Osaka Metropolitan University researchers discovered that the mitochondrial protein OPA1 in hypothalamic MC4R neurons plays a vital role in controlling fat intake and body weight in mice. The study also highlights significant sex differences in obesity-related responses, offering new insight into the neural regulation of energy balance.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers examined the relationship between herbivory and protection against Chl phototoxicity in leaf beetle larvae. 

Published in Chemical Science, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have designed and synthesized new multi-functional compounds that change structure under UV light. Depending on the light conditions,  the molecules reversibly switch between two stable forms through a ring-opening and ring-closing reaction.  These molecular switches have a range of desirable properties, for example glowing with fluorescence after their structure changes, making it easy to see which state the molecule is in.

A new semiconductor integration platform developed at Institute of Science Tokyo combines advanced chip packaging with high-density interconnects and improved thermal management. This combination of three complementary technologies helps overcome the key challenges in building high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) hardware. By enabling more precise chip placement, faster communication, and efficient cooling, the technology paves the way for more powerful and energy-efficient AI accelerators and high-performance computing systems.

Osaka Metropolitan University assessed computed tomography findings of peritoneal tumors in the absence of primary lesions to identify primary characteristics. 

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) and RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan together with collaborators from the University of Münster, Germany, have developed a new hydrogel that offers significant advantages over others currently on the market in the field of biomaterials. The new hydrogel has a highly organized structure made from nanofibers that contain tiny water channels. The molecules within each nanofiber all point in the same direction, creating an electrical polarization along the fiber. This means that in addition to being strong and flexible, the new gel could be used to transport ions, generate electrical signals when squeezed, or have other advanced interactions with biological tissues. 

A research team led by Professor Keisuke Goda of the SiRIUS Institute of Medical Research and Graduate School of Medicine at Tohoku University, together with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Tokyo, has been named a Milestone 2 Awardee of the XPRIZE Healthspan competition - one of the world’s largest health research competitions. Chosen from among more than 600 teams worldwide, the team received the competition’s Milestone 2 award, US$1 million award, in recognition of its groundbreaking research and to be used toward further testing and research.

Fluorescent protein imaging is an indispensable tool in life science research, enabling visualization of protein movement and localization, gene expression, signaling pathways, protein-protein interactions, and more. For simultaneous analysis of multiple proteins (i.e. multiplex imaging), a variety of fluorescent proteins that emit different colors (blue, green, yellow, and red) have been developed. However, the number of colors that can be distinguished simultaneously is limited, making it difficult to observe and distinguish multiple fluorescent proteins that emit similar colors. Now, researchers from WPI-ITbM at Nagoya University have demonstrated that overlapping colored fluorescent proteins can be distinguished within living plant cells using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). This research was published in Plant Physiology on July 30, 2026.

A high-throughput ceramic processing method developed at Institute of Science Tokyo uses cellulose nanofiber dispersions for rapid preparation of ceramic samples. The simple, low-cost approach allows researchers to explore materials of varying compositions while eliminating several time-consuming steps. Using this method, the team successfully identified a dielectric ceramic with excellent temperature stability, demonstrating its potential in the discovery of advanced functional materials. 

A new etymological study shows that the terms for scientific disciplines can take shape through naming and classification as much as through theories and institutional usage, as reported by a researcher from Japan. Focusing on Busseiron, a Japanese term for the study of matter, the study traced its use across textbooks, journals, and scientific meetings. Analysis revealed how the term gradually brought together diverse matter-related research and became a durable branch of physics in Japan.