Findings connect Fusobacterium nucleatum with multiple sclerosis disease severity

Understanding how cells decide their fate is a central challenge in biology, complicated by the fact that single-cell RNA sequencing captures only static snapshots of highly complex and dynamic changes in cell state. In a recent study, researchers from Japan developed a computational method, called ddHodge, that can accurately reconstruct cell state dynamics, shedding light on how genes drive cell fate decisions. Their technique could be useful in developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and cancer research.

Study shows tooth loss, not low-protein intake, drives memory decline in aging mice, hinting that reduced chewing may influence brain health.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied the relationship between numerical information in our vision, and how it affects our perception of space. Volunteers were asked to identify the center of lines and squares filled with numbers; how far they were from the true center revealed unexpected biases. Crucially, their work with squares showed how our perception of space is a complex interplay between “object-based” processing and our processing of numerical information.

The Society of Inorganic Materials, Japan (SIMJ) has announced a prestigious international book initiative entitled “Sustainable Materials for a Better Environment: Advances in Gypsum, Lime, Cement, and Other Inorganic Materials” to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its founding. The initiative was officially announced at the Board of Directors’ executive meeting held on November 26^th, 2025. The project aims to bring together leading researchers and experts from Japan and around the world within industry and academia to showcase recent advancements in environmentally responsible inorganic materials.

A joint research team from NIMS, Tokyo University of Science, and Kobe University has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) device that exploits ion behavior to perform information processing. The team succeeded in reducing the computational load to about 1/100 of that required for conventional deep learning. The technology is expected to contribute to enhancing the information processing performance of "edge AI" operating directly on terminal equipment (an edge device). This research was published in ACS Nano on October 14, 2025.

New research from Fujita Health University reveals that talking can subtly delay the eyes’ ability to detect and stabilize on visual information. In experiments comparing talking, listening, and control conditions, only talking caused slower reaction, movement, and fixation times during rapid eye-movement tasks. Because driving depends heavily on fast gaze shifts, these delays may impair hazard detection and slow physical responses. The findings highlight the hidden risks of engaging in conversation while driving.

Kyoto, Japan --  The species Orcinus orca, generally known as orcas or killer whales, is made up of many genetically distinct populations called ecotypes. Each ecotype indicates an ecological specialization with its own ecological and phylogenetic characteristics. The North Pacific is home to three known ecotypes of killer whales, called the transient, resident, and offshore ecotypes. While transient ecotype killer whales are mammal-eating, the resident and offshore orcas are fish-eating.

Though killer whale populations in the eastern North Pacific near Vancouver Island and Alaska have been studied extensively, populations in the western North Pacific have been less studied, especially around Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. One of these sea areas, Shiretoko, is the best in Japan to spot killer whales and is even home to a UNESCO natural World Heritage site, yet information on its killer whale population has remained limited. Researchers from Kyoto University and collaborating institutions worked together with a shared determination to change that.

"Clarifying the ecological characteristics of killer whales is crucial for achieving coexistence with them, as they are deeply entwined with human activities such as tourism and fisheries in Hokkaido," says first and corresponding author Momoka Suzuki.

A research team led by Tohoku University revealed the details of a calcium-driven mechanism that could provide insight into how to prevent Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The Oxoate Ceramics Research Association of the Ceramic Society of Japan has announced the launch of a major international edited book project, Functional Oxoate Ceramics and Glasses: Current Progress and Future Perspectives, to be published by Jenny Stanford Publishing. Officially unveiled at the 38th Fall Meeting at Gunma University, the volume brings together leading researchers from Japan and abroad to present the latest advances in functional oxoate ceramics and glass science.

Building on global momentum following the United Nations’ 2022 International Year of Glass, the book integrates fundamental science, emerging technologies, and future perspectives with a strong focus on sustainability. Topics span interdisciplinary applications including next-generation energy storage, thin-film glass technologies for electronic devices, biomaterials such as β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics, and durable glass materials for nuclear waste management. Edited by Professor Toshinori Okura of Kogakuin University and Santosh Miryala, the volume aims to serve as a comprehensive reference for researchers, engineers, and graduate students worldwide.