Porous materials have a wide range of applications due to their capacity to act as filters, or lightweight structural materials that use less material than a solid substance. Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo created a new material fine enough to filter things like viruses but is strong enough to be a rigid construction material for devices. What makes this material unique is, it can be flexible when wet and responds to changes in pH. This and the fact it can be coated onto other substances give rise to a new range of functional and safe materials which use the minimal amount of raw material to create, leading to more sustainable manufacturing possibilities.

A new way to grow stem cells may help them release more of the signaling proteins they use to repair tissue, potentially improving future treatments.

Cell sheet preparation for use in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies could be significantly improved with the use of thermo-responsive polymer brushes, adjusted in length and density according to specific cell types

Melanin can either protect or worsen hereditary hearing loss depending on genetic context, as reported by researchers from Japan. Using genetically engineered mice lacking the SLC26A4 gene, the researchers found that problems with melanin degradation led to its pathological accumulation in the inner ear, causing chronic inflammation and macrophage activation. These findings could inform new therapeutic strategies to minimize some forms of hereditary hearing loss.

Phosphorus forms the backbone of DNA, RNA, and cellular membranes. But scientists have struggled to pinpoint the specific conditions under which phosphorus developed in Earth’s younger years. A research group from Tohoku University has recently unearthed evidence pointing to submarine hydrothermal alteration, which released phosphorus from the rocks into the surrounding seawater, enriching early oceans with this essential nutrient. 

Researchers in Japan have successfully generated lung cells similar to alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts without using stem cell technology. The AT2-like cells were generated in just 7 to 10 days—a significant reduction compared to the approximately one month typically required by conventional stem cell-based differentiation methods. This approach may pave the way for treating interstitial pneumonia and other serious respiratory diseases.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team has developed an index for determining appropriate irradiation conditions for laser treatment and conducted an in-silico-supported meta-analysis that analyzed treatments within that index. 

Researchers from SANKEN, The University of Osaka, have revealed a technique for exploiting the catalytic action of hydrogen in platinum to reverse the degradation of magnetization. This method can be used to increase the robustness of next-generation computer chips based on thin magnetic films.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a method to visualize and reconstruct individual urban plants in different seasons using AI and street view images. The novel Seasonal Species-Specific Plant View Index allows urban designers to enhance the ecological sustainability and the well-being of city dwellers by incorporating diverse plant configurations, colors, and seasonality into current and future urban green spaces.