Researchers at University of Tsukuba have demonstrated that graphitizing the fractured surface of a mechanical pencil lead enables the easy creation of axially oriented graphene edges, which serve as high-quality electron beam sources. The pointed morphology of graphene allowed for stable emission currents under weak electric fields without requiring an ultra-high vacuum environment.

Creating stable isolated spins is crucial for quantum-spin applications, like quantum bits or qubits, sensors, and single-atom catalysts. Currently, most approaches include engineering isolated spins on noble metal surfaces, whose abundant conduction electrons can also disturb their spin state. In a new study, researchers successfully demonstrated for the first time isolated spins on an insulating magnesium oxide film, laid over a ferromagnetic iron substrate, suggesting a new pathway towards realizing qubits using conventional thin-film techniques.

Recent research on fullerene’s role as a metal-free catalyst may redefine our understanding of how carbon nanomaterials can be used in clean energy technologies.

Most currently used fuel cells can only operate efficiently above 500°C, but researchers found a way to essentially cut that number in half.

Using XRISM, JAXA’s new high-precision X-ray spectroscopic satellite, researchers observed a stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way and detected highly ionized iron absorption lines — clear signatures of hot gas. Remarkably, this detection was achieved at the dimmest X-ray state ever reported for such a system. The results reveal the complex structure and motion of gas around the black hole, offering new insights into the dynamic behavior of black holes.

Sour taste is detected by type III cells in taste buds, which transmit information to the brain via vesicle-based synaptic signaling. However, the mechanism behind this process was unclear. Now, researchers at Okayama University have shown that the synaptic protein SNAP25 is essential for both sour signal transmission and long-term survival of type III cells. Mice lacking SNAP25 had fewer type III cells and reduced sour sensation, revealing SNAP25’s dual role in sour taste perception.

Stroke often results in persistent gait impairments, limiting mobility and reducing quality of life. This study evaluated FAST walk, a novel electromyography-triggered system that combines transcutaneous spinal cord and hip extensor stimulation to support walking recovery in patients with chronic stroke. In a randomized controlled trial, FAST walk produced greater improvements in gait speed than spinal stimulation or treadmill training alone, highlighting its potential as a safe, non-invasive, and time-efficient approach for real-world stroke rehabilitation.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have discovered a new type of chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) in an organic crystalline compound. This phenomenon, involving a solid-state structural transition from an achiral to a chiral crystal, represents a significant advance in our understanding of chirality and offers a simplified model to study the origin of homochirality. This transformation also activates circularly polarized luminescence, enabling new optical materials with tunable light properties.

Professor Ogawa, Mr. Echigo (PhD student), and their colleagues in Kanazawa University report in Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging that combination of an At-211-labeled agent with immune checkpoint blockade significantly enhances its therapeutic effect. This strategy represents a promising advancement in the development of next-generation cancer therapies that combine targeted alpha therapy and immunotherapy.