Croucher News

Challenges and strategies for citizen science organisers 17 March 2026

Two researchers share insights from studying City Nature Challenge organisers in the UK and their strategies for success.

Wildfire smoke particles have multiple cores that trap more heat than models predict 16 March 2026

Research finds black carbon from wildfires contains multiple cores, increasing light absorption by 19 per cent compared with current climate model estimates.

AI system makes coastal ocean health readable by filling gaps in satellite observations 13 March 2026

Interdisciplinary collaboration produces STIMP, an artificial intelligence tool that fills satellite data gaps and forecasts coastal algal blooms with unprecedented accuracy.

Automated nanoprobe extracts living mitochondria from cells without chemical markers 12 March 2026

Robotic probe uses electrochemical sensing and nanotweezers to extract individual mitochondria from living cells with 96 per cent survival rate.

Solid-state device achieves sub-zero cooling without chemical refrigerants 11 March 2026

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology researchers developed a refrigerant-free cooling device reaching −12°C, potentially reducing global freezing emissions.

How cells detect and safely cut stretched DNA during division 10 March 2026

Scientists discover how protein ANKLE1 senses mechanical tension in DNA bridges between dividing cells, preventing genetic damage and disease.

Ghost jellyfish 9 March 2026

Our immersive Hong Kong jellyfish series continues.

Bone marrow protein senses movement and could offer new route to osteoporosis treatment 9 March 2026

Piezo1 protein helps bone marrow stem cells respond to mechanical forces, supporting bone formation and limiting fat accumulation in the marrow.

Maternal hair analysis may predict thyroid disorder weeks before symptoms appear 6 March 2026

Hong Kong Baptist University researchers found chemical patterns in pregnant women's hair could warn of underactive thyroid before clinical diagnosis.

New page 5 March 2026

Targeting a “cell-sticking” protein may help myotonic dystrophy treatment 5 March 2026

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong link excess NCAM1 to disrupted synapses, pointing to isoform-balancing strategies as treatment leads.

Velcro-like coating boosts perovskite durability 4 March 2026

Multivalent ligands form a robust surface layer that reduces defects and ion movement, improving perovskite solar cell stability.

Arctic fires shorten winter by darkening land and delaying snowfall 2 March 2026

Hong Kong Polytechnic University research shows wildfires reduce Arctic snow season duration by darkening land surfaces that absorb solar energy.

New page 27 February 2026

Croucher announces 2026 summer programme 27 February 2026

Croucher announces 2026 summer courses covering topics from synchrotron radiation to vaccine hesitancy at four Hong Kong universities.

Making sunlight do chemistry 27 February 2026

Dr Fatwa F Abdi says solar electrolysis could become a multi-product “solar refinery”, improving economics by making higher-value chemicals.

Lab-made vesicles map hidden routes inside cells 26 February 2026

Researchers rebuilt vesicle formation to compare cargo selection by two adaptors, revealing transport faults tied to genetic disorders and autophagy.

A light signal for better chip alignment 25 February 2026

Nanopillar structures convert minute misalignment into a clear optical change, helping manufacturers fine-tune overlay without major retooling.

A faster route to safer, more precise gene editing choices 24 February 2026

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong used GenomePAM and genome-wide break mapping to quickly determine CRISPR enzyme targeting needs in cells.

When you inhale microplastics, where do they go? 23 February 2026

Hong Kong Baptist University researchers found that inhaled microplastics accumulate in lungs, spleen and brain, causing inflammation and early signs of lung scarring in mice.

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