A research team led by Associate Professor Tomoya Kataoka at Ehime University, in collaboration with Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd., Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., and Wageningen University’s Associate Professor Tim van Emmerik, has developed AI software using deep learning to detect, classify, and track plastics flowing in rivers. The system automatically estimates transport volumes from video data, supporting continuous monitoring and advancing understanding of land-to-sea plastic transport. The findings appear in Water Research.

Recently, Wei Tao Huang Research Team published a groundbreaking study in the journal Research, introducing a multifunctional trimetallic gold–silver–chromium nanocomposite (Au–Ag–Cr NCs). These nanocomposites have been applied in various fields, including multimode and multianalyte sensing, advanced arithmetic and reversible logic operations, and large-scale information security protection. This study not only updates the preparation paradigm of multimetallic nanomaterials but also paves the way for new applications in molecular information technology.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) will hold the International Symposium focusing on weather controllability from October 30 to 31 in Tokyo and online. Moonshot program members will report on their achievements and top researchers from around the world will give lectures concerning research and development of "weather-control technologies."

A new study has revealed how pear trees use a hidden layer of RNA communication to defend themselves against fungal infection. Scientists discovered that a long non-coding RNA named MSTRG.32189 forms a regulatory network with PcmiR399b and PcUBC24 to control phosphate levels and disease resistance. Acting like a molecular decoy, MSTRG.32189 fine-tunes the plant’s internal balance between nutrition and immunity. When its expression decreases during infection, the pear’s defense system activates, boosting resistance through increased phosphate accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. This finding offers a new window into how plants coordinate nutrient metabolism with immune protection.

A new study has assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome of Acer pentaphyllum, one of the world’s most endangered and ornamental maples. The findings reveal how the species’ genome adapted to the harsh dry-hot valleys of western China through expansions and positive selection of genes related to photosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, and pathogen defense. Population genomic analyses across 28 wild populations uncovered low genetic diversity, high inbreeding, and accumulation of harmful mutations, especially at range edges. These results provide essential genetic insights for guiding conservation planning and genetic rescue of this critically endangered species.

A new study led by Nigerian researchers suggests a simple ingredient could make diesel engines cleaner: water. By blending precise amounts of water with diesel fuel, scientists have shown that emissions of several harmful pollutants can be dramatically reduced without major engine modifications.