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.

A research group is developing a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease caused by Bundibugyo virus. The project has been selected for funding by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund.

Researchers from the University of Osaka found that localization of the CLK1 kinase to nuclear stress bodies during thermal stress and recovery is regulated by PP1-mediated dephosphorylation and RIOK2-mediated rephosphorylation. This mechanism, which controls pre-mRNA splicing under stress conditions, could provide new insight into stress-related diseases.

Lithium metal is a prime contender for the next generation of rechargeable batteries. But in order to live up to that potential, scientists have had to try and find a solution to the dendrite problem. Lithium tends to grow into needle-like structures (dendrites) which reduce the battery life and create safety hazards. The answer may be like the key to most things in life: balance. Researchers from Tohoku University's Institute for Materials Research (IMR)discovered that, rather than increasing the amount of lithium salt in a battery, an optimal lithium concentration allows lithium to deposit evenly and form a stronger protective layer on the battery surface. 

Researchers at Tohoku University have made an interesting discovery that provides a boost to the immune system of birds. They found that B-cell development, which forms part of the immune system, occurs outside the bursa of Fabricius, the organ where scientists previously thought B-cell development exclusively occurred. The findings paint a clearer picture of the birds’ immune system at a time when antimicrobial resistance has affected livestock and poultry production across the globe.

Graphene revolutionized materials science after its discovery in 2004. Its list of potential applications is long, but its use in high-temperature superconductors has been stymied by weak electron interactions. Researchers from Tohoku University have recently created a stable version of boron graphene on the surface of a three-dimensional crystal, potentially overcoming this limitation and opening a pathway toward more energy-efficient electronic devices.

Hearing loss affects communication, learning, independence, and social well-being. While cochlear implants have transformed treatment for severe hearing impairment, they require surgery and are often associated with post-operative complications. They also rely on electrical stimulation, which can limit their precision. Researchers are therefore exploring whether applying optical neural stimulation through brain-machine interfaces can mitigate these limitations. However, the effect of laser stimulation applied through the tympanic membrane is largely understudied.

Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit a single gene in red perilla, turning its leaves green and boosting levels of health-promoting compounds. The edited plants accumulated about six times more luteolin and increased rosmarinic acid, demonstrating a strategy for developing high-value perilla for food and pharmaceutical applications.