Javelins were at the center of an exhibition at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Sport Museum and Library in the National Stadium, Tokyo. The title of the exhibition, which was open from January to March this year, can be translated as “The science of athletic equipment: the quest for well-flying javelins.” Its impetus was when Professor MAEDA Masato of Kobe University’s Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, who specializes in sports biomechanics and sports technology theory, donated his collection of 120 javelins to the museum. And with the Paris Summer Olympics coming up this year, where Japanese javelin throwers are expected to perform very well, we asked Maeda, who has studied the javelin, about his research and the appeal of the sport.

Researchers developed a novel method combining hydrogel-coated microfluidic devices with high-density microelectrode arrays to study neuronal networks. This innovation allows precise spatial and temporal recording of neural activities, advancing understanding of brain functionality. A multi-university consortium now explores biologically inspired neuronal network models for predictive coding applications.

Minocycline prevents age-related cognitive decline: Discovery focusing on the Rp58 gene

Electric devices and vehicles offer a sustainable and economical alternative to fuel-driven machines. However, concerns about the safety and longevity of conventional lithium ion batteries (LIBs) persist. A study from Doshisha University aimed to develop a novel flame-retardant quasi-solid-state battery by combining solid and liquid electrolytes. With higher safety and durability and improved performance, the new LIB has the potential to transform the applications of electric vehicles and devices.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created nanostructured alumina surfaces which are strongly antibacterial but can be used to culture cells. They found that anodic porous alumina (APA) surfaces prepared using electrochemistry in concentrated sulfuric acid had unprecedented resistance to bacterial growth, but did not hamper cell cultures. The team’s technology promises to have a big impact on regenerative medicine, where high quality cell cultures without bacterial contamination may be produced without antibiotics.

Researchers Ibuki Taniuchi, Ryota Akiyama, Rei Hobara, and Shuji Hasegawa of the University of Tokyo have demonstrated that the direction of the spin-polarized current can be restricted to only one direction in a single-atom layer of a thallium-lead alloys when irradiated at room temperature. The discovery defies conventions: single-atom layers have been thought to be almost completely transparent, in other words, negligibly absorbing or interacting with light. The one-directional flow of the current observed in this study makes possible functionality beyond ordinary diodes, paving the way for more environmentally friendly data storage, ultra-fine two-dimensional spintronic devices, in the future. The findings were published in the journal ACS Nano.

Researchers have developed a new process that uses microwave flow reaction and recyclable solid catalysts to efficiently hydrolyze polysaccharides into simple sugars. The developed device utilizes a continuous-flow hydrolysis process, where cellobiose is passed through a sulfonated carbon catalyst that is heated using microwaves, resulting in the efficient conversion of cellobiose to glucose.

A team led by researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a dataset of the whole atmosphere, enabling new research to be conducted on previously difficult-to-study regions. Using a new data-assimilation system called JAGUAR-DAS, which combines numerical modeling with observational data, the team created a nearly 20-yearlong set of data spanning multiple levels of the atmosphere from ground level up to the lower edges of space. Being able to study the interactions of these layers vertically and around the globe could improve climate modeling and seasonal weather forecasting. There is also potential for interdisciplinary research between atmospheric scientists and space scientists, to investigate the interplay between space and our atmosphere and how it affects us on Earth.  

Valence electrons exhibit electrical conductivity and magnetism. Initially, we studied magnetic spin ordering in triangular lattice semiconductors using light. However, about half of these electrons did not directly contribute to magnetism. Instead, two such electrons formed weakly bound pairs, similar to superconductors. Considering all valence electrons, the system resembles a quantum spin liquid. Our findings show that these previously overlooked "inactive" electrons play a vital role in quantum properties.