Tag: National Taiwan University

Researchers from the Department of Chemistry at National Taiwan University have developed a novel method to synthesize ultrathin Ta₃N₅ photoanodes using a chemically engineered Ta₂N₃ precursor. This approach enables a 100nm tantalum nitride layer to achieve performance comparable to much thicker films made with conventional oxide precursors, while reducing tantalum usage.

The ultrathin films exhibit improved charge separation and enhanced photocurrent generation, overcoming the poor charge transport issues that have previously limited the practical application of Ta₃N₅ photoanodes. Trace subnitride impurities formed at the interface with silicon act as conductive pathways, facilitating efficient extraction of photogenerated carriers.

This advancement not only lowers material costs but also opens new possibilities for scalable solar-driven hydrogen production. By combining structural, optical, and electrochemical optimization, the study demonstrates a broadly applicable strategy for designing next-generation photoelectrodes.

https://labspotlight.ntu.edu.tw/focus/123?locale=zh-TW

On June 20, National Taiwan University Distinguished Alumnus and eminent historian Prof. Cho-Yun Hsu received the sixth Tang Prize in Sinology. Despite physical challenges, he made remarkable contributions to historical studies, combining Eastern and Western perspectives and mentoring students worldwide. His dedication to scholarship and social consciousness earned him this prestigious recognition.

Prof. Hsu expressed gratitude to the Tang Prize Committee and to National Taiwan University, which he credited as the foundation of his academic path. Entering academia in 1949, he first studied foreign languages before transferring to history, graduating in 1953. With the support of mentors, he pursued his doctorate at the University of Chicago and later returned to teach and reform the history curriculum, introducing modern interdisciplinary methods.

Though he went on to a distinguished career at the University of Pittsburgh, Prof. Hsu often returned as a visiting professor, inspiring new generations. His achievement follows in the footsteps of Prof. Ying-Shih Yu, the first Tang Prize laureate in Sinology, strengthening National Taiwan University’s role as a global hub for the field.

A groundbreaking study published in Science confirmed that a fossil discovered in Taiwan belonged to a male Denisovan, marking the first molecular evidence of this ancient human lineage in low-latitude regions. The research was led by an international team of 15 scientists, including Associate Professor Cheng-Hsiu Tsai from National Taiwan University and collaborators from Taiwan, Japan, and Denmark. Using ancient protein analysis (paleoproteomics), the team identified Denisovan traits in the fossil and further determined the individual’s sex by detecting the male-specific amelogenin Y protein.

The discovery is significant because Denisovan fossils with molecular confirmation have so far been limited to Siberia and Tibet, even though genetic studies suggest their presence across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Until now, warmer regions lacked direct fossil evidence. This Taiwanese specimen therefore fills a critical gap, expanding our understanding of Denisovan distribution and the complexity of human evolution.

While ancient DNA could not be retrieved, the successful extraction of proteins offered crucial molecular insights. The fossil, curated at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taiwan, was recovered from the seabed between Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, where other prehistoric animal remains such as Stegodon have also been found. The findings highlight the scientific importance of Taiwan’s fossil record for studying ancient humans and evolutionary history.

This is not the first time fossils from Taiwan have drawn global attention. In 2023, Tsai’s lab contributed to another Science paper on island extinctions, demonstrating the international impact of Taiwan’s paleontological research. Together, these discoveries reaffirm Taiwan’s role in uncovering key chapters of life’s evolutionary journey.

The Max Planck-IAS-NTU Center (MPC) for Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Geometry has been founded through cooperation between the Max Planck Society in Germany, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, and National Taiwan University (NTU). The Center will begin operations in July 2025 with five years of initial funding. An opening symposium will be held at NTU in September 2025, followed by a kick-off conference at IAS in March 2026.

Led by co-directors Johannes Henn (Max Planck Institute for Physics), Nima Arkani-Hamed (IAS), and Daniel Baumann (NTU), the Center unites leading scholars in particle physics, cosmology, and geometry. Their goal is to develop new frameworks for quantum field theory, study particle interactions, and explore the origins of the Universe.

The initiative will act as a global hub for collaboration, engaging faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students from around the world. Planned activities include international workshops, summer schools, and research exchanges across institutions and disciplines.

Funded by NTU and Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council, the Center is part of the broader Max Planck Centers program. NTU President Wen-Chang Chen emphasized that this collaboration strengthens Taiwan’s role in global science and will spark exciting new discoveries in fundamental physics.

Liver disease remains a major health issue in Taiwan, driven by the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). A research team at National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital, led by Vice Superintendent Jia-Horng Kao, has been investigating the interaction between hepatitis viruses and metabolic abnormalities. Their latest findings, published in the Journal of Hepatology, have drawn global attention.

Prof. Tung-Hung Su and Dr. Shang-Chin Huang reported that HBV patients with metabolic syndrome face a significantly higher risk of death. In contrast, those with only simple fatty liver but no other metabolic issues have a 50% lower long-term mortality rate. For HCV, Prof. Chen-Hua Liu showed that even after patients are cured with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, those with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity) remain at a substantially higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These findings stress the importance of early intervention for metabolic abnormalities alongside antiviral treatment.

Prof. Jun-Ren Liu, Director of National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital’s Hepatitis Research Center, emphasized that in addition to controlling hepatitis viruses, patients must also manage metabolic health through weight control, diet, and regular monitoring. Timely screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid abnormalities, combined with regular liver ultrasound, can help reduce risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer and improve long-term prognosis.

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Professor Guo Baihsu of NTU’s Department of Public Health and the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine has contributed to a study under the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, collaborating with researchers worldwide. The groundbreaking research was published in Nature on January 2025.

Bipolar disorder is a severe psychiatric condition that not only diminishes quality of life and functionality but also significantly increases suicide risk. Clinically, bipolar disorder is categorized into Bipolar Disorder I (BD-I), marked by episodes of mania and depression, and Bipolar Disorder II (BD-II), characterized by hypomania and depression. Despite its relatively high prevalence, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder typically takes an average of eight years, and its biological mechanisms remain poorly understood.

This study represents the largest multi-ethnic genomic investigation of bipolar disorder to date, analyzing data from 2.9 million individuals—including over 150,000 patients—from European, East Asian, African American, and Latino populations. By scanning 6.7 million common genetic variants, researchers identified 298 loci associated with increased risk for bipolar disorder—four times the number previously known. Advanced gene-mapping methods further pinpointed 36 genes with strong links to bipolar disorder. Additionally, the team discovered differences in genetic features among clinical, community, and self-report samples, which appear to correlate with the prevalence of BD-I and BD-II, highlighting the influence of data collection methods on research outcomes.

The research team also found that bipolar disorder-associated genetic signals are related to specific brain cells, including mid-GABAergic interneurons and medium spiny neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and unexpectedly, cells in the gut and pancreas may also be involved. Further studies are needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying mood episodes in bipolar disorder. These findings promise to advance new therapies, early intervention strategies, and precision medicine, ultimately aiding clinicians in devising more effective treatment plans for patients.