Peer Reviewed

Lithium metal is a prime contender for the next generation of rechargeable batteries. But in order to live up to that potential, scientists have had to try and find a solution to the dendrite problem. Lithium tends to grow into needle-like structures (dendrites) which reduce the battery life and create safety hazards. The answer may be like the key to most things in life: balance. Researchers from Tohoku University's Institute for Materials Research (IMR) discovered that, rather than increasing the amount of lithium salt in a battery, an optimal lithium concentration allows lithium to deposit evenly and form a stronger protective layer on the battery surface.

Researchers at Tohoku University have made an interesting discovery that provides a boost to the immune system of birds. They found that B-cell development, which forms part of the immune system, occurs outside the bursa of Fabricius, the organ where scientists previously thought B-cell development exclusively occurred. The findings paint a clearer picture of the birds’ immune system at a time when antimicrobial resistance has affected livestock and poultry production across the globe.

Disrupting a single enzyme gene in red perilla reshaped its metabolism, producing green plants enriched in health-promoting molecules.

Scientists have found a way to spot early signs of skin aging, discovering that collagen's hidden internal structure begins to unravel before the fibers themselves break apart.

Using a simple physical model, researchers at the University of Osaka, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), RIKEN, and the Institute of Science Tokyo revealed how superionic conduction emerges when mobile ions undergo sublattice melting while the surrounding crystal framework remains intact. Near this transition, ions move cooperatively in spatially heterogeneous, string-like patterns, aided by anharmonic lattice motion. The findings identify general physical principles connecting lattice softness and collective transport, potentially guiding more efficient development of solid electrolytes for batteries and energy-conversion technologies.

During years of extreme drought, drier grasslands showed the strongest positive effects of biodiversity on productivity.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo have developed ultrathin wearable sensors that blend seamlessly into skin, reducing discomfort and distraction

Not every allergy antibody poses the same risk. A Hiroshima University-led research team has developed a more sensitive version of an allergy blood test designed to better detect functional allergen-specific IgE antibodies—the antibodies capable of triggering the immune processes behind allergic reactions.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo reveal how crystal symmetry determines whether hydrogen follows the rules of quantum or classical physics

Sperm velocity found to drop in Japanese rice fish that spawn consecutively

A recyclable enzyme catalyst could support cleaner production of flavour esters for food, drink and cosmetics.

A new review charts the future of diacylglycerols for cleaner oil processing, functional foods and medical nutrition.

- Solves 'Interference Phenomenon,' a Long-standing Obstacle in AI Model Merging

Researchers at Kanazawa University report the blood-based gene expression tests may enable early pancreatic cancer screening and improve long-term survival.

Layered carbide-carbon hybrids offer scalable, high-rate SLFB electrode platforms for improved wettability and enhanced electrolyte-electrode interaction and redox kinetics.

Detects minute signals in a small blood sample, paving the way for early diagnosis of the disease that causes the liver to harden

Researchers developed a highly filled liquid epoxy for chip packaging that remains easy to process despite its exceptionally high silica content. By optimizing particle packing, surface treatment, and rubber nanoparticle reinforcement, the material minimizes wafer warpage while maintaining excellent toughness and reliability during packaging.

- Prof. Hyuk-Jun Kwon’s research team presents a roadmap for an intelligent artificial olfactory system that combines the novel material metal-organic frameworks with AI - Overcomes existing limitations by mimicking the principles of the human olfactory system, poised to drive innovation across future industries such as disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring - Published in Progress in Materials Science, one of the world’s leading journals in materials science (top 0.7% in JCR)

Research comparing Dunlop and Talalay processing offers practical guidance for better natural latex foam products.

Fly ash waste could partly replace zinc oxide in tyre tread rubber, reducing zinc release while maintaining key performance.

Catalysts are everywhere—from fertilizer production to clean energy—but making them more active without sacrificing stability has remained a major challenge. Researchers have now engineered a gold-platinum nanocluster catalyst that can be activated at lower temperatures while maintaining its precise atomic structure, boosting low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation performance. Yet a clever ligand design could pave the way for more efficient and durable catalysts.

Complete tumor remission and suppression of recurrence/metastasis demonstrated in animal models of triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer

A study shows palm oil can replace aromatic oil in natural rubber composites while supporting greener rubber products.

This work reveals how lithium migrates in solid-state batteries and shows that fast charging can cause irreversible lithium migration.

A mild enzymatic method helps refine algae oil for nutrition products while preserving its valuable nutritional components

Research led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design finds that comfort in Singapore homes depends not only on air-conditioning and building design, but also on airflow, daily routines and how families share their living spaces.

Researchers have developed a robotic platform that identifies Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria through touch-based electrical signals, without staining or chemical labels. Selected as a cover article in Nano Energy, the study achieved rapid classification within 0.62 seconds and 90.93% accuracy.

An AI assistant for high-entropy alloy (HEA) electrocatalysis named ChatHEA provided a helping hand not just to extract data from the literature, but provide suggestions for promising catalysts, design experiments, and analyze data.

Pineapple leaf fibres gain strength through alkali treatment, supporting stronger and more sustainable biobased composites.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed an improved technique called “tapping-mode scanning probe electrospray ionization” (t-SPESI), allowing the analysis of regions within individual cells with greater sensitivity and stability. Through device miniaturization and molecular modification of the probe surface, the team achieved higher sensitivity and long-term stability, successfully visualizing lipid distributions in mouse brain tissue at a pixel size of 5 µm.