Kyoto, Japan -- Many people tend to trust dogs' instincts regarding humans. If dogs gravitate towards you, dog lovers will likely see you as safe and trustworthy, but if dogs are apprehensive around you, some may begin to question your character. Yet how and even if dogs socially evaluate people remains a mystery.

Studies have demonstrated that cognitively complex and social animal species -- such as chimpanzees -- can form reputations of humans either through direct interaction or by observing third-party interactions. The historically intimate relationship dogs have with humans has also made them the focus of considerable research, but findings have proven inconsistent.

Previous research conducted at the Wolf Science Center in Austria found that pack-living dogs and wolves did not form reputations of individual humans after both direct and indirect experience with them. This nonjudgmental attitude may be due to the animals' limited experience interacting with humans, so further study required the participation of more experienced dogs.

What we eat goes a long way in preserving our health and preventing diseases. While many studies have assessed the diversity and frequency of food consumption, few address gender- and age-specific variations in dietary patterns. In a new study, researchers from Fujita Health University, Japan, have used specific statistical tools to understand variations in dietary preferences and food intake across different gender and age groups. Their findings can aid tailored nutritional management through dietary modifications.

Layered sodium manganese oxide (NaMnO₂), especially its β-phase, has received considerable attention for use as cathodes in sodium-ion batteries. However, β-NaMnO₂ exhibits stacking faults (SFs), which severely reduce its cycling stability. In a new study, researchers studied how copper-doping can eliminate SFs in β-NaMnO₂, significantly improving cycling stability. This strategy can lead to the development of longer-lasting sodium-ion batteries, leading to more affordable energy-storage solutions.

Kyoto, Japan -- Respiratory infections such as COVID-19 have been responsible for numerous pandemics and have placed a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Such viruses can cause significant damage to our lungs, especially to the proximal region, or airway, and distal region, also known as the alveoli.

The responses of different lung regions to such infections are varying and complex, so accurately replicating them using traditional models, such as animals and simple in vitro systems, poses a challenge.

To solve this problem, a team of researchers at Kyoto University has developed a micro physiological system, or MPS, capable of emulating different regions of human lungs. Specifically, their device can simulate the airway and alveoli to investigate viral pathologies. Coupled with isogenic iPSCs, the team is preparing for more personalized and accurate treatment of respiratory diseases.

Although music is considered a purely auditory experience, visual cues can unconsciously influence performance judgements—a phenomenon known as the sight-over-sound effect. To explore how one’s musical expertise can affect this bias, researchers from Japan conducted a controlled study using recordings from Japanese high school brass band competitions. Their results reveal that the effect predominantly appears in musicians without genre-specific experience, highlighting how specialized training can shape multisensory evaluation in music perception and judgement.

Amphidromous fish – which migrate between freshwater streams and the sea – can move between habitats thanks to ocean currents. Since island streams are generally small and vulnerable to human impact, understanding how exactly fish populations are connected between streams and between islands is important for the conservation of geographically isolated species. In a study now published in Scientific Reports, a team of researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and collaborators sought to understand these dynamics by investigating the genetic connectivity among populations of the amphidromous goby Luciogobius ryukyuensis at four islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan: Okinawa, Kume, Ishigaki, and Iriomote. 

A research group led by Teppei Matsuda, Assistant Prof. Ryota Yamagami, and Prof. Hiroyuki Hori (Ehime University), in collaboration with Associate Prof. Akira Hirata and Aoi Ihara (Tokushima University), as well as Prof. Takeo Suzuki (University of the Ryukyus), has identified a novel tRNA modification enzyme in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. This enzyme specifically catalyzes 2′-O-methylation of the ribose at cytidine located at position 6 in tRNA^Trp.

Rabi-like splitting is one of the key concepts in modern quantum technology. Fully understanding it can help us advance our knowledge in quantum information processing.