What does it mean to weigh a $170 billion gold mine against a way of life? Researchers at Kyushu University and Oita University found that for Alaska Native communities, the answer cannot be reduced to simple ‘support’ or ‘opposition.’ Many community members occupy multiple, often conflicting roles, and must balance economic opportunity, cultural survival, and environmental stewardship. The findings call for governance structures that center Indigenous worldviews and their own definitions of well-being.

A research team led by Associate Professor Noriyuki Kurita from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology and by Associate Professor Pornpan Pungpo from Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand has proposed a novel therapeutic agent for tuberculosis, using high-precision molecular simulation techniques. The proposed drug is anticipated to bind strongly to the drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP), thereby inhibiting excessive CYP-mediated metabolism and preventing the degradation of co-administered drugs. Additionally, because this agent targets enzymes released by the tuberculosis bacterium rather than the bacterium itself, the likelihood of bacterial mutation and resistance development is reduced, suggesting sustained therapeutic efficacy over an extended period.

β-1,2-Glucans are glucose-based polymers found across a wide range of organisms that play important roles in bacterial infection and symbiosis. However, how bacteria import these sugars remains poorly understood. In a recent study, researchers from Japan identified and characterized Chy400_4166, a novel β-1,2-glucan-binding protein from the bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. This protein exhibits a binding mechanism distinct from any previously described transporter of this kind, expanding our understanding of how bacteria recognize and take up β-1,2-glucans.

The team developed a new optical measurement technique, “Atom Camera,” using a single ultracold atom at near absolute zero temperature as a camera. The technique visualizes not only light intensity distributions but also polarization distributions with a high spatial resolution below 100 nanometers. The method is expected to be useful in quantum computing and other emerging quantum technologies.

By electrochemically introducing phosphonate ester groups into conductive polymer films, researchers at Science Tokyo have addressed a fundamental trade-off between electronic charge transport and ion transport, overcoming a key performance limitation in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). The method enables precise tuning of polymer properties and can be applied to semicrystalline materials without redesigning monomers, supporting the development of improved biosensors and flexible electronic devices.

Kyoto, Japan -- Bright colors in animals are beautiful but often considered risky because they are more obvious to predators. However, conspicuous colors can also serve defensively, signaling toxicity or even luring predators away from more vulnerable body parts.

Previous studies have shown that the presence of predators such as dragonfly nymphs can induce tadpoles to develop bright orange tail coloration, an ability called phenotypic plasticity. But how this color change helps them avoid predation has not been clear. While observing tadpoles of the East Japan tree frog, Dryophytes leopardus, a team of researchers at Kyoto University was inspired to investigate how their predator-induced orange tails function as a defensive trait.

"After seeing these tadpoles with orange tails at the university's experimental farm, I wondered what role such a bright tail could have," says corresponding author Akihiro Noda.

In a major breakthrough for decentralized healthcare and environmental monitoring, researchers at Kumamoto University have successfully developed a palm-sized, battery-powered spectrophotometer that matches the performance of massive commercial laboratory equipment. Published in Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research, the study reveals a 99% reduction in device volume without sacrificing accuracy, paving the way for instant, on-site testing in hospitals, agricultural fields, and remote waterways.

An international team of researchers from Japan and Malaysia has shown that wild orangutan juveniles continue to consume their mother’s milk continuously until at least six and a half years of age, the longest breastfeeding period known among mammals. Using a new technique called fecal proteomics, the team detected milk-specific proteins in the feces of wild Bornean orangutans in Malaysian Borneo. The study also suggests that prolonged breastfeeding supports intestinal defenses and a healthy gut microbiome, helping sustain orangutans’ slow reproductive rates and lower juvenile mortality.

Clinical Dohsa-hou, also called Dohsa-hou, is a Japanese psychotherapy that explores the mind-body connection. Associate Professor Reika Nomura has worked as a clinical psychologist on the front lines of care both in hospitals and disaster-affected areas, where the gravity of human life is deeply felt. Motivated by her own experience of hospitalization and supporting a family member living with illness, she has demonstrated integrated engagement across clinical practice, research, and education. We interviewed her about Dohsa-hou and her hopes for the next generation of psychological professionals. She also shared her views on what it means to offer sincere support.

Researchers from Kyushu University and DENSO IT Laboratory, Inc. have proposed a new design method for coding schemes to improve depth precision in Indirect Time-of-Flight (I-ToF) cameras while considering practical sensor constraints. The method enhances noise robustness and measurement stability, making it suitable for real-world applications in autonomous robots and automotive systems.