Researchers from Okayama University of Science and collaborating institutions have identified four previously unrecognized mosasaur fossil bones from a rock collected about 30 years ago in Osaka Prefecture, including the first confirmed mosasaur premaxilla ever found in Japan. The fossils, recovered during a reexamination of museum specimens, also display unique anatomical features that differ from those of known mosasaurs, suggesting the possibility of a previously unknown species. The discovery demonstrates the scientific importance of revisiting existing museum collections and provides new insights into Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems in the northwestern Pacific.

An accelerator of the highest-energy protons in our galaxy has been identified; it could help scientists better understand the nature of these fast-moving particles that fill the space between stars.

Researchers at QST have found that tau buildup in progressive supranuclear palsy may affect brain networks involved in thinking and behaviour. The findings suggest that symptoms appear to arise not only from where tau accumulates in the brain, but also from how those affected areas are connected to distant brain regions.

Developing thermoelectric materials that efficiently convert waste heat into electricity remains challenging because high electrical performance and low thermal conductivity are difficult to achieve simultaneously. Researchers at Science Tokyo developed a layered crystal, TlFe_1.6Se₂, that embeds atomically thin iron selenide (FeSe) layers within a bulk material. The crystal combines a high thermoelectric power factor with exceptionally low thermal conductivity, demonstrating a promising strategy for designing next-generation materials for waste heat energy recovery.

A new study developed a perception-driven display method that dynamically balances the visibility of real and virtual content in optical see-through augmented reality glasses. By combining polarization blending with real-time analysis of human visual perception, the system enhances real-scene brightness while preserving virtual object appearance. User studies and a benchtop prototype demonstrated improved performance under changing lighting conditions. The findings may support safer, more practical, and photorealistic AR applications across multiple industries.

Toyoake, Japan — A research team at Fujita Health University led by Professor Tsuyoshi Miyakawa has uncovered a novel mechanism of cellular plasticity in which repeated neuronal stimulation can durably alter the identity of mature neurons. Using a neural stimulation pattern termed "Repetitive Optogenetic Stimulation (REPOPS)," the researchers found that granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus undergo long-lasting changes in nuclear structure and gene expression, revealing a novel process which the team terms “nuclear reprogramming.”

Researchers have developed prototype thin-film electronic modules that can move, dock, and undock with other devices. The module is composed of an actuator layer—that bends when heated—layered onto a circuit. The prototype can be arranged and manipulated to establish a mechanical and electrical connection simultaneously.

By examining 200 years of demographic data from 237 countries and territories, Kenji Itao from the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has discovered that universal mathematical laws describe how fertility declines as societies develop.

You are what you eat! Researchers discovered that a small change to the diet of silkworms improves the quality of silk they produce.