Shielding materials are essential in key modern industrial settings-such as spacecraft, nuclear power plants, semiconductor equipment, and advanced medical devices-to protect both equipment and personnel from electromagnetic waves and radiation. In particular, as space exploration gains momentum-such as with the successful launch of Artemis 2 on the 2nd-the importance of next-generation shielding technology capable of withstanding extreme environments is growing. However, electromagnetic waves and neutron radiation, which can cause malfunctions in key components like semiconductors, have different characteristics and must be blocked using distinct materials. This has historically led to issues such as increased weight and structural complexity. These limitations pose an even greater burden in the space industry. To address this challenge, a research team led by Dr. Joo Yong-ho at the Extreme Environment Shielding Materials Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST; President Oh Sang-rok) has proposed a new solution.

Researchers have solved a mystery in fluid dynamics regarding high-speed particle collisions on wet surfaces. They discovered that at high speeds, cavitation (the sudden formation of vapor cavities) changes the liquid shape from a "bridge" to a "dome", releasing the liquid pull-back force. This causes particles to bounce back stronger than they would at lower speeds. Such a vital discovery would drastically improve the safety, design, and durability of ultra-fast motors in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have demonstrated that a wireless electroencephalogram transmission system can operate using energy harvested from the temperature difference between the human body and the ambient air. The low-power device successfully operated outdoors at high temperatures, demonstrating stable performance without external power or airflow. This technology could enable the development of maintenance-free sensing systems for health monitoring and infrastructure applications in the future.