Tokyo, Japan – A team led by a researcher from Tokyo Metropolitan University has devised a new way of coating magnesium alloys to improve their corrosion resistance. Instead of costly, unwieldy, and slower coating techniques under vacuum, they used liquid-based chemical conversion coating with the addition of cavitation bubbles. The resulting thick coating helped improve corrosion resistance to chlorides and mechanical properties. The team’s new technology is aimed at reinforcing lightweight materials in electric cars.

A new study from Waseda University reveals that the motor protein myosin XI is essential for helping plants absorb boron under nutrient-deficient conditions. Researchers found that myosin XI maintains the correct positioning of the boric acid channel AtNIP5;1 in root cells by supporting endocytosis. Without myosin XI, plants fail to localize this channel properly, leading to poor boron uptake and stunted growth. The findings could inform strategies to improve crop resilience in boron-deficient soils.

A visible-light-driven postfunctionalization method developed by researchers from Japan enables the incorporation of phosphonate esters into polymers, expanding the possibilities for creating fire-resistant and temperature-responsive materials. This reaction technique offers a sustainable way to add useful functional groups to precursor polymer chains without altering their molecular weight, transforming common polymers into high-value materials that are difficult to obtain through direct polymerization of functional monomers.

An ultra-compact, low-power 150 GHz radio module enabling high data rates in mobile devices has been developed by researchers from Japan. Targeting 6G user equipment, the proposed design integrates a phased-array transceiver with several key innovations to overcome the main challenges of operating at frequencies in the 150 GHz band. This work could thus pave the way to unprecedented connectivity in terminal devices, way surpassing existing 5G technology.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony), has developed the world's first practical surface-emitting laser that employs quantum dot(QD) as the optical gain medium for use in optical fiber communication systems.

This achievement was made possible by NICT's high-precision crystal growth technology and Sony's advanced semiconductor processing technology. The surface-emitting laser developed in this study incorporates nanoscale semiconductor structures called quantum dots as light-emitting materials. This innovation not only facilitates the miniaturization and reduced power consumption of light sources in optical fiber communications systems but also offers potential cost reductions through mass production and enhanced output via integration.

The results of this research were published in Optics Express, a leading international journal in optical technology, published by the OPTICA Publishing Group in the United States, in Vol. 33, Issue 6, on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have produced a new type of transistor, which is a key component of electronics. The transistor channel was constructed from indium oxide doped with gallium to increase carrier mobility by suppressing carrier scattering. The gallium-doped indium oxide layer was included in a gate-all-around transistor structure to realize both high carrier mobility and reliability. The transistor outperforms similar devices in reliability and performance.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency has selected winners for the fourth Marie Sklodowska Curie Award for young female researchers together with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. The award honors Marie Sklodowska’s great contribution and achievements to the development of science and technology across the world, and will inspire more active participation in this field by Japanese female researchers.

As global demand for AI and clean energy surges, UN scientists propose a “Global Minerals Trust” to ensure fair, sustainable access to critical minerals. With its G7 presidency, Canada is urged to lead this multilateral effort to prevent conflict, stabilize markets, and steward mineral resources as global commons.

Researchers at RIKEN, Japan have successfully used insects as mini molecule-making factories, marking a breakthrough in chemical engineering. This “in-insect synthesis” technique offers a new way to create and modify complex molecules, which will generate new opportunities for the discovery, development, and application of non-natural molecules, such as nanocarbons.