An international team led by Associate Professor Kimihiko Nakajima of Kanazawa University has captured a rare look at the early universe. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST *1) and the power of a gravitational lensing (* 2) in space, the team achieved a definitive characterization of LAP1-B, an ultra-faint galaxy from 13 billion years ago. Expanding upon initial detections, this new study utilized deep JWST spectroscopy to reveal a record-breaking low oxygen abundance (* 3) -- merely 1/240th that of the Sun. This chemically primitive state, coupled with an elevated carbon-to-oxygen ratio and a dominant dark matter halo, suggests that LAP1-B is the long-sought "ancestor" of the mysterious fossil galaxies found near our Milky Way today, providing a historic window into the earliest, most primitive stages of galaxy assembly.

In quantum physics, time can exist in a superposition where the different flows of time exist at the same moment. However, this has never been observed experimentally. Now, researchers have developed a theoretical model that shows that this quantum superposition of times can be observed using state-of-the-art atomic clocks. The results open a new frontier in fundamental physics and may lead to more precise next-generation clocks.

Ultrasonic tracking in Hiroshima Bay shows that male and female black sea bream move differently during the spawning season, offering a novel discovery into the reproductive behavior of a broadcast-spawning sparid fish in the wild.

As environmental challenges continue to grow, effective and sustainable management increasingly depends on balancing institutional support with community-led action. Based on four decades of conservation in Tokyo’s Zushi-Onoji satoyama, a recent study conducted at Sophia University, Japan, identifies “gentle power” as a framework grounded in mutual trust, demonstrated expertise, and collaborative learning—offering a new pathway for sustainable environmental governance.

Researchers found that FK‑23, a lactic acid bacterium-derived material, improved the sperm dysfunction induced by bisphenol A (BPA)—a chemical commonly used in plastic production including food containers—using a rat model.

Kumamoto University is proud to announce that Mr. Takenobu Nakagawa, a Senior Technical Specialist has been awarded the 2026 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Mr. Nakagawa received the Outstanding Support for Research Award in the Advanced Technical Support Category.

A bird’s flying ability depends on the keel, a breastbone structure that anchors the muscles needed for flight. Researchers at Kyushu University found that a signaling pathway called TGF-β determines whether the keel forms. In flying birds, the signal stays active long enough to build it; in flightless birds, it turns off earlier. The study shows how small shifts in developmental timing can drive major evolutionary differences and may inform research on human chest deformities.