NIMS has developed a new theory that explains why tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) —used in magnetic memory and other technologies— oscillates with changes in the thickness of the insulating barrier within a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). This oscillation was clearly observed when NIMS recently recorded the world’s highest TMR ratio. Understanding the mechanisms behind this phenomenon is expected to significantly aid in further increasing TMR ratios. This research was published as a letter article in Physical Review B, a journal of the American Physical Society, on June 9, 2025.

A joint research team from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) and Hiroshima University has successfully improved the performance of terahertz-band communication devices using a mechanical tuning technique based on a microactuator.

Terahertz waves exceeding 100 GHz offer the potential to utilize extremely wide frequency bandwidths for communication, and research and development in this field has been accelerating worldwide. In Japan, in addition to ongoing studies in the 300 GHz band, active research in the 150 GHz band has recently gained momentum. However, as the frequency increases, the wavelength becomes shorter, making the impact of unavoidable mechanical fabrication errors more significant. These errors can greatly affect the performance of the communication modules.

To address this challenge, the research team applied a microactuator capable of sub-micrometer precision to terahertz-band components such as the waveguide transitions that connect antennas and chips. This approach aimed to compensate for performance degradation caused by mechanical inaccuracies. A reflective surface inside a waveguide transition was constructed using a flexible conductive membrane, and its position was controlled by the microactuator. As a result, the team demonstrated that the reflection and transmission characteristics of the waveguide transition could be precisely tuned at 250 GHz.

Preschool teachers shape young children’s development, but how their expertise evolves remains less understood. Using video-cued ethnographic interviews, a researcher studied 112 preschool educators across Japan, China, and the United States to explore what drives professional growth. The study revealed cultural differences in mentoring, collaboration, and motivation. These findings led to a new framework for understanding how early childhood teachers change, offering insight into improving teacher development across diverse educational systems.

With climate change exacerbating drought conditions, scientists in Japan have identified a hidden player in plant survival: myosin XI. This unexpected link between the motor protein and hormone signalling that regulates water loss deepens our understanding of plant stress responses. It also opens a promising avenue for engineering drought-resilient crops. Targeting myosin XI could enhance water-use efficiency and help reshape the future of agriculture in an increasingly arid world.

Using a high-throughput fluorescence microscopy system and machine learning algorithms, oxidative stress-related changes in protein localization have been mapped by researchers from Japan. Furthermore, a comprehensive database called Localizatome has been developed by compiling the subcellular protein localization data of 10,287 human proteins. This database provides information on both the steady-state subcellular localization of proteins and dynamic localization changes that occur in response to oxidative stress.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a novel framework for measuring occupancy in open-plan offices with unprecedented precision.  This innovative system uses computer vision and AI to analyze occupancy at a micro-scale level, focusing on specific functional zones within the office.  This addresses a significant gap in current occupancy tracking methods, which typically only provide macro-level data and struggle to capture detailed usage patterns within shared spaces.

As the days grow shorter, many animals prepare for the approaching winter by suspending reproduction. Insects, for example, accumulate energy stores while halting ovarian development through a process known as reproductive diapause. In a recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers at The University of Osaka uncovered a key neuroendocrine pathway underlying this seasonal shift in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, identifying the neuropeptide corazonin as a molecular signal that suppresses reproduction in response to changes in day length.