Science

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a polymeric adhesion system by introducing reversible bonds at the adhesion interface based on the formation and dissociation of host–guest complexes. The adhesive can be decomposed on demand using temperature or chemicals and reused multiple times. Visualization of the interface using neutrons revealed the mechanism underlying repeatable sticking and peeling. This technology can be used for sustainable material applications.

With so many environmental issues arising, how can we even begin trying to solve them all? Perhaps, we can start by asking AI. This study highlights how AI can pinpoint viable action plans for these issues.

A rock described as a flaky pastry may sound delicate, but researchers at Tohoku University found that when they fold under compressive forces in just the right way, they can actually be strong. These findings may help with earthquake risk assessment.

A Kyoto University study has revealed, for the first time, how the body produces the “good cholesterol” that can prevent heart disease

Producing ammonia – a valuable chemical compound used in many fields – takes enormous amounts of energy. Researchers at Tohoku University have found a more efficient option that converts harmful pollutants in water to ammonia.

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a photonic router that can direct single and entangled (quantum) photons at unprecedented levels of efficiency. This may bring us closer to realizing superfast quantum tech.

The risk of extreme water shortages due to climate change is predicted to affect almost 74% of drought-prone regions by 2100, according to new research in Nature Communications. In the first known published estimation of its kind, the authors report that hotspots of water scarcity will likely emerge across the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and parts of North America by the 2020s and 2030s.

- A research team led by Professor Seongkyun Kim of the Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, developed an artificial plant device that simulates plant transpiration - Purified more than 95% of soil contaminated by radioactive cesium within 20 days using solar energy alone

The University of Hong Kong and collaborators from Nanjing University and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled signal pointing to the birth of a “millisecond magnetar”—a rapidly rotating neutron star with an ultra-strong magnetic field.

Increases in wildfires, linked to projected future climate change, are expected to cause a notable increase in premature deaths, according to two new modelling studies.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in ACS Nano, how proteins in cells can be controllably activated through heating, an effect that can be used to initiate programmed cell death.

Researchers at The University of Osaka and Kanazawa University have developed a novel method for analyzing cancer metabolism, revealing new insights into cancer's inefficient energy process. This breakthrough, published in Metabolic Engineering, combines biological experiments with advanced information science techniques to uncover the role of cancer-specific inefficient metabolism.

Researchers in Vietnam, Thailand, India and the UK have been awarded more than £4 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to identify and evaluate inclusive methods of healthcare provision.

Duke-NUS study reveals that better data, smarter treatment plans and more realistic targets are needed to tackle anaemia, which affects nearly two billion people worldwide and remains a major obstacle to global health goals.

Solves a long-standing challenge in fundamental physics

An international research group led by The University of Osaka has developed scODIN, a novel computational tool to classify cell types from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Existing methods struggle to balance speed and accuracy, often misclassifying rare or transitional cells. scODIN overcomes this limitation by combining a hierarchical classification system (Tier system) with k-nearest neighbor inference. This approach allows for the rapid and accurate classification of large datasets, processing 650,000 cells in just six minutes. The tool's improved accuracy stems from its ability to identify cells at varying levels of detail, recognize intermediate phenotypes through double labeling, and recover cells affected by dropout events. scODIN promises to accelerate biomedical discoveries by enabling more precise and efficient analysis of complex biological processes and disease mechanisms.

Around 354 million people in North America and Europe are likely to have been affected by fine particulate matter pollution from the 2023 Canadian wildfire season, a new study suggests.

Fluids may have flowed within the parent body of the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu more than one billion years after it formed, according to research published in Nature.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found that the radial spoke protein CFAP91 is crucial for flagellum formation in sperm, and that the proximal protein EFCAB5 is important for sperm motility. Loss of function of either of these proteins impairs spermatogenesis, suggesting that their mutation or loss can lead to male infertility.

【Intriguing behavior of such electrons in particular materials produced by chemical synthesis】 Unpaired electrons located at linear band dispersion (LBD) are exceptional and called Dirac electrons (DE). They are paid attention to because of the unique electronic properties such as temperature (T)-independent resistivity, as if they belong to neither metallic nor non-metallic substances. In this study, we have developed a series of new organic Dirac electron systems and discovered universal features of magnetic behavior originating from LBD.

This promising new catalyst can speed up the oxygen evolution reaction to create clean energy.

With just five minutes a day of training in Rei-ho (an ancient practice common amongst samurai), seniors can improve their leg strength and build up muscles essential for independent living.

Tracking human behavioral patterns in cities can be used to determine urban delineations and urban land use, which has the potential to improve urban planning.

A metal-free organic liquid has been developed that phosphoresces at room temperature. Rapid phosphorescence endows the liquid with the highest phosphorescence efficiency in air among organic liquids. The new molecule has a 3-bromo-2-thienyl diketone backbone with attached dimethylocylsilyl (DMOS) groups. Attaching one DMOS group liquefies the backbone, whereas attaching two DMOS groups prevents molecular aggregation, which typically weakens phosphorescence. This new, flexible liquid can be applied to develop flexible electronic devices.

A customizable protein has been developed to help the body remove harmful cells, such as those involved in cancer or autoimmune diseases, offering a potential new direction for treatments.

Combining multiple sensory inputs has been a big hurdle for developing physical AI robots. Recent research at Tohoku University solves this problem using a brand new approach.

Lingnan University congratulates the “Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou” cluster on achieving the top position in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII) Ranking of World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters. Released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), this ranking recognises the Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) outstanding innovation capacity and its vital strategic role in the global innovation ecosystem.

To reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability, scholars from the Lingnan University School of Interdisciplinary Studies and their research team have developed a successful new eco-friendly bioplastic material. Unlike conventional plastics, it degrades naturally into harmless water and carbon dioxide in as little as 29 days under ambient conditions, and is a practical way to mitigate global plastic pollution. Their study, “Sustainable DNA-polysaccharide hydrogels as recyclable bioplastics”, was recently published in the respected journal Nature Communications.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that they can keep mouse uterine tissue alive outside of the body, allowing them to directly observe embryonic implantation and development. Their technique brings hope for patients with infertility, and may allow for the development of therapies to treat recurrent implantation failure and improve the chance of implantation success using assisted reproductive technologies.

Scientists at The University of Osaka and Tohoku University have developed a groundbreaking technique for creating nanoscale magnetic thin films with embedded functionality. By leveraging the stretchability of flexible substrates, they can precisely control the atomic spacing within these nanofilms, effectively “programming” desired magnetic properties directly into the material. This innovative approach, published in Applied Physics Letters, overcomes limitations of conventional deposition methods and paves the way for advancements in various fields, from electronics to fundamental materials science.