This November 7, 2025 news item on Nanowerk highlights research into memristors from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Note: Links have been removed,
A research team at DGIST in South Korea has taken a major step toward building chips that work more like the human brain. Led by Professor Sanghyeon Choi from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the group has developed a highly integrated memristor device at full wafer scale, a milestone for next-generation AI hardware (Nature Communications, “Wafer-scale fabrication of memristive passive crossbar circuits for brain-scale neuromorphic computing”).
A research team led by Professor Sanghyeon Choi from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at DGIST (President Kunwoo Lee) successfully developed the “memristor,” which is gaining recognition as a next-generation semiconductor device, through mass-integration at the wafer scale. This study proposes a new technological platform for implementing a highly integrated AI semiconductor replicating the human brain, overcoming the limitations of conventional semiconductors.
The human brain contains about 100 billion neurons and around 100 trillion synapses, allowing it to store and process enormous amounts of information within a compact space. Next-generation AI research aims to develop “brain-like AI chips” that replicate this structure. Yet, current AI semiconductors remain far less efficient than the human brain, largely because of their intricate circuitry and substantial power requirements.
The memristor is an emerging alternative option that can overcome these limitations. As a semiconductor device capable of remembering the amount of current flowed, it simultaneously executes memory and computation tasks. Owing to its simple architecture, the circuit can be configured with a much higher density than typical semiconductors. Specifically, an arrangement in a crossbar format enables dozens of times more information to be stored in the same area, compared to SRAM.
However, memristor integration technology has so far been limited to small-scale experimental demonstrations. The main reasons include process complexity, low yield (product completion rate), voltage loss, and current leakage, all of which have hindered its expansion to large-scale wafer production.
Thus, Professor Choi and his team carried out joint research with Dr. Dmitri Strukov’s group at UC Santa Barbara [University of California at Santa Barbara] and introduced a new approach of “co-designing material, component, circuit, and algorithm.” This method enabled the implementation of a memristor crossbar circuit that achieved an approximately 95% yield on a 4-inch wafer without requiring a complex fabrication process.
Furthermore, the research team successfully demonstrated a 3D vertical stacking structure. This signifies the possibility of a memristor-based circuit being expanded into a large-scale AI computation system in the future.
In addition, when a spiking neural network was applied based on the proposed technology, notable efficiency and stable execution were confirmed in actual AI computation.
Professor Choi stated, “This study proposed a method for improving memristor integration technology, which had been limited in the past” and added, “We are expecting it to lead to the development of a next-generation semiconductor platform in the future.”
This study was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Industrial Innovation Talent Growth Support Program of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and Engineering Academic Research Support Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Science. The research, led by Professor Choi of DGIST as both the first and corresponding author, with Professor Dmitri Strukov of UC Santa Barbara as a co-author, was published in October in the prestigious multidisciplinary journal “Nature Communications.”
It’s always good to learn more about South Korea’s science policy. On that note, Jin-ho Lee’s April 27, 2026 article for Digital Today outlines South Korea’s plans for its science and technology efforts, with particular emphasis on nanotechnolgy,
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The National Science and Technology Advisory Council held its sixth deliberation meeting on April 27 [2026] in the council’s main conference room, chaired by Vice Chair Lee Kyung-soo (이경수). It was the first deliberation meeting held since the launch of President Lee Jae-myung’s first-term administration on Feb. 26 [2026].
The meeting reviewed and approved 2 agenda items, including the sixth nanotechnology master development plan for 2026 to 2035 and the direction for upgrading the national strategic technology framework.
The sixth nanotechnology master development plan is a comprehensive plan set up every 5 years to build a foundation for nanotechnology research and foster it systematically. …
Through the plan, the government presented strategies and 13 priority tasks to help South Korea become one of the world’s top 3 nanotechnology powers. It will pursue innovation in the nanotechnology industry through measures including global technology leadership through nano convergence, fostering the nano convergence industry, expanding nano convergence in the AI and quantum transformation, and creating a sustainable nanotechnology innovation ecosystem.
In particular, the government will support first-of-its-kind research in 5 major areas of nanoscience: sub-nano control, artificial nanomaterials, nano intelligence, nano transformation and nano-bio hybrids. This year it plans to select and support pilot projects within the nanomaterials technology development programme.
The government will also upgrade the national strategic technology framework. It strengthened links and convergence among technologies under 3 missions: leading the AI transition, taking initiative in trade and security, and building the foundation for future innovation. Based on this, it derived “NEXT national strategic technologies” spanning a total of 55 technologies.
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It newly included key defence and security technologies such as defence semiconductors, bio artificial organs and blood, brain-computer interfaces, reusable launch vehicles, drones, and eco-friendly autonomous ships. The government plans to invest 60 trillion won in national strategic technologies over the next 5 years and foster the full cycle, including securing foundational technologies, commercialisation, building industrial ecosystems and preventing technology leaks.
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Lee Kyung-soo, vice chair of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, said, “We will ensure that the deliberation meeting does not remain a formal procedure but functions as a venue for substantive policy discussions.”
MSIT Unveils First Master Plan for Developing Critical and Emerging Technologies (2024-2028): A Blueprint for National S&T Sovereignty
– Aiming for national S&T sovereignty and global leadership in 12 Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs), with plans to expand current leading positions from 3 areas to 6 – Investing over KRW 30 trillion over the next five years in 12 CETs ― such as AI, semiconductors, advanced biotechnology, and quantum technologies ― with flagship projects to support rapid commercialization – Significantly enhancing technological security capabilities through robust strategic technology partnerships with like-minded countries and capturing the golden time for emerging technologies
The Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Minister Yoo Sang-Im) announced the First Master Plan for Developing Critical and Emerging Technologies (2024-2028): A Blueprint for National S&T Sovereignty on August 26 (Monday) at the Deliberative Council Meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology (PACST).
In 2022, during the Plenary Council of PACST chaired by President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Korean government identified 12 CETs* and 50 key technologies crucial for securing supply chains, emerging industries, foreign affairs, and national security. The government has since concentrated its R&D investments and policy support on these technologies.
* The 12 CETs are ① Semiconductor and display, ② secondary cell, ③ advanced mobility, ④ next-gen nuclear power, ⑤ advanced biotechnology, ⑥ aerospace and marine technology, ⑦ hydrogen, ⑧ cyber security, ⑨ AI, ⑩ next-gen communications, ⑪ advanced robotics and manufacturing, ⑫ quantum technology.
The First Master Plan ― a five-year strategy outlining the mid- to long-term outlook and policy direction for the development of 12 CETs ― is the culmination of comprehensive efforts across the government. Developed collaboratively by 22 government ministries, offices, and agencies in accordance with Article 5 of the Special Act on the Fostering of Critical and Emerging Technologies, this plan represents a unified approach to advancing national technological capabilities.
Named the Blueprint for National S&T Sovereignty, the plan focuses on three major policy tasks designed to propel and leapfrog the country beyond mere national survival. It also details key policy directions for each of the 12 CETs, aiming to position Korea at the forefront of global technological competition and enhance national capabilities.
The main components of the First Master Plan are as follows:
Background and Outlook
As the OECD [Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development] pointed out that there is a growing “securitization of STI policy,” the competition for technological dominance has become a new normal in the global arena of science and technology. In particular, the formation of technology blocs is growing and strengthening among like-minded countries focusing on critical and emerging technologies such as semiconductors, AI, and advanced biotechnology. Concurrently, the quest for science and technology sovereignty, grounded in world-leading technological capabilities, is increasingly viewed as essential for driving national growth.
With the enactment of the Special Act on the Fostering of Critical and Emerging Technologies and the establishment of the First Master Plan, the government has laid out a national innovation strategy centered around CETs. This is expected to contribute to Korea securing next-generation technologies and enable the country to advance through private sector-led technological innovation. The focus is on incorporating a wide range of poilcy mix, including not only government research and development but also the promotion of technology commercialization, strengthening international cooperation, strategic investment in mission-oriented projects, performance management, and public-private collaboration.
The masterplan sets forth three main objectives under the vision of “A Nation of Science and Technology Sovereignty, Armed with Unrivaled ‘Super-Gap’ Technology”: i) comprehensive support for the swift commercialization of the CETs, ii) significant enhancement of proactive measures for technology security, and iii) innovation in mission-oriented research and development.
[Task 1 – Future growth engines] Concentrated support for swift commercialization of the CETs
➊ (Expanding R&D linked to commercialization) R&D in the 12 CETs will receive more than KRW 30 trillion in support over the next five years, centered primarily on private demand. Investment in the three ‘game-changer’ fields will be significantly increased. To achieve tangible results, 10 CET projects with a cumulative value of KRW 3 trillion (based on preliminary feasibility studies) will be actively pursued. Additionally, the Ministry will identify new Flagship 2.0 projects in key R&D areas that lack sufficient research, such as advanced robotics, manufacturing and hydrogen.
* For the three key game-changer fields, support will be increased to KRW 3.4 trillion in 2025 from KRW 2.8 trillion in 2024 (24% y-o-y growth, data from the PACST draft plan)
As for R&D support for small and medium-sized enterprises, over 50% of new project funding will be allocated to key areas within the 12 CETs. There will also be a focus on strengthening public-private partnerships to foster the growth of highly advanced, strategic technology-based startups, along with providing funding support through the fund of funds.
➋ (Blockbuster Innovation Groups & Support for demonstrations) In accordance with the Special Act on the CETs, the Ministry will focus on identifying and supporting the BIG 100: Blockbuster Innovation Groups. Specialized research institutes will be established to lead mission-oriented research and commercialization of CETs, along with specialized training institutions to nurture innovative talent. Additionally, regional technology innovation centers will be developed in connection with balanced regional development efforts. To quickly transfer research outcomes in the CET areas, support will also be provided for the advancement of leading universities and corporate research institutes.
➌ (Improving Business-Friendly Policies for the CETs) Following this year’s introduction of the “super-gap special listing procedure” for qualified companies officially recognized for possessing specific CET-related technologies, the government will expand growth support measures. This includes enhanced policy financing from relevant ministries and increased public procurement of innovative products. Multiple ministries will collaborate to enhance policies that are tangible and beneficial for businesses. This includes providing tax benefits and patent acquisition support for CET-related companies, as well as implementing proactive regulatory innovations for promising strategic technologies in a phased manner.
➍ (Customized Talent Development) Recognizing that talent is a valuable asset for industries, Korea will strengthen talent development programs, including specialized graduate schools in the CET fields and initiatives to enhance the skills of current employees. Data-driven talent policies will be implemented, utilizing workforce maps and job posting data to analyze job positions, as well as integrating researcher information with employment databases. Efforts will be intensified to make Korea a “melting pot” for global expertise by attracting top international talent and implementing measures to prevent the outflow of exceptional domestic talent.
➊ (Robust strategic technology cooperation with like-minded countries) Strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners such as the U.S., Japan, and the EU in all aspects of research, legislation, and security to solidify technological security. Actively respond to the formation of technology blocs through mechanisms such as the Dialogue on CETs and the AI Summit, and advance Korea-led agendas and norms in international organizations and other science and technology arenas.
In addition, based on the data analysis provided by the Global R&D Strategy Map, tailored cooperation strategies will be developed, taking into account the technological advantages of each partner country, the types of cooperation needed for key technologies, and the list of partner organizations. The Ministry will select and support international collaborative R&D projects in CETs that require significant investments.
➋ (Securing the golden opportunity for CETs) Korea will rapidly embark on an initiative to quickly identify, support, and secure strategic technologies that will be pivotal in the global tech race. Through inter-agency information sharing and AI modeling, an early analysis and forecasting system tailored to future technology supply chains will be established. This system will be utilized for assessing emerging technologies and predicting key countries’ policies. To support rapid research and development, the Ministry will abolish the preliminary feasibility study system for R&D budgets, reduce the time required for deploying research equipment, and introduce greater flexibility for international R&D. At the same time, the Ministry will focus on securing cutting-edge future materials that support the CET initiatives.
The CET support mechanism will be periodically updated in response to changes in the global race for technological dominance. Similar to the U.S. White House’s CET system*, Korea’s CETs will be updated every two years based on data and public-private demand, following deliberations from the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology (PACST).
* (Example: U.S.’ Critical and emerging technologies) Since the announcement of the National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies in October 2020, the U.S. has updated the CET list twice. As of February 2024, the list now includes 122 technologies across 18 areas, from 103 technologies in 19 areas.
➌ (Strengthening technology protection and research security) In preparation for intensifying global competition for technological dominance, support for security management in research environments will be enhanced. Guidelines for strategic technology protection will be established for researchers, and research security systems will be strengthened to address data requests from foreign institutions and overseas research funding.
➍ (Investment and cooperation in dual-use technologies) Research and development for the selected 10 strategic defense technologies, structured around the 12 CETs, will receive concentrated support. In particular, cooperation between military and civilian research (spin-on/off) will be continuously strengthened to facilitate the rapid integration of strategic civilian technologies into defense systems and to leverage the outcomes of defense R&D.
[Task 3 – Mission-oriented innovation] Establish a mission-centric R&D system to produce visible outcomes
➊ (Concentrated support for mission-oriented R&D) Projects directly linked to securing leading-edge technologies and maintaining competitiveness will be designated as Mission-Oriented Visionary Projects (MVPs) under the Special Act and will receive intensified support. These designated projects will benefit from broad support measures based on the Special Act on the CETs, including budget utilization, project agency designation, and alleviating corporate burdens. The Ministry plans to introduce the National Science & Technology Lab (NSTL), an open collaboration system designed to break down barriers between different research institutions. This initiative will be implemented starting this year, alongside the expansion of the designated Global Top Strategic Research Groups.
* Mission-Oriented Visionary Projects (MVPs): Projects that are directly related to fostering CETs, which will receive mission-centric support and management.
➋ (Integrated performance management) A performance management system will be established to outline the key missions and timelines for achieving goals, based on the implementation plans developed by the relevant ministries* for each CET sector after delieration by the PACST. This system will conduct a comprehensive review that encompasses not only technology development and key project performance, but also talent development, international collaboration, and the need for institutional improvements to foster a thriving ecosystem. The results of this review will be linked to investments and evaluations. Additionally, the national R&D analysis and future projection systems will be integrated with the 12 CET sectors to improve the status, outcomes, and evidence-based policy development.
* Mission-oriented, Strategic Roadmap for the Critical and Emerging Technologies (2023.8-2024.2, Special Committee on the CETs under the PACST)
➌ (Online platform for joint innovation through industry-academia-research institutes-government collaboration) Establish a coordination and collaboration system between high-level policy bodies (for the three game changer areas, space, etc.) such as the National Artificial Intelligence Committee and the Quantum Strategy Committee, and the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology. This includes operating a policy collaboration system between industry, academia, and research institutes, including launching a CETs Innovation Forum to gather public views on advancing the technologies. In addition, efforts will be made to establish a K-Technology security think tank to lead discussions on issues related to the 12 CETs on the global stage.
12 CETs: Key Support Strategies by field
The MSIT will provide tailored support for the 12 CETs-based on domestic technology advancement levels, categorizing them into leading fields, follow-up and competitive fields, and pioneering future fields.
▲ (Leading fields) In leading fields directly related to Korea’s flagship industries, such as semiconductors and secondary cell, the focus will be on achieving top global technological leadership and maintaining a strong position in the international supply chain. To enhance technological superiority over competitor countries, the Ministry will support large-scale R&D initiatives conducted jointly by the public and private sectors. In response to increasing global regionalization, a proactive response system will be established that integrates diplomacy and security. Additionally, recognizing the importance of supply chain stabilization, the Ministry will provide strategic support for the domestic development of critical and emerging materials.
▲ (Catch-up & competitive fields) Korea is striving for global leadership in this category of fields such as AI, advanced biotechnology, and next-generation nuclear power. Efforts will will focus on accelerating the early commercialization of CETs supported by a robust research ecosystem. Given the close connection of these areas to digital and AI transformation, support will be provided to expand research infrastructure, including AI computing resources. Additionally, we will strengthen industrial linkage projects that act as a catalyst for the commercialization of foundational deep-tech technologies based on CETs.
▲ (Pioneering future fields) Korea aim for a “technology leap-frogging” in fields such as quantum technology, aerospace, marine, and hydrogen. The focus is on the public-sector-led innovative and frontier research projects and the formation of a “Blockbuster Innovation Group” which are expected to help quickly bridge the technology gap with leading countries. Given the high significance of these fields in international STI policies ― particularly in terms of diplomacy, security, and carbon neutrality ― the goal is to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries and active engagement in multilateral cooperation mechanisms to secure technological sovereignty.
Goals and Objectives
Through these efforts, Korea aims to expand its world-leading technological capacities in the 12 CETs, from the current 3 leading areas to 6, and produce 15 new unicorn companies based on the CETs to drive the country’s future growth.
In particular, the government has set a goal to maintain Korea’s top position in technology competitiveness within its flagship industries―memory chips, secondary cell, and next-generation displays. Additionally, Korea is striving to propel itself into the top three global leaders (G3) in three transformative technological fields: AI chips, advanced biotechnology, and quantum technologies.
Minister Yoo Sang-Im said, “To gain a significant lead in the global market, it is essential for Korea to secure its scientific and technological sovereignty through the advancement of the 12 CETs.” He added, “In line with the name ‘A Blueprint for National S&T Sovereignty,’ my Ministry will collaborate with other government ministries, academia, industry, and research institutes to diligently implement the policy tasks outlined in the First Master Plan for Developing Critical and Emerging Technologies. This initiative will not only enable Korea to stay relevant in the global tech race but also allow a pivotal step forward in securing future growth engines and technological security capabilities.”
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Very nice image Distinguished Professor Kim! (This reminds me of snakes.)
Caption: This study reveals a promising strategy for fabricating ultrafine bi(tri)-metallic molybdates on N-, B-, and F-doped hollow-core carbon nanofibers for energy and environmental applications. Credit: Distinguished Professor Ick Soo Kim from Shinshu University, Japan
Researchers from Shinshu University developed a low-cost nanocomposite by embedding bimetallic and trimetallic molybdates into nitrogen-, boron-, and fluorine-doped hollow carbon nanofibers. This material demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance for supercapacitors, with high capacitance and long-term stability, as well as strong catalytic efficiency in degrading 4-nitrophenol, a common industrial pollutant. The composite offers promising dual functionality for energy storage and environmental remediation, providing a scalable and efficient solution to address pressing global energy and pollution challenges.
The world faces mounting challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Rapid growth of population, urbanization, and industrial activity—especially in developing countries—has driven up global energy consumption and intensified water pollution. These dual pressures have spurred a wave of research into multifunctional nanostructured materials capable of addressing both energy storage and environmental concerns. Bimetallic and ternary metal molybdates are among the most promising candidates, offering strong catalytic and electrochemical properties.
However, existing approaches to synthesizing these nanocomposites often come with major drawbacks. Many rely on high-cost carbon materials like graphene or carbon nanotubes. Others require excessive amounts of metals—often exceeding 50% by weight—or involve synthesis methods that are complex, time-consuming, and environmentally unfriendly. These limitations make many lab-scale solutions impractical for real-world use, particularly in the regions that need them most.
Recognizing this gap, a research team from Shinshu University, Japan, led by Distinguished Professor Ick Soo Kim from the Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, including Dr. Gopiraman Mayakrishnan, Dr. Azeem Ullah from the same university, and Dr. Ramkumar Vanraj from Yeungnam University, created a new type of nanocomposite that could deliver high performance at a much lower cost. The study was published online in the journal Advanced Fiber Materials on April 2, 2025.
The researchers anchored ultrafine bimetallic (FeMo) and ternary (NiCoMo) molybdates onto hollow-core carbon nanofibers that have been ‘doped’ with nitrogen, boron, and fluorine. These dopants enhance the conductivity and chemical reactivity of the carbon scaffold, while the hollow structure maximizes the surface area available for reactions.
“We’ve created a multifunctional platform that is not only scalable and cost-efficient but also delivers exceptional performance in energy storage,” said Prof. Kim. “Our approach reduces the reliance on expensive metals, and the doping of the carbon nanofibers enhances their properties, allowing us to create a material that can serve both energy and environmental needs.”
The new nanocomposite material was primarily tested for its ability to enhance energy storage. It demonstrated a specific capacitance of 1,419.2 F/g, which is significantly higher than many other materials currently used for energy storage. In addition, the material maintained 86% of its initial capacity after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, a crucial factor for the long-term reliability of energy storage systems.
Beyond its energy storage capabilities, the nanocomposite also showed significant promise in environmental applications. The material was tested for its ability to catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, a toxic compound commonly found in industrial wastewater. The results showed that the material was highly efficient in breaking down this pollutant, suggesting its potential for use in water purification and pollution control technologies.
The new nanocomposite also has a relatively low cost of production. Traditional nanomaterials often rely on expensive components like graphene or large amounts of metals, which can drive up the cost of production. In contrast, the new material uses a smaller quantity of metal and a simpler synthesis process, making it more affordable for large-scale applications.
This new nanocomposite offers a promising combination of high performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, making it a strong candidate for use in a wide range of applications. It is a significant step forward in the development of sustainable nanotechnologies for global challenges. But further research and development will be necessary before bringing this innovative material to market.
“The next step is to refine the production process and test the material in more diverse conditions,” concludes Prof. Kim. “We also plan to explore its potential in other environmental applications, such as the removal of different types of pollutants.”
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About Shinshu University
Shinshu University is a national university founded in 1949 and located nestling under the Japanese Alps in Nagano known for its stunning natural landscapes.
Shinshu University was selected for the Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS) Program by the Japanese government. This initiative seeks to promote the formation of university consortia that will enhance research capabilities across Japan.
Our motto, “Powered by Nature – strengthening our network with society and applying nature to create innovative solutions for a better tomorrow” reflects the mission of fostering promising creative professionals and deepening the collaborative relationship with local communities, which leads to our contribution to regional development by innovation in various fields. We’re working on providing solutions for building a sustainable society through interdisciplinary research fields: material science (carbon, fiber and composites), biomedical science (for intractable diseases and preventive medicine) and mountain science, and aiming to boost research and innovation capability through collaborative projects with distinguished researchers from the world. For more information visit https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/english/ or follow us on X (Twitter) @ShinshuUni for our latest news.
The International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art is an annual (these days) symposium which is put on by ISEA International (formerly Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts) and is hosted in various parts of the world. Here’s more about the ISEA International from its About (Mission) webpage,
Mission ISEA International is an international non-profit organisation fostering interdisciplinary discussion and knowledge exchange among culturally diverse organisations and individuals working at the intersection of art, science, and technology.
Main Activity The organisation’s main activity is the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA), an annual symposium that contributes to knowledge in the fields of art, science, and technology; supports emerging approaches to research and practice on complex and relevant topics; generates knowledge and understanding from interdisciplinary and/or cross-sector perspectives by bringing together diverse communities of art practitioners and scholars. The international symposium provides an academic and artistic forum, including a conference and a wide array of exhibitions, presentations, performances, and public events. Each year, the symposium is held in a different country with the aim of encouraging and including diverse perspectives, and to serve as a cultural bridge between local and international communities of artists and researchers. The ISEA Board of Directors advises and guides the Host Organisations producing each ISEA edition.
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The location for ISEA 2025: some thoughts
The May 23 – 29, 2025 ISEA Symposium is being held in Korea (or South Korea), a location that has been experiencing some political upheaval as have many, many parts of the world. For example, there is a great deal of disquiet here in Canada regarding travel to the US (see April 10, 2025 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s [CBC] news online article by Sophia Harris “Canadian travel to the U.S. has plummeted. One reason why: fear“).
While there have been concerning events in Korea, the situation overall seems to have calmed down.
For anyone who’s familiar with the type of protests held in the US and to a lesser extent in Canada, this description of wandering into a recent protest in South Korea is revelatory, from a March 18, 2025 posting by Canadian gossip columnist, Elaine Lui (Lainey of laineygossip.com), Note: A link has been removed,
… Now that I’m actually in Korea, my feeds are dominated by K-entertainment news. And political news…that does not involve the person dominating the news in the west!
On Saturday [March 15, 2025] we came out of the subway and accidently [sic] joined a protest. The Constitutional Court of Korea is currently deliberating the case of President Yoon Suk Yeol. On Saturday protestors against the president took over city streets calling for his removal. There was also a rally held by his supporters and between the two events, the roads were jammed, the trains were packed, and the police were out in full force. But at no time in the three hours that we spent in that area did we feel a threat to our personal safety. It was a surreal thing to witness as a foreigner after all these years of American-dominated news coverage. According to The Korea Herald, the Court is is expected to deliver its ruling some time this week.
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The ruling from the Constitutional Court of Korea took a little longer than expected but it has now been made, from an April 3, 2025 CBC news online article by Murray Brewster,
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has formally upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol following an aborted attempt to declare martial law late last year [2024].
It is a move that will trigger a new round of elections and deepen the political divide in one the region’s more vibrant democracies. South Korea must hold an election within two months.
After deliberating since January, the court issued its unanimous ruling Friday in a nationally broadcast event that saw many ordinary Koreans pause to hear the judgment on Yoon’s political fate.
The justices said Yoon violated the basic rights of the people by declaring martial law.
“You’re witnessing the miracle of democracy in Korea with the ruling of the constitutional court,” Siheung Mayor Lim Byung-taek told a gathering of journalists visiting the west coast city as part of the World Journalists Conference.
Yoon, a staunch conservative, was impeached in December [2024] by the country’s National Assembly, which is controlled by the liberal opposition.
He ordered the deployment of hundreds of troops and police officers to the assembly after declaring martial law on Dec. 3 [2024]
Yoon said the decision was intended to maintain order, but subsequently some military and civilian officials testified the president had ordered them to drag out lawmakers to frustrate a floor vote on his decree and detain his political opponents.
In his defence, Yoon claimed that he didn’t intend to keep the country under martial law for very long, and he only wanted to highlight what he called the “wickedness” of the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda.
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On Friday, police mobilized an overwhelming presence to prevent clashes and possible acts of vandalism, arson and assault.
There were both pro- and anti-impeachment demonstrations on the streets of Seoul following the ruling, but no violence was reported.
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ISEA theme, ‘동동 (憧憧, Dong-Dong): Creators’ Universe’, May 23 – 29, 2025 in Seoul
I was hoping to find a video with examples of some of what visitors to ISEA 2025 might experience but the organizers had decided on a more minimalist approach. Happily, I found this, from the About/Theme webpage,
The ISEA2025 theme, ‘동동 (憧憧, Dong-Dong): Creators’ Universe’, aspires to transcend the harsh realities of conflict and antagonism, initiating a global wave of unity sparked by a newfound allure. Through the words of the legendary priestess Diotima, Socrates described love as the act of keeping something good within oneself forever, the giving birth to beauty. This “giving birth” or “creation” elevates humanity from a mundane existence to an eternal state. For this God-Man, boundaries become meaningless, replaced by the limitless possibilities of consciousness manifesting in various forms within the quantum realm.
The overarching theme of ISEA2025, ‘Dong-Dong’ is drawn from the phrase “Dong-Dong-Wang-Rae, Bung-Jong-E-Sa (憧憧往來 朋從爾思)” in the ancient Eastern philosophical text, I Ching (Book of Changes, 易經). This theme resonates with this universal life force of love. The imagery of individuals moving toward one another with longing underscores our increasingly fragmented existence, while the ongoing conflicts and devastations around the globe remind us of the ancient wisdom that says it is good to be together. The juxtaposition of global crises with our dazzling technological advancements compels us to reflect on the values that underpin our society today.
ISEA2025 endeavors to explore a new worldview that transcends the recurring theme of posthumanism in contemporary art, as well as the divisions between East and West, art and science, materiality and spirituality, and technology and humanity. Embodying the future envisioned by transnational artist Nam June Paik, our generation is privileged to bridge the disconnected and to embrace the spontaneity and serendipity that emerge from the pursuit of relationship and solidarity. Seoul, a city that epitomises the fusion of tradition and modernity, serves as the ideal platform for such creative exchanges. Its geopolitical significance as the capital of a divided nation further amplifies the meaning of ‘Dong-Dong.’
Art has historically illuminated human experience through its creation of timeless beauty. With the consciousness and the universe of its exalted creators blossoming through technology, we can transcend material and social barriers to aspire higher. May the childlike ‘Dong-Dong’ within our minds generate beautiful waves in our tumultuous reality, awakening the creator spirit in all of us.
The creators’ universe belongs to all who ‘Dong-Dong.’
We propose four Creators’ Imperatives for all participants of ISEA2025. Each creator is encouraged to embrace the symposium’s main theme, Dong-Dong, by adhering to these guidelines.
Entice (홀려라) | Captivate the Heart
Create experiences and narratives that deeply resonate on an emotional level, fostering genuine interest and engagement.
Entangle (엮어라) | Foster Mutual Resemblance
Encourage collaboration and cross-disciplinary interactions, allowing different perspectives to merge and evolve into innovative concepts and solutions.
Expand (펼쳐라) | Broaden Horizons
Open platforms for diverse participation, encouraging contributions from various entities, including humans and the universe, to foster a rich tapestry of creative output.
Establish (세워라) | Affirm Inter-connectedness
Develop systems and structures that highlight and support the connectivity of different components, ensuring a cohesive and sustainable growth path. Recognise Dong-Dong as a potential gateway to achieving holistic inter-connectedness.
To guide academic and artistic submissions for ISEA2025, the following sub-themes have been developed to explore ideas pertaining to Dong-Dong and the Creators’ Imperatives of ISEA2025, and to connect with the ongoing conversations, research, and intellectual inquiry within the ISEA community.
We invite varied approaches and methodologies that resonate with the notion of Dong-Dong and the Creators’ Imperatives of ISEA2025, and urge participants to explore the intersections of art, technology, and culture while embracing the interconnected actions of enticing, entangling, expanding, and establishing.
Digital Heritage
We recall themes of mutual attraction and inclusivity, anticipating creative reinterpretations of tradition. Imagination transcending boundaries will connect traditional culture with modern technology, suggesting new directions for a sustainable future. We aim for a space open to endless combinations and innovations, blending mythical imagination with contemporary advancements.
※ Special Track 1 : 5th Summit on New Media Art Archiving
As part of Digital Heritage, the 5th Summit on New Media Art Archiving will take place, inviting scholars, practitioners, and archivists to engage in discussions that advance the preservation and dissemination of media art. This event will explore innovative reinterpretations of tradition and promote sustainable practices in both physical and digital archiving.
Related Research Areas
History and Philosophy, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Speculative Design, Tangible Legacy, Technological Singularity, DB Collect, Digital Archive, Methodology of Collecting and Archiving Media Art, New Media Art Preservation, Online and Physical Archiving, History of Digital Culture
Techno-Human
As technology advances beyond human cognition, it is crucial to reflect on the beliefs and values driving this progress. We welcome works exploring new life phenomena, evolving human identity through technology, the future of techno-humanity, and the changing Earth environment, fostering imagination, contemplation, and critique.
※ Special Track 2 : Barriers and Alienation in Art X Tech Education
Special session for Techno-Human, we will hold the Barriers and Alienation in Art X Tech Education. Amidst the hype cycle of countless technologies, we are curious about the realities faced by educators, artists, scientists, and practitioners involved in art education mediated by technology. We encourage participants to share their experiences from educational settings that utilize a range of technologies, from high-tech to low-tech, and explore ways to move forward together.
Nam June Paik asserted that “the role of an artist is to contemplate the future.” By blending social imagination with artistic inspiration, creators can envision new future cities, particularly Seoul at ISEA2025. Inspired by the vision of a future city at the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair we have adopted the theme ‘Neo Futurama’ for our exploration, seeking to reveal the possible developments of Seoul’s future. Our focus centres on Seoul in the year 2050, a time anticipated to be characterised by artificial intelligence and hyper-convergence. This year is also marked by the technological ‘Singularity,’ as postulated by Ray Kurzweil. We invite creators, especially future generations, to actively envision and propose the cities they aspire to see in the future.
Related Research Areas
Blockchain, Urban Media, Eastern Philosophies, Alternative Cities, Artificial Intelligence, Social Issues, Ecological Future, Collective Action, New Matter & Material, Future Transportation, Future Lifestyle, Singularity
Space Creative & The Stars
Space and celestial bodies have symbolised humanity’s yearning and dreams (동동, 憧憧, Dong-Dong) throughout history and across cultures; The jade rabbit Oktokki that lives on the moon in Korean mythology and Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) are just two of the beloved imagined figures embodying our cosmic sense of wonder. Space, the domain of celestial bodies and the stars, means both the physical expanse that encloses all tangible things and the ‘theatre of mind’ on which ideas and concepts are born and fostered. Space is therefore the enabler of the existence and the transformations of all creations– realisations of human desire and imagination– natural or manmade. Through the Space Creative & The Stars initiative, ISEA2025 aims to explore the varied senses of ‘space’ in creation–outer, literary, symbolic, urban, social, mental, physical, to name a few possibilities. We invite the global thinkers to build together the universe of Dong-Dong, a new home to ‘planetary thinking’ for the fate of humanity.
※ Special Track 3 : Nam June Paik – Live Science Fiction Movie
As part of Space Creative & The Stars, “Nam June Paik – Live Science Fiction Movie” will also take place, inviting scholars, researchers, and artists to engage in discussions that extend Nam June Paik’s philosophy and art. This event proposed by Nam June Paik Art Center will explore innovative ‘Live Science Fiction Movies’ inspired by Paik’s visionary ideas, continuing to challenge our perceptions of space and expand our imagination on this planet.
Related Research Areas
Space Science, Astronomy, Cosmic Web, Architecture and Spatialization, Spatial Music and Graphics, Science Fiction, Augmented/Virtual Reality and Metaverse, Social Constructs, Cognitive Science, Complex Systems, Planetary Thinking and Futurology
It looks pretty exciting to me. Should you be interested in going and haven’t already registered, they’ve extended Early Bird Registration to April 25, 2025 (KST). For those of us in Canada, I believe that Korea is across the International Dateline, which means you have until April 24, 2025. You can register early here; the registration fees are listed in Korean currency only.
Nanotechnology’s enormous potential across various sectors has long attracted the eye of investors, keen to capitalise on its commercial potency.
Yet the initial propulsion provided by traditional venture capital avenues was reined back when the reality of long development timelines, regulatory hurdles, and difficulty in translating scientific advances into commercially viable products became apparent.
While the initial flurry of activity declined in the early part of the 21st century, a new kid on the investing block has proved an enticing option beyond traditional funding methods.
Corporate venture capital has, over the last 10 years emerged as a key plank in turning ideas into commercial reality.
Simply put, corporate venture capital (CVC) has seen large corporations, recognising the strategic value of nanotechnology, establish their own VC arms to invest in promising start-ups.
The likes of Samsung, Johnson & Johnson and BASF have all sought to get an edge on their competition by sinking money into start-ups in nano and other technologies, which could deliver benefits to them in the long term.
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Unlike traditional VC firms, CVCs invest with a strategic lens, aligning their investments with their core business goals. For instance, BASF’s venture capital arm, BASF Venture Capital, focuses on nanomaterials with applications in coatings, chemicals, and construction.
It has an evergreen EUR 250 million fund available and will consider everything from seed to Series B investment opportunities.
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Samsung Ventures takes a similar approach, explaining: “Our major investment areas are in semiconductors, telecommunication, software, internet, bioengineering and the medical industry from start-ups to established companies that are about to be listed on the stock market.
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While historically concentrated in North America and Europe, CVC activity in nanotechnology is expanding to Asia, with China being a major player.
China has, perhaps not surprisingly, seen considerable growth over the last decade in nano and few will bet against it being the primary driver of innovation over the next 10 years.
As ever, the long development cycles of emerging nano breakthroughs can frequently deter some CVCs with shorter investment horizons.
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2023 Nanotechnology patent applications: which countries top the list?
A March 28, 2024 article from statnano.com provides interesting data concerning patent applications,
In 2023, a total of 18,526 nanotechnology patent applications were published at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). The United States accounted for approximately 40% of these nanotechnology patent publications, followed by China, South Korea, and Japan in the next positions.
According to a statistical analysis conducted by StatNano using data from the Orbit database, the USPTO published 84% of the 18,526 nanotechnology patent applications in 2023, which is more than five times the number published by the EPO. However, the EPO saw a nearly 17% increase in nanotechnology patent publications compared to the previous year, while the USPTO’s growth was around 4%.
Nanotechnology patents are defined based on the ISO/TS 18110 standard as those having at least one claim related to nanotechnology orpatents classified with an IPC classification code related to nanotechnology such as B82.
A November 6, 2021 article by Hyungwon Kang for The Korea Herald is a great reminder that for all the wonders of contemporary technologies, we still cannot equal the technological achievements of bygone ages,
For humans, the Bronze Age meant metal weapons, farming tools, and means to sustain large enough populations with an organized labor force which enabled construction of lasting monuments such as dolmens.
East Asia, especially in ancient Korea, must have been a happening place in the Bronze Age as there are more dolmens in Korea than anywhere else in the world.
Bronze mirrors are found in abundance in Korea and neighboring areas formerly occupied by ancient Koreans. Bronze mirrors with fine lines and geometric designs are a more advanced version of earlier Bronze Age mirrors with rough designs.
The largest and the most famous bronze mirror with fine lines, South Korea’s National Treasure No. 141, Bronze Mirror with Geometric Designs, or Jeongmungyeong in Korean, was found serendipitously in the early 1960s by Korean army recruits who were digging trenches at the Nonsan Republic of Korea Army Training Center.
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The bronze mirror is shattered into many pieces, apparently from the impact of an iron pick‘s sharp tip piercing the mirror from its shiny side.
The other side shows finely engraved geometric lines and has two knobs where a chain or cord would have been passed through to form a necklace. The round shiny mirror is considered to have represented the Sun, a heavenly source of mythical power in ancient times. Researchers believe a leader or a priest/priestess would have worn the mirror to reflect sunlight from the chest.
Researchers believe the 21cm diameter Bronze Mirror with Geometric Designs was made during the height of cutting-edge Bronze Age technology, when Korean civilization was transitioning into the early stage of the Iron Age. The mirror has an incredible number of more than 13,000 fine lines which are only 300,000 nanometers thick, a size thinner than human hair.
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The cutting edge high-tech Bronze Age mirror was made with zinc-bronze alloy, mixing zinc with copper, tin, and lead. In particular, the bronze mirror has an alloy ratio of 7 to 3 of copper and tin, which exhibits the most suitable hardiness and reflectivity as a mirror.
It is almost impossible to replicate [emphasis mine] the bronze mirror with fine lines even with 21st-century technology. Researchers have tried without success to replicate the mirror with modern technology.
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If you have the time, you can check out the full text and the other images which accompany Hyungwon Kang’s November 6, 2021 article.
A May 21, 2020 news item on Nanowerk describes the latest in sports self-monitoring research (or as I like to think of it, spying on yourself),
Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed their new biodegradable motion sensor – paving the way for implanted nanotechnology that could help future sports professionals better monitor their movements to aid rapid improvements, or help caregivers remotely monitor people living with dementia.
In a paper published by Nano Energy, a team from Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with Kyung Hee University in South Korea, detail how they developed a nano-biomedical motion sensor which can be paired with AI systems to recognise movements of distinct body parts.
The ATI’s technology builds on its previous work around triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), where researchers used the technology to harness human movements and generate small amounts of electrical energy. Combining the two means self-powered sensors are possible without the need for chemical or wired power sources.
In their new research, the team from the ATI developed a flexible, biodegradable and long-lasting TENG from silk cocoon waste. They used a new alcohol treatment technique, which leads to greater durability for the device, even under harsh or humid environments.
Dr. Bhaskar Dudem, project lead and Research Fellow at the ATI, said: “We are excited to show the world the immense potential of our durable, silk film based nanogenerator. It’s ability to work in severe environments while being able to generate electricity and monitor human movements positions our TENG in a class of its own when it comes to the technology.”
Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the ATI, said: “We are proud of Dr Dudem’s work which is helping the ATI lead the way in developing wearable, flexible, and biocompatible TENGs that efficiently harvest environmental energies. If we are to live in a future where autonomous sensing and detecting of pathogens is important, the ability to create both self-powered and wireless biosensors linked to AI is a significant boost.”
A July 3, 2019 news item on Nanowerk describes research coming from India and South Korea where nano gold is turned into black nanogold (Note: A link has been removed),
One of the main cause of global warming is the increase in the atmospheric CO2 level. The main source of this CO2 is from the burning of fossil fuels (electricity, vehicles, industry and many more).
Researchers at TIFR [Tata Institute of Fundamental Research] have developed the solution phase synthesis of Dendritic Plasmonic Colloidosomes (DPCs) with varying interparticle distances between the gold Nanoparticles (AU NPs) using a cycle-by-cycle growth approach by optimizing the nucleation-growth step. These DPCs absorb the entire visible and near-infrared region of solar light, due to interparticle plasmonic coupling as well as the heterogeneity in the Au NP [gold nanoparticle] sizes, which transformed golden gold material to black gold (Chemical Science, “Plasmonic colloidosomes of black gold for solar energy harvesting and hotspots directed catalysis for CO2 to fuel conversion”).
Black (nano)gold was able to catalyze CO2 to methane (fuel) conversion at atmospheric pressure and temperature, using solar energy. They also observed the significant effect of the plasmonic hotspots on the performance of these DPCs for the purification of seawater to drinkable water via steam generation, temperature jump assisted protein unfolding, oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol using pure oxygen as the oxidant, and hydrosilylation of aldehydes.
This was attributed to varying interparticle distances and particle sizes in these DPCs. The results indicate the synergistic effects of EM and thermal hotspots as well as hot electrons on DPCs performance. Thus, DPCs catalysts can effectively be utilized as Vis-NIR light photo-catalysts, and the design of new plasmonic nanocatalysts for a wide range of other chemical reactions may be possible using the concept of plasmonic coupling.
Raman thermometry and SERS (Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) provided information about the thermal and electromagnetic hotspots and local temperatures which was found to be dependent on the interparticle plasmonic coupling. The spatial distribution of the localized surface plasmon modes by STEM-EELS plasmon mapping confirmed the role of the interparticle distances in the SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) of the material.
Thus, in this work, by using the techniques of nanotechnology, the researchers transformed golden gold to black gold, by changing the size and gaps between gold nanoparticles. Similar to the real trees, which use CO2, sunlight and water to produce food, the developed black gold acts like an artificial tree that uses CO2, sunlight and water to produce fuel, which can be used to run our cars. Notably, black gold can also be used to convert sea water into drinkable water using the heat that black gold generates after it captures sunlight.
This work is a way forward to develop “Artificial Trees” which capture and convert CO2 to fuel and useful chemicals. Although at this stage, the production rate of fuel is low, in coming years, these challenges can be resolved. We may be able to convert CO2 to fuel using sunlight at atmospheric condition, at a commercially viable scale and CO2 may then become our main source of clean energy.
Here’s an image illustrating the work
Caption: Use of black gold can get us one step closer to combat climate change.
Credit: Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemical Science
A “black” gold material has been developed to harvest sunlight, and then use the energy to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful chemicals and fuel.
In addition to this, the material can also be used for applications including water purification, heating – and could help further research into new, efficient catalysts.
“In this work, by using the techniques of nanotechnology, we transformed golden gold to black gold, by simply changing the size and gaps between gold nanoparticles,” said Professor Vivek Polshettiwar from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in India.
Tuning the size and gaps between gold nanoparticles created thermal and electromagnetic hotspots, which allowed the material to absorb the entire visible and near-infrared region of sunlight’s wavelength – making the gold “black”.
The team of researchers, from TIFR and Seoul National University in South Korea, then demonstrated that this captured energy could be used to combat climate change.
Professor Polshettiwar said: “It not only harvests solar energy but also captures and converts CO2 to methane (fuel). Synthesis and use of black gold for CO2-to-fuel conversion, which is reported for the first time, has the potential to resolve the global CO2 challenge.
“Now, like real trees which use CO2, sunlight and water to produce food, our developed black gold acts like an artificial tree to produce fuel – which we can use to run our cars,” he added. Although production is low at this stage, Professor Polshettiwar (who was included in the RSC’s 175 Faces of Chemistry) believes that the commercially-viable conversion of CO2 to fuel at atmospheric conditions is possible in the coming years.
He said: “It’s the only goal of my life – to develop technology to capture and convert CO2 and combat climate change, by using the concepts of nanotechnology.”
Other experiments described in the Chemical Science paper demonstrate using black gold to efficiently convert sea water into drinkable water via steam generation.
It was also used for protein unfolding, alcohol oxidation, and aldehyde hydrosilylation: and the team believe their methodology could lead to novel and efficient catalysts for a range of chemical transformations.
We’re back on the cyborg trail or what I sometimes refer to as machine/flesh. A July 3, 2019 news item on ScienceDaily describes the latest attempts to join machine with flesh,
Machine enhanced humans — or cyborgs as they are known in science fiction — could be one step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to new research Lieber Group at Harvard University, as well as scientists from University of Surrey and Yonsei University.
Researchers have conquered the monumental task of manufacturing scalable nanoprobe arrays small enough to record the inner workings of human cardiac cells and primary neurons.
The ability to read electrical activities from cells is the foundation of many biomedical procedures, such as brain activity mapping and neural prosthetics. Developing new tools for intracellular electrophysiology (the electric current running within cells) that push the limits of what is physically possible (spatiotemporal resolution) while reducing invasiveness could provide a deeper understanding of electrogenic cells and their networks in tissues, as well as new directions for human-machine interfaces.
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The Lieber Group at Harvard University provided this image illustrating the work,
U-shaped nanowires can record electrical chatter inside a brain or heart cell without causing any damage. The devices are 100 times smaller than their biggest competitors, which kill a cell after recording. Courtesy: University of Surrey
In a paper published by Nature Nanotechnology, scientists from Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and Harvard University detail how they produced an array of the ultra-small U-shaped nanowire field-effect transistor probes for intracellular recording. This incredibly small structure was used to record, with great clarity, the inner activity of primary neurons and other electrogenic cells, and the device has the capacity for multi-channel recordings.
Dr Yunlong Zhao from the ATI at the University of Surrey said: “If our medical professionals are to continue to understand our physical condition better and help us live longer, it is important that we continue to push the boundaries of modern science in order to give them the best possible tools to do their jobs. For this to be possible, an intersection between humans and machines is inevitable.
“Our ultra-small, flexible, nanowire probes could be a very powerful tool as they can measure intracellular signals with amplitudes comparable with those measured with patch clamp techniques; with the advantage of the device being scalable, it causes less discomfort and no fatal damage to the cell (cytosol dilation). Through this work, we found clear evidence for how both size and curvature affect device internalisation and intracellular recording signal.”
Professor Charles Lieber from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University said: “This work represents a major step towards tackling the general problem of integrating ‘synthesised’ nanoscale building blocks into chip and wafer scale arrays, and thereby allowing us to address the long-standing challenge of scalable intracellular recording.
“The beauty of science to many, ourselves included, is having such challenges to drive hypotheses and future work. In the longer term, we see these probe developments adding to our capabilities that ultimately drive advanced high-resolution brain-machine interfaces and perhaps eventually bringing cyborgs to reality.”
Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the ATI at the University of Surrey, said: “This incredibly exciting and ambitious piece of work illustrates the value of academic collaboration. Along with the possibility of upgrading the tools we use to monitor cells, this work has laid the foundations for machine and human interfaces that could improve lives across the world.”
Dr Yunlong Zhao and his team are currently working on novel energy storage devices, electrochemical probing, bioelectronic devices, sensors and 3D soft electronic systems. Undergraduate, graduate and postdoc students with backgrounds in energy storage, electrochemistry, nanofabrication, bioelectronics, tissue engineering are very welcome to contact Dr Zhao to explore the opportunities further.
The link I’ve provided leads to a paywall. However, I found a freely accessible version of the paper (this may not be the final published version) here.
Have you ever wondered about the possible effects and impact of desalinating large amounts of ocean water? It seems that some United Nations University (UNU) researchers have asked and are beginning to answer that question. The following table illustrates the rise in desalination plants and processes,
Today 15,906 operational desalination plants are found in 177 countries. Almost half of the global desalination capacity is located in the Middle East and North Africa region (48 percent), with Saudi Arabia (15.5 percent), the United Arab Emirates (10.1 percent) and Kuwait (3.7 percent) being both the major producers in the region and globally. Credit: UNU-INWEH [downloaded from http://inweh.unu.edu/un-warns-of-rising-levels-of-toxic-brine-as-desalination-plants-meet-growing-water-needs/]
The fast-rising number of desalination plants worldwide—now almost 16,000, with capacity concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa—quench a growing thirst for freshwater but create a salty dilemma as well: how to deal with all the chemical-laden leftover brine.
In a UN-backed paper, experts estimate the freshwater output capacity of desalination plants at 95 million cubic meters per day—equal to almost half the average flow over Niagara Falls. For every litre of freshwater output, however, desalination plants produce on average 1.5 litres of brine (though values vary dramatically, depending on the feedwater salinity and desalination technology used, and local conditions). Globally, plants now discharge 142 million cubic meters of hypersaline brine every day (a 50% increase on previous assessments).
That’s enough in a year (51.8 billion cubic meters) to cover Florida under 30.5 cm (1 foot) of brine.
The authors, from UN University’s Canadian-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health [at McMaster University], Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, analyzed a newly-updated dataset—the most complete ever compiled—to revise the world’s badly outdated statistics on desalination plants.
And they call for improved brine management strategies to meet a fast-growing challenge, noting predictions of a dramatic rise in the number of desalination plants, and hence the volume of brine produced, worldwide.
The paper found that 55% of global brine is produced in just four countries: Saudi Arabia (22%), UAE (20.2%), Kuwait (6.6%) and Qatar (5.8%). Middle Eastern plants, which largely operate using seawater and thermal desalination technologies, typically produce four times as much brine per cubic meter of clean water as plants where river water membrane processes dominate, such as in the US.
The paper says brine disposal methods are largely dictated by geography but traditionally include direct discharge into oceans, surface water or sewers, deep well injection and brine evaporation ponds.
Desalination plants near the ocean (almost 80% of brine is produced within 10km of a coastline) most often discharge untreated waste brine directly back into the marine environment.
The authors cite major risks to ocean life and marine ecosystems posed by brine greatly raising the salinity of the receiving seawater, and by polluting the oceans with toxic chemicals used as anti-scalants and anti-foulants in the desalination process (copper and chlorine are of major concern).
“Brine underflows deplete dissolved oxygen in the receiving waters,” says lead author Edward Jones, who worked at UNU-INWEH, and is now at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. “High salinity and reduced dissolved oxygen levels can have profound impacts on benthic organisms, which can translate into ecological effects observable throughout the food chain.”
Meanwhile, the paper highlights economic opportunities to use brine in aquaculture, to irrigate salt tolerant species, to generate electricity, and by recovering the salt and metals contained in brine — including magnesium, gypsum, sodium chloride, calcium, potassium, chlorine, bromine and lithium.
With better technology, a large number of metals and salts in desalination plant effluent could be mined. These include sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bromine, boron, strontium, lithium, rubidium and uranium, all used by industry, in products, and in agriculture. The needed technologies are immature, however; recovery of these resources is economically uncompetitive today.
“There is a need to translate such research and convert an environmental problem into an economic opportunity,” says author Dr. Manzoor Qadir, Assistant Director of UNU-INWEH. “This is particularly important in countries producing large volumes of brine with relatively low efficiencies, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.”
“Using saline drainage water offers potential commercial, social and environmental gains. Reject brine has been used for aquaculture, with increases in fish biomass of 300% achieved. It has also been successfully used to cultivate the dietary supplement Spirulina, and to irrigate forage shrubs and crops (although this latter use can cause progressive land salinization).”
“Around 1.5 to 2 billion people currently live in areas of physical water scarcity, where water resources are insufficient to meet water demands, at least during part of the year. Around half a billion people experience water scarcity year round,” says Dr. Vladimir Smakhtin, a co-author of the paper and the Director of UNU-INWEH, whose institute is actively pursuing research related to a variety of unconventional water sources.
“There is an urgent need to make desalination technologies more affordable and extend them to low-income and lower-middle income countries. At the same time, though, we have to address potentially severe downsides of desalination — the harm of brine and chemical pollution to the marine environment and human health.”
“The good news is that efforts have been made in recent years and, with continuing technology refinement and improving economic affordability, we see a positive and promising outlook.”
¹The authors use the term “brine” to refer to all concentrate discharged from desalination plants, as the vast majority of concentrate (>95%) originates from seawater and highly brackish groundwater sources.
Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,
The state of desalination and brine production: A global outlook by Edward Jones, Manzoor Qadir, Michelle T.H.van Vliet, Vladimir Smakhtin, Seong-mu Kang. Science of The Total Environment Volume 657, 20 March 2019, Pages 1343-1356 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.076 Available online 7 December 2018
Surprisingly (to me anyway), this paper is behind a paywall.
