Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for roughly 15–20% of all breast cancer cases and is difficult to treat. Patients are often left with chemotherapy as their only treatment option. This is because TNBC tumors contain a large number of T cells that suppress the immune system. Yet researchers from Tohoku University have come up with a three-pronged approach to overcome this problem.

Researchers from the University of Osaka and Diponegoro University developed an AI-powered navigation system for cyborg cockroaches. Using onboard sensors and a multilayer perceptron, the system recognizes flat ground, climbs, descents, and holes in real time, then adapts electrical stimulation accordingly. By supporting natural climbing while reducing unnecessary steering, the approach shortened obstacle-crossing and total navigation times, reduced travel distance and stimulation, and significantly improved efficient movement across complex terrain.

A study from Japan finds that how educators frame environmental ethics can shape learning outcomes. Surveying students across 21 elementary schools, researchers found they responded more strongly, at least in the short term, when nature was framed around what it does for them rather than around its value in itself. The researchers hope the finding will encourage educators to think as carefully about how ethics are framed as they do about what content to teach.

A research group led by University of Tsukuba has examined a fossil in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, and identified it as the right sternal plate (part of the chest skeleton) of an iguanodontian dinosaur. The size of the sternal plate indicates that it belonged to a small individual with an estimated body length of approximately 3 meters. Since previously recovered iguanodontian specimens from the Upper Cretaceous in Japan appear to belong to larger individuals (exceeding 3 meters in body length), this discovery suggests that smaller iguanodontian individuals also inhabited coastal environments in East Asia.

Edo-period “Ogame” (“large jars”) became increasingly standardized over time, developing distinct shapes for everyday and burial use, reports a new archeological study from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan. Using AI-assisted techniques and geometric morphometrics, the researcher analyzed 243 historic vessels to quantitatively track these changes. The findings provide the first quantitative evidence that major Edo-period historical events influenced not only expensive porcelains production but also everyday ceramics, offering new insights into early modern Japanese society.

Inconsistent nomenclature, analytical constraints, and a limited understanding of metabolism and biological roles impede research on selenosugars, the principal urinary metabolites of selenium. To address the inconsistencies, a new study has proposed a standardized nomenclature, along with analytical criteria for reliable identification and an updated selenium metabolism framework. This is expected to improve consistency across selenium studies, strengthen analytical rigor, and accelerate future research into selenium biology and human health.

Commercial pet foods may be an overlooked source of PFAS exposure for companion animals. We analyzed 100 dog and cat food products in Japan and found PFAS widely, with fish-derived ingredients tending to contain higher long-chain PFAS. A follow-up paired serum–food study showed that cats had higher long-chain PFCA burdens and stronger serum–food relationships than dogs, suggesting that pet food can contribute to feline PFAS exposure in household environments.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have demonstrated that a coconut-derived biofuel produced from off-grade coconuts can be used in aviation gas turbine engines. Combustion tests showed thermal efficiency comparable to conventional Jet A-1 fuel, highlighting the biofuel’s potential as a sustainable aviation fuel alternative.