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(Rice University) Rice University researchers have integrated high-efficiency solar cells and electrode catalysts into an efficient, low-cost device that splits water to produce hydrogen fuel.

(Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) Thanks to its magnetic properties, the material -- zinc-doped manganese chromite -- can be used in a range of products, from gas sensors to data storage devices.

(College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University) Carnegie Mellon University's Maarten de Boer and Gianluca Piazza are developing reliable, mechanical switches the size of a DNA molecule, thanks to a $2M LEAP-HI grant from the National Science Foundation.

(University of Montreal) A chemistry professor at Université de Montréal has developed a new test using gold nanoparticles to establish the flavour profile of maple syrup and help producers evaluate its quality.

(University of Southampton) Scientists have published highly detailed images of lab-grown neurons using Extreme Ultraviolet radiation that could aid the analysis of neurodegenerative diseases.

(Dartmouth College) Annual award supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences.

(University of South Florida (USF Health)) A new preclinical study by researchers at the University of South Florida Health (USF Health) Morsani College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers promise of a specific treatment for NEC, a rare inflammatory bowel disease that is a leading cause of death in premature infants. The team found that inhibiting the inflammatory and blood-clotting molecule thrombin with targeted nanotherapy can protect against NEC-like injury in newborn mice.

(DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)) A drug-loaded microrobotic needle effectively targets and remains attached to cancerous tissue in lab experiments without needing continuous application of a magnetic field, allowing more precise drug delivery. The details were published by researchers at DGIST's Microrobot Research Center in Korea and colleagues in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

(Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) EPFL chemists have developed sponges to capture various target substances, like gold, mercury and lead, dissolved in solution. The sponges are actually porous crystals called metal organic frameworks, and now one exists for capturing toxic hexavalent chromium from water.

(University of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto) Researchers at the universities of Jyvaskyla and Xiamen discovered a novel way to make functional macroscopic crystalline materials out of nanometer-size 34-atom silver-gold intermetallic clusters. The cluster material has a highly anisotropic electrical conductivity, being a semiconductor in one direction and an electrical insulator in other directions. The research was published in Nature Communications on May 6, 2020.

(Arizona State University) Cun-Zheng Ning, a professor of electrical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and collaborators from Tsinghua University in China discovered a process of physics that enables low-power nanolasers to be produced in 2D semiconductor materials. Understanding the physics behind lasers at nanoscale and how they interact with semiconductors can have major implications for high-speed communication channels for supercomputers and data centers.

(University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering) Three Nick Holonyak Jr., Micro and Nanotechnology Lab (HMNTL) faculty members received NSF Rapid Response Research (RAPID) program grants, all of which aim to shorten the amount of time it takes to process a COVID-19 test with less false negatives. Current tests can take as long as five days for results to be.

(Georgia Institute of Technology) The science behind sticky gecko's feet lets gecko adhesion materials pick up about anything. But cost-effective mass production of the materials was out of reach until now. A new method of making them could usher the spread of gecko-inspired grabbers to assembly lines and homes.

(ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences) ICFO researchers report on a new method to obtain high color purity 3D objects with the use of a new class of nanoparticles.

(Lancaster University) Lancaster University's Dr Samuli Autti has been awarded a Young Scientist Prize 2020 by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. The prestigious prize, awarded only once every three years, was made by the Low Temperature Commission of the IUPAP.

The Centre for Health Protection announced that as of 4pm today, no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded, leaving the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong at 1,040 so far.

The centre again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people in their daily lives to minimise the risk of infection.

People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of coronavirus clusters emerging in the community.

As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 142 patients under isolation and that 920 patients have been discharged upon recovery.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said because Hong Kong has not reported a local COVID-19 case for over two weeks and imported cases are low, some anti-epidemic measures can be lifted.

During a press conference, Mrs Lam outlined that unlike some European countries, Hong Kong did not need to go into lockdown to contain the spread of the disease.

“Hong Kong has never gone into a stage of a complete city lockdown. In some of the European countries where they practise a city lockdown, residents are simply not allowed to leave their homes, except for some very essential purposes. But we have never adopted that practice.

“And in fact, many renowned experts are now trying to study our situation - why does Hong Kong succeed in keeping the confirmed cases at a low level without drastic measures like a complete city lockdown. And I do think that is a very interesting topic for further research.”

Mrs Lam noted that the Government had adopted the “suppress and lift” strategy under which restrictions are implemented and lifted in accordance with the infection situation.

“The strategy that Hong Kong has been adopting - and advocated by some of our experts - is what we call a ‘suppress and lift strategy’.

“So in light of the number of confirmed cases and likelihood of the spread of the disease in the community, we will have to suppress in order to make sure that there will be no surge in the number of confirmed cases as we have seen in some neighbouring regions.

“When the situation of the infection stabilises, that is the time for lifting, that is, loosening a bit so that society can operate more normally, especially for the businesses and for individuals’ behaviour.”

The Chief Executive said the Government still needed to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely, even though it was in the stage of lifting restrictions.

“We are now right in the stage of lifting because we have not had a local case for 16 days already and the number of imported cases is very, very low.

“We are now quite confident that the system of testing and holding that we have put in place for all arrivals from overseas would enable us to control the number of imported cases. So this is a time for lifting and this afternoon we have announced a number of lifting measures.

“If the situation continues to stay at the current level - no local cases, very few imported cases - then at the end of the 14-day period, that is May 22, of course that would be the time for more relaxation.”

Mrs Lam added that if a local case suddenly surfaced, Hong Kong may have to go back to some suppression measures, which was why the Government had to monitor the situation closely so it could take the necessary and pertinent response measures.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The relaxation of anti-epidemic measures is a step in the right direction, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

Mrs Lam made the statement at a press conference this afternoon.

She said the Government will relax the requirement limiting group gatherings in public places to a maximum of four people. Starting from Friday, up to eight people can gather in public places.

"So raising the number from four to eight for the catering business and also for the prohibition against group gatherings under Cap 599G is not an exact science, but this is a step in the right direction of relaxation.

"Maybe in another 14 days’ time we will raise the number of eight to 10, to 12, to 15 and so on."

Regarding bars and pubs, Mrs Lam said these venues will be able to reopen but the Government will put in place requirements to prevent physical interactions.

"We have decided that perhaps to strike a pragmatic balance is to allow them to reopen for business but to put in far more stringent requirements."

Such requirements include no live music, band performances or dancing in bar premises.

"That would be another way to keep the social distance and prevent as much as possible physical interactions."

Click here for the latest measures.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung today said the Government is confident that classes can resume on May 27.

Mr Yeung made the statement at a press conference this afternoon.

He said: “We are not announcing class resumption right away. We are giving advance notice of about three weeks for all the stakeholders to get prepared for the school resumption.”

The Government will continue to monitor the situation during this period and adjust the school resumption plan if necessary, he added.

"At this stage we are still pretty confident that we should be able to resume classes on May 27."

The Innovation & Technology Bureau announced that as of 3pm today, the CuMask online registration system had received over 500,000 registrations, covering close to 1.38 million registrants in total. 

The bureau also responded to reports concerning the purpose of information collection and security of the registration system.

It noted that information provided by citizens in obtaining the masks will not be used for other purposes and that the Government will ensure the retention period of the personal data is no longer than the time required for the purposes for which the data is used.

The bureau pointed out that the registration system for masks operates on the Government's private cloud to ensure the stability and security of the system. 

In order to prevent intrusion and data leakage, multiple security measures have been put in place in compliance with the Government Information Technology Security Policy & Guidelines. 

These measures include a firewall, intrusion detection, anti-bot technology and installation of the latest anti-virus software with regular updates of virus definitions. 

The service has also passed an information security risk assessment and audit before launch.

The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has been consulted on the system's personal data processing arrangements. 

The system has also passed an independent third-party privacy impact assessment to ensure that the relevant service and system comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

The bureau further explained that citizens need to provide their Hong Kong identity card number and date of birth for the registration system to match data with the Immigration Department’s system.

The process will be used to ascertain whether the registrant is a Hong Kong resident and check against any duplicated registrations. 

The local mobile number serves as a way to receive SMS messages on registration results and delivery, while the name and local address of the main registrant serves to verify whether the address exists and for arranging delivery. 

The bureau emphasised that the purposes of information collection have been clearly displayed on the front of the registration page for citizens to browse before registration.

Meanwhile, the bureau clarified the online rumours regarding the manufacturer of CuMask, noting that the CuMask is not manufactured by the Sun Hing Knitting Factory Limited nor Nan Fung Group.

The procurement of raw materials, coordination of production, sterilisation and packaging of the CuMask are being handled by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel, it said.

The bureau expressed regret about the rumours.

The Centre for Health Protection announced that as of 4pm today, no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded, leaving the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong at 1,040 so far.

The centre again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people to minimise the risk of infection.

People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of coronavirus clusters emerging in the community.

As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 127 patients under isolation and that 932 patients have been discharged upon recovery.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam inspected one of the CuMask production sites in Tsuen Wan today and expressed gratitude to those manufacturing the reusable masks for Hong Kong residents to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

She chatted with the staff and noted that many of them are retired textile industry workers who have re-joined the production workforce to combat the virus.

Mrs Lam praised them for their commitment to serving the community and thanked them for their hard work.

The masks produced in the workshop will be delivered to a clean workspace for sterilising with ozone and packing before distribution. There is no need to wash the mask before it is used for the first time.

In the face of the tight supply of masks amid the epidemic, the Government set aside funds to subsidise projects on technology applications of reusable masks under the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund.

The CuMask complies with the American Society for Testing & Materials F2100 Level 1 standard and can be washed up to 60 times. It can also be used for a longer period after replacing the filter.

Mrs Lam said she is pleased to note that CuMask is well received by the public and the registration process has been very smooth.

“CuMask is a home-grown scientific research achievement with local application. The whole process has involved co-operation between the Government, industry, academia and the research sector and is an outstanding example of the use of technology to improve people’s lives.

“It will also help solve the problem of the supply of face masks during an epidemic in the long run. I highly commend all the people who have participated in the relevant work and I am fully confident in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.”

Mrs Lam appealed to the public to make use of the registration quota of up to six people to minimise delivery resources and enhance efficiency.

She added that relevant departments will deliver the masks as soon as possible.

The Government urged District Councillors to focus on livelihood issues and discuss matters rationally, adding that it will continue to co-operate with the District Council under the principles of mutual respect, observation of order and rational discussion.

The Government issued the statement after a number of Central & Western District Council members today entered the office area of the Central & Western District Office without consent.

The statement noted that the members shouted loudly and knocked on the door of the office.

Despite repeated responses and an appeal from the District Office staff, the members still refused to leave.

The statement added that the members stayed in the District Office for a long time, seriously affecting its operation.

The Government expressed regret over their acts.

The CuMask online registration system received over 720,000 registrations, covering two million registrants in total on the first day of registration on May 6, the Innovation & Technology Bureau announced today.

The bureau said the response is overwhelming and it is encouraged to see support for local invention.

"Our thanks go to support from all sides, including the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel (HKRITA) which has been commissioned to oversee the project, the Crystal International Group Limited which is responsible for the production, the Novetex Textiles Limited in Tai Po Industrial Estate for providing clean room for sterilisation, The Mills and the TAL Apparel Limited for lending premises to set up workshops as well as the frontline workmen for their hard work over the past few months.

“This unrivalled challenge cannot be met without their joint efforts and the collaboration of the industry and our team,” the bureau stated.

The bureau commissioned the HKRITA to oversee the CuMask project in order to meet the imminent needs for masks in Hong Kong.

It pointed out that the Government Stores & Procurement Regulations do allow direct purchase to be made under extreme urgency.

The whole procurement process was conducted in accordance with the Government's procurement regulations and procedures and with confirmation that the conditions under the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization could be met.

The bureau further explained that in February and March this year, the Government contacted various suppliers of reusable masks. However, most stated that they had either stopped production, did not have enough stock, were unable to export materials due to export control, or unable to produce testing certification.

The epidemic at that time was serious and the supplies of anti-epidemic items were becoming scarce. Hong Kong did not have any raw materials or production lines.

Taking into account the aggressive procurement actions of anti-epidemic items by different countries, export control and suspension of production lines all over the world, the Government had to consider urgently the feasibility of manufacturing reusable masks that would be up to standard for use by the whole community.

On reviewing the reusable mask developed by the HKRITA, the Government considered that the design of the mask and materials used could meet the requirement, as there were supporting certifications proving its compliance with relevant international standards.

As for mass production, it depends on the availability of supply of raw materials. Having wide network in the industry, the HKRITA was able to acquire quality raw materials within a short period and put production lines in place.

The Government therefore commissioned the HKRITA to oversee the coordination of production through direct purchase with a view to supplying reusable masks to all Hong Kong residents as soon as possible.

The bureau added the HKRITA is a non-profit-making R&D centre fully subsidised by the Government, with most of their R&D projects funded by the Innovation & Technology Fund.

The HKRITA oversees the CuMask project on a non-profit-making basis. All expenses will be reimbursed to the HKRITA on the basis of actual spending.

People concerned with the effectiveness of the CuMask may browse the website for testing reports and patent information.

The Centre for Health Protection today announced it is investigating four additional confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The newly reported cases involve four males aged between 11 and 47. All of them travelled during the incubation period.

Epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing.

The centre again urged the public to maintain an appropriate social distance from other people as much as possible to minimise the risk of infection.

People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community.

As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 120 patients under isolation and that 944 patients have been discharged upon recovery.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

A recovered COVID-19 patient has tested positive for the virus again, the Hospital Authority announced today.

The authority’s Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin told a media briefing this afternoon that the patient was first admitted to Queen Mary Hospital on March 24 after having fever for a week. He subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

He was discharged on April 16 after two consecutive negative tests for the virus.

Dr Lau said: "The patient presented to the Accident & Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on May 5 because of some abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

"He was admitted to our hospital and was found to have a positive result for COVID-19 in the throat saliva, but the cycle threshold value is very high - nearly 36.

"The experts consider that this is the residual virus left in the patient’s body, which is not infective, and it is not likely to be a reinfection at this moment."

He added that the patient is in a stable condition.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said recovered COVID-19 patients or those who did not have any symptoms may be discharged from hospital 10 days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result.

Its Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing that the revised discharge criteria was based on the latest scientific evidence.

“Our Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases met yesterday and examined the latest scientific evidence on whether the virus will be viable from a patient.

“And the available evidence showed that this virus is usually not detected after 10 days since the onset of symptoms of patients. Some patients may have persistent positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for a long period of time.”

Dr Chuang noted that patients still had to meet the criteria of having two clinical specimens test negative, or testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody to be discharged.

“We have revised the discharge criteria to include the patient who (must have) been staying in the hospital for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms. So this is the additional criteria, in addition to the previous criteria of two consecutive negative specimens.

“We added another criteria (which is) in case a patient has stayed in the hospital for a long time, more than 10 days since the onset of symptoms, but he or she has persistent positive PCR despite the Ct (cycle threshold) value being very high, they can check their serology, the antibody. So if the antibody turns positive, usually it is after 10 days, then he or she can be discharged.

“So this is based on the latest scientific evidence.”