Professor Hirotoshi Mori (Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University), together with Nichika Ozawa (first-year Ph.D. student at Ochanomizu University) and Assistant Professor Nahoko Kuroki of Ochanomizu University, has proposed a new design principle for QM/MM (quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics) simulations. The approach enables objective and automatic determination of the quantum-mechanical region based on electronic-state changes, addressing a long-standing challenge in multiscale molecular simulations. This work was published online in Advanced Science on December 23, 2025 (JST), an international journal that features conceptually innovative and interdisciplinary breakthroughs across materials science, life science, chemistry, and physics. This article will be published in issue 17 (March 23rd) of Advanced Science, and the cover design suggestion has been selected to be featured on a frontispiece in it. A frontispiece is a full-page image (similar to a cover) placed at the beginning of this article that highlights outstanding results.

Researchers at the Regional Service for Agri-Food Research and Development (SERIDA) have developed a new large-scale remote sensing model that will enable comprehensive, high-resolution monitoring of fossorial water vole populations in areas where they cause agricultural damage. The system combines data collected in the field with satellite-derived information, facilitating detailed and continuous control of the appearance and spread of these rodents across extensive agricultural areas.

Scholarly publisher and technology provider Pensoft welcomes the two latest additions to its diverse portfolio of scholarly outlets: the open-access, peer-reviewed journals Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (SJP) and Swiss Journal of Geosciences (SJG). Both journals are affiliated with the Swiss Geological Society and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).

Scientists have created the highest resolution map of the dark matter that threads through the Universe – showing its influence on the formation of stars, galaxies and planets.

A new portable reactor based on solid oxide fuel cell solves thermal management and safety issues, as reported by researchers from Japan. This miniaturized reactor can start up rapidly within 5 minutes at room temperature and demonstrate electric power generation. Featuring an innovative structural design with high thermal insulation and a multilayered insulation system, this microreactor design could be used to power a wide variety of edge devices, including drones, compact robots, and AI hardware.

SAN ANTONIO — January 26, 2026 — A new paper by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) staff details how using popular culture could effectively teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts. The paper shares insights from SwRI staff who hosted “Physics of Anime” panels at anime and hobbyist conventions across the country, presenting complex scientific ideas in an engaging way to curious attendees.

In a study published in Water Research, Jingqiu Liao and a group of international researchers found that nanoplastics’ interactions with environmental microbes may pose indirect dangers to people, specifically by way of water systems.

A recent study investigated the tensile behavior and microstructural evolution of rubber-modified engineered cementitious composites (R-ECC) under coupled thermal–mechanical loading conditions. Unlike conventional post-heating evaluations, the research examined real-time tensile responses of R-ECC at elevated temperatures ranging from 25 ℃ to 150 ℃. The results reveal that while increasing temperature reduces tensile strength, sub-high temperatures (70–100 ℃) can significantly enhance ductility through favorable fiber-matrix interactions. The findings provide new insights into the design and application of ECC materials for structures operating in elevated-temperature service environments.