Peer Reviewed

A team led by researchers at Tohoku University have taken the first step toward developing antiferromagnetic technology. They detected a liquid-crystal phase that may change the game for spintronic devices.

Pink1-mediated Parkin activation is insufficient to allow Parkin binding to dysfunctional mitochondria in NME3-defective cells. NME3-regulated lipid signal separates mitochondria from endoplasmic reticulum tethering for PINK1-mediated Parkin binding on depolarized mitochondria.

Discovery reveals how drug-resistant tumours can shift into a state that responds better to chemotherapy.

Researchers at Hiroshima University and Gifu Kyoritsu University identified Hepatitis B RNA serum levels as a biomarker that more accurately stratifies risk of liver cancer in individuals who have been functionally cured of chronic hepatitis B.

We uncover moiré-induced electronic reconstruction in PtSe2/PtTe2 heterobilayers, where interfacial hybridization, geometric corrugation, and spin–orbit coupling generate emergent flat bands and distinctive eye-shaped band splitting, as directly confirmed by combined DFT and ARPES measurements.

Chemists at National Taiwan University and collaborators discovered that a seemingly solid, nonporous crystal can “come alive” when heated. A two-step transformation releases trapped molecules, drives a vivid blue → green → yellow glow, and even propels the crystal forward through bubble-powered motion.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that a specific signaling pathway, the integrin αV–YAP–CTGF axis in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, may be associated with the development of liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer in patients with chronic liver congestion. These findings have important implications for the development of therapies aimed at preventing more severe forms of liver disease.

Study of 56 japonica rice varieties finds black and green rice to be healthier choices

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team used hourly precipitation data from 1981 to 2020 and spatial modeling to predict extreme precipitation events for the next 100 years in Japan.

Biochemical and structural biological analysis of a hypothetical gene (protein) within a gene cluster related to metabolic pathway of L-threonate, a four-carbon sugar acid, revealed it’s enzyme function as a L-threonate 3-dehydrogenase and physiological role for metabolic diversity. Although the existence of this enzyme itself was reported in the same academic journal in 1964, the molecular identity of which has remained unknown for over 60 years.

- The brain continues to grow even after adolescence ... according to collaborative research by DGIST and Yonsei University - Demonstrated proactive maturation of the thalamic reticular nucleus against the circuit stalemate theory after the critical period - Opened new frontiers for autism, ADHD treatment, and cognitive rehabilitation with synaptic adhesion protein LRRTM3 as a key switch in high-resolution sensory transduction

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a mouse model for achondroplasia. The model identified the importance of a signaling molecule called FGFR3 and a pathway called CREB in regulating bone growth. This pathway is also at least partially responsible for the pathology associated with achondroplasia and impaired bone growth. Their findings advance our understanding of the process of bone growth and provide novel therapeutic targets for achondroplasia.

A single atom can make all the difference. Researchers at Tohoku University have shown that subtle changes in the nitrogen coordination around cobalt dramatically reshape oxygen reduction reaction performance, a cornerstone process for fuel cells and clean chemical production. These insights provide a powerful blueprint for designing next-generation single-atom catalysts to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.

Glutamine transporter inhibition has been found to suppress cell growth

A recent study co-led by CityUHK found that strong El Niño events cause deeper, longer-lasting harm to human health than previously understood—by slowing long-term improvements in mortality rates for many years, shortening life expectancy, and generating major economic costs.

We all want cheap, long-lasting, green, and efficient energy. Researchers are helping to make this dream a reality with a new distortion-resistant material that greatly improves these aspects of a battery’s cathode.

Duke-NUS scientists have identified how a small number of overactive genes may drive widespread changes in brain function in Down syndrome, helping explain how an extra chromosome affects learning and memory.

The indigenous Bugkalot people of Nueva Ecija call it “kelli” but science has only now been able to identify it as a distinct species and given it a formal scientific name

In our recent JACS paper, we demonstrate that AI-designed ubiquitin-fold proteins achieve extraordinary stability not by tightening their hydrophobic cores, but by reorganizing surface charges to program a structured hydration shell. Using solution NMR and molecular dynamics simulations, we decode this “hydration shield” as a sequence-encoded and engineerable mechanism for extreme protein resilience.

- DGIST Professor Minyoung Song’s team develops a low-power digital IR-UWB transmitter that maximizes spectrum utilization while complying with global spectrum regulations - Achieves 9 times higher area efficiency than before, with expectations for communications and high-precision localization applications with the core technology of next-generation low-power wireless systems

More thorough testing of methane and ethane emissions in Osaka, Japan, identified numerous natural gas-related large methane sources that were mostly overlooked in current predictions. These sources may be useful future targets for mitigating emissions.

Cleaner fish interacted with a mirror in their tank in a way that suggests ‘contingency testing’ intelligence, a higher form of smarts typically found in mammals. This finding coupled with faster self-recognition than previously thought, expands our image of intelligence in these social fish.

Storing hydrogen efficiently is still challenging. Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new catalyst that coordinates the two key steps of hydrogen formation in alkaline water electrolysis, helping the reaction run more smoothly. A promising step toward practical green hydrogen.

- Selective production of CO and CH₄ achieved by tuning Fe·Cu single-atom–TiO₂ interactions - CO₂ reduction activity enhanced by 55 times (CO) and 44 times (CH₄) compared to conventional TiO₂ - Findings published in Advanced Science

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a method to reproducibly form subnanometer pores within a solid-state nanopore. A voltage-driven chemical reaction produces a precipitate that fills and closes the nanopore, while dissolution reopens conductive pathways. This process forms many subnanometer-sized pores, whose effective size can be tuned by changing reactant composition and pH. These ultrasmall pores mimic biological ion channels and enable studies of ion transport in confined spaces.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have created highly transparent wood without plastic additives and revealed that its clarity depends on structural direction. Alkali treatment softens cellulose-based cell walls, allowing internal cavities to collapse during drying and reduce light scattering. Tangential sections become more transparent than radial ones due to anisotropic swelling and densification. The findings offer new design principles for sustainable transparent materials in buildings and advanced devices.

Rehabilitation on weekends and public holidays may improve post-surgery recovery for hip fractures

To further the development of 6G wireless communication systems, we need to develop antennas that can dynamically adapt to ever-changing signal environments. Researchers from Tohoku University and the University of Surrey have recently developed an innovative pattern-reconfigurable Yagi–Uda antenna integrated with a magnetic gear. The new design enables precise beam scanning while avoiding many of the drawbacks that have limited conventional reconfigurable antenna technologies.

Imagine a “smart fluid” whose internal structure can be rearranged just by changing temperature. In a new study in Matter, researchers report a way to overcome a long-standing limitation in a class of “smart fluids” called nematic liquid crystal microcolloids, allowing for reconfigurable self-assembly of micrometer-sized particles dispersed in a nematic liquid crystal host.

DNA - the blueprint of life – can also act as a reaction vessel that guides chemical reactions. This is possible using interstrand crosslinking technology developed by researchers at Tohoku University.