Feature Stories
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Jan-2026 07:11 ET (23-Jan-2026 12:11 GMT/UTC)
22-Jan-2026
The present and future of the ecosystem reflected in marine life
Kobe University
An animal ecologist researching large marine animals such as whales and dolphins, Assistant Professor IWATA Takashi of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences has performed surveys in oceans across the world. By using a method known as “biologging,” which involves attaching various recording instruments to animals in order to collect data, Iwata is working to elucidate the activity and surrounding environment of mysterious marine life. In recent years, he has also focused on surveying endangered finless porpoises native to nearby Osaka Bay. We sat down with Iwata to learn more about the current state of the oceans revealed through his research, as well as problems facing ecosystem conservation.
22-Jan-2026
Ethical, legal and social issues: What does it take for new technology to be accepted?
Kobe University
How do cutting-edge science and technology respond to ethical and legal issues when incorporated into society? These issues are known as ethical, legal and social issues, or “ELSI” for short, and research on these issues is being carried out both within Japan and around the world. In 2023, Kobe University launched KOBELSI, its university-wide research project on ELSI in life sciences and natural sciences. As revolutionary technology in fields such as medicine and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to pop up one after another, how has ELSI research advanced? We spoke with Professor CHATANI Naoto of the Graduate School of Humanities, leader of the project and an expert in ancient Greek philosophy and bioethics, about the current state of ELSI research and its future prospects.
22-Jan-2026
Well-being and medical care – Expectations of university research
Kobe University
The university is a place of research and knowledge. But have these things actually served to make people happy? Professor ISHIDA Tatsuro asked himself this question time and time again during his two-year-plus tenure as deputy director of Kobe University’s Office for Promoting Well-being. While performing research and diagnosing and treating patients as a physician, he also pondered their well-being. In addition, as part of a team effort to contribute to society with municipalities in Hyogo Prefecture, Ishida volunteers to provide medical care to the community. We asked Ishida, who currently serves as dean of the Graduate School of Health Sciences and who concurrently served as director of the Center for Advancement of Community Medicine through March 2025, about the current state and future outlook of well-being promotion at Kobe University, as well as his perspectives on research and medical settings.
22-Jan-2026
Kobe’s port gave rise to its urban spirit
Kobe University
Kobe, the international port city, has an over 150 year-long history since opening its port to foreign trade in the Meiji era. Once a foreign settlement that sprawled along the coastline, at the time of its reopening for Japanese residents, it was praised as being the most beautiful city in all the East. Kobe continues to both deepen and broaden its connections to the world to this day, and international charter flights from Kobe Airport commence service just in time for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. We asked Project Associate Professor KOSHIRO Kaoru of the Center for Computational Social Science and the Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, an expert on the history of modern architecture and modern cities and who has organized walk events around Kobe as a part of his research, to speak about the origins of the city of Kobe, the history of the buildings scattered around the city, and its future.
22-Jan-2026
Platform helps children with neurodiversity and anxiety
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Using biofeedback and gamification, the solution teaches emotional self-regulation strategies to child patients with disorders such as ADHD and ASD.
- Funder
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
22-Jan-2026
US Naval Research Laboratory advances laser technology for fusion energy applications through BETHE Program
Naval Research Laboratory
Scientists in the Plasma Division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are building on a multi-year research effort that demonstrated the potential of an advanced laser technology that could help enable future inertial fusion energy power plants.
22-Jan-2026
Minna Purokivi appointed as Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland
University of Eastern Finland
Minna Purokivi was appointed as Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland this January. Her research group focuses, in particular, on interstitial lung diseases (ILD), such as connective tissue disease-associated ILD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, in which the cause of the disease is unknown. The group aims to advance the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of these diseases. Their research has provided insight into the safety and diagnostic accuracy of cryobiopsy, which has become increasingly widespread as a method for obtaining lung tissue samples.
22-Jan-2026
Is liverwort humanity’s savior? Possibilities in food and medicine
Kobe University
Research on using Marchantia polymorpha, commonly known as liverwort, a plant closely related to moss, for food and as an ingredient in medicine and supplements is being conducted at Kobe University. Not only can liverwort be cultivated quickly and in large amounts, it’s also very nutritious, a trait which has gathered attention as the space food of the future. As its genes can be easily manipulated in experiments, liverwort also shows great potential to be used to produce various useful substances. At the center of this research is Professor ISHIZAKI Kimitsune of the Graduate School of Science. He told us more about the hidden potential of liverwort and its future industrial applications.
22-Jan-2026
What is well-being? Research and its applications in the “era of the centenarian”
Kobe University
The term “well-being” has become widely used as a term to express favorable conditions physically, mentally and socially. However, it’s a broad concept, with a wide range of related research fields. In 2022, Kobe University created the Office for Promoting Well-being, a university-wide organization that promotes research, education and regional partnerships, and established the Advanced Research Center for Well-being, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research activity. What is the center aiming to achieve, and what kind of activity is being performed there? We asked Professor KATAGIRI Keiko, director of the center and expert in social gerontology and social psychology, about the current state and future prospects of this research.