Photoactivated ketones prove to be promising H-atom transfer photocatalysts for activating carboxylic acids and generating new C–C, C–S, and C–Cl bonds.

Rice cultivation is known to be resource-intensive, but a study now reveals how root microbes help rice thrive without synthetic and organic fertilizers. Researchers from Japan analyzed microbial communities in rice roots from fertilized and unfertilized fields and discovered that high-yielding rice grown in nutrient-poor soils was enriched with nitrogen-fixing root microbes that naturally support plant growth. These findings could pave the way for microbial biostimulants, promising sustainable rice farming in the future.

Gut bacteria are known to be a key factor in many health-related concerns. However, the number and variety of them is vast, as are the ways in which they interact with the body’s chemistry and each other. For the first time, researchers from the University of Tokyo used a special kind of artificial intelligence called a Bayesian neural network to probe a dataset on gut bacteria in order to find relationships that current analytical tools could not reliably identify.

Kyoto, Japan -- Those who are blessed with long lives will eventually experience a decline in cognitive functions, and working memory is particularly susceptible. However, various forms of exercise and activities that flex the brain are thought to help maintain memory function in old age.

The putamen and cerebellum are two areas of the brain prone to atrophy and reduced activity due to normal aging. Recent neuroscience research has also shown that these are the brain regions most likely affected by practicing a musical instrument. Yet most studies in this area have focused on young participants or people who have been playing an instrument since childhood.

This motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to investigate the effects of taking up a musical instrument in old age. Previous research from this team suggested that practicing an instrument for the first time for four months may improve memory performance and the function of the putamen for the elderly. After observing these short-term improvements, the researchers shifted their focus to the long-term effects of musical instrument practice.

Researchers at Tohoku University used machine learning potential to create large-scale models of tin (Sn) catalysts under different conditions. The results may help design high-performance catalysts that can take harmful carbon dioxide and convert it into green, carbon-based fuels.

Porous materials have a wide range of applications due to their capacity to act as filters, or lightweight structural materials that use less material than a solid substance. Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo created a new material fine enough to filter things like viruses but is strong enough to be a rigid construction material for devices. What makes this material unique is, it can be flexible when wet and responds to changes in pH. This and the fact it can be coated onto other substances give rise to a new range of functional and safe materials which use the minimal amount of raw material to create, leading to more sustainable manufacturing possibilities.

A new way to grow stem cells may help them release more of the signaling proteins they use to repair tissue, potentially improving future treatments.

Cell sheet preparation for use in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies could be significantly improved with the use of thermo-responsive polymer brushes, adjusted in length and density according to specific cell types

Melanin can either protect or worsen hereditary hearing loss depending on genetic context, as reported by researchers from Japan. Using genetically engineered mice lacking the SLC26A4 gene, the researchers found that problems with melanin degradation led to its pathological accumulation in the inner ear, causing chronic inflammation and macrophage activation. These findings could inform new therapeutic strategies to minimize some forms of hereditary hearing loss.

Phosphorus forms the backbone of DNA, RNA, and cellular membranes. But scientists have struggled to pinpoint the specific conditions under which phosphorus developed in Earth’s younger years. A research group from Tohoku University has recently unearthed evidence pointing to submarine hydrothermal alteration, which released phosphorus from the rocks into the surrounding seawater, enriching early oceans with this essential nutrient.