Society, Science, Technology, Disasters & accidents
425 storiesHenri Kagan and Kenso Soai win 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry
Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry, announced Wednesday at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, for work on molecules that exist as mirror images of each other. Kagan showed in the 1980s that …
Busan’s ‘Bukkangi’ shark confirmed as endangered heuksangeo, a 3-meter female
The National Institute of Fisheries Science said on Oct. 6 that the shark nicknamed Bukkangi, which has stayed in an artificial channel at Busan North Port’s waterfront park since Sept. 18, is a heuksangeo, a species classified as Endangere…
Nuri lifts off with 15 satellites, separates all payloads
South Korea's Nuri launch vehicle lifted off at 12:25 pm on 7 October from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, carrying 15 satellites, the most in a single Nuri flight. The five main-payload cluster satellites separated…
Nobel chemistry prize goes to Japan's Kenzō Soai and France's Henri Kagan
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Kenzō Soai, 76, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, and Henri Kagan of France, for the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Soai…
Nobel Chemistry Prize goes to France's Henri Kagan and Japan's Soai Kenzo
Sweden's Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Oct 7 that the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Henri Kagan of France and Soai Kenzo of Japan for discovering non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric org…
Nobel medicine prize awarded to three scientists for optogenetics
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries concerning light-sensitive ion channels and optogenetics, the Nobel Committee announced in Stockholm. The three sh…
Nuri rocket completes fifth launch, placing satellites in orbit
South Korea’s Nuri rocket lifted off at 12:25 p.m. local time on Oct 7 from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, carrying 15 satellites, the most in its history, and placed the five main ultra-small cluster satellites in their target orbit. Ne…
Tropical Storm Isaias forms off Mexico, forecast to hit US Gulf Coast as hurricane
Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday in warm waters off eastern Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, and forecasters expect it to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season before reaching the U.S. Gulf Coa…
Nobel chemistry prize goes to Japan's Soai Kenso and France's Henri Kagan
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on 7 October that the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Soai Kenso, 76, professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science, and Henri Kagan of France, for work on nonlinear effects and autocatal…
Apple and LG Electronics jointly develop smart home devices under LG brand
Apple and LG Electronics are jointly developing smart home devices — a camera-equipped video doorbell, a smart door lock, a security camera and a smart temperature sensor and thermostat — to be sold under the LG brand, according to Bloomber…
Nuri declared a success on fifth flight; five cluster satellites make contact
South Korea's Nuri rocket lifted off at 12:25 p.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung and the Korea Aerospace Administration declared the fifth flight a success, saying all 15 satellites were placed in orbit. Officials said 14 of the 15 …
Japan PM Takaichi calls Nobel chemistry laureate Soai to offer congratulations
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae telephoned Soai Kenzo, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, on the evening of Oct 7 to congratulate him on winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, telling him she was “very proud as a Japanese.” …
Typhoon No. 27 moves north near Ogasawara as typhoons 28 and 29 form
Typhoon No. 27, described by the Japan Meteorological Agency as large and very strong, moved north over waters near the Ogasawara Islands and was forecast to approach the islands at very strong intensity from the evening of Oct. 5 to early …
Russian tourist dies in paragliding accident near Fethiye in southwest Turkey
A Russian tourist died in a paragliding accident near the Turkish resort of Fethiye, Russian outlets reported, citing the Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk. TASS said an investigation has been opened. Vedomosti reported the man was 37 and that t…
KCTU to vote Oct 7 on return to social dialogue; council ready to talk
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (민주노총) will hold its 85th temporary delegate conference at 1 p.m. on Oct 7 at KINTEX in Goyang to vote on joining the Economic, Social and Labor Council (경사노위), which would end a 27-year absence from…
Fire at Ustuu-Khuree Buddhist monastery complex in Tuva put out; no injuries
A fire broke out on 7 October at the Ustuu-Khuree Buddhist monastery complex in Tuva, about 5 km from the town of Chadan. Emergency services localized the blaze and later extinguished it; the MChS reported an area of 468 sq m, while earlier…
Busan shark Bukkangi crosses net, returns to waterway; rescue paused
The shark nicknamed Bukkangi, believed to be a dusky shark about 3 m long, crossed a large net and returned to the artificial waterway at Busan's Bukhang Chinsu Park around noon on Oct 3, a day after a second attempt to guide it to open sea…
Thailand flood death toll reaches 60; Bangkok and 27 provinces affected
Thailand's Interior Ministry disaster agency said on Oct 7 that flooding has killed 60 people and affected more than 1.48 million households, or 4.19 million people. The country has seen repeated heavy rain and widespread flooding since Sep…
Turkey's Aselsan announces Astralink network of 198 low-orbit satellites
Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol said at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya that Turkey is building Astralink, a low-orbit satellite constellation of 198 spacecraft, with the first launch planned within two years. Akyol said work be…
Japan's Soai Kenso shares 2026 Nobel chemistry prize with France's Henri Kagan
Soai Kenso, professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science, was named a joint winner of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with France's Henri Kagan, the Nobel Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced. It is Japa…