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News from WPI Research Centers

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Apr-2026 17:16 ET (18-Apr-2026 21:16 GMT/UTC)

Researchers directly observe muonic molecules critical to muon catalyzed fusion

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers including Kavli IPMU's Tadayuki Takahashi have achieved the world's first direct observation of muonic molecules in resonance states using a high-resolution x-ray detector.

Journal: Science Advances

The once-theoretical skyrmion could unlock supercomputing memory

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A once-theoretical structure is now shaping the future of computing. Researchers have uncovered key properties of magnetic skyrmions, ultra-stable, 2 nm vortex-like structures that could enable next-gen memory with extremely low power consumption. Even more surprising? They can form in materials once thought impossible.

Journal: Nature Communications

From lab to industry: 3D printing accelerates the future of lithium batteries

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers are investigating how 3D printers could achieve unprecedented levels of precision when creating batteries, opening the door for new innovations.

Researchers adapt torsion balance experiments to detect dark matter

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Kavli IPMU's Shigeki Matsumoto and Jie Sheng have shown torsion-balance experiments — precision instruments originally built to test the equivalence principle — could double as detectors for very light dark matter.

Journal: Physical Review Letters

Shedding light on how parasites exit host cells

Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) - Osaka University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from The University of Osaka have shown that the MIC11 gene of Toxoplasma gondii is essential for the parasite to egress, or exit, the host cell, a key part of the lifecycle. Deletion of MIC11 caused parasites to be unable to permeabilize host cell membranes and prevented egress. This study identifies potential new therapeutic targets for human diseases caused by parasites, such as toxoplasmosis and malaria, which represent a major global health problem.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Recent advances in the precise nanoscale construction ofg-C₃N₄ catalysts

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This deep dive explains the ins and outs of a catalyst called graphitic carbon nitride that speeds up the production of hydrogen peroxide – a highly useful oxidizing agent used widely in both industrial and household settings

Journal: Coordination Chemistry Reviews

Reliable material databases bridge AI- and experimental-led material discovery

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When you build a structure, the materials matter. The poorer the materials, the less reliable the structure. Databases are no different, and with the rise of AI-driven discovery, the importance of feeding highly reliable data has gained added salience. A new study has examined the database architecture being used in materials science to see how it impacts the reliability and vitality of research results.

Journal: Precision Chemistry

Bio-inspired structural design improves impact resistance and energy absorption

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Butterfly wings were the inspiration behind this new, lightweight lattice structure that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness.

Journal: International Journal of Mechanical Sciences

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