Japan

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo and collaborating partners have created guidelines for the design of intercalated materials, which will accelerate research on energy storage, electronics, and more

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.

A marine biologist is inching closer to conquering science’s over 120-year pursuit to farm lobsters by letting these “dragons of the sea” get real weird.

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

Researchers from Monash University and Osaka University have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery regarding the pivotal role of sensory neurons in orchestrating tissue repair and regeneration, offering significant promise for patients with poorly healing tissues and diabetes.

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

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.

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.

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.

Researchers from Tohoku University have theoretically linked ignition and deflagration in a combustion system, unlocking new configurations for stable, efficient combustion engines due to the possible existence of any number of steady-state solutions.

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.

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.

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.

A novel method for studying genes in testicular cells of living animals could lead to breakthroughs in male contraception and fertility treatments.

SANKEN researchers achieved the acceleration of adiabatic evolution of a single spin qubit in gate-defined quantum dots for the first time. After the pulse optimization to suppress quasistatic noises, the spin flip fidelity can be as high as 97.5% in GaAs quantum dots. This work may be useful to achieve fast and high-fidelity quantum computing.

The Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability at Hiroshima University is calling for short articles, analyses, and commentary submissions that explore the peace and sustainability nexus.

In a study recently published in the journal SMALL, a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering nanotechnology, published by Wiley-WCH, Germany, researchers from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Japan, collaborating with Professor Sarikaya, Seattle, USA, used frequency modulated atomic force microscopy to reveal the molecular architecture of genetically designed and point mutated peptides and their self-organizations each forming single-molecule thick, distinct biological crystals on atomically flat graphite and MoS2 surfaces, offering a potential platform for hybrid technologies such as bioelectronics, biosensors, and protein arrays.

Jun’ichi Yokoyama once amused his professors by proposing a far-fetched idea of using neutrinos and gravitational waves to observe the Universe. Decades later, he was proven right and contends young scientists should be nurtured to believe in themselves.

A new user-friendly tool helps researchers explore how gene activity is influenced by chemical modifications, providing insights into disease and paths to new treatments.