3D-SLISE is a quasi-solid electrolyte developed at Institute of Science Tokyo, which enables safe, fast-charging/discharging of 2.35 V lithium-ion batteries to be fabricated under ambient conditions. With energy-efficient manufacturing using raw materials free from flammable organic solvents, the technique eliminates the need for dry rooms or high-temperature processing. Moreover, it also allows direct recovery of active materials through water dispersal—ensuring a sustainable, recyclable approach to battery production.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have successfully measured the body temperature of cows using a non-invasive method with AI and infrared technology.

Advances in technology have led to the miniaturization of many mechanical, electronic, chemical and biomedical products, and with that, an evolution in the way these tiny components and parts are transported is necessary to follow. Transport systems, such as those based on conveyor belts, suffer from the challenge of friction, which drastically slows the speed and precision of small transport. Researchers from YOKOHAMA National University addressed this issue by developing an untethered levitation device capable of moving in all directions. The frictionless design allows for ultrafast, agile movement that can prove to be very valuable in machine assembly, biomedical and chemical applications via contactless transport.

Researchers published their results in Advanced Intelligent Systems in July 2025.

Gastric cancer that metastasizes to the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, has a very poor prognosis and is challenging to treat. Now, a group of researchers has developed mRNA-based vaccines that can target tumor-specific ‘neoantigens.’ In combination with anti-PD1 therapy, these vaccines show high antitumor efficacy against gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. This approach can potentially be expanded in order to develop ‘personalized’ cancer vaccines for complicated cancer cases.

Hydration significantly boosts ion conductivity in Ba₇Nb₄MoO₂₀, a promising ceramic electrolyte candidate for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. But its origin and mobile ionic species were unresolved issues. Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo found that exposure to water vapor enhances oxide-ion mobility by increasing interstitial oxygen ions, nearly doubling the oxide-ion conductivity at 500 °C. The findings of this study could advance the development of efficient and durable fuel cells for clean energy applications.   

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common liver cancer, includes aggressive subtypes resistant to treatment. Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, identified a key mechanism behind one such subtype and developed a mouse model replicating its characteristics. Their study found that combining angiogenesis inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockers effectively disrupted the tumor’s defenses, enabling immune cells to attack. These findings offer a promising strategy for improving treatments and outcomes for patients with aggressive HCC.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered a new pathway by which cells counteract the action of alovudine, an important antiviral and anticancer drug. The protein flap endonuclease-1 (Fen1) was found to improve cell tolerance by counteracting the toxic accumulation of another protein, 53BP1. A renewed spotlight on the underappreciated role of Fen1 promises not only new cancer treatments, but a way to gauge the efficacy of existing treatments.

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus is a large insect native to Asia, characterized by the large horn of the male. A research team led by Professor Teruyuki Niimi at the National Institute for Basic Biology is investigating the molecular mechanism of horn development and is developing various molecular techniques essential for this research. To date, the team has successfully decoded the whole genome of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle and established a gene function analysis method using RNA interference.

This time, published in Scientific Reports, the team reported the development of a gene function analysis method using electroporation in Trypoxylus dichotomus larvae.

In a study published in PLOS Genetics, a research team led by Professor Shuji Shigenobu at the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Japan, has identified the Laccase2 (Lac2) gene as essential for the darkening and hardening of overwintering eggs in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). By applying a refined CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing protocol specifically optimized for aphids, and introducing the innovative “DIPA-CRISPR” technique for the first time in this species, the researchers disrupted Lac2 and uncovered its critical role in egg protection.

Organic molecules that combine efficient light emission for displays and strong light absorption for bioimaging are difficult to design due to conflicting structural requirements. Researchers from Japan addressed this challenge by developing CzTRZCN, a single molecule that switches structure depending on light interaction, enabling both two-photon absorption and thermally activated delayed fluorescence. These dual functions are useful in OLEDs and biomedical imaging, paving the way for versatile organic materials in electronics, medicine, and life sciences.