There have been dramatic advances in the natural sciences thanks to inventions such as telescopes and microscopes that enable us to see things invisible to the naked eye. The arrival of X-ray photography, CT (computed tomography), and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has transformed healthcare, and the pioneers of CT and MRI both received Nobel Prizes. Professor KIMURA Kenjiro has developed a technology that can produce 3D images of the inner structure of an object by applying waves (for example, radio waves) to the object and measuring the wave scattering.

He has recently drawn attention for advances in microwave mammography technology, a system that revolutionizes breast cancer screenings by visualizing the cancer to a high level of accuracy using very faint microwaves. He has also used magnetic fields to develop a system that visualizes abnormal electric currents in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and the memory of advanced semiconductors. With research that pursues the science of visualization and a startup to ensure that their findings can benefit society at large, Kimura and his team are contributing to the health and security of humanity.

Using a unique measurement tool, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have expanded our knowledge of the elements in soil and plants.

Mathematicians at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) are developing a new approach to detect cancer early. This technique could provide a powerful new tool against the disease and involves solving partial differential equations (PDEs). 

Prof. Ugur Abdulla, head of the Analysis and Partial Differential Equations Unit, joined OIST with the goal of making it one of the world’s leading centers in mathematics. "We want OIST to be a key place for sharing math knowledge globally," he said. "Our work with partner institutes helps us connect with different parts of the world, sharing knowledge and providing opportunities for PhD students to work on cutting edge problems in the frontline of mathematics." 

NUS Medicine students and WS Audiology collaborate on Project Battambang to conduct screenings for hearing loss and donate hearing aids to villagers in Poipet, Cambodia

A research partnership between two Department of Energy national laboratories has accelerated inspection of additively manufactured nuclear components, and the effort is now expanding to inspect nuclear fuels. Idaho National Laboratory is using a software algorithm developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to check for flaws in additively manufactured components as part of the process of identifying promising metals and alloys for 3D printing the next generation of nuclear reactors.

On 21 December 2024, Dr Yuet Fung LING, a postdoctoral fellow at The University of Hong Kong's (HKU) School of Biological Sciences (SBS), made an unexpected discovery. While catching butterflies at Repulse Bay, he noticed a male Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita) – a rare species in Hong Kong – with a sticker on its wing. Intriguingly, the tag bore Japanese characters and the date ‘18 Aug’, revealing that this butterfly had been tagged and released in Fukushima four months earlier.