The Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction is commonly used in organic chemistry to synthesize conjugated aldehydes. However, traditional HWE reaction methods sometimes have inconsistent (E)- and (Z)-selectivity, and (E)-isomers of conjugated carbonyl compounds are important for the synthesis of hynapene analogues, which have anti-cancer properties. Researchers have developed a new HWE reaction using a Weinreb amide–type HWE reagent, featuring high robustness, scalability, and (E)-selectivity. Additionally, its key intermediate can be isolated and is exceptionally stable.

In biosynthetic production, controlling engineered bacteria to efficiently produce chemicals is challenging due to mismatches between process models and actual outcomes. To address this issue, researchers from Japan developed a hybrid control system that combines a computer-based model controller with a feedback mechanism engineered directly into Escherichia coli bacteria. Simulation results show that this hybrid control approach achieved higher yields than other methods, highlighting its potential to improve industrial bioprocesses efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

A pioneering study from Japan meticulously maps the brain's intricate neural pathways, shedding light on how specific regions work together to control impulsive actions. By employing advanced neuroimaging and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, researchers uncover the mechanisms that allow us to halt unwanted actions. These insights enhance our understanding of human cognition and open new avenues for treating mental health conditions and other impulse control disorders, paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches.

In the past, chemicals like asbestos and lead have caused widespread harm before their dangers were fully understood. Today, many unknown chemicals similarly pose potential risks. Recently, Chiba University researchers developed a new analysis method for detecting such chemicals in the human body. By studying blood samples from pregnant women, they identified 106 compounds, including potentially harmful substances like phthalates and parabens. This innovative approach could inform new regulations to better protect public health.

Dr. Atsuko Nishigaki and their research team from the Department of Environmental Science at the Faculty of Science, Toho University, discovered that the marine worm Marphysa sp. E (sensu Abe et al. 2019), an annelid living in the tidal flat sediments of Tokyo Bay, rapidly decreased the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic environmental pollutants, by ingesting and excreting organic-rich reduced mud containing high concentrations of PAHs. The PAH concentration was halved within two hours.

New research suggesting a link between motor protein Kif23 and microcephaly may be the key to developing more effective treatments for this condition.

An international team of researchers including Kavli IPMU has used the ALMA telescope and found old elliptical galaxies in the universe can form from intense star formation within early galaxy cores.

Developing reliable methods to replace damaged tissue remains a central goal in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Now, researchers in Japan have created an ultrasound-based technique to control the orientation of cultured myoblasts—precursor cells to skeletal muscle. This innovative method could enable the production of aligned cell sheets suitable for direct transplantation, offering new possibilities for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and muscle tissue engineering.

On May 11, 2024, a rare blue-dominant aurora was seen in Japan. These auroras, captured in videos and images by the public, were analyzed by Sota Nanjo, a postdoctoral researcher at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in Sweden, and Professor Kazuo Shiokawa at Nagoya University in Japan. The researchers propose a different explanation for the current theory, suggesting that nitrogen molecular ions might be accelerated into the magnetosphere through an unknown process. The new discovery prompts further investigation into how nitrogen ions, known to affect Earth through geomagnetic storms and auroras, can exist at high altitudes.

NIMS has established and begun operating a new testing facility to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials exposed to low-temperature hydrogen environments. This facility can create hydrogen conditions across a broader range of temperatures and pressures than any other facility of its kind in the world. It is designed to assess the properties of materials when in contact with low-temperature gaseous or liquefied hydrogen, with the goal of developing cost-effective materials for hydrogen supply chains. This approach is expected to reduce the cost of producing and operating hydrogen-related equipment and of supplying hydrogen.