A 3D model of the Sea of Japan reveals a three-layer vertical structure of PCBs, with dissolved PCB concentrations peaking at intermediate depths (100–600 m). Among the congeners, CB28 exhibits the highest concentration, CB180 the lowest. CB153 and CB101 are enriched below the surface. Heavier congeners are scavenged during spring blooms, showing high concentration at intermediate depths due to sinking of biogenic particles. Thus, the biological pump likely concentrates the high-chlorinated PCBs at intermediate depths.

When you think about it, baran, those little plastic grass dividers found in bentos, save space by allowing bento makers to combine foods without mixing their flavors into a single bento box. Much like baran, researchers from Tohoku University have come up with a way to combine two chemical reactions inside a single electrolytic cell, thereby reducing waste and energy consumption associated with traditional chemical reactions.

The Yabu Laboratory at the Tohoku University Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) has recently demonstrated a novel strategy that yields a highly efficient electrocatalyst.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research group conducted a study on walking techniques for older adults to minimize landing impacts and may reduce knee and lower back pain.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided researchers with a wealth of information on contemporary successes and failures in combating an emerging pathogen. This study outlines a total of 22 opportunities and strategies based on urban functionality and typology to help communities better prepare for and mitigate the effects of the next pandemic.

Frailty is a key predictor of mortality among patients with heart failure. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), a quick bedside assessment, is increasingly used to screen for frailty and guide interventions. Yet, given its subjective nature, it has been unclear how closely CFS reflects objective measures of physical performance and cognitive function. Using nationwide data, researchers found that CFS aligns closely with objective tests and predicts 2-year mortality, supporting its use in everyday care.

Total hip replacement (THR) is becoming increasingly common, but postoperative femoral fractures remain a major problem. In a recent study, researchers from Japan compared two widely used femoral stem designs—a key component of hip prostheses—in a large cohort of patients who underwent THR. They found that collared, fully hydroxyapatite-coated stems significantly reduced early femoral fracture risk compared to flat-tapered wedge stems, offering valuable insights for improving patient safety and surgical outcomes in THR.

Bacteria uses multiple defense mechanisms to survive in the host body. Shigella bacteria, that causes colitis, disable multiple host defense pathways using three specialized effector proteins, as reported by researchers from Japan. They found that these effectors suppress inflammation, block apoptosis, and prevent necroptosis in human cells, allowing the pathogen to replicate. This study offers new insights that could help develop vaccines and targeted therapies to manage inflammatory colitis.

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have found a way to generate mechanoluminescence in non-crystalline materials, bringing a new wave of potential applications in engineering, industrial safety and beyond. “Traditionally, chemists have thought crystal fracture an essential step in generating mechanoluminescence,” notes Dr Ayumu Karimata, first author of the study. “We have proved that’s not necessary. Our findings open up a vast array of possibilities in materials science, as they remove the need for complex crystal design and engineering when creating mechanoluminescent materials.”