The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), in collaboration with Seagate Technology (USA), has demonstrated a new recording principle that improves recording efficiency by 35% by combining spin torque with conventional heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). This advancement is expected to reduce thermal energy consumption during magnetic recording and enhance the durability and reliability of hard disk drives (HDDs). The findings were published in Acta Materialia on January 13, 2025.

Researchers from Shinshu University developed a low-cost nanocomposite by embedding bimetallic and trimetallic molybdates into nitrogen-, boron-, and fluorine-doped hollow carbon nanofibers. This material demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance for supercapacitors, with high capacitance and long-term stability, as well as strong catalytic efficiency in degrading 4-nitrophenol, a common industrial pollutant. The composite offers promising dual functionality for energy storage and environmental remediation, providing a scalable and efficient solution to address pressing global energy and pollution challenges.

The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for advanced tools to predict future outbreaks. The study introduces CoVFit, an AI-driven model that analyzes spike protein mutations to assess the fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variants. By combining molecular and epidemiological data, CoVFit provides early insights into the transmissibility and immunity evasion of emerging variants, offering a powerful tool for pandemic preparedness, vaccine design, and global risk assessment.

Ferromagnetic semiconductors, which combine semiconductor and magnetic properties, are key to developing spin-based devices. Previously studied materials, such as (Ga,Mn)As, have Curie temperatures below room temperature, thereby limiting their practical use. Now, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo and The University of Tokyo have overcome these limitations by utilizing the step-flow growth method, achieving a record-high Curie temperature of 530 K, facilitating the development of stable, room-temperature semiconductor spintronic devices.

Hydrogen boride (HB) nanosheets can inactivate viruses, bacteria, and fungi within minutes in the dark conditions. By coating surfaces with HB nanosheets, it rapidly inactivates SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and other pathogens. The nanosheets work by denaturing microbial proteins, offering a safe, effective, and versatile antimicrobial coating for everyday items.

Environmental factors and DNA methylation are known to play a role in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While environmental factors are known to alter neuronal activity in the dorsal raphe of the brain, researchers have now observed differentially methylated regions in key brain areas as well as heightened expression of RABGGTB—a gene related to autophagy and synaptic function. These findings shed light on the interplay of environmental and genetic factors in ASD.

A research team has developed a unified theoretical framework to better predict the performance of single-atom catalysts for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.

A new camera setup can record three-dimensional movies with a single pixel. Moreover, the technique can obtain images outside the visible spectrum and even through tissues. The Kobe University development thus opens the door to holographic video microscopy.

Achieved the first spectroscopic observation of hydrogen (H₂) and deuterium (D₂) molecules physically adsorbed within an atomic-scale space known as a picocavity.Employed picometric rotational/vibrational spectroscopy to elucidate their structure and dynamics at the single-molecule level.Observed distinct spectral responses for H₂ and D₂, and theoretically demonstrated that these differences arise from non-trivial isotope effects due to quantum nuclear effects.

This advancement in precision molecular spectroscopy within picocavities opens new possibilities for well-controlled studies of functional materials for energy applications, such as hydrogen storage systems and catalytic surfaces, as well as for developing single-molecule quantum control technologies.

Kyoto, Japan -- In nature, ecosystems are tightly linked through the flow of organisms, detritus, and nutrients across boundaries arbitrarily imagined by humans. These systems are deeply in tune with seasonal changes, fostering a harmonious ebb and flow of resources.

Many of these connections remain poorly understood, especially the mechanisms responsible for maintaining biodiversity at the landscape level. One important example is the environmental drivers underlying variations in life-histories, or how organisms grow, survive, and reproduce in natural ecosystems. But as human activities ravage biodiversity on a global scale, elucidating the factors that cause variations in an organism's life-history is fundamental for understanding not only population persistence and adaptation to fluctuating environments, but also effective conservation and management.

Motivated to shed light on these factors, a team of researchers at Kyoto University is studying how seasonally recurring resource subsidies affect life-histories. Via a large-scale field experiment in a temperate forest-stream ecosystem, they are testing whether the seasonal timing of terrestrial subsidies contributes to maintaining variations in life-history traits of red-spotted masu salmon, a common freshwater fish in Japan.