Plants and microbes often have a symbiotic relationship, relying on each other for nutrients or shelter. Understanding and engineering such symbioses is an essential step in the journey towards tackling global challenges such as food security, carbon capture and ecosystem restoration. Now in The ISME Journal, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have reported in depth on the symbiotic relationships and microbial communities within Azolla ferns, bringing new insights to these important plants.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects millions worldwide and can have a devastating impact on patients’ lives. Yet, about one in three patients respond poorly to existing treatments. Researchers at Kyoto University have shed new light on this challenge by discovering that peripheral helper T cells (Tph cells), a key type of immune cell involved in RA, exist in two forms: stem-like Tph cells and effector Tph cells. The stem-like Tph cells reside in immune “hubs” called tertiary lymphoid structures within inflamed joints, where they multiply and activate B cells. Some of these then become effector Tph cells that leave the hubs and cause inflammation. This continuous supply of effector Tph cells may explain why inflammation persists in some patients despite treatment. Targeting the stem-like Tph cells at the source could offer a new therapeutic strategy, bringing hope for more effective symptom relief and improved quality of life for patients living with RA.

This research is led by Yuki Masuo, a doctoral student at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; Associate Professor Hiroyuki Yoshitomi of the Department of Immunology (also Associate Investigator at WPI-ASHBi), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; and Professor Hideki Ueno, Vice Director and Principal Investigator at WPI-ASHBi (also Professor at the Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, and Director of the Kyoto University Immunological Monitoring Center, KIC). These findings will be published online in Science Immunology on August 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM local time (August 16 at 3:00 AM JST).

Kyoto, Japan -- As space programs evolve and we continue to mistreat our own planet, human dreams of space tourism and planetary colonization seem increasingly common. However, features of spaceflight such as gravitational changes and circadian rhythm disruption -- not to mention radiation -- take a toll on the body, including muscle wasting and decreased bone density. These may even affect our ability to produce healthy offspring.

Studying the impact of spaceflight on germ cells -- egg and sperm precursor cells -- is particularly important because they directly influence the next generation, and any irreversible damage done to these will likely be transmitted to offspring. Previous examinations of embryonic stem cells that have undergone spaceflight have revealed abnormalities, but the exact cause of the damage has remained unknown.

This inspired a team of researchers at Kyoto University to test the potential damage to spermatogonial stem cells during spaceflight and the resulting offspring. The team utilized stem cells from mice, which have a much shorter reproductive life span than humans.

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Associate Professor Paola Laurino has been selected as one of the top 10 global awardees in the Life Sciences category of the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough, presented by Germany’s Falling Walls Foundation.  

Researchers in Japan have genetically transferred a unique courtship behavior from one fruit fly species to another. By turning on a single gene in insulin-producing neurons, the team successfully made a species of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) perform a gift-giving ritual it had never done before. The study, published in the journal Science, represents the first example of manipulating a single gene to create new neural connections and transfer behavior between species.  

Kyoto, Japan -- For many endangered species, population decline to the brink of extinction leads to inbreeding, exposing a species to deleterious recessive mutations that severely limit its potential to recover. But the red-headed wood pigeon, endemic to the Ogasawara Islands in Japan, followed a different trajectory.

Although this pigeon population fell to below 80 individuals in the 2000s, it began to increase markedly after the removal of an introduced predator, the feral cat. Such a remarkable recovery raised questions regarding inbreeding, and why harmful mutations that could cause inbreeding depression, or a loss of genetic diversity, didn't hinder the species' revival.

In an effort to unravel this biological puzzle, a team of researchers at Kyoto University set out to investigate the factors that contributed to this unlikely comeback.

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.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are important precursor cells for sperm and eggs, but the genes involved in their formation in rats were previously unknown. The research group successfully identified the genes necessary for the formation of PGCs in rats. Furthermore, using PGCs created with these genes, the researchers produced healthy baby rats. These results have been published in the academic journal Stem Cell Reports.

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.