Environment

Tohoku University researchers are looking underfoot to uncover the mysterious past of Mars: Martian regoliths in the soil. Their water storage capabilities may help us understand the change in water on Mars over time.

Replacing chemical phosphorus and nitrogen with sustainable sources

Successful isolation of ultrasmall bacteria belonging to the CPR, a large phylogenetic group that includes various lineages of uncultivated bacteria

Aeration tanks in wastewater treatment plants are revealed as contributors to the emission and enrichment of airborne antibiotic resistance genes, raising significant public health concerns.

Field observations in natural river environment hold clues to easing model organisms’ life in labs

Antarctic midge 1st reported organism using both quiescence and obligate diapause in multiple overwintering

Unseen Threat Compromises Future of Marine Apex Predator

Dr Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh of Monash University Malaysia's School of Science has been named a 2025 Explorers Club 50 honoree for her outstanding contributions to biodiversity research and conservation.

The recent LA fires drove home how dangerous wildfires can be when they encroach on urban areas. So-called 'wildland-urban interface' fires are on the rise. However, building codes and standards have long been based on fires that spread from building to building. To address this, a Tohoku University professor has updated international standards for large outdoor fires.

A hedonic price model incorporating street view images processed by machine learning and existing property data achieves nearly 75% accuracy for rent prediction in Osaka City

What created the Noto Peninsula landscape we know today? After examining the devastation from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, researchers from Tohoku University have a theory.

This pyroclastic material—usually considered as waste—is rich in iron, enabling it to efficiently block X-rays and gamma rays.

Detailed study of a Greenland glacier’s flow rate reveals the impact of environmental conditions.

Prof Ruby Lai Yuen-shan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, has partnered with two Hong Kong artists, Ms Miu Law and Mr Victor Sham Chung-tat, for an interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, they have curated the exhibition “Listening to the Stories of 118.4 Square Feet”, which highlights a selection of real-life stories from residents of subdivided units.

Inspired by elephants, researchers grow fungus in elephant-skin patterns to create better insulation for buildings.

Tsuyoshi Watanabe uses corals to understand the environment of the past and what it can tell us about people living then.

An inclusive Myanmar must include all voices. One voice is from the Rohingya, who have faced persecution for many years. IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar supports scholars and research from and about the Rohingya people to generate evidence-based policy advice and empower a new generation of thought leaders.

A symposium that will discuss how to address multifaceted challenges of inequality and promote science for sustainability will take place in person and online on February 8, 2025.

Juvenile dolphins were found to have specialized receptors for fatty acids on their tongues, offering new insights into their growth and feeding habits.

A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand - and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.

Crossing the uncanny valley, Batteries that don’t explode, Tiny climate change fighters, Liver-friendly mushroom & Foetal defence. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a cockroach cyborg, microrobots that assemble and disassemble to perform tasks, and a sponge made of squid bones to clean up pollution.

A research team led by National Taiwan University used geochemical indicators from deep-sea sediments to reconstruct the upper ocean zonal gradients in the tropical Pacific during the last glacial period, providing valuable constraints for future climate projections.

Advances in solid-state battery research are paving the way for safer, longer-lasting energy storage solutions. A recent review by Tohoku University researchers highlights breakthroughs in inorganic solid electrolytes and their role in improving battery performance. The study also addresses key challenges, such as interfacial compatibility, while proposing innovative strategies for next-generation battery technologies.

Accidental clogging in geothermal wells reveals need for monitoring to ensure long-term usability

Seed grants have been awarded to six applicants with high quality and well-outlined proposals to organize workshops promoting science advice at an institutional or national level in their respective countries in 2025.

Use of automated system in upper extremity paralysis care proves beneficial for patients and medical staff

This annual event will bring together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world to spotlight groundbreaking advancements in sustainable energy and green technology.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are an AI model trained on ‘plant-speak’, how greedy groundwater use is making cities sink, and a lidar system that could find a needle in a very large haystack.

Tsunamis can cause immense physical damage to ports, but the economic cost does not stop there. The resultant disruptions of shipping lanes result in billions of dollars in losses every day, as was seen in the 2011 tsunami that hit the Tohoku Region. To better assess the ripple effect a tsunami could cause to shipping lanes in the South China Sea, a group of international researchers carried out 104 tsunami simulations.