Science

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.

A drug called lubiprostone - typically used for constipation - was remarkably shown to help patients with chronic kidney disease.

Researchers at Tohoku University have unified experimental and computational data into one valuable resource: a map that instantly guides scientists to suitable materials out of countless candidates.

NGOs in the Malaysian state of Sabah want oil palm companies and other land managers to plant Ficus species to increase habitat for threatened wildlife

Recent research on fullerene’s role as a metal-free catalyst may redefine our understanding of how carbon nanomaterials can be used in clean energy technologies.

Professor Ogawa, Mr. Echigo (PhD student), and their colleagues in Kanazawa University report in Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging that combination of an At-211-labeled agent with immune checkpoint blockade significantly enhances its therapeutic effect. This strategy represents a promising advancement in the development of next-generation cancer therapies that combine targeted alpha therapy and immunotherapy.

Most currently used fuel cells can only operate efficiently above 500°C, but researchers found a way to essentially cut that number in half.

Using XRISM, JAXA’s new high-precision X-ray spectroscopic satellite, researchers observed a stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way and detected highly ionized iron absorption lines — clear signatures of hot gas. Remarkably, this detection was achieved at the dimmest X-ray state ever reported for such a system. The results reveal the complex structure and motion of gas around the black hole, offering new insights into the dynamic behavior of black holes.

On 19 August, World Humanitarian Day, Lingnan University announced the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU) to establish the UNU Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University), making it the first higher education institution in Asia to set up a UNU Hub. The Hub is scheduled to open officially in October 2025 and will have an annual operating budget of over HK$8 million. Its Humanitarian Innovation and Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) will spearhead research and design initiatives, education and training programmes, and international collaborations, and improve living conditions in developing countries and regions of the Global South by leveraging innovative and cutting-edge technologies. Scholarships will be awarded to encourage local youth to fulfil their ambitions through knowledge and innovation.

Researchers from The University of Osaka used electricity to drive a reaction to form a novel hetero[8]circulene consisting of five hexagons and three pentagons (called a dioxaza[8]circulene). The dioxaza[8]circulene is unsymmetrical, unlike existing hetero[8]circulenes. The novel molecule can be produced from commercially available materials by a two-step method that simultaneously forms six new bonds with only water as a byproduct. The dioxaza[8]circulene may have potential as a photocatalyst, and be used to speed up reactions triggered by light.

The subducted oceanic crusts are regarded as the major source of lower-mantle heterogeneity. However, the limited knowledge about the physical properties of major components in the subducted oceanic crusts prevents us from fully understanding the complex features of the related geophysical anomalies. Here, we comprehensively investigated the phase transition of (Al, H)-bearing stishovite at simultaneously high P-T conditions. These results contribute to our understanding on the complex depth distribution of the mid-lower mantle seismic scatterers.

A research group led by The University of Osaka has discovered that the DNA repair enzyme Polβ plays a crucial role in protecting the developing brain from harmful mutations. The study found that a lack of Polβ leads to a significant increase in small insertions and deletions of DNA, known as indels near CpG sites, which are important regulatory regions in genes. This accumulation of mutations could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

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First direct observation of quantum Kelvin–Helmholtz instability reveals eccentric fractional skyrmions

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a method that uses an abundant, renewable biomass to ultimately create environmentally-friendly fuels.

Researchers at Tohoku University unveil a cool new technique that can visualize both the structure and elemental distribution of nanomaterials in frozen solvents.

A collaborative research team from Kanazawa University, the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, and the University of Strathclyde has developed a novel method for forming high-performance high-entropy alloy (HEA) films on various surfaces—without the need for costly alloy targets. By using a proprietary rotating target composed of multiple pure metal segments and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technology, the team successfully demonstrated a cost-effective and versatile approach to HEA film fabrication.

Researchers are one step closer to finding a common target for treating ALS - a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive muscle weakness.

For the first time, researchers at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, quickly and efficiently measure the seafloor down to the centimeter-level using an unmanned aerial vehicle

A joint international research team has, for the first time, unveiled the crucial link between the structure of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the efficiency of lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction to ammonia, a promising eco-friendly approach to fertilizer production. Using in situ spectroscopy, the team directly observed the previously poorly understood SEI formation process, revealing that the ethanol-to-water ratio in the electrolyte significantly impacts ammonia conversion efficiency. This discovery opens a new avenue for sustainable fertilizer production by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a new program, “postw90-spin,” that enables high-precision calculations of a novel performance indicator for the spin Hall effect, a phenomenon crucial for developing energy-efficient and high-speed next-generation magnetic memory devices. This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in spintronics research by providing a definitive measure of the spin Hall effect, overcoming ambiguities associated with traditional metrics.

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Identification and characterization of a novel tRNA modification enzyme in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis