Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). Published in Communications Biology, a joint study including the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) provides new insights into how this bacterium causes plaque formation. Using cryo-electron (cryo-EM) microscopy, they reveal the 3D structure of Mfa pili, an arm-like filament which enables the bacteria to stick to host tissues and other microbes. 

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have shown that, in the taxonomic order Fagales, the master transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), which regulates root nodule symbiosis, remains functional even in plants lacking nodule formation. This finding indicates that the loss of nodulation is not necessarily linked to the loss of the NIN gene, providing new insight into the evolutionary mechanisms underlying root nodule symbiosis.

Catalysts play a vital role in the chemical reactions used to produce fertilizers, fuels, pharmaceuticals, and hydrogen, to name a few. AI-driven catalyst discovery is revolutionizing the field of materials science. But AI is only as reliable as the data it learns from. Therefore, researchers from Tohoku University have introduced an AI-powered digital catalysis platform that serves as a one-stop source for experimental data, theoretical calculations, and scientific literature.

Kyoto, Japan -- Peering far into the distant, high-redshift universe, the James Webb telescope has discovered an abundance of small red galaxies known as the Little Red Dots. From their observations, astronomers believe that at least some of these galaxies may be home to growing supermassive black holes at their centers, objects which they believe are embedded in dense gaseous envelopes, an environment that is suitable for producing high-energy neutrinos.

Neutrinos are electrically neutral elementary particles with masses near zero. High-energy neutrinos from across the universe have been detected on Earth, but the origin of all-sky high-energy neutrino background radiation has remained a mystery.

Neutrino production involves the collision of high-energy particles such as protons with surrounding photons or matter, and the resulting neutrinos can escape even if they are produced inside thick gas. Sources that produce high-energy neutrinos generally also produce gamma rays, yet if all sources that produced neutrinos also produced gamma rays, the result would exceed observed gamma ray background levels.

The world’s only research station specializing in seaweed, Muroran Marine Station, is one of Hokkaido University’s seven aquatic research stations.

Rice grown on the Moon? No, this is not something out of science fiction, but a future possibility thanks to a plasma technology developed by Tohoku University and JAXA. The plasma technology synthesizes gas from atmospheric air and turns it into a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Researchers also tested the fertilizer on rice seedlings planted in a lunar soil simulant, finding that the fertilizer released critical minerals from the Moon's soil while suppressing harmful ones. The technology is portable and energy-efficient, meaning it can even be used here on Earth for a more sustainable form of rice farming.

How does a stripy tree snail hide from hungry birds? The Hypselostyla camelopardalis from the Philippines and Reinia variegata from Japan have both evolved a form of dynamic camouflage to survive. Their light-colored patterns vanish in the rain and the shell turns dark brown, similar to damp tree bark. Researchers from the University Museum at the University of Tokyo have uncovered the mechanism behind this rare molluscan transformation. The outmost layer of the snails’ shell is porous like a sponge. When water fills the holes, it changes how light bounces off, making a second darker layer of shell beneath more visible. This has potential applications for smart sensors and materials that react to humidity, without the need for external power. 

What if artificial cells could be mechanically programmed like machines? Researchers at the University of Tokyo have shown that lipids and DNA nanostructures independently control two fundamental modes of deformation, stretching and bending, opening new possibilities for designing artificial cells and next-generation soft materials.

A meta-analysis of 21 Japanese case-control studies re-evaluated the association between APOE-e4 homozygosity and Alzheimer’s disease risk. While a landmark 1997 study estimated a more than 30-fold increase in risk, the present analysis indicates a substantially lower but still strong effect of approximately 12–15-fold. These findings provide updated risk estimates for Japanese populations and establish a more robust foundation for genetic risk assessment and future preventive strategies.