Growing up, you probably changed your style based on your social influences. It turns out, such pressures affect the appearance of young clownfish (anemonefish) too. A new study from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has revealed the social influences and biological mechanisms controlling bar loss in tomato anemonefish, showing how the presence of older fish changes the speed at which young fish lose their additional white vertical stripe.

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus coating essential for keeping the colon lubricated and feces hydrated. Their excess degradation leaves patients with dry, immobile stool. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, finally explains why standard treatments often fail for millions of people with chronic constipation. Notably, the study shows that Parkinson's disease patients, who suffer from constipation decades before developing tremors, have higher levels of these mucus-degrading bacteria. While constipation in Parkinson’s disease has traditionally been attributed to nerve degradation, these findings suggest that bacterial activity also plays a crucial role in the development of their symptoms. 

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have uncovered a master transcriptional regulator that controls rhizobial symbiosis between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. By identifying an amino acid motif that emerged before the appearance of rhizobial symbiosis, they show that stabilization of DNA binding enabled this regulator to control a wide array of genes involved in nodule formation, bacterial infection, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Acoustic streaming generated by airborne ultrasonic phased arrays plays a critical role in the performance of advanced ultrasonic technologies, including mid-air haptic feedback, odor delivery, and acoustic levitation. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a predictive model for acoustic streaming in phased arrays by integrating three-dimensional acoustic and fluid simulations.

A miniaturized radar chip, developed by researchers at Science Tokyo, advances Integrated Sensing and Communication for Beyond 5G and 6G systems. Measuring just 0.24 mm² and consuming only 9.8 mW, the compact, low-power device generates high-speed, highly linear chirps by embedding linearization directly into the hardware, overcoming traditional speed-versus-accuracy limits and enabling precise sensing for edge and Internet-of-Things devices.

Understanding how microscopic interactions between proteins in cells produce large-scale organization and asymmetry is a fundamental question in cell biology. In a recent study, researchers from Japan investigated how actin and myosin create cell-scale structures using experimental setup. They found that Chara corallina myosin XI—a fast motor protein—drives actin filaments into large unidirectionally rotating rings. Their findings reveal physical principles of self-organization, inspiring new ways to design self-organizing biomimetic materials for biotechnological applications.

Despite their widespread use in various applications, synthetic polymers such as polyethylene (PE) remain susceptible to structural deformation when exposed to stress. In a new study, scientists from Japan have utilized focused electron beam (FEB) irradiation to precisely induce micro-voids and nano-scale fibrils to improve the mechanical strength of PE. Following irradiation with FEB, PE demonstrated minimal crack opening and prevented further crack propagation. This study can fuel the development of superior polymer-based materials.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a method to reproducibly form subnanometer pores within a solid-state nanopore. A voltage-driven chemical reaction produces a precipitate that fills and closes the nanopore, while dissolution reopens conductive pathways. This process forms many subnanometer-sized pores, whose effective size can be tuned by changing reactant composition and pH. These ultrasmall pores mimic biological ion channels and enable studies of ion transport in confined spaces.

For more than a century, researchers have suspected that glacier fronts serve as important feeding hotspots for marine predators with no direct evidence. To address this, researchers have examined the stomach contents of ringed seals harvested through Inuit subsistence hunting in Greenland and compared their diet with capture location. The findings show that seals near the glaciers had eaten more than those farther away, highlighting climate-driven glacier retreat may threaten foraging grounds and marine ecosystems.