What appears to be silver-blue pigment is actually structural coloration—an optical phenomenon that Encephalartos horridus creates through light-scattering wax crystals sculpted from a lipid compound that may date back to the dawn of land plants.

Scandium aluminium nitride (ScAlN) has emerged as a promising barrier material for improving the performance of gallium-nitride (GaN)-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). However, current methods for growing ScAlN layers on GaN require expensive equipment and high temperatures. In a new study, researchers investigated how sputtering can be used to successfully grow ScAlN layers on GaN at relatively lower temperatures and reduced costs, paving the way towards commercialization of high-performance ScAlN-based GaN devices.

The growing healthcare burden posed by hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common subtype of liver cancer, has prompted the establishment of a Commission comprising a wide range of medical and public health experts. Now, they present their findings in a recent report, which defines concrete goals for the reduction of hepatocellular carcinoma cases, and presents a set of evidence-based recommendations to help stakeholders work together to achieve these goals.

The accurate estimation of bearing stratum depth, the subsurface soil or rock layer depth that can support a foundation, is key to preventing soil-related disasters in earthquake-prone areas and ensuring a building’s structural safety. However, traditional methods to assess this depth involve high costs, time, and labor. Now, researchers from Japan have demonstrated improved depth prediction accuracy by employing machine learning algorithms, making it both cost-effective and a generalizable alternative to traditional field surveys.

Solid-oxide fuel cells are a promising material for future green energy infrastructure due to their high efficiency and long lifespan. However, they require operation at high temperatures of around 700-800℃. Now researchers at Kyushu University have succeeded in developing a new SOFC material with an efficient operating temperature of 300℃. The team expects that their new findings will greatly accelerate the practical application of green energy devices.

Newly developed DNA nanostructures can form flexible, fluid, and stimuli-responsive condensates without relying on chemical cross-linking, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo and Chuo University. Owing to a rigid tetrahedral motif that binds the linkers in a specific direction, the resulting string-like structures form condensates with exceptional fluidity and stability. These findings pave the way for adaptive soft materials with potential applications in drug delivery, artificial organelles, and bioengineering platforms.

A Japanese superconducting quantum computer, designed and built with homegrown components and software, went live on July 28th at The University of Osaka’s Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB). This achievement signifies Japan's technological prowess in quantum computing, demonstrating the nation's capacity to design, manufacture, and integrate a complete quantum system. Visitors to Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan will have the opportunity to interact with this cutting-edge technology through a dedicated exhibit.

Targeted drug delivery to tumors is crucial for effective and safe treatment of cancer. In a recent breakthrough, researchers from Okayama University have developed a pH-responsive nanomaterial using graphene oxide and polyglycerol for cancer drug delivery. The surface of the developed nanomaterial changes its charge in an acidic tumor environment and enables uptake of drugs by cancer cells while avoiding immune clearance. This innovative approach opens doors to precision-driven and more efficient cancer therapies.