A collaboration team of researchers from the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Graduate School of Science at Nagoya University, and the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS) reports in ACS Nano an integrative modeling workflow to understand with atomistic precision biomolecular dynamics from high-speed atomic force microscopy experiments.

Neural pathways related to total calorie intake have been extensively studied. However, it remains unclear how these mechanisms control food choices. Yasuhiko Minokoshi and Ken-ichiro Nakajima’s research team discovered that glucoprivation caused by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG)¹⁾ administration increases the intake of high-fat diet (HFD) and high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) in mice through two separate neural pathways in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) ²⁾. These findings first demonstrate that fat and carbohydrate intake are regulated differently in the brain. This study was conducted collaboratively at NIPS, Nagoya University, and Sugiyama Jogakuen University. The results were published in “Metabolism”.

Population genetic analysis conducted by researchers at University of Tsukuba have revealed that natural Japanese hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and, its variety, Taiwanese hinoki cypress (C. obtuse var. formosana) diverged approximately 1 million years ago due to the geological separation of the Ryukyu Archipelago. The study also found that the Japanese variety has expanded over time, whereas the Taiwanese population has become fragmented and declined. Furthermore, the unique genetic characteristics of populations at the northern and southern distributional limits of Japan warrant high conservation priority.

Resurrected by a team of Japanese physicists, a long-dismissed knot idea from the 1800s now offers clues to one of physics’ biggest unsolved mysteries, with help from ghostly particles, writhing relics of the primordial universe, and phantomlike barrier crossings.

Membrane reactors can address the limitations of conventional reactors for CO₂ conversion reactions by selectively removing H₂O molecules. However, the performance of zeolite-based membranes degrades at high temperatures and low H₂O concentrations, limiting practical applicability. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a novel silsesquioxane framework containing ionic liquid-modified zeolite membranes that demonstrate enhanced H₂O permselectivity even at dilute H₂O concentrations and high temperatures, paving the way for their application in membrane reactors.

This study reports the first in plant synthesis of luminescent and photo-responsive lignin by genetically engineering poplar trees to incorporate scopoletin into the lignin polymer. Through controlled enzyme expression, we achieved lignin with strong, stable luminescence, visible-range emission, and resistance to quenching. Additionally, the material exhibits pH-responsive fluorescence and reversible photo-dimerization, enabling light-controlled functionality. These unique properties open new opportunities for sustainable biomaterials with potential applications in environmental sensing, smart polymers, and advanced photonic materials.

Scientists at Tohoku University have uncovered how electric fields, surface properties, and charge dynamics work together to shape catalytic reactions.  The findings reveal why pH so strongly influences reaction efficiency, and how understanding this interplay can guide the design of smarter, more sustainable catalysts.

A research team has broken down walls, or moved magnetic domain walls to be exact, in the field of spintronics. They uncovered a new mechanism that enables faster and more efficient movement of magnetic domain walls in spintronic materials. By harnessing dual spin torques in a cobalt–iridium–platinum multilayer structure, the team demonstrated a unique form of spin-driven motion. The findings could inform the design of next-generation, low-power spintronic memory devices. 

In the marine green alga Codium fragile, unusual carotenoids rapidly dissipate harmful chlorophyll triplet states, protecting the organism from light-induced damage. Using EPR spectroscopy and quantum chemical simulations, the study revealed the structural and electronic principles behind this photoprotection, offering insights for potential bio-inspired solar technologies.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and the Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), collaborated with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), have achieved the world’s first successful demonstration of next-generation error correction codes, mitigating the impact of atmospheric turbulence on ground-to-satellite laser communications.

Atmospheric turbulence in ground-to-satellite laser links is known to cause fading, resulting in burst data errors. Error correction codes are one of the key technologies to mitigate such effects. In this experiment, we transmitted next-generation error correction codes with high correction capability (5G NR LDPC and DVB-S2) and successfully corrected burst data errors caused by atmospheric turbulence in the laser link. This result confirmed that both codes can significantly improve communication quality compared to conventional schemes.

This achievement is expected to contribute to the practical implementation of ground-to-satellite laser communications by applying these codes.