Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have developed a breakthrough method for quantitative imaging of ATP levels inside living cells. The study, published in Nature Communications, introduces qMaLioffG, a genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime indicator that allows scientists to observe how cells produce and consume energy in real time.

Researchers from The University of Osaka developed mirror-image semiconductor polymer molecules for organic solar cells. The new acceptor molecules prevent recombination of electrons and holes by generating currents with spin-polarization of about 70% in which one electron spin dominates. Solar cells containing the new acceptors showed three times higher efficiency than the non-mirror-image version. Using mirror-image acceptor molecules provides a new way of increasing efficiency in clean energy technology.

A research team at Kumamoto University (Japan) has unveiled a new mathematical framework that makes it possible to accurately model systems using multiple sensors that operate at different sensing rates. This breakthrough could pave the way for safer autonomous vehicles, smarter robots, and more reliable sensor networks.

Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo have developed a groundbreaking neural-network-based 3D imaging technique that can precisely measure moving objects—a task long considered extremely challenging for conventional optical systems. Presented at the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV) 2025, the new neural inverse rendering method reconstructs high-resolution 3D shapes using only three projection patterns, enabling dynamic 3D measurement across diverse applications in manufacturing inspection, digital twin modeling, and performance capture in visual production.

Aggregation of α-synuclein leads to fibril formation and finally the formation of Lewy bodies, the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis. The exact molecular mechanism of this aggregation process is elusive. A group of researchers from Juntendo University recently found that ubiquilin-2 liquid droplets influence and catalyze this process. Their study also suggests that SO286, a small compound, inhibits the interaction between these proteins, hindering the aggregation process.

Climate change and extreme weather drive a globally growing interest in technologies to control the weather. Japanese government research seeks to harness such technology to reduce storm and flood damage. Yet such interventions could fundamentally change the relationship between people and the weather. New research published in npj Climate Action proposes “Weather Commons” as a democratic, community-centric approach that puts people in charge, and calls for a broad public conversation about weather control.

The hepatitis C virus -- HCV -- can persist in the livers of those infected and even lead to liver disease or failure in extreme cases. It affects tens of millions of people worldwide and there is no vaccine to prevent infection, but effective treatment can resolve most cases.

Until about a decade ago, hepatitis C infection was difficult to cure because treatment relied on prolonged interferon injections with severe side effects. The advent of oral direct-acting antivirals, or DAAs, revolutionized care for HCV. However, whether clearing HCV would also alleviate chronic immune activation remained uncertain, especially in people living with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, whose immune systems are already under strain.

This uncertainty is exacerbated by inequalities in research and care across international borders. Previous research on the immunological effects of DAAs has largely originated from the Global North and involved patients from those regions. None existed from Southeast Asia where viral strains, methods of transmission, host genetics, and access to care differ. This motivated a collaborative team of researchers from Kyoto University and the University of Indonesia to address this knowledge gap.

Researchers have developed a noninvasive, computer-mediated spinal stimulation system that allows individuals with chronic spinal cord injury and paraplegia to regain volitional control of stepping movements. These findings highlight a promising approach for gait rehabilitation without surgery. The study was published online in Brain on November 26, 2025.

Dark matter does not interact with electromagnetic force and does not absorb, emit or reflect light, making it difficult to observe directly. The presence of dark matter has only been inferred through observations of galaxies and galaxy clusters moving at higher rates of speed than should be possible based on their mass. A researcher has detected gamma rays from the central region of the Milky Way galaxy that are consistent with the energy and intensity that would be emitted by the annihilation of two weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs, that are proposed to make up dark matter. If the anaylsis is correct, this could signify the first time that dark matter has been directly observed since it was first proposed in 1933.