In statistics, data collection is a difficult process that demands thoughtful consideration. Securing a sufficient sample size can be challenging, or even impossible, regardless of the method employed. Small area estimation is a promising statistical technique that not only focuses on the target data but also incorporates data from related areas to improve mathematical accuracy. We spoke with Masayo Hirose, a researcher specializing in small area estimation, who shared the unique appeal of this field, the future direction of her work, and the message she hopes to convey to students.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) arises from defective blood stem cells that progressively lose their normal functions. Japanese researchers have revealed how changes in chromatin accessibility—how DNA is packaged—reprogram these stem cells toward faulty myeloid gene activity. This shift disrupts the balance of blood cell development and drives disease progression. The team also developed a chromatin-based “progenitor score” that accurately reflects disease severity and predicts patient prognosis in MDS.

Researchers at Tohoku University found the key to taming electrochemical reactions so they don’t produce rogue byproducts instead of valuable fuels.

A Japanese research team has successfully reproduced the human neural circuit in vitro using multi-region miniature organs known as assembloids, which are derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. With this circuit, the team demonstrated that the thalamus plays a crucial role in shaping cell type-specific neural circuits of the cerebral cortex in humans. This discovery may pave the way for developing new medications to treat neurodevelopmental disorders.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully cultured canine iPS cells in a medium without using components of human origin.

Neutron stars are compact objects with strong gravity and extreme magnetic fields. A research team investigated long-term X-ray variability in the neutron star NGC 7793 P13. This object is thought to be driven by supercritical accretion, where an extraordinary amount of gas falls onto the object and emits intense X-rays. The team found a mysterious relation between the X-ray luminosity and the rotation velocity. This result could provide clues to reveal the supercritical accretion mechanism.

Using a dual-cation substitution approach, researchers at Science Tokyo introduced ferromagnetism into bismuth ferrite, a well-known and promising multiferroic material for next-generation memory technologies. By replacing ions at both the bismuth and iron sites with calcium ions and heavier elements, they modified the spin structure and achieved ferromagnetism at room temperature. Additionally, negative thermal expansion was observed. This ability to engineer magnetism and thermal expansion in a multiferroic material aids in realizing future memory devices.

Researchers from Okayama University and Tohoku University have discovered that targeting collagen signaling through the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) enhances drug delivery and reverses therapy-induced resistance in pancreatic cancer. Their study shows that DDR1 inhibition improves macromolecular drug penetration and mitigates fibrosis triggered by MEK inhibitors, offering new hope for more effective treatment strategies.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. This research shows how exposing a single active site has huge implications for producing green energy.