New molecular insights into the link between hepatocellular carcinoma and intratumoral fibrosis could lead to better treatment strategies, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Through a comprehensive analysis involving clinical data and in vitro and in vivo experiments, they revealed that the SPP1–CD44–Hedgehog signaling pathway is a key driver of fibrosis in liver tumors, hinting at its potential as a therapeutic target.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers developed a DDS that specifically transports Paclitaxel (PTX), a relatively large and poorly water-soluble anticancer drug, to cancerous tissue. They utilized the L-PGDS enzyme as a novel DDS carrier to efficiently transport PTX.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have succeeded in detecting laser-assisted electron scattering (LAES) using circularly polarized light for the first time. The use of circularly polarized light promises valuable insights into how atomic scale “helicity” impacts how electrons interact with matter and light. Using synchronized femtosecond laser pulses and electron pulses directed at argon atoms, they succeeded in detecting a LAES signal showing excellent agreement with theory.

MLIP calculations successfully identify suitable dopants for a novel photocatalytic material, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. As demonstrated in their latest study, a materials informatics approach could predict which ions can be stably introduced into orthorhombic Sn₃O₄, a promising and recently discovered photocatalytic tin oxide. Their experiments revealed that aluminum-doped samples achieved 16 times greater hydrogen production than the undoped material, paving the way for next-generation clean energy applications.

Researchers have long known that temperature can determine whether some reptiles develop as male or female, but this process is not well understood in lizards and snakes. A new study in leopard geckos offers the first detailed look at how this works in a squamate reptile. The researchers found that differences between males and females begin at the genetic level before any physical changes appear and identified the key developmental window when temperature decides sex.

An artificial intelligence-based projection makeup system from Science Tokyo lets users describe a mood or style in their own words and instantly see matching makeup colors on their faces. The technology learns each person’s preferences in real time and displays results under realistic lighting that reflects individual skin tone and texture, making it more true to life than traditional virtual makeup apps that project effects onto two-dimensional displays.

Clinically available KRAS inhibitors mainly target G12C, which is rare in PDAC and often acquires resistance. Oncogenic KRAS inactivates RB1 via CDK4/6, while RB1 mutation is rare. Thus, CDK4/6 inhibition offers an indirect strategy to counter KRAS-driven malignancy without direct KRAS targeting.

We demonstrate the broad distribution of particulate thiols in the western North Pacific and show that their main source is marine phytoplankton. Our analysis indicates that differences in thiol concentrations between ocean areas are significantly influenced by water mass properties, phytoplankton composition, and environmental stress. In the oligotrophic, highly transparent subtropical North Pacific Central Water, we find indications that "preformed" glutathione, retained in particulates derived from dead phytoplankton, makes a significant contribution.

Researchers discovered that a freshwater alga captures low-energy far-red light by precisely arranging ordinary chlorophyll molecules, rather than inventing new pigments. The finding reveals a new structural strategy for photosynthesis in low-light environments and could inform future bioenergy and protein design.

The Research Center for Open Science and Data Platform^(*1) at the National Institute of Informatics released the beta version of the "Japan Open Science Monitor" on March 3, 2026.  This service is designed to visualize the progress of open science in Japan. Under the framework of the French Open Science Monitor^(*2), this service calculates and provides open access indicators for Japanese publications.  This enables the measurement of Japan's current standing in open science.