Stretchable electronics have broad applications, including wearable sensors and curved displays. However, the electronic performance of stretchable materials is poor in comparison to non-stretchable rigid electronic materials. In a new study, researchers have developed a new technique, using kiri-origami structures, that combines the benefits of both origami and kirigami to achieve stretchable devices with high-performance non-stretchable materials. This innovative technique can lead to the development of advanced stretchable electronic devices.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that they can keep mouse uterine tissue alive outside of the body, allowing them to directly observe embryonic implantation and development. Their technique brings hope for patients with infertility, and may allow for the development of therapies to treat recurrent implantation failure and improve the chance of implantation success using assisted reproductive technologies.Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that they can keep mouse uterine tissue alive outside of the body, allowing them to directly observe embryonic implantation and development. Their technique brings hope for patients with infertility, and may allow for the development of therapies to treat recurrent implantation failure and improve the chance of implantation success using assisted reproductive technologies.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found that macrophages use microautophagy, mediated by Rab32-positive lysosome-related organelles, to directly engulf damaged mitochondria and other organelles. This was discovered to be independent of macroautophagy. Key factors in this process include Rab32 GTPase, PI(3,5)P₂, ubiquitination, and p62/SQSTM1. By clearing mitochondria, microautophagy promotes metabolic reprogramming toward glycolysis, supporting M1 macrophage polarization. Loss of Rab32/38 disrupts this process, highlighting microautophagy’s role in regulating macrophage function.

Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth often arise during the late stage of pregnancy. However, researchers have primarily relied on placental cells from early pregnancy to study these conditions, which may not fully reflect the biology of late-stage complications. Now, a research team in Japan has successfully developed human placental stem cells from the smooth chorion (a part of the placenta) taken from full-term pregnancies. These new stem cells, called Ch-TS cells, share the same characteristics as placental stem cells from early pregnancy and can develop into the key cell types essential for proper placental function. This advancement allows scientists to study placental complications using cells from the actual time period when these complications occur, potentially leading to better understanding, earlier detection, and improved treatments for pregnancy-related conditions.

NAGOYA, Japan — In late September 2025, KIOXIA Iwate Corporation (Koichiro Shibayama CEO) will begin evaluating a GaN-based e-beam technology developed through joint research between Photo electron Soul Inc. (PeS; Takayuki Suzuki CEO), a Nagoya University startup, and the Amano–Honda Laboratory at Nagoya University.

Scientists at The University of Osaka and Tohoku University have developed a groundbreaking technique for creating nanoscale magnetic thin films with embedded functionality. By leveraging the stretchability of flexible substrates, they can precisely control the atomic spacing within these nanofilms, effectively “programming” desired magnetic properties directly into the material. This innovative approach, published in Applied Physics Letters, overcomes limitations of conventional deposition methods and paves the way for advancements in various fields, from electronics to fundamental materials science.

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) is a semiconductor material that could make electronic devices much more energy-efficient than current silicon-based technology. Electronic diodes require two types of semiconductor layers to function properly, negative-type (n-type) and positive-type (p-type) layers. Scientists could reliably produce n-type gallium oxide layers but struggled to create stable p-type layers because gallium oxide's crystal structure naturally resists the atoms needed for these layers. This limitation resulted in gallium oxide semiconductors with poor performance and reliability issues. Now, researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have solved this manufacturing challenge and created the first functional pn diodes using gallium oxide. Their method, published in the Journal of Applied Physics, enables the use of gallium oxide for improved semiconductors and energy efficient devices. In addition, these new pn diodes can carry twice as much electrical current as previous gallium oxide diodes. 

The widely used diabetes drug metformin changes blood metal levels in humans. The Kobe University study is an important step in understanding the drug’s many actions and designing better ones in the future.