Media Corner
25 Apr 2023
Amruth Alfred, a PhD student in Dr. J.J.L. Lim’s group, has led a study which has provided the most direct evidence yet that Dark Matter does not constitute ultramassive particles as is commonly thought but instead comprises particles so light that they travel through space like waves. Unveiling the true nature of dark matter, which manifests itself only through gravity, is one of the principal quests in physics. Leading candidates for dark matter are weakly interacting massive particles or ultralight bosons (axions), at opposite extremes in mass scales, that have been postulated by competing theories to solve deficiencies in the Standard Model of particle physics. Their work resolves an outstanding problem in astrophysics first raised two decades ago: why do models that adopt ultramassive Dark Matter particles fail to correctly predict the observed positions and the brightness of multiple images of the same galaxy created by gravitational lensing? Their research has shown that the general level of disagreement found between the observed and predicted positions as well as the brightness of multiply-lensed images generated by models incorporating ultramassive Dark Matter can be resolved by adopting models incorporating ultralight Dark Matter particles. Moreover, they demonstrate that models incorporating ultralight Dark Matter particles can reproduce the observed positions and brightness of multiply-lensed galaxy images, an important achievement that reveals the crinkly rather than smooth nature of spacetime around galaxies. The research findings were recently published in Nature Astronomy. The work was also reported by different newspapers and media:
Dimsumdaily Hong Kong, Crumpe, Citizenside, Actualité Houssenia Writing, Mirage News, Science Daily, Today News 24, NewsBeezer, Oriental Daily News, Line, Wen Wei Po
4 Jan 2023
Dr. Y. Yang has been selected as one of the 2022 Innovators Under 35 (China) by the MIT Technology Review, under the category of ‘Inventors’. This prestigious program recognises outstanding young innovators who are making significant contributions to their respective fields, and Dr Yang's selection is a testament to his exceptional research in the field of nanophotonics and optical physics. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Ming Pao Daily News, Oriental Daily News, Wen Wei Po, Line, Hong Kong Economic Times, HKU News
4 Jan 2023
Dr. Y. Yang and other researchers have found a way to create much stronger interactions between photons and electrons, in the process producing a hundredfold increase in the emission of light from a phenomenon called Smith-Purcell radiation. The finding has potential implications for both commercial applications and fundamental scientific research. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Business News, Mirage News, Phys.org, Verve Times, Science Daily, New Scientist, Journal Break
20 Dec 2022
Dr. Z.Y. Meng, Dr. L.X. Dai and their team deploy a new advanced computing system ‘Blackbody’ for solving the most challenging physics problems. Blackbody currently has 1024 physical CPU cores and multiple storage systems. If a person can do one calculation every second, it takes 650 thousand years for the person to calculate all the calculations that Blackbody can compute in just one second. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Tai Kung Pao, Ming Pao, Wen Wei Po, Instragram of Faculty of Science, Twitter of Faculty of Science, Facebook of Faculty of Science
22 Aug 2022
Dr. C.J. Wang and Dr. Y. Yang received the National Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau) for 2022, a prestigious fund under the National Natural Science Foundation of China. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
The Standard, Avionics Forum, Oriental Daily News, Ming Pao, China News
21 Jul 2022
Mr. Jiarui Zhao, Dr. Zheng Yan and Dr. Bin-Bin Chen from Dr. Z.Y.Meng’s team reported a numerical evidence to characterise a highly entangled quantum matter—the quantum spin liquid (QSL) (a phase of matter that remains disordered even at very low temperatures) from their newly development algorithm of entanglement entropy computation and large-scale simulations on supercomputers. This research work has recently been published in one of the leading journals in quantum materials—npj quantum materials. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Oriental Daily News, Mirage News, HKU News, Instragram of Faculty of Science, Twitter of Faculty of Science, Facebook of Faculty of Science
17 Jun 2022
Starting from 2021-22, the Department of Physics has been offering the Taught postgraduate degree programme Master of Science in the field of Space Science. We offer a multi-discipline curriculum incorporating subjects ranging from science, engineering, remote sensing to data science and even entrepreneurship. The first group of students will graduate in July 2022, and they are moving on to fruitful careers spanning space industry, engineering, IT, finance and further studies. Dr J.C.S. Pun was interviewed by Ming Pao JUMP on June 8, 2022.
13 Feb 2022
Dr. Z.Y. Meng's research team developed a new algorithm to compute the entanglement entropy, advancing the exploration of new phenomena of deconfined quantum critical point. Their method will have impact in the investigations of quantum many-body systems and quantum materials. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
ScienceDaily, Phys.org, Mirage News, Innovation News Network, NewsBreak, EurekAlert, Flipboard, Ta Kung Pao
27 Sep 2021
Dr. Z.Y. Meng's research team demystify the magic: A bona fide topological Mott insulator discovered in twisted bilayer graphene model. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
EurekAlert, Fuentitech.com, Nanowerk, Phys.org, Biz News Post, Mirage.News, Knowledia, UrallnewS, Flipboard, DagoldInfo
Press release can be found here.
30 Apr 2021
Dr. Z.Y. Meng's research team developed a new algorithm solving a long standing problem in constrained quantum material models. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
HPCwire, University News, Headline Daily, Sing Tao Daily, Bastille Post, Wen Wei Po
Press release can be found here.
8 Jan 2021
Prof. H.K. Lo was interviewed by Apple Daily on quantum technology in China and the world.
17 Nov 2020
Dr. Z.Y. Meng is pursuing a new paradigm of quantum material research reveals topological KT phase of TMGO for the first time. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Bastille Post, Mirage News, Sing Tao Daily
Press release can be found here.
18 Oct 2020
Dr. Z.Y. Meng joins international effort to unveil the behaviour of “strange metals”. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
India Education Diary, Oriental Daily News, Line Today, Ta Kung Pao, Technology Times
Press release can be found here.
11 Jul 2020
Prof. Q.A. Parker was interviewed by HK Open TV on NJU-HKU No.1 Satellite.
14 Jun 2020
Prof. Q.A. Parker was interviewed by Ming Pao on space traveling.
5 Nov 2019
Dr. J.J.L. Lim's research team unveils one origin of globular clusters around giant galaxies. It was reported by different newspapers and media:
Ming Pao, Mirage News, India Education Diary, EurekAlert, NewsBeezer - Zimbabwe, NewsBeezer - Singapore, Scienmag, Newswise
English press release can be found here.
27 May 2019
The activities "Dark-sky-friendly Lighting Fixture STEM Competition" was reported by Headline Daily, Ming Pao & Oriental Daily News. The press release can be found here.
4 Nov 2017
Prof. H.F Chau and Dr. S.C.Y. Ng were interviewed by RTHK in the programme HK Stories.
27 Mar 2017
Dr. J.K.C. Leung and Dr. J.C.S. Pun were interviewed by HK01 on the Aberdeen Tunnel Laboratory.
24 Sep 2016
Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was interviewed by SCMP on the topic "World’s largest single-aperture radio telescope, with diameter of 500 metres, expected to help make major contributions to the understanding of the universe".
25 Jun 2016
Dr. J.C.S. Pun appeared in the "Global View" (世界觀) programme of the TVB News Channel to discuss light pollution.
10 Jun 2016
The activities "Light Pollution Research Competition 2015-16" & "Light Pollution Video Competition 2015-16" were reported by Hong Kong Wen Wei Po. The press release can be found here.
21 Apr 2016
Work of Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was featured in the ATNF Daily Picture.
15 Mar 2016
Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was invited by the "Knowledge Magazine" to write an article on "Gravitational Waves --- A New Window to The Universe".
24 Nov 2015
Press Release by Dr. David Frew and Prof. Q.A. Parker:
HKU astronomers develop a new method to estimate more accurate distances between “planetary nebulae” and the Earth. English Version, Chinese Version
12 Nov 2015
Dr C.W. So was interviewed by the program 宇宙狂熱 of Metro Radio (新城生活台) on the topic of light pollution.
5 Oct 2015
Dr. J.C.S. Pun was invited as a guest speaker in the program 「完全時尚手冊 - 通往宇宙的窗口」 by the Phoenix TV.
27 Aug 2015
The HKU Aberdeen Tunnel underground laboratory and the Daya Bay Underground Neutrino Laboratories were featured in a RTHK program 「地下秩序 - 潛藏空間」.
Dr. J.K.C. Leung and Prof. Kam-Biu Luk were interviewed in the program.
19 Aug 2015
Prof. Q.A. Parker was interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation “starstuff” following his press release on “Kathryn’s Wheel” colliding galaxies.
17 Aug 2015
Press Release by Prof. Q.A. Parker:
Collaboration of HKU and University of Manchester astrophysicists leads to discovery of a spectacular galaxy collision lurking behind the Milky Way -- Celestial fireworks mark nearest galaxy “train-wreck”. English Version, Chinese Version
24 Dec 2014
Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was interviewed by The Sun and The Oriental Daily.
3 Oct 2014
Press Release:
Daya Bay neutrino experiment publishes a new result on its first search for a “sterile” neutrino.
English Version, Chinese Version
2 Sep 2014
Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was interviewed by the ATV Program "中秋狂想曲".
31 Mar 2014
Dr. S.C.Y. Ng was interviewed by Hong Kong Wen Wei Po.
1 Aug 2013
An article concerning the Astronomy Programme was published on the special column of RTHK 「這一科,學什麼?」.
Author: Mr. Bosco Yung
Advisor: Dr. J.C.S. Pun
20 Mar 2013
Dr. J.C.S Pun's research on light pollution was reported by different newspapers and media:
Agence France-Presse, Wall Street Journal, CNN, China Network Television, WSJ.com
Full media coverage can be found here.
22 Dec 2012
Report from Science Magazine: Daya Bay Experiment has been elected as one of the ten breakthroughs of the year 2012.
28 Jul 2012
Dr. Talent Kwok introduced the Daya Bay Experiment and Aberdeen Tunnel Experiment in the RTHK Programme "十萬八千里".
20 Jun 2012
Reports by Oriental Daily on Daya Bay Experiment and Aberdeen Tunnel Experiment:
Report 1, Report 2, Report 3
25 Jun 2011
Dr. J.K.C. Leung was interviewed in the TVB Programme "News Magazine" - 輻射恐慌.