A Japanese research team has mathematically revealed why crack tips sharpen during rapid fracture in rubber. The study demonstrates that this phenomenon is caused solely by the material’s viscoelasticity, not by previously assumed nonlinear effects. They also validated the long-standing viscoelastic trumpet theory, proposed by Nobel Laureate Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, using fundamental equations of continuum mechanics. This work establishes a theoretical foundation for fracture control and durability improvement of a wide range of polymer materials from tires to medical devices.

Kyoto, Japan -- Life-history variation is fundamental to the long-term persistence of populations and species because it ensures their ability to adapt to changing environments. Many important studies have focused on life-history variation between habitats, but the variation maintained within a habitat has often been overlooked.

Unravelling this puzzle at the landscape level is critical for understanding the spatial scales at which adaption and population persistence operate in nature. This motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to investigate life-history variation in masu salmon.

"We wanted to understand how the variation in life-history is partitioned within and among habitats across heterogeneous landscapes," says first author Takeya Shida.

As local languages continue to disappear, Associate Professor Natsuko Nakagawa from the Faculty of Humanities is dedicated to documenting and preserving them while uncovering the linguistic principles hidden within. She also harnesses digital technology, collaborating closely with local communities to ensure the transmission of their language and culture. We spoke with Nakagawa about the allure of linguistics and the field of digital humanities.

Inadequate bedroom ventilation and poor air quality can negatively affect sleep. A recent international study found that the currently prescribed minimum ventilation rates for residential buildings, and especially bedrooms, may be too low and result in disturbed sleep. Therefore, they recommended revisiting the relevant residential building standards so that the ventilation rate with outdoor air can keep CO₂ produced by sleeping occupants at least below 1,000 ppm, or preferably below 800 ppm.

Hair graying and melanoma—a form of skin cancer—may seem like unrelated phenomena. But according to a new study from The University of Tokyo, both outcomes may arise from how pigment-producing stem cells respond to DNA damage. These cells, located in hair follicles, face a critical decision under genotoxic stress: either to differentiate and exit the system—leading to graying—or to continue dividing, which may eventually lead to tumor formation.

Researchers at Tohoku University synthesized a graphene mesosponge to pinpoint the cause of battery failure, so that we can fix the root cause of their instability.

Scientists have long noted with interest that in one of nature’s crucial chemical reactions—the  oxygen evolution reaction—it is manganese, rather than more plentiful similar elements such as iron, that acts as the key catalyst. Now, a research group led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan has discovered that manganese has a unique ability to act even when there are fluctuations in electrical voltage, and that this ability is critical to its success as a catalyst.

A research team led by Associate Professor Tomoya Kataoka at Ehime University, in collaboration with Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd., Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., and Wageningen University’s Associate Professor Tim van Emmerik, has developed AI software using deep learning to detect, classify, and track plastics flowing in rivers. The system automatically estimates transport volumes from video data, supporting continuous monitoring and advancing understanding of land-to-sea plastic transport. The findings appear in Water Research.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) will hold the International Symposium focusing on weather controllability from October 30 to 31 in Tokyo and online. Moonshot program members will report on their achievements and top researchers from around the world will give lectures concerning research and development of "weather-control technologies."

Researchers at Okayama University of Science (OUS) have developed a new histological staining technique that allows direct visualization of ancient proteins within fossil tissues, preserving their microstructural context. This innovative approach enables scientists to verify the authenticity of endogenous proteins—those that originated from the ancient organism itself—before performing complex molecular analyses, reducing contamination risks that have long challenged paleoproteomic studies. Tested on Pleistocene elephant fossils from Japan, the method successfully detected Type I collagen using Van Gieson’s staining, with findings confirmed by mass spectrometry. The study also revealed that bone preserves proteins better than dentine, offering valuable guidance for future fossil analysis. This simple yet powerful technique could revolutionize how researchers screen fossils for preserved proteins, paving the way for future investigations into even older specimens, including dinosaurs.