Peer Reviewed

Published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, a new study reveals that atmospheric particles can have high harmful potential even when visibility is only slightly reduced, and that water-soluble organic matter and particle water content help determine whether these two effects occur together. Researchers also found that nitrate can strongly reduce visibility without causing a similar increase in harmful potential, suggesting that pollution-control strategies should consider both effects.

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a method for distinguishing the L- and D-forms of amino acids based on current waveforms generated by single molecules passing through a nanogap. The L/D ratio of amino acids is a potential biosignature of life. Major features of the amino acid composition were captured for astrobiologically relevant samples. The method could be used to develop electrical instruments for extraterrestrial life detection.

Saint Francis University (SFU), in collaboration with the Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC), has successfully developed and validated Hong Kong’s first “WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) Version” (WHODAS 2.0 TC-HK). Led by Dr Tiffany Choi Ching-man, Associate Professor of Practice at SFU’s S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences, the research team designed the instrument specifically for Hong Kong’s community rehabilitation services.

Bringing together expertise in geography, atmospheric sciences and civil engineering, a National Taiwan University team has discovered that invisible “rivers in the sky” form drainage systems much like rivers on land. Their new method identifies the critical upwind areas that sustain rainfall, offering a new perspective on land and water management.

The lab at National Taiwan University has developed a simple fluorescence-based method to rapidly test the activity of an enzyme that phosphorylates phenolic compounds. This new platform makes it much easier to screen thousands of enzyme variants and provides a practical tool for exploring and improving phenolic compound–phosphorylating enzymes.

A new computational method aligns spatial transcriptomics data while retaining cell-level measurements.

Researchers from the University of Osaka and collaborating institutions accelerated protons to nearly half the speed of light using a long-pulse laser and ultrathin graphene. A moving electric field carried the protons to high energies, and artificial intelligence helped detect rare high-energy particles among millions of detector images. This technique could pave the way for future AI-driven autonomous laser experiment systems.

Analysis of 3.8 million immune cells from nearly 2,000 people reveals distinct waves of immune ageing and sex-specific changes that may help explain differences in age-related and autoimmune diseases.

This study published in Advanced Science reports a wavelength-matched far-infrared approach for enhancing peripheral blood circulation using silicon carbide (SiC), which exhibits epsilon-near-zero behavior near 10.3 μm. By matching the selective thermal emission of SiC with the low-absorption optical window of human skin, the study demonstrates enhanced cutaneous blood flow compared with a conventional broadband graphite emitter. After 20 minutes of irradiation, SiC increased blood perfusion by 30.2%, compared with 18.6% for graphite, while maintaining skin temperature below 36 °C and without significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. These results demonstrate the potential of wavelength-selective ENZ emitters for localized and thermally safe biomedical thermal modulation.

Ads lasting 10 seconds or less are up to 40% more effective than longer conventional ads at prompting immediate consumer responses such as website visits

A study from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo used special instruments to investigate how crystals smaller than a strand of hair change and move as they draw in chloroform vapor

Billions of years ago, rain may have helped shape where the chemistry of life could begin on Mars. A new study maps the delivery of formaldehyde, an important prebiotic molecule, to the surface. The map could help guide future Mars missions searching for signs of the planet’s early organic evolution.

Researchers at SUTD have built a robotic platform that can be dropped from the air onto remote waters and sail autonomously using wind energy, pairing rapid aerial deployment with the potential for long duration marine monitoring.

Controlling cobalt’s oxidation state during electrolysis enables highly selective hydrogenation without relying on scarce precious metals

Researchers at Tohoku University and collaborators have demonstrated key technologies for controlling and measuring electrons in zinc oxide quantum dots, an important step toward developing spin-based quantum devices. Their results provide a new platform for exploring how electron spins behave in this promising material.

Researchers at the University of Osaka found that simultaneous stimulation of the primary somatosensory cortex and insular cortex may produce richer artificial bodily sensations than stimulating either region alone. In three patients, dual-site stimulation evoked sensations including gentle touch and combined numbness and warmth. These preliminary findings suggest that multisite stimulation may influence how sensory qualities are integrated, with potential applications in sensory neuroprosthetics and functional brain mapping in humans.

Nationwide Duke-NUS study finds asthma-related emergency visits rise within two days of increases in PM2.5, underscoring the importance of early precautions during periods of poorer air quality.

New organic–inorganic nanocomposite combines stretchability and piezoelectric properties, maintaining stable performance even under 50% strain

Correlation does not imply causation. Using AI to discover new materials is becoming more common, but data-driven approaches sometimes rely heavily on correlations and make testing AI-based predictions difficult. A new perspective paper published by Tohoku University researchers developed a framework for incorporating physics-based principles into AI to generate more interpretable, testable, and meaningful predictions.

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed a simple two-step culture system that turns human blood-derived B cells into germinal center-like B cells using CD40L, IL-4, and IL-21 in a specific sequence. The resulting cells closely resemble genuine human germinal center B cells and undergo somatic hypermutation. The platform provides a practical tool for studying antibody formation directly in human cells and may support future vaccine and autoimmune disease research.

Value of admitting researchers’ humanness and vulnerability in research

Researchers at Tohoku University ran flood simulations on current-day Marumori Town, Japan, and compared it to data from over one hundred years ago. Their analysis shows how flood risk changes as we install anti-flooding infrastructure, and how this also affects where communities deem it safe to put down roots.

What if the blue pigment in your ink or dye could help power the future of clean energy? A research group has fine-tuned blue pigment molecules to create a blue-pigment based catalyst that is high-performing and free of the more expensive platinum.

New research identifies coastal regions at heightened risk of non-native marine species, including the eastern United States, Gulf of Mexico, coastlines bordering the North Sea, southeastern China and northern Australia.

• New research finds that excess dietary salt alters liver metabolism and may drive progressive fatty liver disease even in people who are not obese. • This sheds light on how lean patients might develop the disease, traditionally associated with obesity, and if applicable to humans, could be a potential prognostic factor for lean MASH. • Causal role of high salt intake on lean MASH still needs to be verified in patients with this condition.

To address the challenges faced by spatial omics, a research team led by Professor Shi Peng from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in College of Biomedicine at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has presented Spectrum-FISH, a sequencing-free and amplification-free approach for the spatial analysis of tissue.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have directly visualized how enzymes find and break DNA molecules in real time. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, the team followed individual enzymes as they moved along DNA and found that they repeatedly returned to vulnerable regions before breaking them apart. The findings reveal how the structure of DNA influences its vulnerability to enzymatic breakdown. The research was led by Richard Wong and his team was Jingge Yang, Yujia Qiu, Keesiang Lim and Toshio Ando.

A study of older adults in Japan found that routine health checkup measures were associated with healthcare costs 3–4 years later, revealing nonlinear and sex-specific patterns.

New Horizons in Sensitivity Assessment: Integrating Genetic Sequence Comparison, Machine Learning, In Silico, and In Vitro Analyses of Mammalian Estrogen Receptors