Silver-based atomic switches that create stable electrical connections between individual molecules and electrodes have been developed by researchers from Japan, addressing a key challenge in wiring molecular electronics. The switch operates by forming and breaking silver atomic filaments when a voltage is applied and reversed, corresponding to the “on” and “off” states. This method enables the scalable integration of molecular components, paving the way for ultra-compact and energy-efficient circuits built from single molecules.

Smart polymers change their properties in response to temperature, stress, or other stimuli, making them useful in drug delivery and soft robotics. But a major hurdle has been understanding how they behave when flowing or being stretched—conditions they face in real-world use. Now, researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a custom rheo-impedance device that provides the first look at these details, paving the way for more reliable and responsive smart materials.

A recent study explores how Japanese learners of French produce ambiguous speech errors. Using a specialized assessment tool, researchers found that many mistakes once considered purely “phonetic” may actually be rooted in morpholexical misunderstanding, and vice-versa. The findings offer teachers valuable guidance for improving pronunciation pedagogy and error correction. This work opens new possibilities for assessing ambiguity in second-language speech and better understanding the interplay between sound and meaning in learning French.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is invaluable in the medical world. But despite all the good it does, there is room for improvement. One way to enhance the sensitivity of MRI is called dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), where target molecules for imaging are modified so they form clearer images when scanned with an MRI machine. But this technique requires some special crystalline materials mixed with polarizing agents which are difficult to create. For the first time, researchers including those from the University of Tokyo demonstrate the use of molecules called fullerenes as polarizing agents. Their new method can make DNP targets sufficient to yield far greater clarity when imaged with an MRI machine, with potential benefits in various medical applications.

Kyoto, Japan --  "Why are we here?" is humanity's most fundamental and persistent question. Tracing the origins of the elements is a direct attempt to answer this at its deepest level. We know many elements are created inside stars and supernovae, which then cast them out into the universe, yet the origins of some key elements has remained a mystery.

Chlorine and potassium, both odd-Z elements -- possessing an odd number of protons -- are essential to life and planet formation. According to current theoretical models, stars produce only about one-tenth the amount of these elements observed in the universe, a discrepancy that has long puzzled astrophysicists.

This inspired a group of researchers at Kyoto University and Meiji University to examine supernova remnants for traces of these elements. Using XRISM -- short for X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, an X-ray satellite launched by JAXA in 2023 -- the team was able to perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant within the Milky Way.

A research team led by Ryo Shimano of the University of Tokyo has successfully visualized two distinct mechanisms through which up and down spins, inherent properties of electrons, switch in an antiferromagnet, a material in which spin alignments cancel each other out. One of the visualized mechanisms provides a working principle for developing ultrafast, non-volatile magnetic memory and logic devices, which could be much faster than today’s technologies. The findings are published in the journal Nature Materials.

A novel treatment (MA-5) developed by a Tohoku University-led research team will soon undergo phase II clinical trials at four medical institutions across Japan. MA-5 could provide hope for patients with mitochondrial diseases – as there are currently no approved treatments available.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University examined fibulin-5 present in plasma and found that its levels increase as liver fibrosis progresses.

A remarkable resistance to venom has been discovered in a frog that feasts on hornets despite their deadly stingers. This frog could potentially serve as a model organism for studies on mechanisms underlying venom tolerance.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team studied 5-HT3A receptor deletion in mice to assess behavioral persistence.