A research group led by Satoshi Ide from the University of Tokyo has demonstrated that classic earthquake generation theory does not hold in areas where the angle at which a tectonic plate dips under another is sufficiently low. The discovery explains why giant earthquakes can form in such areas, providing a theoretical basis to extend observation efforts to previously overlooked features. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

Black-box optimization, particularly Bayesian optimization, is a practical approach for weather-intervention design, achieving meaningful rainfall reduction even under a very limited budget of expensive weather simulations, finding effective actions with only a small number of trials.

A newly developed architecture for full-duplex wireless transceivers solves the long-standing problem of self-interference, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. They implemented an innovative switching strategy that isolates self-interference in the time domain by alternating transmission and reception faster than the wireless signal period, enabling effective simultaneous transmission and reception. Experiments using 400-MHz-wide millimeter-wave signals (5G-compatible) highlight the technology’s potential for future Beyond 5G/6G infrastructure, including extended reality systems, and smart factories.

The performance and applications of carbon materials are tightly related to their structural characteristics, especially the types and distribution of defects. However, defect structures at the atomic level have long been regarded as a ‘black box’ in carbon science. Now, researchers from Japan have shed light on these structural mysteries. By integrating advanced spectroscopy with computer simulations, they precisely identified the atomic configurations responsible for key defect peaks, paving the way for advanced material engineering. 

Well-being is recognized as a key element of sustainable and healthy societies. Using survey data from 1,001 adults in Japan, a study shows that a better residential environment, characterized by thermal comfort, acoustic quality, lighting quality, hygiene, safety, and security conditions, was linked to greater satisfaction across key life domains, which in turn was associated with higher subjective well-being. This underscores the role of better residential environments in fostering sustainable, healthy, and inclusive societies.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants whose sources can be difficult to identify using standard analysis techniques. In a recent study, scientists demonstrated that Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry can measure the stable carbon isotope ratios of PFAS compounds, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid. This analytical approach provides a promising tool for tracing PFAS pollution and improving understanding of the environmental behavior of these widely distributed fluorinated compounds.

Researchers at the University of Osaka have synergistically combined three strategies for energy dissipation to enhance the toughness of elastomers. Rotaxane molecules with sacrificial bonds are incorporated into an elastomer. Under increasing external force, three mechanisms become sequentially activated: sliding of the rotaxane molecules, force-induced bond scission in the rings to form linear chains, and entanglement of the resulting chains. A polyurethane elastomer synthesized using this strategy was five times tougher than a conventional polyurethane.

Riverine PFOA presents higher concentrations in the eastern Seto Inland Sea than in the western part. Yodo and Yamato Rivers dominate the PFOA levels in the eastern part. After entering Osaka Bay, most PFOA is transported to the Kii Channel and farther exported to the Pacific Ocean via the upper 20 m. Annual export to the Pacific Ocean from the Japan’s coast is 328.0–348.9 kg, which is largely contributed by the Seto Inland Sea.

A research group has developed “TP-An,” a molecule that enables even low-energy, long-wavelength light to be used more effectively by solar cells and photocatalysts. The molecule can be used even at high concentrations that are difficult for traditional materials, suggesting their usefulness in technology.

What does the hantavirus do inside its rodent hosts? How does it move through animal populations? And why does it cause almost no symptoms in rodents, yet can be nearly fatal in humans?

For more than 35 years, Specially Appointed Professor Hiroaki Kariwa at Hokkaido University has explored these questions. His team has uncovered key insights into hantavirus ecology and evolution, including the discovery of the Hokkaido virus.