Understanding how genes influence complex behaviors remains one of biology’s most fascinating challenges. Now, however, in a recent study, researchers from Japan compiled a comprehensive dataset documenting the behaviors of over 30,000 fruit flies across 105 genetically distinct strains. This valuable resource captures individual and group behaviors under various conditions, providing unparalleled insights into the genetic foundations of behavior that could ultimately enable a better understanding of human health conditions and ecology.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers tested whether introducing light into the bedroom before waking would improve morning wakefulness and found an amount of time that seems to help fight off fatigue and raise alertness most.

NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and NAIST have developed a groundbreaking mixed reality (MR) technology that transforms real-world doors into seamless entry points for virtual spaces. Using advanced hand-tracking and spatial computing, the system allows users to naturally transition between real and digital environments. This innovation has potential for applications in tourism, real estate, and entertainment, and will be showcased at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, providing a glimpse of the future of spatial computing and MR.

The same chemicals and receptors that control the sensation of pain in the opioid system also play a role in regulating social behavior. The body produces natural opioid substances which are drawn to receptors throughout the nervous system, sending signals through neurons that induce pain relief, pleasure, and more. Low-dose morphine and buprenorphine that attach to the mu (μ) opioid receptors (MORs) could help promote social interactions, which could help people with neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that affect social interactions.

Childhood maltreatment often continues from one generation to the next, perpetuating the cycle of abuse and depression. In a bid to promote healthier parent-child relationships, researchers from the University of Fukui compared mothers who engaged in maltreatment with those who did not, revealing that childhood trauma increases emotional empathy and depressive symptoms, raising the risk of abusive parenting. Their findings highlight the need for mental health support and parenting programs to help break this cycle.