Human fetal tissue research has contributed significantly to our understanding of human development and continues to support progress in regenerative medicine. However, the use of fetal tissue obtained following induced abortion raises important ethical considerations. In 2022, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) published standards for obtaining informed consent for fetal tissue donation. At present, Japan has no laws or guidelines that specifically govern fetal tissue research.

A research group led by Professor Misao Fujita, Professor Mitinori Saitou, and Professor Yasuhiro Takashima of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi) and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University has examined the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding human fetal tissue research in Japan. Drawing on an analysis of legal frameworks, regulations, and social contexts in Japan and other countries, the authors identified three key challenges in applying the ISSCR standards domestically: (1) minimizing burdens on potential donors; (2) determining the role of male partners in decisions regarding fetal tissue donation; and (3) addressing legal uncertainties surrounding the storage, use, and disposal of fetal tissue. The study proposes possible approaches to each of these issues.

These findings were published online in Regenerative Medicine on 11 June 2026.

As the world economy is upended by the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth year without a ceasefire in sight, it’s impossible to know what will happen next in today’s global society. Even the UN, the international organization established to maintain peace, has fallen into a state of dysfunction due to the actions of these permanent members of the Security Council, with no solution to be found. We sat down with Professor HAYASHI Mika of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, an expert in international law, to hear more about the role of international law in these chaotic times and how the international community should respond.

The genetic mechanisms regulating the metamorphosis of worker and queen bees from genetically identical insect larvae is poorly understood. A team of researchers recently identified 842 candidate enhancer sequences from 17,349 worker Apis mellifera transcription start sites that may help regulate the development of worker honeybees in this genus’ complex social caste system.

Magnetic quantum oscillations have been unexpectedly observed in insulators, where freely moving charge carriers are not expected to exist. A joint study by researchers from Tokyo University of Science, The University of Tokyo, and Kobe University investigated this puzzling behavior in the Kondo insulator YbB₁₂ using ultrasound. While no oscillations were detected in the insulating state, clear signals emerged after the material became metallic, offering new insight into unusual quantum behavior in next-generation materials.

A compact aperture-adjustable antenna developed by researchers at Science Tokyo could improve high-speed wireless communication across the wide 5G millimeter-wave frequency bands without increasing power consumption. The system maintained strong performance across 57–71 GHz band, improved signal strength by up to 62.2% at 57 GHz and 47.9% at 71 GHz, and achieved data transmission speeds of up to 56 Gb/s. These could support future Beyond 5G and 6G applications, including XR and data-intensive technologies.

Kyushu University researchers have overcome a long-standing challenge of efficiently converting visible light into UV in solid materials through precise molecular design. By adding side chains to the sp³ carbon atoms of an organic molecule, they achieved high luminescence and efficient energy transfer in the solid state. The system reaches 1.9% conversion efficiency under weak light intensity comparable to sunlight, opening the door to applications including solar-driven photocatalysts, indoor air purification, OLEDs, and 3D printing.