Researchers discover high-velocity clouds in the nearby spiral galaxy M83. These clouds are moving at speeds significantly different to the galaxy’s overall speed of rotation. The findings suggest that these clouds likely originated outside the galaxy, offering new insights into how galaxies acquire fresh gas and sustain star formation over billions of years. This hints at how our own galaxy evolved and may evolve in the future.

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is an amino acid functioning as the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter that can act on the brain to slow or stop the reception of certain signals to the brain, leading to a calmer and more relaxed state. Low GABA levels in the brain have been associated with neurological disorders and diseases like depression, Alzheimer's or epilepsy. Recently, there has been a push towards understanding more about the gut’s influence on mood, behavior and mental health, as well as what foods might fuel or hinder a healthy mind. Researchers set to work on determining whether brain GABA levels can be increased through dietary additions with the aim of modulating the gut bacteria present in an individual to bypass the blood-brain barrier, a barrier in which it is not proven yet GABA can pass through.

By establishing an iron overload-induced hepatic ferroptosis model, scientists from Japan have identified iFerroptosis–an integrated gene signature for ferroptosis. They evaluated the associated genes in both mice and human liver injury systems, validating the potential use of iFerroptosis as a biomarker for hepatic ferroptosis. By highlighting the role of ferroptosis in liver injuries, this study offers insights into unique therapeutic targets for ferroptosis.

Immersive media, including augmented and virtual realities, are taking over the world by storm, underscoring the need to progressively improve user experience through more realism. A relatively underexplored area in this field is how the user perceives the speaker’s orientation. Accordingly, research led by Sophia University showed that the loudness of the speaker’s voice, followed by spectral cues, helped the listener judge the speaker’s orientation. Their findings answer longstanding questions in auditory perception.

Barth syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with no known cure. Researchers at Tohoku University examined a new oral drug called MA-5 that could provide life-changing relief to these young patients.

Discovering relatedness outside of a topical issue helps diverse groups to overcome differences and develop action for social change. The Kobe University addition to educational theory offers a framework to analyze and promote intersectional learning.

A research team led by Haruyo Yamamoto, Chisa Nakashima, and Atsushi Otsuka from Department of Dermatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Kindai University and other institutions, has developed a diagnostic system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately identify the type of facial pigmented lesions and support laser treatment decisions. A paper on this study was published online in Cureus, an international medical journal on June 5, 2025.

Imaging data from Japan’s Himawari-8 and -9 meteorological satellites have been successfully used to monitor temporal changes in Venus’ cloud-top temperature, revealing unseen patterns in the temperature structure of various waves. A team led by the University of Tokyo collated infrared images from 2015–25 to estimate brightness temperatures on day to year scales. The results demonstrate that meteorological satellites can serve as additional eyes to access the Venusian atmosphere from space and complement future observations from planetary missions and ground-based telescopes.

Grant-free communication schemes are a promising way to connect massive numbers of IoT devices, but they can suffer from interference and uneven performance. Researchers from Japan have made progress in addressing this challenge by developing a detailed mathematical model of how these schemes perform under various conditions. Their findings reveal a key trade-off between network fairness and optimal performance, offering insights for designing future 5G and 6G systems that support smart cities and connected healthcare.

A new study of over 3,000 Japanese firms reveals that companies often set overly ambitious earnings targets after previously missing their goals—an effort to restore investor confidence. This strategic move, known as “organizational impression management,” helps firms manage market perceptions despite the risk of repeated failure. The research also finds that institutional investors, analysts, and board diversity can temper this behavior, offering fresh insight into corporate communication and investor relations.