A quick, purification-free method was developed by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, to capture the detailed 3D structures of flexible sugar molecules. By growing crystals of galectin-10 protein using a cell-free crystallization process and soaking them in sugar solution, the researchers were able to trap and analyze the molecular arrangement of sugars and their interactions with the protein. This offers a powerful tool to accelerate research in drug discovery and molecular biology.

Pumpkins, squash, zucchini and their relatives accumulate soil pollutants in their edible parts. A Kobe University team has now identified the cause, making it possible to both make the produce safer and create plants that clean contaminated soil.

Researchers from SANKEN at The University of Osaka have successfully developed a groundbreaking “self-evolving” edge AI technology that enables real-time learning and forecasting capabilities directly within compact devices. This innovation, termed MicroAdapt, achieves unprecedented speed and accuracy. It processes data up to 100,000 times faster and achieves up to 60% higher accuracy compared to conventional state-of-the-art deep learning methods. This achievement represents a major advance toward next-generation real-time AI applications across manufacturing, automotive IoT, and medical wearables, addressing critical limitations of existing cloud-dependent AI.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University uncovered early hepatic changes associated with type 2 diabetes by analyzing primary hepatocytes from prediabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Computational method accurately predicts the optimal ligand for a photochemical palladium catalyst that enables new alkyl ketone radical reactions.

A research group at The University of Tokyo has discovered a new principle by which helical chiral molecules acquire spin through molecular vibrations, enabling them to adhere to magnets. Until now, it was believed that chiral molecules could only exhibit magnetic properties when an electric current was applied. This discovery overturns that conventional understanding.

A new interactive web application allows for a tangible understanding of abstract concepts of quantum game theory. The Kobe University development parallels the emergent dialogue found in jazz and improvisational music and aims for a scientific exploration of creativity.

Heart failure (HF) has long been blamed on weakened heart muscle cells, but new research shows that support cells called fibroblasts may be a key factor. Researchers found that fibroblasts send harmful signals through the MYC–CXCL1–CXCR2 pathway, interfering with heart function. Blocking this pathway in mice improved their cardiac performance, with similar changes observed in human heart tissue. These findings highlight a new potential target for treating severe HF.

A new study from Ritsumeikan University found that a 12-day online gratitude journaling exercise significantly boosted work engagement among Japanese employees. Participants who daily noted things they were grateful for became more aware of colleague support, supervisor feedback, and opportunities to take initiative: reflecting greater recognition of job resources. These findings suggest that intentionally cultivating gratitude provides individuals and organizations with a low-cost, effective approach for enhancing workplace engagement through greater awareness of available resources.