Researchers at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have taken a great stride in supporting earthquake prevention research by developing a system for seafloor position measurements with centimeter-level precision. Combining the Global Navigation Satellite System–Acoustic and an unmanned aerial vehicle, the proposed system eliminates the need for manned surface vessels.

The Helfrich theory of membrane bending, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, is a promising approach for evaluating mechanical properties of graphene nanosheets, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. This hybrid approach allows direct evaluation of bending rigidities of graphene nanosheets, even with lattice defects, without requiring experimental tests, offering valuable insights for designing novel two-dimensional materials with tailored mechanical properties.

In a step toward smarter materials, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo collaborated with researchers from Switzerland to develop a smart hinge-like molecule that can indicate mechanical stress in polymeric materials through fluorescence. Using a framework of [2.2]paracyclophane and two pyrene-based luminophores (light-emitting compounds), the developed molecule exhibits excellent stress-sensing with high durability—offering a powerful tool for real-time monitoring of mechanical damage.

A joint international research team has, for the first time, unveiled the crucial link between the structure of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the efficiency of lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction to ammonia, a promising eco-friendly approach to fertilizer production. Using in situ spectroscopy, the team directly observed the previously poorly understood SEI formation process, revealing that the ethanol-to-water ratio in the electrolyte significantly impacts ammonia conversion efficiency. This discovery opens a new avenue for sustainable fertilizer production by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a new program, “postw90-spin,” that enables high-precision calculations of a novel performance indicator for the spin Hall effect, a phenomenon crucial for developing energy-efficient and high-speed next-generation magnetic memory devices.  This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in spintronics research by providing a definitive measure of the spin Hall effect, overcoming ambiguities associated with traditional metrics.

Juvenile-adolescent rats produce ultrasonic vocalizations characteristic of a pleasant sensation in response to repeated tickling by human hands. This interaction, which mimics natural rough-and-tumble play, is thought to be pleasure-inducing and lead to affinity-like behavior in rats. Researchers have now found that increased expression in a key brain region drives affinity-like behavior and identified neurons involved in the social bonding process. The findings offer crucial insights into the neural basis of cross-species bonding.

Colon cancer is often driven by cancer stem cells, which resist treatment and lead to relapse. In a recent study, researchers from Japan revealed how transcription factors CDX1 and CDX2 suppress cancer cell stemness by blocking β-catenin’s ability to activate key genes like LGR5. Their findings showed that CDX1/2 prevent the formation of key transcriptional complexes involving DSIF and PAF1, identifying these as critical regulators and potential therapeutic targets in colon cancer.