Catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a key reaction for the sustainable utilization of major greenhouse gases, CO₂ and CH₄. However, conventional DRM often suffers from severe catalyst deactivation due to high temperature requirements. Applying direct current (DC) to catalyst materials has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations, yet the underlying DC-enhanced catalytic mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unveil the non-thermal catalytic origin of DC-applied DRM over Pd/CeO₂ through multimodal operando analyses, providing a microscopic physicochemical framework for the rational design of next-generation DRM catalysts beyond the limitations of conventional thermal catalysis.

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem. They report a new plant-based plastic made from cellulose, the world’s most abundant organic compound. The new plastic is strong, flexible, and capable of rapid decomposition in natural environments, setting it apart from other plastics marketed as biodegradable.

A joint research team from NIMS, The University of Tokyo, Kyoto Institute of Technology and Tohoku University has demonstrated that thin films of ruthenium dioxide (RuO₂) exhibit altermagnetism—the defining property of what is now recognized as the third fundamental class of magnetic materials. Altermagnets have the potential to overcome limitations associated with current magnetic random access memory using conventional ferromagnets and are attracting attention as promising materials for next-generation high-speed, high-density memory devices. In addition to identifying RuO₂ as a strong candidate for such applications, the study also highlights the possibility of enhancing its functionality through control of crystallographic orientation. The research findings were published in Nature Communications on September 24, 2025.

A new regional assessment shows that Southeast Asia is a major net source of greenhouse gases, with land-use change and rising fossil fuel use overwhelming natural carbon sinks, reservoirs that store carbon-containing chemical compounds for a long period. 

The process of aging is associated with a decline in immune functions and persistent low-level inflammation. Now, researchers from Japan have discovered a strain of Lentilactobacillus capable of preventing and even reversing aging-related immune alterations. Feeding aged mice with heat-inactivated YRC2606 resulted in lowered levels of inflammatory cytokines and signaling proteins. These findings point to the possibility of a functional food intervention that has the potential to benefit an increasingly aging population.

A human ‘tubuloid’ model captures the slow progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), addressing key limitations of animal and stem-cell models. Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo grew 3D tubuloid structures from adult patient kidney cells and exposed them to the chemotherapy drug cisplatin to replicate key features of CKD: DNA damage, cellular senescence, inflammation, and fibrosis. This realistic platform provides a new way to develop and test treatments for a condition affecting millions globally.

An analysis by Shinshu University and the Distribution Economics Institute of Japan shows that wholesale prices for flounder—a key Fukushima catch—remained stable after the August 2023 ALPS-treated water discharge. Using a predictive market model based on pre-discharge data, the study found no significant price decline, providing reassurance for fisheries stakeholders and informing future policy debates on nuclear-water disposal.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) refer to a group of man-made chemicals that are widely used due to their water- and stain-resistant properties and exceptional chemical stability. However, they often accumulate in the environment, causing environmental and health hazards. A team of researchers has recently shown how zinc oxide nanocrystals capped with specific ligands can efficiently defluorinate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a well-known perfluoroalkyl substance. This approach could solve PFAS recycling challenges.

Features of urban areas, such as street connectivity or access to green spaces, can impact cardiometabolic health. However, most studies in this area do not provide actionable findings for effective urban planning. Researchers now discuss how parametric urban design, an advanced computational approach, could overcome the existing methodological limitations and increase the applicability of findings. Their insights could help clinicians, public health researchers, and urban designers to refine their current approaches and develop health-focused environments.

Imagine suddenly losing your ability to smell certain foods; no longer sensing the aroma of fresh bread or ripe fruit. This is what happens to roundworms when they stop reproducing. They can still move and function normally, but they lose their ability to detect certain food odors that once led them to their meals. Their own genes have essentially betrayed them.

Researchers at Nagoya University have found the gene that causes this sensory decline. Published in Aging Cell, this is believed to be the first time scientists have identified a gene that actively shuts down food-odor detection in aging animals.