In this blog post, we will examine the need for autonomous vehicles, as well as South Korea’s current laws and regulations regarding them, liability for accidents and insurance, passenger transportation and employment issues, safety standards, and performance certification systems. We will then assess whether it is still too early for the full-scale commercialization of autonomous vehicles...
Why Do Blackouts Occur in South Korea, and How Should We Prepare for Them?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the causes of blackouts—which can occur when the balance between power supply and demand is disrupted—the process of restoring the power grid, past instances of large-scale rolling blackouts in South Korea, and the preventive measures currently in use, such as energy storage systems and emergency power sources. In the past, large-scale rolling blackouts in...
Can South Korea’s shipbuilding industry overcome its current crisis and reclaim its position at the center of the global market?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the history of South Korea’s shipbuilding industry—which has grown into a global powerhouse—the crisis that followed the global financial crisis, the trials and errors in the offshore plant business, and the industry’s current efforts to strengthen its competitiveness by focusing on high-value-added and eco-friendly vessels. Which industries does South...
Is self-development for college students about building up a resume, or about discovering one’s potential?
In this blog post, I’ll share my experience of reflecting on the meaning of self-development—which had been overly focused on building a resume and preparing for a career—through a new experience with theater during my college years, and what I learned about what true self-development really is. Not long ago, I had a somewhat unique experience during my four years of college, a time I’d...
How does metabolic engineering use microorganisms to create sustainable production technologies?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the principles of biological metabolism, the core technologies of metabolic engineering—which analyze and manipulate microbial metabolic pathways—and the current state and future of metabolic engineering as it expands into areas such as biofuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable materials. What is metabolism, and why have microorganisms...
In a World Where Even Refrigerators Can Be Hacked, How Secure Is IoT?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the convenience of the Internet of Things (IoT), which has rapidly become part of our daily lives, as well as the hacking risks associated with smart home devices, vulnerabilities in IoT security, and the challenges we face in addressing them. If you look around, it’s no longer surprising to see devices connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. As the number of...
Why is nylon still an indispensable material in both everyday life and industrial settings?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of nylon and the principles behind its synthesis through condensation polymerization, and examine how amide bonds and molecular structure contribute to nylon’s high abrasion resistance, strength, and durability. Everyone has probably had the experience of trying to hide a hole in a sock as best as possible. But what if socks develop holes...
How have technological determinism and social constructivism evolved over time, and how might they change in the future?
In this blog post, we will examine the meanings of technological determinism—the idea that technology drives social change—and social constructivism—the idea that society determines the direction of technological development. We will also explore how the influence of these two perspectives has shifted throughout history and how the relationship between them might change in the future. In a...
In mechanical and aerospace engineering, how can we understand the principles behind the flight of airplanes and dragons?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the principles of lift and thrust in airplanes, as well as control surfaces and three-axis motion, using the flying sequences of Toothless from the animated film ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. The DreamWorks animated film ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ depicts the adventures of the Viking Hiccup and the dragon Toothless. In a land where...
How can science express the identities of nature and humanity in contemporary art?
In this blog post, we’ll examine examples of contemporary art that utilize science and technology as means of artistic expression, and explore how scientific principles are applied to artworks through the works of Olafur Eliasson and Han Yoon-jeong and Han Byung-jun. Art That Replicates Natural Phenomena Through Science Drawing inspiration from science has now become a very natural and...