Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered a new way to reduce obesity. Supplying the gut with extra acetate reduces fat and liver mass in both normal and obese mice, as long as bacteria of the Bacteroides species is also present. When both these conditions are met, gut bacteria can eliminate more sugars from the gut and promote the burning of fats for energy in the host. The findings were published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism.

In a recent study published in Current Biology, a research team led by Professor Takashi Ueda of the National Institute for Basic Biology and Associate Professor Masaru Fujimoto of the University of Tokyo has revealed the molecular steps that led to the emergence of this plant-specific vacuolar transport system. Their work shows that the acquisition of this pathway was driven by the stepwise neofunctionalization of a membrane fusion protein called VAMP7.

Strategically arranging histidine residues inside a protein cage is a promising approach to create artificial enzymes, reports researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. The engineered protein cage mimics natural enzymes using simple amino acids without any metal cofactors, overcoming a major limitation in artificial enzyme design. Molecular simulations confirmed that the confined environment within the protein cage enhances catalytic efficiency, offering a new route to develop sustainable biocatalysts.

Heart failure often occurs alongside other chronic conditions in older adults, but their combined impact remains unclear. Japanese researchers have now analyzed data from over 1,100 patients with heart failure aged 65 and older, revealing that overlapping cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions are associated with lower physical function and worse prognosis. These findings highlight the importance of simpler screening tools to identify high-risk patients early and improve outcomes in older adults.

A research group formed by the Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology and the Hoshino Laboratory of the Department of Integrated Health Sciences of the Graduate School of Medicine at Nagoya University discovered that, compared to individuals without schizophrenia, individuals with schizophrenia are more susceptible to perceiving the “glare illusion”, a visual phenomenon in which the central region of an image appears to be brighter than it is, due to a gradient of brightness in the surrounding region. This discovery may provide a clue to understanding how individuals with schizophrenia process visual information. The findings of the study were published in the online version of the journal, Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, on May 19, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2025.100366

Although glasses exhibit disordered atomic structures, X-ray and neutron scattering reveal a subtle periodicity. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have demonstrated that this hidden periodicity—referred to as "invisible order"—plays a critical role in determining vibrational fluctuations in the terahertz (THz) frequency range, which significantly influence the physical properties of glass.

Identification of plant species at high risk of extinction in climate-sensitive alpine ecosystems.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have solved a long-standing mystery behind the drainage of liquid from foams. Standard physics models wildly overestimate the height of foams required for liquid to drain out the bottom. Through careful observation, the team found that the limits are set by the pressure required to rearrange bubbles, not simply push liquid through a static set of obstacles. Their approach highlights the importance of dynamics to understanding soft materials.

 

Janus heterobilayers – dual-sided materials with unique properties – may be the key to efficiently creating clean hydrogen fuels.

 Assistant Professor Daiki Tajiri and Professor Shozo Kawamura of the Machine Dynamics Laboratory, Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University have developed a simple method that identifies the rigidity deterioration of a building’s columns based on only the frequency response of force measured using an inertial shaker installed on the top floor of the building. This method enables the diagnosis of abnormalities in the entire building without requiring acceleration sensors and other equipment on multiple floors, as in the case of conventional methods; in fact, it requires only force sensors. The research results are published in the international academic journal Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.