since only the database needs to be updated when information changes, and it showed an effect of reducing the amount of input data by an average of 51％ compared to previous methods. <Future AI Evaluation System (AI-Generated Image)> Professor Steven Euijong Whang stated, "This research is an example showing that classical database design theory can play a crucial role in solving the reliability issues of the latest AI. By converting vast amounts of professional data into evaluation resources, we expect this to become a practical foundation for verifying AI performance in various fields such as medicine and law in the future." Soyeon Kim, a PhD student at KAIST, participated as the lead author of this study, and Jindong Wang (Microsoft Research, currently at William & Mary) and Xing Xie (Microsoft Research) participated as co-authors. The research results will be presented this April at ICLR 2026, the most prestigious academic conference in the field of artificial intelligence. Paper Title: Harnessing Temporal Databases for Systematic Evaluation of Factual Time-Sensitive Question-Answering in Large Language Models Paper Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.02045 Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from Microsoft Research, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) Global AI Frontier Lab projects (RS-2024-00469482, RS-2024-00509258).      

KAIST Presents Roadmap for AFM Utilization in Next..

  <(From Left) Ph. D candidate Yeongyu Kim, Professor Seungbum Hong, Ph.D candidate Kunwoo Park>   For smartphones and computers to become smaller and faster, technologies capable of precisely controlling electrical properties at the nanoscale—beyond what is visible to the naked eye—are essential. In particular, ferroelectric materials, which can maintain their electrical state without external power, are gaining attention as key components for next-generation memory and sensor technologies. However, due to their extremely small size, there have been limitations in precisely observing the internal changes occurring within these materials. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 4th of April that a research team led by Professor Seungbum Hong from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has published a review paper systematically outlining research strategies for ferroelectric materials based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), addressing these limitations. The research team proposed new strategies for utilizing AFM to precisely control electrical properties at the nanoscale and presented a direction for next-generation materials research. Ferroelectric materials possess electric polarization similar to magnetism, and this property enables the realization of memory devices that retain information even without power, as well as highly sensitive sensors. As semiconductor devices continue to shrink, nanoscale physical phenomena increasingly determine overall device performance, making technologies capable of precisely analyzing and controlling these phenomena more important than ever. The team presented an integrated analytical framework that uses AFM to both observe and directly manipulate materials at the nanoscale. AFM is a device that scans surfaces using an extremely fine probe to obtain atomic-level information, effectively serving as both the “eye” and “hand” of the nanoscale world. Based on AFM, which measures physical and electrical properties at the atomic scale by scanning surfaces with a fine probe, the researchers established a system that integrates various techniques—including piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) for measuring electrical responses, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) for analyzing surface potential, and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) for measuring current flow—into a unified framework. This allows for a three-dimensional understanding of material structures and charge distributions. This approach goes beyond simple observation and represents the evolution of AFM into a research platform capable of directly designing and manipulating data domains at the nanoscale by applying electrical stimuli through the probe. Furthermore, AFM can apply electrical stimulation or mechanical pressure directly to extremely small nanoscale regions, enabling changes and control of material properties. In other words, it has evolved from a tool that merely observes to one that enables design and experimentation at the nanoscale. In particular, this study demonstrates applications in evaluating and improving the performance of next-generation semiconductor materials such as two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides like molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and ultrathin hafnium–zirconium oxide (HfZrO₂)-based materials. The research team also proposed future directions involving the integration of high-speed AFM with artificial intelligence (AI), enabling rapid interpretation of complex nanoscale structures that are difficult for humans to analyze manually, as well as more efficient design of advanced materials. < Research Image (AI-Generated Image) > Professor Seungbum Hong stated, “This review shows that atomic force microscopy has evolved beyond a simple observation tool into a key process technology for designing and precisely controlling advanced materials,” adding, “Analytical techniques combined with artificial intelligence will play a critical role in securing technological competitiveness in next-generation semiconductor and energy materials.” This review was led by Yeongyu Kim (Doctoral student) and Kunwoo Park (integrated MS–PhD program student), both from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST, as co-first authors. The research was recognized for its excellence and published as a front cover article in the international journal Journal of Materials Chemistry C, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, on February 26. ※ Paper title: “Atomic Force Microscopy for Ferroelectric Materials Research” DOI: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2026/tc/d5tc03998c < Front Cover Selection Image for Journal of Materials Chemistry C (JMCC) > This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea through the project on developing an AI platform for multi-scale data-integrated lithium secondary battery design, and has been recognized as establishing a new milestone in the field of nanomaterials.