Researchers at Okayama University of Science have discovered that bitter taste receptors—the same type found on the human tongue—exist inside cancer cells and play a key role in multidrug resistance (MDR). These receptors sense anticancer drugs within the cell and activate molecular pumps that expel the drugs, preventing them from working effectively. This groundbreaking finding reveals a new biological function for taste receptors beyond the tongue and skin, where they normally serve as a defense system against harmful substances. The study, published in Scientific Reports (Nature Research), suggests that blocking these receptors could stop cancer cells from developing drug resistance. Because MDR is one of the biggest challenges in chemotherapy, this discovery opens a promising new path for improving cancer treatment. The research team believes that combining bitter taste receptor blockers with conventional anticancer drugs could enhance treatment outcomes and help advance chemotherapy into a new era of precision medicine.

A team of researchers from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Tokyo Metropolitan University has developed a protein-based gel that replicates the softness and fibrous structure of native skeletal muscle tissue. This innovation enables the cultivation of muscle cells with slow-twitch characteristics, offering new possibilities for treating muscle loss, enhancing metabolic function, and developing next-generation biomedical devices.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new atomically layered material which experiences a five order of magnitude resistivity reduction when oxidized, more than a hundred times the reduction seen in similar, non-layered materials. By analyzing the structure, the team discovered a synergy between oxidation and structural modification which drives dramatic changes in physical properties. The new material promises more power efficient next-generation devices, like memristors in AI computing.

Flavanols are plant-derived compounds with an astringent taste, exhibiting pro- or antioxidant properties depending on the environment. Due to poor bioavailability, their health-promoting mechanism remains unclear. A new study identified their action via the brain-gut axis.  A single oral intake of flavanols stimulated brain regions involved in memory and sleep-wake regulation, and increased sympathetic nervous activity, a stress response. These findings may lead to future applications, such as the development of next-generation foods.

Low body weight in young women has been associated with various health concerns. Rising trends in the proportion of underweight women between the ages of 20 and 39 have been seen in Japan, raising concerns. In a first-of-its-kind study, Dr. Katsumi Iizuka and Dr. Hiroaki Masuyama from Japan have found that underweight Japanese women had a lower gut microbiota diversity and more inflammation-linked microbes. These findings suggest gut health is critical in weight control.

As chronic liver disease becomes more widespread, researchers at Science Tokyo have developed a lab-grown organoid that replicates a regenerating liver, offering new hope for future treatments. The model recreates interactions between hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, two cell types involved in liver repair and fibrosis. It provides a much-needed, human-based platform to study how liver scarring develops, how cells communicate during injury, and to test drugs that could halt or even reverse liver damage.  

A new species of jellyfish has been discovered! Researchers at Tohoku University named this venomous creature Physalia mikazuki, after the crescent moon helmet worn by Sendai’s feudal lord Date Masamune.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team studied DNA interstrand crosslinks formation and its associated repair pathways to investigate whether colibactin-induced interstrand crosslinks play a crucial role in genotoxicity. 

As cities grow denser and hotter, creating space for greenery becomes increasingly difficult. To address this challenge, researchers from Chiba University developed a data-driven framework that integrates artificial intelligence and spatial analysis to map vertical greenery across Tokyo’s 23 wards. By analyzing over 80,000 street-view images, the team identified uneven distribution patterns and proposed a vertical greening demand index to guide future urban greening initiatives and climate-resilient urban planning.

Distribution-type membrane reactors are expected to be highly promising for carbon dioxide methanation reaction. In a recent breakthrough, a group of scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has demonstrated the efficacy of these reactors and also examined the effect of membrane properties on reaction parameters. The present findings are a significant step towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.