Glaucoma is a prevalent and chronic eye disease that requires regular intraocular pressure monitoring to prevent disease progression. In an innovative study, scientists in Japan have developed a PEDOT:PSS/PVA thin-film-based integrated smart contact lens for real-time, effective monitoring of intraocular pressure. Notably, the proposed device leverages parity-time symmetry-based wireless technology for ultra-sensitive detection, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

Carbon nanohoops, or [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs), are ring-shaped molecules with exceptional optical properties but are difficult to synthesize and functionalize. Researchers in Japan have now used a gold-mediated synthetic strategy to construct a hexabrominated [9]CPP derivative, providing a versatile and scalable platform for post-functionalization. Using this scaffold, they created π-extended chiral nanohoops that exhibit extremely high g_lum value in their circularly polarized luminescence, opening new pathways for advanced optoelectronic materials and precisely designed nanocarbon architectures.

Bipolar disorder is a significant global health issue, affecting millions worldwide. To address the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches, it is important to deepen the understanding of its pathology. A group of researchers from the Juntendo University has demonstrated how alterations and abnormalities in the neurons of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus region of the brain are associated with bipolar disorder, offering a novel therapeutic and diagnostic approach.

Talking to oneself is a trait which feels inherently human - but it’s not just humans who can reap the benefits of such self-talk. Published in Neural Computation, scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have demonstrated the potential of inner speech to improve AI learning, showing how AI models can generalize across different tasks more easily when supported by both inner speech and short-term memory.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team analyzed residential energy consumption in ten cities across Japan from north to south and confirmed that significant energy savings can be achieved through enhanced insulation and innovative window design. 

Several barriers in schools make teaching challenging, particularly for early-career TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers. A study from Doshisha University examined the professional development experiences of three such teachers from their school years through university and into the early stages of their careers. The findings revealed critical factors at each stage that can support teachers’ professional development, even in schools full of constraints, carrying significant implications for advancing TESOL education.

Scientists discovered how a brain-specific enzyme adds branches to protein-linked sugar chains, enabling them to grow into more complex structures. The study shows that this branching step is essential for further glycan extension, helping explain molecular processes linked to neurological disorders such as demyelination and brain tumors.

Nanophotonics is a research field in which light is freely controlled by nanosized structures even smaller than the wavelengths of light itself. A Kobe University research group developed a nanoparticle made from silicon called a “nano-antenna” and provided this nanomaterial to research institutes both in Japan and overseas, engaging in international joint research projects for the past three years. This research then developed into an international research platform with Kobe University at its core and is expected to be applied to a wide variety of fields, from next-generation optical information communications technology to life sciences. We asked Associate Professor SUGIMOTO Hiroshi of the Graduate School of Engineering, an expert at the forefront of his field, about the results of the past three years and his thoughts on potential future developments.

A low-cost, portable radiation dosimetry system uses a smartphone and radiochromic film to provide immediate on-site dose assessments of radiation.