Many promising drug molecules fail to reach patients because they do not dissolve well enough in water, limiting their effectiveness when taken orally. Now, researchers from Japan investigated an innovative method that uses sublimation to load drugs into a mesoporous silica carrier without relying on organic solvents. Using ibuprofen as a model compound, they showed that this approach can produce formulations with significantly enhanced solubility, offering a cleaner and more sustainable strategy for drug development.

Scientists from the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) developed a liquid-repellent particle coating that allows pico- and nanoliter liquid droplets to be handled like dry powder, enabling precise control of ultra-small liquid volumes in microfluidics applications.

Winemakers have only a short window to pick their grapes to make the best quality wine. Everything from weather to soil acidity affect which date is best to harvest.

Prof Lei Su and Dr Xuechun Wang have invented a portable optical sensor which uses machine learning to give winemakers instant, accurate ripeness data, removing the need for manual sampling and slow destructive testing.

The team are looking for innovative vineyards, agritech partners, and fruit orchards to help test the prototype and shape the future of smart harvesting.

Musical chills are pleasurable shivers or goosebump sensations that people feel when they resonate with the music they’re listening to. They reduce stress and have beneficial side effects, but they are difficult to induce reliably. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a practical system that uses in-ear electroencephalography sensors to measure the brain’s response to music in real time and provide music suggestions that enhance chills.  

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan recently examined how different kinds of pesticides and fertilizers affect mandarin oranges across Japan. Analysis showed that while reducing pesticides enhanced the diversity of microbes in the soil, it also led to an increase in fruit disease caused by leaf pathogens. The real-world data from commercial farms thus indicate a trade-off above ground with potential ecological benefits below ground. The study offers important insights for the advancement of sustainable agricultural technologies and future policy development.

In a paper published in Earth and Planetary Physics, an international research team has completed taxonomic classification of 80 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) through multicolor photometric observations. Using data from Purple Mountain Observatory Yaoan High Precision Telescope (YAHPT, IAU code O49) in China and Kottamia Astronomical Observatory 1.88 m telescope (IAU code 088) in Egypt, the study reveals the distribution characteristics of different asteroid complexes and their correlations with size and orbital parameters, providing critical references for understanding NEA origins and optimizing planetary defense strategies.

Researchers have discovered that natural “sunscreen” compounds found in algae and cyanobacteria may also support skin and heart health. By comparing two mycosporine-like amino acids, the team showed for the first time that these molecules can block a key enzyme involved in blood pressure control in laboratory tests, while also offering antioxidant and anti-aging effects. The findings open new possibilities for cosmetics and functional foods based on nature-derived ingredients.