Peer Reviewed

Leaf stalks – the edible part of vegetables like celery and Swiss chard – can grow even bigger than before thanks to key research identifying the role of a potassium channel called AKT5. Until now, its function has been a mystery.

Researchers at the University of Osaka used cyclic PPS manufacturing by-products as movable molecular crosslinks in biodegradable PCL. Medium-sized c [7] PS rings approximately doubled toughness while slowing enzymatic degradation, whereas larger c [9] PS rings accelerated degradation to no residual film mass after 48 hours. The findings identify molecular ring size as a design parameter for tuning material lifetime while also offering a waste-to-value route toward more sustainable polymer systems with programmable properties.

A nationwide Japanese birth cohort study of 101,864 children found that ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization were associated with a higher risk of Kawasaki disease before age five compared with spontaneous conception. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection showed no clear difference in risk. The findings remained broadly consistent after adjustment for maternal comorbidities and highlight the need for further research into underlying mechanisms.

SUTD researchers have found that older adults are most open to embracing social chatbots that feel authentic and socially engaging but not too human, offering clear lessons for designers of AI companions.

Gene regulation research mainly focuses on transcription factors. However, recent studies reveal core promoters as a critical yet overlooked component shaping the evolution and engineering of transcriptional regulation.

Subducted Carbonates Drive Deep Carbon Cycling and Reshape Mantle Discontinuity Structure

Validating artificial intelligence performance in radiology studies with demographic subgroups

Researchers develop a new fabrication method for creating twisted microchannels inside polymer fibers, enabling efficient mixing of minute amounts of liquid.

A research group in Japan led by Professor YAMAMOTO Takashi, Deputy Director, Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology / Graduate School of Engineering Science, the University of Osaka, in collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., has successfully demonstrated a world-record 10-channel multiplexed quantum photonic interface based on an integrated waveguide array, a key technology for optically interconnecting multiple quantum computers.

Researchers identify a RNA molecule that promotes DNA repair and immune escape to contribute to the resistance of triple negative breast cancer to chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Instead of producing graphene at temperatures as high as 900°C, researchers at Tohoku University found a way to lower this to 300 °C. Even better, the material used to achieve this can be easily obtained from industrial waste.

–Professor Sungwon Lee’s team at DGIST develops “nano-on-nano” technology that overcomes the sweating and discomfort associated with conventional sensors –Expected to be applied to next-generation wearable devices suitable for extended wear, from industrial settings to everyday life –Published in the internationally renowned journal Advanced Fiber Materials

Think you could learn a brand new skill from a five-second video clip? AI was trained on footage from just a few steps of a stick insect, and learned how to walk, navigate bumpy terrain, and adapt to limb loss in a robot with six legs.

Researchers from the University of Osaka found that amyloid formation is promoted by a combination of shear stress and constrained geometry in an in vitro model of amyloidogenic light chain disease. Applying mechanical agitation or pressure, as well as disaggregating agents, effectively removed amyloid deposits. These findings provide a novel framework for understanding amyloid deposition in organs.

How foreign genes become permanent in parasitic plants

Researchers redesigned C-shaped organic dyes so they lose less energy while emitting near 1000 nanometres. In an OLED, the optimized design reached an external quantum efficiency of 3.56% at 995 nanometres.

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed a catalyst that uses ultrasonic vibration to convert CO2 into CO. By modifying the catalyst with a metal–organic framework (MOF) incorporating isolated copper atoms, the catalyst is designed to concentrate CO2 near copper reaction sites and make better use of piezo-induced charges generated by vibration. It achieved a CO production rate of 114 μmol g-1 h-1, nearly five times that of pristine BaTiO3. The findings provide a new strategy for using mechanical energy to support more efficient carbon recycling.

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed chiral hole-transport materials that selectively conduct electrons according to spin. Across three classes of materials, molecular handedness consistently determined the direction of spin polarization. The homochiral material also showed nearly threefold higher hole mobility and improved charge extraction and surface passivation in perovskite solar cells, highlighting new possibilities for controlling spin, charge transport, and interfaces through molecular design.

Findings strengthen the scientific basis for regenerative medicine

Dramatically cuts complex experimental trial and error, opening a new paradigm for materials development

A new three-drug “RAD” regimen produced encouraging responses in patients with relapsed or refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). The early-stage clinical results support further evaluation of this targeted therapy and immunotherapy combination.

The brain sends signals to the body, and the body sends signals to the brain. Focusing on the latter system, researchers at Tohoku University found that stimulating the vagus nerve can promote lasting motor learning.

Researchers at the University of Osaka and the Osaka Institute of Public Health found that pertussis-associated DNA in wastewater increased weeks before reported cases, with the main analysis showing a 10-week lead. The findings suggest that wastewater monitoring could complement clinical surveillance by detecting changes in community transmission earlier, although further research is needed before it can be used as a validated forecasting tool.

Researchers from the University of Osaka have developed a fast computational framework that predicts the optical performance of quantum color centers without being restricted to a specific host material. By replacing computationally intensive calculations with simple theoretical formulas and procedures, the method enables rapid screening of promising quantum materials spanning ultraviolet to telecommunication wavelengths.

The low-temperature process produces low-loss silicon nitride waveguides on an eight-inch wafer and an octave-spanning spectrum.

Developmental disorders, including autism, entail challenges in social life; as the number of affected individuals has risen, this has become a significant societal concern. Using a mouse model, we demonstrate that a mutation in CHD8, a gene associated with autism spectrum disorder, causes abnormal differentiation of ventral progenitor cells, leading to autistic-like behavior in adulthood. This should lead to the elucidation of mechanisms underlying autism onset during brain development and to the advancement of therapeutics.

As solid-state electrolyte research grows, so does the amount of data. The problem is that much of it remains scattered across the literature. That is where researchers at WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University, come in — with DigBat, a new platform designed to bring this information together and help map the growing landscape of solid-state electrolyte research. By connecting data from across the field, DigBat can help researchers see relationships more clearly and point toward promising directions for future battery materials research.

Hydrogen may be a clean fuel, but not all hydrogen is green. Most H₂ is still produced from fossil fuels, while storing and transporting it remain costly and technically challenging. For hydrogen to truly live up to its green promise, we need cleaner and less costly ways to produce and store it. Looking for a more sustainable way forward, researchers at Tohoku University have developed a potential solution. Their new recyclable system uses baker’s yeast to store hydrogen directly in organic molecules and abundant, inexpensive iron ions to release it when needed.

Researchers perform a full Glauber-theory calculation that overcomes long-standing computational challenges

Hematopoietic stem cells can transform into any type of blood cell. However, this ability declines as we age. Recent research at Tohoku University uses AI to guide their deep dive into understanding which genes cause aging in stem cells.