NIMS, in collaboration with Nagoya University, Gifu University, and the University of Adelaide, has developed a method for simultaneously imaging DNA and RNA inside cells using harmless infrared to near-infrared light. This study enables high-precision detection of all stages of cell death, paving the way for early detection of cell aging and damage for disease prevention. The results were published in Science Advances on October 23, 2025.

A research team from the Urban and Transportation Systems Laboratory, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology has developed an innovative evaluation framework that quantitatively evaluating the quality of life (QOL) in future smart cities by integrating physical accessibility (transportation networks) and digital accessibility (ICT networks). The study shows that while digital services such as telework, online learning, and e-commerce can improve convenience and support sustainability, essential in-person services and physical social interactions remain critical for well-being and equity. The findings were published in the international academic journal Sustainability (MDPI).

A research team led by NIMS has, for the first time, produced nanoscale images of two key features in an ultra-thin material: twist domains (areas where one atomic layer is slightly rotated relative to another) and polarities (differences in atomic orientation). The material, monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), is regarded as a promising candidate for use in next-generation electronic devices. This breakthrough was achieved by combining scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with artificial intelligence (machine learning), allowing researchers to capture highly detailed nanoscale features over large areas. The research was published in Small Methods on August 6, 2025.

Supported catalysts are widely used in various chemical processes. However, most catalysts perform well only for specific chemical reactions, necessitating new methods to diversify and improve performance. Now, researchers have developed an innovative gas-switch-triggered reduction method for impregnation-based synthesis of supported catalysts, consisting of multiple alloyed metals. This method is simple, scalable and can be integrated easily into industrial processes, paving the way for advanced catalysts for more sustainable chemical synthesis.

Using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids, researchers from Science Tokyo uncovered how abnormal Hippo signaling drives fibrosis in nephronophthisis, a genetic kidney disorder caused by NPHP1 deficiency. Confirming their discovery, the team demonstrated that inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway effectively suppresses fibrosis in kidney tissue. The study highlights the potential of organoid-based disease models for elucidating disease mechanisms while offering a new therapeutic target for nephronophthisis.

Common ancestor eels lost the aquaporin gene encoding proteins with broad solute permeability. Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo have now found that recent gene duplication events in the European eel (Anguilla species) have restored aquaporin proteins with broad solute permeability. The genes aqp10.2b2 and aqp10.2b3 represent a fascinating example of birth-and-death evolution, in which genes undergo loss of function, duplication, mutation, and functional diversification.

An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher and policy planners from Sakai City investigated the effect of a train fare subsidy program on daily walking steps. The results revealed that the intervention group subsidized with 1000 redeemable points significantly increased daily walking steps by 711.43 steps/day for prime-aged adults.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have achieved high-resolution visualization of cellular organelles, such as nuclei and mitochondria, using an external apodized phase contrast (ExAPC) microscope. By effectively suppressing halo artifacts—false images caused by light diffraction—the technique reveals the tightly regulated and remarkably stable movement, spatial arrangement, and morphology of these organelles. The team also observed unlabeled biomolecular condensate-like structures whose molecular components remain unidentified.

A collaborative research team from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), the University of Tokyo, Kyushu University, and Brookhaven National Laboratory has, for the first time, directly and precisely measured changes in the internal electric potential of a fusion plasma under conditions similar to those expected in fusion reactors.

 

This achievement establishes a new method for in situ evaluation of plasma confinement states, providing key insights for the control and performance optimization of next-generation fusion reactors. The internal plasma potential plays a crucial role in determining how effectively energy is confined within the plasma. By combining advanced accelerator technology with non-contact plasma diagnostics, the researchers have opened a new path toward direct understanding of the behavior of fusion-core plasmas.