With the increasing impact of climate change becoming more and more tangible, achieving carbon neutrality—net-zero greenhouse gas emissions—has become an urgent priority.

The key is hydrogen, often referred to as the ultimate energy medium. Hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned and can be obtained from a variety of sources. In November 2023, Kobe University established the Research Center for Hydrogen Energy Technology (HyTec), which is engaged in research with an eye toward the future.

In nature, phenomena involving multiple fluctuations often arise interactively. At the ASDEX Upgrade^*1 experimental device in Germany, two plasma fluctuations driven by energetic particles have been observed in conjunction. Assistant Professor Hao Wang and Professor Yasushi Todo of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), in collaboration with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany, successfully reproduced the coupled generation of the two fluctuations using a simulation code developed at NIFS and performed on a supercomputer. Through detailed analysis, they clarified that as the first fluctuation grew, the distribution function^*2 of the energetic particles was significantly deformed, which caused the second fluctuation to occur in conjunction. Energetic particles and fluctuations are deeply involved in maintaining the high-temperature plasma necessary for the realization of fusion energy. This achievement will greatly contribute to research in these areas.

Juvenile dolphins were found to have specialized receptors for fatty acids on their tongues, offering new insights into their growth and feeding habits.

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion by enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion. The DNA-nanoparticle motor uses the "burnt-bridge" Brownian ratchet mechanism. In this type of movement, the motor is being propelled by the degradation (or "burning") of the bonds (or "bridges") it crosses along the substrate, essentially biasing its motion forward.

These nano-sized motors are highly programmable and can be designed for use in molecular computation, diagnostics, and transport. Despite their genius, DNA-nanoparticle motors don't have the speed of their biological counterparts, the motor protein, which is where the issue lies. This is where researchers come in to analyze, optimize, and rebuild a faster artificial motor using single-particle tracking experiment and geometry-based kinetic simulation.

The discovery of a family with sequence similarity 102 member A (Fam102a) protein as a novel bone remodeling factor that regulates both osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation can aid the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to counter osteoporosis. Their research findings reveal the intrinsic role of Fam102a in the nuclear trafficking of key transcription factors-regulatory proteins involved in the complex bone remodeling process

Transition metals have long been used as catalysts to activate small molecules and turn them into valuable products. However, as these metals can be expensive and less abundant, scientists are increasingly looking at more common elements as alternatives. In a recent study, researchers used a concept called “frustrated Lewis pairs” to develop a transition metal-free catalyst for activating hydrogen. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient chemical processes.

The research groups led by Associate Professor Masaki Sone from the Faculty of Science, Toho University, and Professor Hitoshi Okazawa from Institute of Science Tokyo and Maastricht University in the Netherlands uncovered the mechanism underlying frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) caused by variants in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene. 

A research team led by Dr. Tetsuya Muramoto from the Faculty of Science at Toho University has demonstrated the mechanisms by which periodic chemical signal frequencies in cells regulate gene expression via transcription factors and influence the cell fate determination processes. This groundbreaking revelation was made using optogenetic technology, which facilitates the manipulation of biological phenomena using light. Their findings were recently published in the Development journal on January 14, 2025.

A collaborative dinosaur survey by Okayama University of Science and the Institute of Paleontology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences has revealed one of the largest bipedal dinosaur footprints ever recorded, attributed to a giant Saurolophus exceeding 15 meters in length. Among the findings is a remarkable 24-meter-long trackway of 13 fossilized footprints, offering valuable insights into the posture, locomotion, speed, and group behavior of these herbivorous dinosaurs. This landmark discovery in Mongolia's Gobi Desert not only highlights the area's rich paleontological heritage but also raises the potential for uncovering similarly massive skeletal remains.