Did you know that over 80% of people worldwide have irregular sleep habits? These sleep issues don’t just leave us feeling tired — they affect our health, focus, and quality of life. Now, a new sleep algorithm developed by a team of Korean researchers is aiming to change that. And it’s available on Samsung Galaxy smartwatches around the world, including the newly launched Galaxy Watch8 series.

The personalized sleep guide, created by Professor Jae Kyoung Kim’s research team at KAIST and the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), doesn’t just tell you how long you slept. It actually recommends the best time for you to go to bed — helping you build healthy sleep habits and feel more refreshed every day.

What makes it special? Unlike most sleep features that focus only on the past (“You slept six hours last night”), this algorithm looks ahead. Using mathematical models and your body’s circadian rhythm, it suggests a personalized “sleep window” — like “Going to bed between 11:10 PM and 11:40 PM is ideal for you tonight.”

On the 28th, KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced that Professor Jinwoo Lee’s research team from the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, in collaboration with teams led by Professor Jeong Woo Han at Seoul National University and Professor Moon Il Kim at Gachon University, has developed a new single-atom catalyst that selectively performs only peroxidase-like reactions while maintaining high reaction efficiency.

Despite significant advancements in biosensing technologies, the early and accurate diagnosis of cancer remains challenging. In a recent study, researchers from Japan have developed a novel microfluidic device containing arrays of microcones to detect cancer cells in the blood. Their device leverages cancer-specific antibodies as coatings to accurately detect cancer cells. Furthermore, the microchannel device maintained a high capture efficiency of more than 90%, even at high flow rates.

Using energy piles for geothermal heat exchange in buildings offers a sustainable alternative to traditional temperature regulators. However, designing these systems is often complex. Now, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, have developed a simplified modeling framework to improve the design of energy pile systems. Using a combination of finite element modeling and field testing, they quantified the thermal interference between piles and soft clay soil—offering insights for quicker and enhanced geothermal performance.

A recent study by Associate Professor Takehisa Hirayama and Professor Osamu Kano from the Department of Neurology at Toho University School of Medicine has revealed a critical gap in the use of accessibility features among people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers. Though over 90% of ALS patients surveyed reported daily use of smartphones, tablets, or computers, many are unaware of the accessibility tools embedded in these devices—tools that could greatly enhance their quality of life as the disease progresses.