Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth often arise during the late stage of pregnancy. However, researchers have primarily relied on placental cells from early pregnancy to study these conditions, which may not fully reflect the biology of late-stage complications. Now, a research team in Japan has successfully developed human placental stem cells from the smooth chorion (a part of the placenta) taken from full-term pregnancies. These new stem cells, called Ch-TS cells, share the same characteristics as placental stem cells from early pregnancy and can develop into the key cell types essential for proper placental function. This advancement allows scientists to study placental complications using cells from the actual time period when these complications occur, potentially leading to better understanding, earlier detection, and improved treatments for pregnancy-related conditions.

NAGOYA, Japan — In late September 2025, KIOXIA Iwate Corporation (Koichiro Shibayama CEO) will begin evaluating a GaN-based e-beam technology developed through joint research between Photo electron Soul Inc. (PeS; Takayuki Suzuki CEO), a Nagoya University startup, and the Amano–Honda Laboratory at Nagoya University.

Scientists at The University of Osaka and Tohoku University have developed a groundbreaking technique for creating nanoscale magnetic thin films with embedded functionality. By leveraging the stretchability of flexible substrates, they can precisely control the atomic spacing within these nanofilms, effectively “programming” desired magnetic properties directly into the material. This innovative approach, published in Applied Physics Letters, overcomes limitations of conventional deposition methods and paves the way for advancements in various fields, from electronics to fundamental materials science.

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) is a semiconductor material that could make electronic devices much more energy-efficient than current silicon-based technology. Electronic diodes require two types of semiconductor layers to function properly, negative-type (n-type) and positive-type (p-type) layers. Scientists could reliably produce n-type gallium oxide layers but struggled to create stable p-type layers because gallium oxide's crystal structure naturally resists the atoms needed for these layers. This limitation resulted in gallium oxide semiconductors with poor performance and reliability issues. Now, researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have solved this manufacturing challenge and created the first functional pn diodes using gallium oxide. Their method, published in the Journal of Applied Physics, enables the use of gallium oxide for improved semiconductors and energy efficient devices. In addition, these new pn diodes can carry twice as much electrical current as previous gallium oxide diodes. 

The widely used diabetes drug metformin changes blood metal levels in humans. The Kobe University study is an important step in understanding the drug’s many actions and designing better ones in the future.

A clinical trial led by the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine was the first to show that a drug called lubiprostone – typically used for constipation – can treat patients with chronic kidney disease.

Child neglect—or the failure to provide care during early years—is the most prevalent yet understudied form of child maltreatment, often leaving no visible scars but causing long-term harm. Now, researchers from Japan have used advanced neuroimaging to examine the brain’s white matter in neglected children. They identified structural abnormalities in brain regions linked to emotion, behavior, and cognition, offering objective markers for early intervention and highlighting the profound impact of neglect on development.

Researchers from Tohoku University, NIMS, and JAEA have demonstrated for the first time the technological advantages of antiferromagnets. Their study, published in Science, shows that antiferromagnets enable faster, more efficient memory operations than conventional ferromagnets.