It’s often our childhood interests that serve as the basis for our passions and careers once we reach adulthood. Growing up in China, MAI Zhaohuan spent the summers with her grandparents in the countryside, often playing in the river in front of their house. She found, though, that as time went on, the river began to slowly dry up, to the point where the water was almost completely drained. “That was the first time I noticed environmental problems in the form of water pollution.”

The prevailing international environment is marked by rising geopolitical tensions, necessitating an in-depth examination of its underlying mechanisms. In a recent research article, a researcher from Waseda University highlights that democracies can weaken through shifts in elite alliances triggered by international economic and geopolitical situations, especially emphasizing the crucial role of economic and political elites, such as business leaders and legislators.

In an effort to develop catalysts from abundant and inexpensive elements, researchers from Kyushu University have found that mixing methanol, iron ions, and sodium hydroxide and then irradiating it with UV light generates hydrogen gas at rates comparable to those of catalysts used in today’s markets. The team hopes their findings will lead to more sustainable hydrogen energy production.

It did not take long after the discovery of X-rays in the 1890s for scientists to begin exploring the harmful effects of radiation on living organisms. Yet even after more than a century of research, new insights continue to emerge about how radiation affects the body. In a recent study, researchers at Hokkaido University uncovered a previously unrecognized effect of radiation that leads to changes in the mitochondria of the offspring. The study was published in March 2026 in the journal Redox Biology.

As we age, stem cells responsible for maintaining our blood and immune systems gradually lose their resilience, but why this happens has remained unclear. A novel study from Japan and the US turns the spotlight on MLKL, a protein traditionally associated with cell death, uncovering an unexpected new dimension to its role. The findings shed light on how cellular stress shapes stem cell aging and highlight potential pathways for developing therapies to counter age-related decline.

Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methane offers a promising route for carbon recycling, but its low efficiency and unclear mechanisms limit its practical use. Researchers at Chiba University have now examined how light-driven and heat-driven processes work together in Ru–Ni–ZrO₂ catalysts, achieving record methane production rates. This work clarifies the reaction pathway and highlights new strategies for designing more efficient systems to convert CO₂ into fuels and valuable chemicals.

What if AI could discover breakthrough materials before we even test them? A new physics-informed AI model makes discovery faster and more reliable. This approach could reshape the future of electronics.

Metals such as titanium are prized for their strength, light weight, and resistance to corrosion, making them essential for aircraft, spacecraft, and medical implants. Now, a joint research team has developed a groundbreaking processing technique that dramatically improves the strength and toughness of titanium alloys—in just a few milliseconds.

Environmental DNA surveys allow us to see what’s living in bodies of water like oceans, rivers and ponds by analyzing the DNA of just a cup of water taken from these sources. About a decade and a half has passed since the chance discovery of floating DNA of aquatic organisms came during other research, and since then, survey methods have been established and knowhow has been passed on to researchers from a wide range of universities and research institutes, as research continues to evolve and improve each day. We talked with Professor MINAMOTO Toshifumi of the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, a pioneer in the field, about his journey in environmental DNA research, the current state of its social implementation and future prospects for the field.