Peer Reviewed

Researchers from Osaka University found that exposure to environmental carcinogens and psychological distress significantly decreases happy life expectancy, a measure of the lifespan during which an individual experiences subjective emotional wellbeing. These findings suggest that developing public health policies to reduce exposure to these chemicals could help people live longer, happier lives.

The lipids in some herbal teas have been identified in detail for the first time, preparing the ground for investigating their contribution to the health benefits of the teas.

Tohoku University researchers have created a reliable means of predicting the performance of a new and promising type of catalysts. Their breakthrough will speed up the development of efficient catalysts for both alkaline and acidic environments, thereby saving time and effort in future endeavors to create better fuel cells.

A case study on the effects of open waste burning on air quality in Northwestern Greenland calls attention to the importance of no-one-left-behind sustainable air quality monitoring in the Arctic region.

May prove to be therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment

Numerical basis found for picosecond laser endpoints in effective clinical treatments with fewer complications

Scientists successfully addressed mathematical challenges in conventional Spectral Matrix analysis, used to analyze three-component seismic signals, by introducing time-delay components. The new technique enables the characterization of various polarized waves and the detection of seismic events that have previously gone unnoticed by conventional methods. These findings pave the way for improving a variety of applications, including earthquake detection.

Researchers from Osaka University used machine learning to identify subgroups of trauma patients who are more likely to survive their injuries if treated with tranexamic acid. This treatment controls bleeding and thereby prevents death from hemorrhage. The team also identified subgroups of trauma patients who do not benefit from tranexamic acid. These findings should help guide treatment decisions after traumatic injury and provide trauma patients with more personalized care.

Revelation of the molecular code for constructing brain neural circuits With identification of the characteristics of excitatory synapses and memory cognition regulation mechanisms mediated by synaptic gene microexons - A research team led by DGIST Prof. Jaewon Ko has unearthed the microexon molecular code for the formation of synaptic signal patterns through the synaptic adhesion protein LAR-RPTP. - This finding is expected to provide crucial clues for the development of new brain disease treatments targeting protein complexes.

- Development of 'Inorganic-Organic Thermoelectric Composite' from Low-Temperature Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials and Conductive Polymers, Ensuring Efficiency and Flexibility - Research findings published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

The means to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gas has been around since the early 20th century. Despite its current widespread usage, it has significant environmental drawbacks. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have unveiled a new, environmentally friendly means of producing this widely used chemical.

At least one in a dozen stars show evidence of planetary ingestion according to a paper published in Nature today.

Cellulose, abundantly available from plant biomass, can be converted into molecules used to make a new class of recyclable polymers, to sustainably replace some plastics.

Understanding electron behavior and surface structure of triphenylene thin film molecules deposited on graphite substrates under light irradiation

Researchers from Osaka University conducted a series of participatory deliberation workshops at Osaka University in which the participants were asked to consider issues of future society and manufacturing, in general, and as they relate to hydrothermally produced porous glass. In workshops where the perspective of “imaginary future generations” was adopted, participants’ perceptions of the technology’s feasibility and future potentiality changed significantly.

Researchers from Osaka University developed a system that enables projection mapping within an illuminated environment. Several standard projectors and one large-aperture projector reproduce the environmental illumination in all areas except for the target object, whereas texture projectors display the texture on the unilluminated object’s surface. Experiments show that participants perceived the objects using surface-color mode instead of aperture-color mode, verifying that the proposed system has the potential to produce highly realistic interactive environments.

Two rare skin conditions with similar symptoms can be mistaken for each other, so a scoring system has been formulated to aid physicians in distinguishing two diseases

Acoustic recordings of a colony of little auks reveal their nocturnal activities and offer valuable monitoring means for avian biology in the Arctic.

The “scope of action” and the velocity of Dirac electrons in an organic material

A packing material has been developed for chromatographic resolution on the basis of a clay mineral. The material is an adduct of chiral Cu(II) complex and synthetic hectorite.

Inspired by beetle cuticles, SUTD and NUS scientists have developed optical structures that can produce vibrant, iridescent and completely biodegradable colours using chitin – the world's second most abundant organic material.

Recreating the action of opening doors in the virtual world requires engineering ways in which to provide the equivalent haptic feedback and steer users away from walls in the real world. A research group has done just this; developing RedirectedDoors+, which employs door robots and rotation to create a more realistic experience.

Gas hydrates are great alternative energy sources but they could also harm us and the environment, note geologists from the University of the Philippines.

An international research team have made unprecedentedly detailed observations of the earliest merger of galaxies ever witnessed. They suggest stars developed much faster and more efficiently than we thought. They used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe the massive object as it was 510 million years after the Big Bang – i.e. around 13 billion years ago.

Findings could aid research into how information presentation might prevent human error

A new study highlights a potential therapeutic target for immune-related disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and asthma.

Peptides are short strands of amino acids that are increasingly used therapeutically, as biomaterials and as chemical and biological probes. The capacity to isolate, manipulate and label peptides and larger proteins is limited, however, by the ability to reliably attach functional molecules, such as fluorescent compounds, to peptides in locations that won’t affect the three-dimensional structure and function of the short amino acid strand. Researchers have developed a unique chemical reaction to attach two distinct functional molecules to the N-terminus of a peptide in an efficient, robust reaction under mild conditions.

Researchers from Osaka University used tip-scan high-speed atomic force microscopy combined with an optical microscope to observe light-induced deformation of azo-polymer films. The process could be followed in real time, and the film patterns were found to change with the polarization of the light source. The observations will contribute to the use of azo-polymers in applications such as optical data storage, and the approach is expected to be useful across materials science and physical chemistry.

Japanese researchers have broken new ground by creating an edible robot and examining the unique experience of eating it while it moves. This robot, made of gelatin and sugar, pushes the boundaries of how we interact with food and technology. The study delves into the sensory and psychological aspects of consuming a moving robot, offering fresh perspectives on the convergence of robotics with culinary arts and medical applications.

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School have developed a new approach using the Zika virus to destroy brain cancer cells and inhibit tumour growth, while sparing healthy cells.