The 26th Nagoya Medal of Organic Chemistry will be held on Friday, January 24th, 2025 (JST).

The gold medal will be presented to Professor Alois Fürstner (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Germany), and the silver medal will be presented to Professor Masayuki Inoue (The University of Tokyo, Japan).

Researchers have developed nanodiamond sensors with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, offering exceptional brightness and spin properties for quantum sensing and bioimaging. These nanodiamonds outperform commercial options, requiring 20 times less energy and maintaining quantum states 11 times longer. Enhanced sensitivity to magnetic fields and temperature enables precise applications, including disease detection, battery analysis, and thermal management of electronics, marking a significant advancement in nanotechnology-driven quantum sensing for biological and industrial innovations.

Researchers at Tohoku University's AIMR have developed a new Li-O₂ battery cathode using free-standing graphene mesosponge (GMS) sheets, which eliminates the need for vulnerable binders. This design improves oxygen and Li-ion flow, enhancing stability and performance. The team demonstrated significant capacity and stable cycling, with plans to focus on Li metal anodes for further improvements.

Even highly realistic androids can cause unease when their facial expressions lack emotional consistency. Traditionally, a "patchwork method" has been used for facial movements, but it comes with practical limitations. A team developed a new technology using "waveform movements" to create real-time, complex expressions without unnatural transitions. This system reflects internal states, enhancing emotional communication between robots and humans, potentially making androids feel more humanlike.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that around 15 days of dry weather can trigger the flowering of durian. Observations of 110 durian plants revealed that flowering occurred around 50 days after an approximately 15-day dry spell, independent of whether the plant was grafted or grown from a seed. The team’s work might not only impact the production of a valuable agricultural asset but deepen our understanding of tropical ecosystems.

Heterogeneity in host populations significantly influences pathogen evolution, yet most theories assume uniformity. This study uses a meta-population model to examine how local environmental heterogeneity—factors like migration, birth, carrying capacity, and immunity loss—affects pathogen virulence. The findings reveal that greater heterogeneity consistently results in higher virulence compared to homogeneous environments. These results suggest that previous models underestimated evolving virulence, raising concerns that urbanization and increasing environmental diversity may accelerate the emergence of more lethal pathogens.Heterogeneity in host populations significantly influences pathogen evolution, yet most theories assume uniformity. This study uses a meta-population model to examine how local environmental heterogeneity—factors like migration, birth, carrying capacity, and immunity loss—affects pathogen virulence. The findings reveal that greater heterogeneity consistently results in higher virulence compared to homogeneous environments. These results suggest that previous models underestimated evolving virulence, raising concerns that urbanization and increasing environmental diversity may accelerate the emergence of more lethal pathogens.