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Research Hub

HIGHLIGHT

From bench to market

From partnering its homegrown unicorn to working with industry giants, NTU is creating value through innovation and entrepreneurship.

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Discoveries

Using the EcoLoc device

Engineering & Technology

NTU and PureFize Technologies create a compact, eco-friendly UV disinfection chip

The innovation has been incorporated into a portable product that keeps food fresh.

Published on 25 Apr 2025

Natural Sciences

Butterflies benefit from roadside greenery in cities, finds Singapore study

Reducing the cutting of plants in road verges and having a greater variety of flowering plants in them improves butterfly numbers and diversity.

Published on 17 Apr 2025

Photo of four colour-changing perovskites created by NTU scientists

Engineering & Technology

Designing colour-changing semiconductor materials

NTU scientists create new semiconductor materials that change colour when heated and cooled.

Published on 22 Nov 2024

Destruction in a town.

Natural Sciences

Uncovering the secrets of a devastating earthquake

Scientists discover unexpected reasons behind the deadly Noto earthquake in Japan.

Published on 19 Nov 2024

Research news releases

More news releases

Published on 19 May 2025

Eco-friendly chip emits UV light to keep food fresh

Using the EcoLoc device Credit: PureFize Technologies.

Scientists from NTU Singapore and Swedish technology company PureFize Technologies have developed a compact chip that emits ultraviolet (UV) light for disinfection. Unlike conventional mercury lamps, the chip generates UV light without requiring mercury.

The innovation has been incorporated in a handheld product called EcoLoc that keeps food fresh. EcoLoc is used with a specially developed food container lid that fits the Ikea series of 365+ food storage containers.

Using the device, the shelf-life of various perishable foods was extended to almost a week.

The researchers are working on integrating the technology into other disinfection applications such as medical equipment sterilisation, home sanitation and packaging.

Read more at the NTU Research Hub.

In the news

How beer sludge is being turned into vegan milk and leather

A Singapore team found a way to break down leftover grains from beer brewing and extract much more nutrients from them than before.

Brain immune cells (green) clustering around a build-up of toxic beta amyloid (red) (LKCMedicine, NTU Singapore research)

Breakthrough research into brain ‘switch’ builds hope for new Alzheimer’s treatment

Researchers have found a “switch” in immune cells in the brain that could be targeted as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Research features

Illustration of a circuit board of the future

Engineering & Technology | Natural Sciences

Lighting the way to quantum computing

Light-based technological breakthroughs from NTU are illuminating the future of powerful computers.

Published on 19 Dec 2024

Engineering & Technology

Beating air pollution and bacteria with nanoparticles

Prof Lam Yeng Ming and Prof Liu Zheng use silk proteins and tiny particles to make air filters.

Published on 10 Dec 2024

Social Sciences

Taking robots at face value

Assoc Prof Xu Hong's research seeks to understand humans’ emotional and facial responses to robots.

Published on 03 Dec 2024

Engineering & Technology

Fortified from land to sea: underground engineering and coastal protection drive sustainable growth

NTU researchers are strengthening critical infrastructure both below ground and by the sea with advanced technologies and innovative materials.

Published on 02 Dec 2024

Researcher spotlight

Arts & Humanities

Building intelligent infrastructure: Assoc Prof Peer Sathikh

Assoc Prof Peer Sathikh is improving how people interact with different things through design.

Published on 10 Dec 2024

Arts & Humanities | Natural Sciences | Social Sciences

Confronting climate change

Innovative approaches are needed to tackle the climate problem before it is too late, says Earth Observatory of Singapore director Prof Benjamin Horton.

Published on 09 Dec 2024

Photo of Prof Goh Kim Huat at Gaia

Building intelligent infrastructure: Prof Goh Kim Huat

Prof Goh Kim Huat is monitoring the health of cities to aid urban planning.

Published on 21 Nov 2024

Photo of Prof Yeong Wai Yee

Engineering & Technology

Building intelligent infrastructure: Prof Yeong Wai Yee

Chair of NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prof Yeong Wai Yee steers the development of engineering innovations that transform cities of the future.

Published on 20 Nov 2024

Featured videos

Gear shaped micro ceramic particles under the microscope (NTU Singapore research)

Developing modern microparticles from ancient East Asian construction techniques

New pilot plant extracts metals from battery waste using fruit peels (NTU Singapore research)

New pilot plant extracts metals from battery waste using fruit peels

Anodes created using NTU Singapore's technique

Using waste paper to make more durable lithium-ion batteries

Smart 'band-aid' could help monitor your health without pricking your fingers (NTU Singapore research)

Smart 'band-aid' could help monitor your health without finger pricking

Smart, reusable adhesive that sticks on various surfaces (NTU Singapore research)

A smart, reusable adhesive that sticks on various surfaces

NTU Singapore doctors find mental health chatbots can help people with depression

Mental health chatbots can help people with depression

Close up of the RoboFabric elbow support that can help reduce loads by 40 per cent (NTU Singapore)

Fabulous new RoboFabric could be used in medical devices and soft robotics

Research sheds light on how the brain protects against Alzheimer's disease

SMART and NTU scientists with the rapid test kit that detects levels of COVID19 antibodies

New quick test to check for immunity against COVID-19 and its variants

Dr Liang Yen Nan (L) and Professor Hu Xiao from NTU Singapore

A green way to convert waste kale into health and personal care products

NTU Singapore study reveals prehistoric human migration in Southeast Asia driven by sea-level rise

Sea-level rise drove prehistoric human migration in SEA: Study

‘Lego-like’ universal connector from scientists led by NTU Singapore

A universal way to assemble stretchable devices in ‘Lego-like’ manner

NTU Singapore NEWRI scientists helping with Nepal's water woes

Scientists helping with Nepal's water woes

NTU Singapore team develops 'fabric' that generates electricity when pressed, squeezed or stretched.

New ‘fabric’ turns body movement into electricity

Associate Professor Aravind Dasari with PhD student Dean Seah from NTU fire testing a piece of timber that has an invisible coating which makes it 'fireproof'

Invisible coating that makes wood 'fireproof'

Ms Tan Li Ling, a PhD student at NTU’s School of Materials Science & Engineering, and the school's Assoc Prof Joachim Loo with the coated probiotics they developed

Ensuring probiotics reach the gut with new pill coating

A new method to assess the risk of vascular inflammation in diabetes patients has been developed by a team of international scientists from #NTUsg, @Tan Tock Seng Hospital and @Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

New way to assess the risk of vascular inflammation for diabetes patients

NTU Singapore scientists develop tougher, safer bicycle helmets using new plastic material

Tougher, safer helmets for cyclists

Assistant Professor Wang Yifan from NTU Singapore holding a stiffened nylon chain mail in a vacuum-packed envelope

Fabric that can stiffen on demand

An NTU Singapore team of researchers developed a sweat-powered battery; the members include (from left) Dr Gurunathan Thangavel, Professor Lee Pooi See and Dr Lyu Jian.

Researchers invent sweat-powered battery for wearable tech

Ultrasensitive robot skin

Potential ultrasensitive robot ‘skin’ made possible by NTUsg scientists

Biomaterial from fish scales and bullfrog skin

Turning fish scales and frog skin into biomaterial for bone tissue regrowth

Disposable breathalyser developed by NTU start-up detects Covid-19 in just minutes

Voltaglue catheter

Faster, less invasive way to mend blood vessels with catheter device

Pollen sponge to tackle marine oil spills

Scientists create pollen sponge that can tackle oil spills

NTU daylight harvester

'Smart' device to harvest sunlight

Scientists develop COVID 19 test to detect virus variants

Test detects COVID-19 even when it mutates

3D fingerprint printer

Portable device creates 3D images of skin in 10 minutes

Oral insulin nanoparticles

Oral insulin nanoparticles could one day be an alternative to injections

Meet #NTUsg's newest virus exterminator, the XDBOT

Pollen-based ‘paper’ holds promise for new generation of natural components

NTUsg and Rolls-Royce extend research partnership to develop next-gen aircraft propulsion systems

Robots building IKEA furniture

Flat-pack heaven? Robots master task of assembling Ikea chair

Pushing Frontiers

NTU's research & innovation magazine

Issue 24 (2024)

Featured research

Transforming research into sustainable solutions

Mapping the structure of a viral enzyme

Catching electrons while they are still hot

Space radars show mountain moved by nuclear tests

Lost crater found at last in Laos

Fatty acid fights ageing

Coral chronicles the Indian Ocean’s ups and downs

Overcoming a flaw of terahertz radiation

Rapidly rising seas could swamp mangroves

Hormone-like substances could slow Parkinson’s disease

Orange is the new green

A pollen paper that moves in moisture

All about that BACE2

Speeding up robot response times

Contact us

Managing Editor: Dr Daphne Ng

If you would like to share research stories, comments or views, please contact us at researchcomm@ntu.edu.sg.