Lee Jeong-Ho

A technology that specially processes gas emitted from livestock manure, such as from cows, to produce eco-friendly jet fuel for aircraft has been developed for the first time in the world.

In China, a robot that looks like a real person has been developed. It not only has a torso and limbs, but also skin and facial features resembling a human. It can speak and make facial expressions. The manufacturer said it developed this robot not for ‘labor assistance' but for emotional interaction with people.

A Korean research team has developed a new refining technology that can classify crude oil by components without heating it to high temperatures. This breaks the century-old rule that crude must be refined solely by boiling. Using a kind of ‘filter' at room temperature, the technology could reduce both the energy required to generate high heat and carbon emissions by more than 30% each, laying a starting point for future improvements to refining processes.

Oh Tae-seok, Administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, stated that “we are preparing for the fifth launch of Nuri with a target of September this year.” Regarding the United States-led multinational lunar exploration project ‘Artemis program', he explained that Korea will present around July what specific technologies it will use to play its role.

A domestic research team investigated deep-sea organisms and, for the first time in the world, identified that more microplastics settle in the Indian Ocean than in the Pacific. Microplastics are fragments of 5㎜ or less that result when large plastic waste entering the ocean breaks apart due to sunlight and waves. The team analyzed that heavy inflows of plastic trash from South Asia and East Africa, which are undergoing rapid industrialization, are polluting the Indian Ocean.

A robot that helps with household chores has appeared in the United States. It can fold freshly dried laundry and neatly straighten bedding strewn across the bed. It can also pick up toys lying around and put them into a basket. Attention is on how the price set at $8,000 (about 12,000,000 KRW) will be received by the market.

An analysis has found that 7.6 billion people, about 90% of humanity, will be able to view the Eiffel Tower-sized asteroid ‘Apophis', which is slated to approach Earth in 2029, over the course of one day. Apophis will pass closer to the ground than geostationary satellites, yet there is no chance of an impact with Earth, so the public can look forward to enjoying a spectacular space show without worry.

At the International Physics Olympiad, where gifted science students from around the world compete in intellect, all five Korean high school students on the national delegation won gold medals. It is the first time since 2023 that the entire delegation took gold. Another Korean team also won gold at the International Young Physicists Tournament, which explores research topics in physics through debate-style rounds.

Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, said on the 16th that “Korea can also build a Mitos-level artificial intelligence (AI) model.” He added the premise that infrastructure such as graphics processing units (GPUs) must be sufficiently supported. Bae also announced that ‘AI for All', which will provide individuals with a ‘cyber secretary function', will launch in December this year. It is expected to include a feature that identifies complex administrative procedures and even submits applications on users' behalf.

The 13th test launch of ‘Starship,' the largest·most powerful launch vehicle developed by U.S. space company SpaceX led by Elon Musk, did not take place on the 16th (U.S. time).