Understanding the fundamental energy configuration of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials, the key material that make OLEDs, is critical in developing new more advanced OLEDs. However, current analytical methods have been occasionally unreliable due to its inherent subjectivity and conditional assumptions. Now, researchers have developed a new analytical model that details the kinetics and state dynamics of excitons in TADF materials.

Haptophytes—the unicellular photosynthetic marine algae—are one of the major contributors to marine biomass. Scientists at Okayama University, Japan, unveil the first high-resolution structure of the photosystem II–FCPII (photosynthetic supercomplex) in a marine haptophyte, Chrysotila roscoffensis. This discovery sheds light on the unique approach of sunlight capture and energy management by the complex, offering new insights into marine biology and potential advances in artificial photosynthesis technology.

Emerging theories suggest that communication challenges arise from differing perspectives between autistic and non-autistic partners rather than individual socio-cognitive deficits. In addition, while social behavior varies between cultures, observations from Western cultures dominate our understanding of autism. Researchers from Japan and the UK have conducted a cross-cultural analysis comparing the mentalizing performance of British and Japanese autistic and non-autistic adults. Their study highlights the need for more culturally sensitive socio-cognitive measures to assess autistic traits.

A newly identified centromeric structure, the CENP-A–H4 octasome, may reveal how chromosomes segregate properly during cell division, report researchers from Japan. Using cryo-electron microscopy, they visualized this complex formed only of histones CENP-A and H4, wrapped around 120 base pairs of DNA, revealing unique features important for mitosis. These findings may provide a novel perspective for understanding diseases caused by abnormal cell division, including cancer.

A new study shows how internal coalitions shape corporate decisions after profitability goals are met. Analyzing Chinese firms, researchers found that shareholder-value coalitions tend to increase dividend payments, while state-endorsed coalitions prioritize corporate philanthropy. These competing goals highlight how internal power dynamics influence how firms allocate surplus resources. The findings offer important insights for investors, executives, and policymakers seeking to understand how companies manage competing objectives such as shareholder satisfaction and social priorities.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered a protein that is involved in plant leaf aging.

Researchers trace the evolutionary history of the PD-1 immune checkpoint system across jawed vertebrates, uncovering conserved features with potential relevance for cancer immunotherapy.

Magnetization components perpendicular to an applied electric field can be reversed efficiently in multiferroic materials, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. This challenges their previous finding that the electric field and magnetization reversal must align. Using BiFe_0.9Co_0.1O₃ thin films with a specific crystallographic orientation, they demonstrated that a parallel electric field can induce perpendicular magnetization reversal, enabling more flexible designs of energy-efficient magnetic memory devices.

The Politics of Conformity in Japan explores how dōchō atsuryoku—the pressure to conform—shapes Japanese society. Central to the book is seken, the “social gaze,” or unspoken social expectations, and kūki, the “atmosphere” that influences behavior. Through case studies like wartime Japan, the COVID-19 pandemic, and responses to sexual violence, the book reveals how conformity continues to impact individuals, institutions, governance, and justice in Japan. Insightful and thought-provoking, it shows how Japan’s social fabric is deeply woven with the power of conformity.　

Earthquakes create ripple effects in Earth's upper atmosphere that can disrupt satellite communications and navigation systems we rely on. Nagoya University scientists and their collaborators have used Japan's extensive network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers to create the first 3D images of atmospheric disturbances caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Their results show sound wave disturbance patterns in unique 3D detail and provide new insights into how earthquakes generate these waves. The results were published in the journal Earth, Planets and Space.