Collective animal behaviors help groups avoid predators and forage more effectively, but their genetic basis is poorly understood. In a recent study, researchers explored this phenomenon using fruit flies, revealing that genetic diversity within groups enhances survival through coordinated fear responses. By combining large-scale behavioral tests and a new approach to genome-wide analyses, the researchers uncovered key genes and neural mechanisms behind group dynamics, offering insights relevant to ecology, pest control, and human social behavior.

For over a century, the well-known 18-electron rule has guided the field of organometallic chemistry. Now, researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have successfully synthesized a novel organometallic compound that challenges this longstanding principle. They have created a stable 20-electron derivative of ferrocene, an iron-based metal-organic complex, which could lead to exciting possibilities in chemical science.  

Positively and neutrally buoyant microplastics mainly outflow from the Seto Inland Sea into the Pacific Ocean, whereas negatively buoyant MPs hardly leave the Seto Inland Sea and are primarily deposited and degraded near river mouths. Traditional microplastics are difficult to degrade quickly and thus remain in the marine environment for long periods. However, the use of biodegradable microplastics can significantly reduce microplastic pollution in the marine environment, especially in sediments.

This study presents a novel method to produce genetically modified rats by generating functional rat sperm in germ cell-deficient mice via blastocyst complementation with rat ES cells. Fluorescent rat ES cell lines were established, validated for pluripotency, and used to generate rat sperm in chimeric mice. The sperm successfully fertilized rat oocytes, producing viable offspring. This technique bypasses traditional chimera generation and reduces cost, offering an efficient platform for complex rat genetic engineering using ES cells.

Photoactivated ketones prove to be promising H-atom transfer photocatalysts for activating carboxylic acids and generating new C–C, C–S, and C–Cl bonds.

Rice cultivation is known to be resource-intensive, but a study now reveals how root microbes help rice thrive without synthetic and organic fertilizers. Researchers from Japan analyzed microbial communities in rice roots from fertilized and unfertilized fields and discovered that high-yielding rice grown in nutrient-poor soils was enriched with nitrogen-fixing root microbes that naturally support plant growth. These findings could pave the way for microbial biostimulants, promising sustainable rice farming in the future.

Gut bacteria are known to be a key factor in many health-related concerns. However, the number and variety of them is vast, as are the ways in which they interact with the body’s chemistry and each other. For the first time, researchers from the University of Tokyo used a special kind of artificial intelligence called a Bayesian neural network to probe a dataset on gut bacteria in order to find relationships that current analytical tools could not reliably identify.

Kyoto, Japan -- Those who are blessed with long lives will eventually experience a decline in cognitive functions, and working memory is particularly susceptible. However, various forms of exercise and activities that flex the brain are thought to help maintain memory function in old age.

The putamen and cerebellum are two areas of the brain prone to atrophy and reduced activity due to normal aging. Recent neuroscience research has also shown that these are the brain regions most likely affected by practicing a musical instrument. Yet most studies in this area have focused on young participants or people who have been playing an instrument since childhood.

This motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to investigate the effects of taking up a musical instrument in old age. Previous research from this team suggested that practicing an instrument for the first time for four months may improve memory performance and the function of the putamen for the elderly. After observing these short-term improvements, the researchers shifted their focus to the long-term effects of musical instrument practice.

Researchers at Tohoku University used machine learning potential to create large-scale models of tin (Sn) catalysts under different conditions. The results may help design high-performance catalysts that can take harmful carbon dioxide and convert it into green, carbon-based fuels.

Porous materials have a wide range of applications due to their capacity to act as filters, or lightweight structural materials that use less material than a solid substance. Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo created a new material fine enough to filter things like viruses but is strong enough to be a rigid construction material for devices. What makes this material unique is, it can be flexible when wet and responds to changes in pH. This and the fact it can be coated onto other substances give rise to a new range of functional and safe materials which use the minimal amount of raw material to create, leading to more sustainable manufacturing possibilities.