Spotlights

The scientific community has long believed that deep seawater was the main force in sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, a recent international study has shattered this understanding. A team led by Dr. Tapia and Prof. Sze Ling Ho at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, successfully reconstructed 600,000 years of ocean history, pointing out that the long-overlooked "Antarctic Intermediate Water" (AAIW), located 500 to 1,500 meters below the sea surface, played a core role in the major transitions of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past million years. This achievement has been published in the top international journal, Science Advances.... more

Fluorite-structured "zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)" has long been considered an antiferroelectric material with immense potential. However, traditional theory posits that its antiferroelectricity primarily originates from irreversible crystallographic phase transitions, which are accompanied by volume changes and lattice strain, subsequently degrading its stability and endurance under electric-field driving. A cross-institutional research team led by Prof. Tsung-Lin Hsieh from the NTU Department of Materials Science and Engineering has successfully challenged this long-standing theoretical framework. Utilizing precise "Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)" technology and interface engineering design, the team successfully stabilized nanoscale ZrO2 thin films in a specific crystalline phase that maintains a nearly constant volume and can cycle reversibly between non-polar and polar structures. In this state, when a cyclic electric field is applied, the oxygen atoms within the zirconium dioxide only need to undergo minute displacements to complete the reversible structural transformation. This drastically mitigates the lattice strain and structural fatigue of the thin film while simultaneously exhibiting pronounced antiferroelectric characteristics.... more

Prof. Joachim Frank, the 2017 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, delivered a speech titled "Cryo-electron microscopy, a new foundation for molecular medicine and drug design" at National Taiwan University on May 6, 2026. As a pioneer in the high-resolution applications of cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), he pointed out.... more

Established in 2023, the NTU Royal Palm Lecture Series aims to invite distinguished global scholars and industry leaders to broaden the international horizons of our faculty and students. On March 6, 2026, Academia Sinica President James C. Liao speaks on the topic of “Future Society: The Development of Technology and Humanities from an Evolutionary Perspective,” exploring technological advancement, human values, and potential future societies through an evolutionary lens.... more

As spring begins, National Taiwan University (NTU) campus sees the blossoming of beautiful azaleas and another annual NTU Azalea Festival. The theme of the 2026 NTU Azalea Festival is “As Streams flow with ancient water, youthful dreams dance with azalea flowers,” showcasing NTU’s unique natural landscape, cultural history, and youthful vitality. To expand the celebration of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Azalea Festival, the university announced the “The Beauty of NTU Photography Contest,” encouraging crowds to capture the splendid visuals for NTU and setting up for the centennial celebration... more