Research Topics

Coastal beetles may be spanning oceans just by floating themselves acrossStudy shows that some insects can survive floating on sea water for several weeks

Three new species of mud dragons found in submarine cave in Okinawa, JapanDiscovery of the kinorhynchs reveals more of the hidden—but diverse—world of sand-dwelling microscopic animals

Design of insect-inspired fans offers wide-ranging applicationsNew design method for highly compact deployable structures is based on the sophisticated folding of earwig wings

Unique molecular sponges for liquid separationResearchers separate molecular mixtures by selectively absorbing larger molecules over smaller ones into nanoscale pores using a process driven by depletion force

Memory impairment in mice reduced by soy derivate that can enter the brain intactIngestion of the protein fragment improved working and long-term memory in mice treated to simulate Alzheimer’s disease

Miniature livers bioengineered from human stem cells able to function in ratsAdvances bring lab-grown partial or complete organs for treating liver disease one step closer to reality

Molecular twist makes one catalyst useful for three hydrogen applicationsTaking inspiration from enzymes in nature, this new molecule can assist reactions for hydrogen-based energy generation and fuel production along with hydrogenation, giving new insight into enzyme mechanisms

Revisiting what defines hikikomori as cases rise internationally

When oxygen attacksGenome-wide screening identifies novel cellular defense mechanisms against toxic and dangerous reactive oxygen species

Greener chemistry through direct synthesis of key nitrogen-containing compoundsNew catalytic synthetic method for ketimines with unprotected nitrogen atoms could simplify synthesis of important bioactive compounds and reduce waste

How plants in the cabbage family look inward when sulfur is scarce

Making amino acids with electricityHighly efficient amino acid synthesis achieved from biomass-derivable acids and water using electric energy

Ecofriendly catalyst for converting methane into useful gases using light instead of heat

Seeing perovskites in a new lightManagement of energetic excitons shown to be key for efficient light-emitting diodes with the low-cost materials

Mapping radioactive microparticlesQuantification of cesium-rich microparticle distribution provides new insights

Unleashing immune cells to fight cancerA possible new path to cancer immunotherapy using non-antibody-type inhibitors found

Trans fats linked to increased risk of dementia

Magical eraser in supersymmetry

Untapped resource—or greenhouse gas threat—found below rifting axis off Okinawa coast

Thermoelectric performance of graphene gets a boost