Excessive mobile gaming is raising concerns about health and sleep, but research from Kyushu University suggests that small changes can help. In a global study involving over 80,000 players, the team found that grayscale visuals and loading delays encourage users to reduce playtime naturally. When combined with a 10-second delay, grayscale reduced daily playtime by 30.8% and retention by 40.4%. The team calls on developers to adopt these insights to create healthier digital spaces.

Researchers in China developed toGC, a new tool that corrects errors in gene annotations using RNA-seq data. Experimentally validated toGC's accuracy, discovering two novel GPCR genes misannotated as one. Demonstrated toGC's broad utility by applying it successfully to multiple oomycete species.

In modern alkaline batteries, the zinc anode is the performance-limiting and lifetime-limiting electrode, making the choice of zinc powder critical. Due to the various material fabrication processes that are used to manufacture industrial zinc powder, there exists a wide array of possible zinc particle shapes, sizes, and crystallinities. These industrial zinc powders are typically conceived, produced, and tested through trial-and-error processes using historical “rules of thumb.” However, a data-driven approach could more effectively elucidate the optimum combination of zinc particle properties. In this paper, the effect of Zn particle size, shape, and crystallinity on the achievable capacity and corrosion current is investigated. The Zn types are tested in both powder and slurry form. Following the data collection, a factorial-based statistical analysis is performed to determine the most statistically significant variables affecting capacity and corrosion. This information is then used to down-select to a subset of particles that are tested in cylindrical cells with an AA-equivalent geometry. The reported technique can be used to develop actionable principles for battery manufacturers to create cells that are more stable, longer lasting, and have higher energy densities.

Japan aims to establish an international hydrogen supply chain by utilizing low-cost and abundantly available hydrogen sources and liquid hydrogen carriers to realize a future hydrogen economy that will enhance energy security and help achieve carbon neutrality. While hydrogen does not emit CO₂ when used as a fuel to generate energy, CO₂ emissions can be attributed to hydrogen due to the energy and other resources required at each stage of the hydrogen supply chain. Therefore, from a life cycle perspective, if hydrogen is to contribute to the world’s carbon neutrality goal, the entire hydrogen supply chain must be low-carbon. This paper explores the life cycle CO₂ emissions of international hydrogen supply chains envisaged by Japan. The target supply chains involve hydrogen produced from renewable electricity via electrolysis, as well as from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, sourced from resource-rich countries and imported to Japan using liquid hydrogen carriers such as liquid hydrogen, methylcyclohexane (MCH), and ammonia (NH₃). In addition, this paper addresses potential options for reducing life cycle CO₂ emissions to effectively establish a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain.

The widespread adoption of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in heavy-duty vehicles has long been hindered by a "heat paradox." While structurally ordered L1₀-type platinum-based catalysts offer the best durability and activity, synthesizing them traditionally requires scorching temperatures above 600°C. This intense heat causes nanoparticles to clump together (sintering), which actually limits their performance.