KAUST's Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department recently hosted a webinar on radiation protection and safety in research, industry and medicine, in cooperation with the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC). KAUST is the only university in the Kingdom conducting research using open radioactive sources and has a dedicated radiation labeling laboratory. The webinar was broadcast live to approximately 400 attendees from 16 different countries. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's leadership role in radiation safety and its commitment to promoting best practices in the region.
KAUST and K.A.CARE have partnered to study solar irradiation and atmospheric weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, leveraging K.A.CARE's Renewable Resources Atlas Project. The collaboration uses KAUST's Shaheen II supercomputer to simulate weather and atmospheric conditions from 2005-2018. The long-term goal is daily forecasting of weather and air quality across the Arabian Peninsula. Why it matters: This initiative will provide crucial data for renewable energy development and environmental monitoring in the region, supporting Saudi Arabia's sustainability goals.
KAUST collaborated with NASA's Langley Research Center to launch six weather balloons from KAUST's Coastal & Marine Laboratory, reaching an altitude of 35 kilometers. The balloons were equipped with instruments to measure meteorological properties and characterize the optical properties of aerosols, including a Compact Optical Backscatter Aerosol Detector (COBALD). The research focuses on understanding the impact of dust aerosols on the Arabian Peninsula, including their effects on climate, air quality, and solar energy. Why it matters: This collaboration advances understanding of atmospheric aerosols in the region, with implications for climate modeling, solar energy efficiency, and Red Sea ecosystems.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a nanocomposite material that converts X-rays into light with nearly 100% efficiency. The material combines a metal-organic framework (MOF) containing zirconium with an organic TADF chromophore. This design achieves high resolution and sensitivity in X-ray imaging, potentially reducing medical imaging doses by a factor of 22. Why it matters: This innovation could lead to more efficient and safer medical imaging and security screening technologies in the region and beyond.
KAUST alumnus Muhammed Sameed, who completed his master's degree in material science and engineering in 2012, works at CERN on the ALPHA experiment, which uses lasers to measure the properties of anti-hydrogen. Researchers at CERN are investigating the fundamental structure of the universe, including the absence of anti-matter. Current research indicates that every process that creates matter also creates anti-matter in the same amount, which does not align with the observable universe. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in training scientists who contribute to cutting-edge research in fundamental physics, even at international facilities like CERN.
KAUST held an open day on December 3, 2015, to celebrate the International Year of Light. The event showcased technological developments in light research, especially photonics and LED-based technologies. Exhibits and demonstrations were provided by researchers from KAUST's CEMSE and PSE divisions, under the direction of Professor Boon Ooi. Why it matters: The event promoted understanding of achievements in light research and its applications in various sectors like communications, medicine, and energy.
KAUST researchers found that wildfire smoke particles act as chemical factories under sunlight, producing harmful oxidants like peroxides. These particles bypass traditional suppression by nitrogen oxides in polluted environments, generating oxidants internally. The study reveals that colored organic molecules in biomass-burning aerosols act as photosensitizers, triggering rapid reactions. Why it matters: The findings highlight that current air-quality and climate models underestimate oxidant production from wildfires, with implications for anticipating health risks and environmental impacts in regions like Saudi Arabia.
KAUST alumnus Dr. Muhammed Sameed works at CERN on the ALPHA project, studying antimatter. The project aims to understand why there is so little antimatter in the universe, given that physics equations predict equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Sameed's work involves creating, trapping, and studying antimatter particles in a controlled lab environment. Why it matters: This research advances our understanding of fundamental physics and the composition of the universe, with a KAUST alumnus playing a key role.