Spotlights

On September 1, 2025, the Max Planck Society, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), and National Taiwan University (NTU) officially inaugurated the Max Planck–IAS–NTU Center for Particle Physics, Cosmology and Geometry. The ceremony was held at the Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (LeCosPA)... more

Ever since the 20^th century, the theories researchers use to describe the Universe at small and large scales—from the Standard Model of particle physics to general relativity—have proven incredibly successful. Yet, such theories remain incompatible with one another and carry their own limitations. In order to better understand the Universe at all scales, leading experts have established the Max Planck-IAS-NTU Center (MPC) for Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Geometry—a collaborative research initiative between the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (MPG) in Germany; the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, NJ, USA; and National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei, Taiwan... more

The smooth, aromatic adzuki bean paste found in popular sweets like filled pancakes and shaved ice has long been a favorite across East Asia. But when and where did wild adzuki beans first transition into the cultivated varieties we consume today? A multinational team led by Prof. Cheng-Ruei Lee of the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at National Taiwan University (NTU) tackled this question through the lens of genetics. Their research not only confirms that domesticated adzuki beans originated in Japan, but also reveals that agriculture in Japan began thousands of years earlier than previously believed... more

On May 12, 2025, National Taiwan University (NTU) held the opening ceremony and international forum for the Center for Innovation in Enterprise Law (CIEL), marking a significant milestone in advancing cross-disciplinary research and innovation in enterprise law at the university level. The center is envisioned as a neutral think tank, dedicated to integrating interdisciplinary academic resources from within and beyond NTU, in order to address the practical challenges facing business and legal systems, and to elevate the international competitiveness and influence of Taiwan’s legal framework... more

In response to the challenges of climate change and to accelerate Taiwan’s path toward net-zero emissions and sustainable development, National Taiwan University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on "Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability" with the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) on April 21, 2025. The agreement was signed by NTU President Wen-Chang Chen and Minister of Environment Chi-Ming Peng. The partnership aims to establish a long-term and stable framework for cooperation, encompassing climate policy and technology research, talent cultivation, and resilience building—jointly shaping a climate action roadmap that balances mitigation and adaptation for Taiwan..... more

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) has successfully performed the world’s first beating heart transplant with zero ischemic time, with the patient recovering smoothly and being discharged. This achievement marks a significant breakthrough in the field of heart transplantation. Since the 1980s, NTUH has been at the forefront of cardiac transplantation in Taiwan, having performed the country's first heart transplant in 1990. To date, NTUH has completed over 700 heart transplants, establishing itself as a national leader in the field. These extensive clinical experiences laid the groundwork for the success of this pioneering surgery, which was recently featured in the prestigious Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Techniques..... more

Associate Professor Cheng-Hsiu Tsai of the Department of Life Science at National Taiwan University participated in an international study, collaborating with Chun-Hsiang Chang from the National Museum of Natural Science (Taiwan), Takumi Tsutaya from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Japan), Yousuke Kaifu from the University of Tokyo, Enrico Cappellini and Frido Welker from the University of Copenhagen, among a total of 15 researchers. Through the analysis of ancient proteins (paleoproteomics), the team confirmed that a human fossil discovered in Taiwan belongs to a male Denisovan individual, shedding new light on the landscape of human evolution. The results of this study have been published in the leading international journal Science.... more

The human “biological clock” governs rhythms of sleep, metabolism, and mood. Within the brain, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves as the central controller of this clock system. While previous studies have shown that circadian gene expression changes in SCN neurons in response to light and jet lag, how the neuronal circuitry of the SCN reacts to light in order to mediate phase shifts has long remained an open question in neuroscience... more

As announced by UK higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), National Taiwan University (NTU) made the Top-200 list in 47 of the 55 subjects it investigated. Among those 47, NTU ranks in the Top 100 in 38 of them... more

Liver disease is a national health issue in Taiwan, closely tied to the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C. The hepatitis research team, led by Vice Superintendent Jia-Horng Kao of National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital, has focused on the treatment and study of hepatitis B and C with metabolic abnormalities. Two major research outcomes have recently been published in the prestigious international journal Journal of Hepatology, drawing significant attention from the global liver disease research community... more

Today, National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the 2025 Lunar New Year Gathering, where many faculty members, staff, and retirees attended to exchange greetings and well wishes.This year’s event featured comedic crosstalk by performers Yi-Hao Huang and Mickey Sung, the latter of which is a current NTU Drama student and host on Hakka TV. Their humorous performance blended current events and NTU’s history, incorporating many university-specific jokes that drew waves of applause and laughter from the audience.... more