Advanced Science

The identification of a gene involved in steroid hormone signaling in plants could benefit agriculture and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide

* Agreement to establish a Joint Center with the Max Planck Society (MPG) * General agreement for cooperation with the Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Long-predicted physical effects confirmed for the first time by a model system of strongly interacting electrons

A microchip fabricated with femtosecond lasers at RIKEN allows the rare observation of microalgae behavior

X-rays emitted from the remnant of a supernova provide clues to its explosive history

Molecular fluorescence applied in an unconventional way allows the life-sustaining chemical reactions in genes to be observed in real time

Combining design concepts produces a high-sensitivity detector that could enable greater exploitation of terahertz radiation

Controllable quantum systems that allow us to better understand complex physical processes are now within reach

A new terahertz light source and detector could open the way for the practical application of terahertz waves

The joint symposium was held on November 12, 2009 at the RIKEN Wako campus and featured presentations by five visiting members of the UoL and five RIKEN researchers.

Genetic analyses help decode symbiosis in the termite gut as a model for the highly efficient conversion of plant cellulose

The plant hormone abscisic acid makes use of a surprisingly elegant and straightforward system to regulate its many essential functions

Surprising complexity underlies the seemingly simple process of chromosome pair separation during cell division

A fluorescent sensor helps scientists track specific chromosomal modifications that can alter gene activity

Visualization of stress in the cell’s protein factory, the endoplasmic reticulum, may lead to new treatments for many debilitating diseases

Astrophysicists at RIKEN lend their expertise to biologists to develop one of the world’s fastest and most sensitive cameras to observe cell behavior at the nanometer scale.

Researchers at RIKEN created a new graphite nanotube that conducts electricity when exposed to light, which could lead to efficient solar batteries based on organic materials and developed molecular devices that can respond to various types of stimuli, similar to living organisms.

Photosynthetic processes in an artificial system can be described accurately by a quantum physical theory

Press Release - A review in Science this week outlines the main theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum simulation and emphasizes some of the challenges and promises of this fast-growing field.

Radiation bursts from thunderclouds may not always be associated with lightning

Mutual controllability of electricity and magnetism in a weak magnetic material points the way to low-power electronics

To enable the identification of different varieties and prevent illegal cultivation, a broad range of research and development at the DNA level has been conducted so far.

A technique for characterizing ultrafast light pulses will lead to better optical probes for studying electron dynamics

A total of around 200 people, including 24 members of RIKEN, attended the event, which showcased cutting-edge research and technology in chemical and materials science.

‘Metamaterials’ — artificially created materials with nanostructures designed to control light — are attracting considerable attention for the development of a range of new technologies, such as very thin eyeglass lenses, optical microscopes that will allow the observation of atoms and optical fibers with no transmission loss.

A chance observation leads to potential insights into the basis for cell damage associated with disorders like Alzheimer’s disease

Research on the function of a type of RNA called ‘Gomafu’ is the primary field of study at RIKEN’s Nakagawa Initiative Research Unit.

An organic compound provides the rare opportunity to study electrons that behave as if they have no mass

A newly created yeast gene archive will enable efficient analysis of the function of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical use

A two-day joint workshop organized by RIKEN and the University of Edinburgh was held at the British Embassy in Tokyo on 14–15 May, featuring presentations by leading researchers in the fields of Systems Biology, Computational Biology and Metagenomics.