Scientists in South Korea have unveiled a transparent, wearable sensor that monitors a user’s exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation in real-time. The technology could help prevent sunburn and long-term skin damage that can cause cancer.

Ultraviolet radiation is released naturally by the sun and artificially by tanning beds. The problem with overexposure is that the rays can penetrate deep into the skin and damage DNA, potentially causing cells to grow out of control and leading to cancer. In many countries, the majority of skin cancer cases are linked to this type of overexposure.

While wearing long clothes and hats and applying sunscreen provides valuable protection, the researchers wanted a simple device to alert wearers when exposure reached a certain level. Current sensors often lack the ability to track UVA and are opaque, which makes them uncomfortable and difficult to use in wearable tech like smart glasses.

In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers describe how they built their sensor layer by layer, starting with a piece of glass. On top of this transparent base, they stacked layers of oxide semiconductors that were also see-through and only reacted to UVA light. For the electrical connections, the team used a transparent indium tin oxide film, ensuring the finished device was nearly invisible and could be easily incorporated into wearables.

To make the sensor a functional monitor, the researchers hooked it up to a small circuit board. This had an amplifier to boost faint UVA signals and a Bluetooth chip to send exposure data straight to a user’s phone.

Successful prototype

The research team tested their prototype extensively in natural sunlight on sunny and cloudy days, and the readings reliably matched professional UV monitoring equipment. Data was wirelessly sent to a user’s phone, where it calculated their accumulated UVA dose and sent a real-time warning when exposure reached 80% of the required amount to cause sunburn.

“This health care device, integrated with a smartphone, demonstrates its potential as a practical approach to prevent risks associated with prolonged UV exposure,” wrote the researchers in their paper.

The device is not yet consumer-ready. Although it has successfully passed laboratory and initial outdoor tests, the team notes that further work is needed before it becomes publicly available. This includes long-term field testing and user studies to confirm the device can survive daily use. The researchers also want to make the entire system smaller so it can be comfortably integrated into wearables such as glasses, smartwatches, and skin patches.

© 2025 Science X Network

Compare Top 7 Tote Bags

Honorable Mentions

Peak Design Everyday Tote for $160: The first time I subbed in this tote for my usual bag, at a youth basketball tournament, I disappointed about a dozen parents who had clocked it as a cooler. “I thought you had brought drinks,” a friend said, dejected. And to their credit, this bag does indeed look a lot like a cooler with its fold-down top and smooth 400D nylon canvas shell. Designed for camera gear (but handy for any kind of gear), it’s got removable divider cubbies that are the perfect size for lenses and accessories, as well as external lashing for tripods. The main opening flips up to open with a magnetic closure, and there are front and back pockets and a section for a laptop. A detachable cross-body strap is included if you don’t want to carry it by the handles. I appreciate its versatility; unisex, water-resistant, and a great matching companion to Peak Design’s Roller Pro carry-on. The only issues I had with it during my testing period were the fact that it doesn’t open super-wide—it’s a tight fit, and I didn’t find it easy to take things in and out—and that the straps aren’t very comfortable to wear as a shoulder bag. —Kat Merck

Cuyana Classic Easy Zipper Tote for $298: This lightweight Italian leather bag is a fashionable and practical choice for commuting if you don’t need a lot of space or compartments. It’s large enough to hold a 16-inch laptop along with some other essentials. Just like the System Tote, you can personalize it with snap-on accessories, such as a tote insert or an adjustable strap that attaches to its D-rings. Plus, it features a discreet zip-top that keeps your items secure, which is great for preventing theft or stuff from falling out. With this work bag, I’m mostly concerned with protecting my electronics inside because of the lack of structure.

Nordstrom Le Pliage for $165: I spent most of my high school and college dodging the Longchamp Le Pliage hype. But when my mom handed down her well-loved Le Pliage tote, I finally got it. This tote is the equivalent of a classic white tee: timeless, versatile, and built to last. This bag is roomy enough to fit all the essentials—laptop, notebook, snack stash—without feeling bulky. Also, it’s inspired by origami, so it folds down small when you need to pack it as a travel bag.

Tory Burch Perry Tote for $395: The Perry Tote is another one of those designer bags that transcends trends and functions as a fashionable work tote. Much like Leatherology’s Alex Laptop Bag Set, I wouldn’t use it as a lunch bag, but it’s definitely the type that radiates quiet authority—and one you’ll want to sport when you want to make an impression. Made from Italian pebbled leather, it wears incredibly well over time. The removable logo charm adds a touch of luxury, but I can take it off whenever I want a more understated look. It features a zippered laptop compartment in the center, plus three slip pockets to keep your possessions in order.

Courtesy of Cozy Earth

Cozy Earth Waxed Canvas Tote for $68: If you’re into minimalistic, functional fashion with a hint of “quiet luxury,” this 12-ounce waxed canvas tote delivers just that. Aesthetically, think Yeezy brand circa 2017 (minus the antisemitism). I love mine in washed navy, but the earthy tones—cedar brown, palm green, and taupe—are just as fashionable. It’s durable enough to endure a farmer’s market spree, an overnight trip, or double as a beach bag. The design is simple but still thoughtful: exterior pockets for quick grabs (keys, phone, an emergency snack) and two interior ones (including a zippered compartment) for keeping your valuables sorted.

Ölend Ona Soft Bag for $115: The Ölend Ona Soft Bag is puffy, vibrant, and offered in a rainbow of colors. Made from water-resistant nylon, it’s a clever twist on the standard tote, designed to stretch its usefulness with every new outfit or occasion. You can wear it four different ways: as a tote, handbag, crossbody, shoulder bag, or even a backpack. The Soft Bag also includes adjustable side straps. While it fits laptops up to 16 inches, I wouldn’t risk stashing my laptop here because there’s no dedicated sleeve. But the external zipper pocket is a playful touch for stashing small essentials.

Dagne Dover Petra Convertible Tote for $300: The Petra is made from recycled polyester and plastic bottles. It’s durable and huge—it fits a 16-inch laptop and is almost 17 inches tall. It’s probably too big for an everyday bag, but it’s a solid weekender. The hardware is heavy-duty metal, and the laptop compartment is padded. For parents, this is also a decent diaper bag.

Courtesy of Fjallraven

Fjallraven Kånken Totepack for $100: We love the Kånken backpack. Its Totepack is essentially the same bag but can convert from a tote to a backpack. The downside is its size, with only a 13-inch laptop pocket and two side pockets for water bottles or a small umbrella—but they’re tight, so don’t expect to fit a 1L Nalgene in there.

HPE has announced a collaboration with Ericsson to open a research facility designed to validate a dual-mode 5G core service to deliver “seamless” next-generation core networks.

The firms say their joint validation lab will tackle critical challenges faced by telecommunications (telco) service providers while deploying a multi-supplier infrastructure stack. It will serve as a test environment for interoperability testing, and to ensure the validated offering meets telco requirements.

Located near Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden, the validation lab will be operational by the end of 2025, and provide customers with real-world testing and feedback. In the first half of 2026, the focus will shift to validating the integrated service to ensure faster time-to-market and simplified lifecycle management.

By enabling the validation of a cloud-native, AI-enabled, dual-mode 5G core service, Ericsson and HPE are confident their collaboration can address what they believe is a growing need to deploy high-performing, scalable and efficient networks while managing the complexity of introducing new services. This initiative empowers telcos to streamline operations, accelerate innovation and meet the demands of an increasingly connected world.

The stack combines Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core service with the HPEProLiant Compute Gen12i servers, HPE Juniper Networking fabric managed by Apstra Data Centre Director, and Red Hat OpenShift.

Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core will enable support for both 5G and 4G networks, reducing complexity and operational costs for operators looking to scale efficiently and future-proof networks.

The HPE ProLiant Compute DL360 and DL380 Gen12 servers, powered by Intel Xeon 6 processors, are said to be built to deliver optimised performance for network-intensive telco containerised core network functions such as AMF, UPF and SMF. The servers deliver built-in protection at every layer with the HPE Integrated Lights Out 7, the industry’s first and only security from the chip-to-cloud.

HPE added that in the centre, Juniper Networking high-performance fabric, powered by QFX Series switches and Apstra Data Centre Director, will enhance operational efficiency and reduce operating costs with intent-based automation and AIOps driven assurance. 

Red Hat OpenShift will act as the common cloud-native telco platform so that service providers can have the agility to rapidly develop, deploy and scale new services, accelerating time to market and reducing traditional deployment cycles.

By offering a consistent, automated operational experience from the core to the edge, the two firms say the platform simplifies the complexity inherent in deploying and managing advanced network functions.

“Building on our strategic partnership with Ericsson, this collaboration reflects HPE’s commitment to empowering telco service providers with innovative technology solutions to thrive in the 5G and AI-driven economy,” said Fernando Castro Cristin, vice-president and general manager of telco infrastructure business at HPE.

“By integrating Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core and Red Hat OpenShift with our proven next-gen HPE compute infrastructure and HPE Juniper Networking fabric, we are developing a new integrated offering that will provide telco service providers with the flexibility to deploy rapidly, scale on demand, adapt to unpredictable traffic, provide predictable lifecycle management, and keep pace with emerging technologies,” he said.

Krishna Prasad Kalluri, head of solution and portfolio at Ericsson Core Networks, added: “As the world’s leader in 5G and core networks, Ericsson is committed to drive innovation and openness, simplifying the journey to cloud-native networks for telco service providers. Our partnership with HPE and the establishment of this joint validation lab further advances the creation of cloud-native solutions for 5G Core on multi-vendor infrastructure.”