Bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are considered one of the most promising sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived plastics. Poly[(D-lactate)-co-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (LAHB) is an environmentally biodegradable microbial copolyester, and its lactate (LA) content significantly influences its properties. A new study shows how reinforcing the gene expression of the LA-polymerizing enzyme in a recombinant strain of Cupriavidus necator improves the LA fraction. The LA-enriched LAHB maintained a high molecular weight and displayed a balance of strength and elongation comparable to polyethylene.

Researchers in Japan developed a high-efficiency iron-based photocatalyst as a cheaper alternative to rare metals like ruthenium and iridium. This catalyst works with blue LED light, significantly reduces the use of chiral ligands, and enables the first synthesis of both enantiomers of heitziamide A, a natural medicine compound that suppresses respiratory bursts.

Enzymatic biofuel cells can act as self-powered wearable biosensors by converting chemicals in body fluids into electricity; however, manufacturing challenges have prevented their widespread adoption. Now, researchers from Japan have developed water-based ‘enzyme inks’ that enable single-step screen printing of complete biofuel cells onto paper substrates. The printed electrodes demonstrated superior performance and stability compared to those made using conventional methods, paving the way for mass-produced, battery-free wearable health monitors.

Cells were long believed to safeguard nuclear contents, releasing them only during cell death. Extracellular DNA was thought to enter cells solely through endocytosis into endosomes, with self-DNA never reaching the cytosol directly. Challenging this view, researchers have discovered a previously unknown cellular phenomenon termed nucleocytosis, in which macrophages directly extract nuclear DNA from dying cells. This finding reshapes core cell biology concepts and may clarify immune responses, infections, cancer mechanisms, and future therapeutic development.

Tiny RNA molecules carried by extracellular vesicles in the bloodstream can accurately predict kidney function decline and cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD), as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. By analyzing blood samples from a large cohort, the team identified multiple microRNAs linked to disease progression and built a model to distinguish high-risk patients with CKD. Clinically applying this risk score model can contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Current 3D anomaly detection techniques often prove insufficient for noisy industrial scans. In a new study, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and FPT University, Vietnam, have developed Vote3D-AD as an innovative solution. The single-pass framework trains exclusively on defect-free data and utilizes the Varied Defect Synthesis pseudo-anomaly generator and a vote-and-cluster architecture to outperform state-of-the-art alternatives on various benchmarks. It is expected to further streamline inspection pipelines.

Dr. Wataru Takeda, Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Science, Toho University, has completely solved the polynomial analogue of the long-standing Brocard–Ramanujan problem, originally proposed in 1876 and still unsolved in its integer form. This research has been published online in Finite Fields and Their Applications on September 30, 2025, and formally released in February 2026.

What does it take to make people genuinely care about endangered cultural heritage? According to a new study from researchers at Nagoya University and Gifu University in Japan, the answer might begin with something unexpected: the smell of horse manure. Their research, published in the Journal of Museum Education, found that structured multisensory experiences can shift public perception of heritage from something distant and extraordinary to something personally relevant.

A research team led by Associate Professor Shinpei Yamaguchi and the late Professor Masako Tada of the Faculty of Science, together with Professor Yojiro Anzai and Lecturer Yohei Iizaka of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Toho University, have developed a new HepaRG cell line with markedly enhanced activity of CYP2D6, a major drug-metabolizing enzyme. This engineered human hepatocyte model enables more human-relevant evaluation of drug-induced hepatotoxicity mediated by CYP2D6. The findings were published in the international journal PLOS ONE on December 29, 2025.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can significantly affect animals by changing their physiology, behavior, and geographic distribution. However, how ALAN influences ecological and genetic patterns in closely related species remains unexplored. A new study investigated how ALAN shapes differences between two isopod species in Tokyo Bay, revealing clear ecological separation between the species based on patterns of nighttime urban lighting. The findings highlight how urban factors can be adjusted to support biodiversity.