Japan

This research study assessing 23,000 mother-child pairs found that higher maternal depression around the period of birth may impair mother-infant bonding and increases the risk of autism in their daughters.

Study highlights the uniqueness of individual brain functional connectomes as a promising approach to identify biomarkers for major depressive disorder.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo have used 3D-printing technology to improve the viral titer of microneedle array patches, resulting in effective immunogenicity and protection against infection in mice

A comprehensive analysis of supersulfide production in fermented soybeans

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a much more efficient way to produce ethylamine - a crucial component for dyes, pharmaceuticals, and more. It all starts with a catalyst.

We may be closer to unravelling the mystery of how the dry, arid Mars used to be covered in water from new research that focuses on an unexpected event (a powerful dust storm) at an unexpected time (Northern Hemisphere summer).

When cultivated tobacco is crossed with a wild relative it erases lethal genes, allowing normally fatal hybrids to survive.

Take a dive into the streamlined workflow of DIVE (Descriptive Interpretation of Visual Expression)! DIVE combines multiple AI agents to extract images from about 4,000 scientific publications to propose new materials – all within minutes.

A potential breakthrough for jet lag and shift work-related sleep disorders. A Japanese research team has discovered a new compound that can advance the body’s internal clock—offering hope for faster recovery from jet lag and better adaptation to night-shift work. The compound, called Mic-628, specifically activates the transcription of a clock gene named Period1 (Per1). When given orally to mice, it advanced their body clocks and activity rhythms, regardless of dosing time. The findings suggest a new approach to controlling circadian rhythms through drug action rather than light exposure.

Early marine algae adapted their light-harvesting systems for weak blue-green light, suggesting how photosynthesis evolved.

Researchers from The University of Osaka compared psychological ratings of various words from humans and large language models (LLMs) along different dimensions in order to compare the ways in which they conceptualize words. Human and LLM ratings aligned closely for some attributes (such as concreteness) but diverged significantly for others (such as iconicity). This work reveals which linguistic features may be reliably estimated using LLMs.

A Hiroshima University-led project has secured a $1.8 million grant to develop a way to store bull semen using simple refrigeration instead of costly cryopreservation, a shift that could remove a major barrier to modern dairy cattle breeding that has long shut out farmers in low-resource regions. If successful, the technology is expected to boost milk yields, stabilize incomes for small-scale dairy farmers, and improve nutrition.

Hiroshima University researchers developed a three-factor, 12-item, questionnaire-based scale to systematically assess nursing practices that support fertility preservation decision-making in women with cancer. They show that such decision-making can be clearly defined, measured, and improved.

Researchers have found duality can reveal hidden non-invertible symmetry protected topological phases, unlocking new quantum phases.

A new tool offers researchers a better way of exploring and understanding catalyst data.

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a wastewater treatment method to help clear pollution caused by toxic, non-biodegradable dyes. The method uses a 3D, sponge-like covalent organic network to purify wastewater in a sustainable manner.

The University of Osaka study shows that declining clinical tests lead to an underestimation of COVID-19 cases. By analyzing wastewater, researchers found viral loads remained high even as reported cases dropped. This highlights wastewater surveillance as a crucial, objective tool for accurately monitoring community-wide infection levels. The findings advocate for a multi-layered public health approach that is not solely reliant on testing data, ensuring a more realistic assessment of infection risks.

Researchers from The University of Osaka report the development of two fluorescent indicators, Gachapin and Gachapin-C, that can be used to monitor cell–cell contacts and contacts between different processes of the same neuronal cell. Unlike split GFP indicators, the reversible and instant fluorescence from the Gachapin/Gachapin-C chromophore upon contact enables real-time imaging of dynamic contact events.

Researchers have developed a method to reduce uncertainties in observational measurements of cosmic birefringence, which might help explain the Universe’s symmetry.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) and the Cancer Research Institute at Kanazawa University led have uncovered how targeted lung cancer drugs alter the shape and behavior of a key cancer-driving protein—revealing a hidden mechanism that helps explain why some treatments stop working over time.

Region-specific residential buildings solution optimizes energy-efficiency and thermal comfort

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a unique approach to delivering laser light through photonic circuitry for controlling the states of trapped ions, representing a potential novel method for overcoming challenges in quantum computing technology.

A low-cost, portable radiation dosimetry system uses a smartphone and radiochromic film to provide immediate on-site dose assessments of radiation.

Skeletal muscle stem cells in hibernating Syrian hamsters preserve their ability to function by suppressing their activation during the hibernation period, a research team led by Hiroshima University has shown. This insight may lead to a broader understanding of the maintenance of muscle tissue under prolonged low temperature conditions and may eventually lead to therapeutic applications.

Smokers could be at higher risk of post-COVID symptoms

An international research team led by The University of Osaka has demonstrated that two-faced Janus nanoparticles can restore the effectiveness of antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria. These particles disrupt the protective outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, which normally blocks antibiotics. This allows conventional drugs to regain access and kill the once-resistant microbes. This synergistic strategy restores the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, offering a new line of defense against the growing threat of superbugs and extending the utility of our current medical arsenal.

A study by The University of Osaka reveals that people who have had COVID-19 are more likely to wear masks. This is driven not by fear, but by an increased awareness of being a potential "silent carrier." The finding suggests that public health messages based on patients' real experiences, highlighting the risk of asymptomatic spread, could be more effective in encouraging preventive behaviors in the general population for future pandemics.

Initially stacked benzene layers increase fluorescent color change drastically when exposed to pressure, suggesting new ways to design the pressure sensors used in machinery and medical devices

Yasuhiro Iba and his colleagues use complex imaging systems to reveal the secrets of Earth’s ancient creatures.