A new study by researchers including those at the University of Tokyo revealed that atmospheric gravity waves play a crucial role in driving latitudinal air currents on Mars, particularly at high altitudes. The findings, based on long-term atmospheric data, offer a fresh perspective on the behaviors of Mars' middle atmosphere, highlighting fundamental differences from Earth’s. The study applied methods developed to explore Earth’s atmosphere to quantitatively estimate the influence of gravity waves on Mars’ planetary circulation.

Engineers have designed a tiny, low-weight and cordless robot that can act independently and with ultra-high precision in all directions in some of the most extreme conditions. The robot, which the designers call “Holonomic Beetle 3” (or HB-3)—as they were inspired by the movements and anatomy of the rhinoceros beetle—combines the use of piezoelectric actuators with autonomous technology to enable micro-scale manipulation tasks that were previously out of reach for robots.

Certain glycans—sugar-like compounds with carbohydrate chains—containing galactose, may exhibit potential prebiotic properties that support human health. Identifying enzymes capable of breaking down these glycans is essential for unlocking their full potential. In a new study, researchers discovered a novel enzyme in the human gut that specifically targets a previously unexplored glycan called β-1,2-galactooligosaccharide, known for their prebiotic benefits. This discovery can open new avenues in prebiotic research, potentially enhancing human health.

Cancer treatment has advanced significantly, focusing on targeted approaches that destroy tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. Researchers at JAIST have developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to tumors using a magnet and then heated with a laser to destroy cancer cells. In mouse models, this targeted technique successfully eliminated tumors entirely. This innovative method provides a more precise and less toxic alternative to traditional treatments, paving the way for more effective cancer therapies.

A researcher at Osaka Metropolitan University examined the shifts in migration destination determinants of households with children who mentioned the spread of COVID-19 as a migration motive during the pandemic. The results indicated significant shifts with emphasis on the importance of social interaction-related factors.

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the National Institute of Technology, Gifu College, have developed a novel system to control the movement of Euglena gracilis using laser light and a digital projector. This method enables precise spatiotemporal manipulation of Euglena with negative phototaxis, opening possibilities for biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, observe the configuration of different dipeptides on graphite electrodes and the subsequent arrangement of catalytic hemin on them to get an idea of the factors affecting its catalytic activity.

Despite the popularity of augmented reality, AR wearable technologies haven’t gained traction due to the weight and bulk associated with batteries and electronic components, and the suboptimal computational power, battery life and brightness of the devices. A team of researchers recently improved the practicality of light-receiving AR glasses by increasing the angle of incidence light capable of producing an adequate projected AR image from five degrees to roughly 20-30 degrees.

Kyoto, Japan -- Explosions in the sky and explosions on land are literally worlds apart. A supernova and a land mine explosion don't seem like they would have much in common. But at the fine level, their mechanisms are not so different: the so-called cell structure appears at the smallest scale, which provides the most important criterion in predicting the success or failure of terrestrial detonation in a land-mine explosion.

Terrestrial and astrophysical detonations are basically dictated by the same theories for their time-averaged characteristics. Terrestrial cell-based theories, however -- such as those that explain a land mine explosion -- have not yet been applied as criteria for astrophysical detonation.

Motivated by the potential of this theoretical analogy, an interdisciplinary research team of engineers and astrophysicists at Kyoto University recently joined together to better understand how type Ia supernovae explode.

Within the next decade, space agencies plan to bring samples of rock from Mars to Earth for study. Of concern is the possibility these samples contain life, which could have unforeseen consequences. Therefore, researchers in this field strive to create methods to detect life. For the first time, researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo and NASA, successfully demonstrated a method to detect life in ancient rocks analogous to those found on Mars.