Kyoto, Japan -- Having one traumatic experience is bad enough. If you've constantly experienced stress since before birth, you may be in for an especially tough time. Our emotions may be influenced by infections experienced in the mother’s womb. This can result from two-hit stress, where an infection during pregnancy is followed by social stress during postpartum development.

A team of researchers at Kyoto University recently set out to understand the mechanisms behind which two-hit stress contributes to brain dysfunction and mental disorders. They conducted a comprehensive investigation of the social and cognitive behaviors of mice that have been exposed to such stress, paying particular attention to anxiety-like behaviors.

Previously, this team demonstrated that acute inflammation in the cerebellum caused by a bacterial infection induces neural plasticity, which in turn may lead to hyper-excitability in the brain and the onset of depressive and autism-like symptoms. Yet exactly how two-hit stress contributes to changes in the brain had remained unclear.

Researchers from Osaka University found that TEX38 and ZDHHC19 co-localize on the plasma membrane of spermatids and mediate S-palmitoylation of ARRDC5, a crucial protein for spermatogenesis. Disrupting either TEX38 or ZDHHC19 inhibited cytoplasm removal from the sperm head, resulting in deformed sperm and infertility in a male mouse model.

Gut microbes that were thought to feed exclusively on dietary fiber also get fed sugar from our guts, from which they produce short-chain fatty acids that are crucial to many body functions. The Kobe University discovery of this symbiotic relationship also points the way to developing novel therapeutics.

Comprehensive screening analysis of organohalogen compounds in blubber samples of 11 toothed whale species stranded on Japanese coasts revealed species-specific accumulation profiles, with a total of over 300 organohalogen compounds detected. For the first time, the composition profiles of marine natural products were found to be useful indicators of the feeding habitats and migration history of individual whale species. The research findings were published in Environmental Science & Technology on February 14, 2025.

　How did mammalian faces evolve from reptilian ones? Our study describes the morphological details of mouse craniofacial development, challenging the view that mammals and reptiles share the same jaw structure pattern. We show that mammals lost a reptile-like ancestral jawbone, reorganizing their upper jaw and transforming the ancestral jaw tip into an independent nose. These findings enhance our understanding of facial evolution and provide new insights into human craniofacial development and disorders.

Glaucoma is called the “silent thief of sight” as many don’t notice until significant, irreversible vision loss has already occurred. A revolutionary early screening tool using AI may stop this thief dead in its tracks.

Astronomers conducted molecular gas observations of two enigmatic interstellar objects, which harbor abundant ices of water and organic molecules. The observations with the ALMA telescope have revealed the physical and chemical properties of these objects, but their characteristics do not match those of any previously known interstellar objects where ices have been detected. They may represent a new class of interstellar icy objects that provide an environment conducive to the formation of ices and organic molecules.

A team of neurologists at Niigata University and NCNP (Japan) has identified pathogenic thresholds for the CAG repeat units (RU) of the CACNA1A gene that causes SCA6. Furthermore, our research has revealed the complex effects of the RU of the expanded allele and opposite allele on the onset of SCA6. Depending on the RU of the expanded allele RU, the oposite allele can affect the onset or age of onset of SCA6.

Tokyo, Japan – A team led by a member of Tokyo Metropolitan University have made advances in the search for dark matter, observing galaxies using new spectrographic technology and the Magellan Clay Telescope. With a mere 4 hours of observations, precise measurements in the infrared range have set new limits on the lifetime of dark matter. Their findings highlight the crucial utility of their technology and extend the search to less explored parts of the spectrum.

Sado Island, Japan, is inhabited by seven species of snakes, the largest number in any isolated island in Japan, except for the subtropical Ryukyu Archipelago. Researchers from University of Tsukuba and Niigata University conducted a 5-year field study to investigate the ecology of each snake species. Their results showed that differences in feeding habits, as well as differences in activity times and locations, are critical factors in the coexistence of multiple snake species.