What happens when things combine? This question lies at the heart of the Borell-Brascamp-Lieb inequality (BBL), a mathematical relation widely applied across many fields of mathematics, science and beyond. Now, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), University of Tokyo and University of Florence have provided a new proof for this powerful inequality, taking an unconventional approach based on heat and diffusion equations.

Inspired by biology, researchers have achieved the highest performing underwater adhesive hydrogel technology to date through a data mining and machine learning approach.

Researchers from the National Institute of Physiological Sciences found that ‘denoising’, a method used to clean diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) data, alters the appearance of dMRI images and the estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the data, but had limited impacts on the ability to detect optic tract abnormalities in glaucoma.

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) like nanoparticles, hydrogels, micelles, or liposomes improve  drug availability while minimizing off-target distribution and side effects. Nanoparticle-based DDSs further enhance functionality owing to their larger surface area, leading to better stability, targeted delivery, and controlled drug release. But their low drug-loading capacity hinders desired therapeutic effect. Now, however, Professor Motoichi Kurisawa from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology addresses this challenge with a green tea nanoparticle-based DDSs.

Professor Shogo Okada leads the Social Signal and Multimodal Interaction Laboratory at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). His lab focuses on developing computational models of multimodal social signals – speech, voice tone, body language – to understand their impact on social skills. His lab develops emotionally sensitive AI systems by combining multimodal sensing technology, AI, and cognitive science. Prof. Okada aims to build a harmonious future where technological advances and humane abilities go hand-in-hand.

Origami, or the art of paper folding, finds its roots in Japanese tradition, where it is widely practiced even today. Drawing inspiration from this traditional art form, an emerging field of theoretical computer science, known as Computational Origami, has taken shape. Building on this idea, Professor Ryuhei Uehara from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, is working towards building algorithms for finding effective solutions to complex puzzles and patterns.

At Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Professor Toshiaki Taniike’s lab – Laboratory of Materials Informatics, is pioneering a new era of materials discovery by combining automation, custom-built instruments, and data-driven methods. Their cutting-edge approach is accelerating the search for entirely new reactions, paving the way for carbon-neutral technologies, energy innovation, and a more sustainable future. His efforts are focused on developing a smarter, faster, and more sustainable approach to materials design.

New molecular capsules capable of imparting chiral activity to non-chiral metal-containing dyes were successfully created by self-assembly in water, as reported by researchers from Japan. These capsules have adaptable chiral cavities, inducing chirality of various large and rigid metal-containing dyes upon encapsulation, without requiring typical chemical modification. Moreover, the chiral properties can be tuned with heat, showcasing the potential use in chiral materials and catalysts.

Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) often leads to heart failure in elderly patients, many of whom are too frail for surgery. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), a minimally invasive alternative, offers hope, though its effectiveness has been uncertain. A study from Japan provides strong real-world evidence: patients with AFMR who underwent TEER had significantly lower mortality and hospitalization rates for heart failure compared to those receiving medical therapy alone, highlighting TEER’s potential as a valuable option.

Altermagnets are a newly discovered class of magnets that exhibit unique magnetic behavior. They lack net magnetization but still influence the polarization of reflected light. This makes them difficult to study using conventional optical techniques. A research group has overcome this stumbling block using a new formula, enabling them to clarify the magnetic properties and origins of an organic crystal altermagnet.