Cellular death is a fundamental concept in the biological sciences. Given its significance though, its definition depends on the context in which it takes place, and lacks a general mathematical definition. Researchers from the University of Tokyo propose a new mathematical definition of death based on whether a potentially dead cell can return to a predefined “representative state of living,” which are the states of being that we can confidently call “alive.” The researchers’ work could be useful for biological researchers and future medical research.

Researchers propose a novel three-stage framework, Retrieve–Revise–Refine, specifically designed to address the intricate challenge of legal article set retrieval, which focuses on retrieving a concise (i.e., precise and compact) set of entailing legal articles.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a new imaging method that clearly visualizes nanoscale structures within rubber materials. Conventional electron microscopy often produces noisy images that obscure rubber's internal contours. The proposed method successfully captures the mesh-like molecular network structure and quantifies factors involved in the internal structure.

An Osaka Metropolitan University research team has found a way to make more efficient the desorption of water-adsorption polymers used in atmospheric water harvesting and desiccant air conditioning.

    A collaborative effort by the research groups of Professor Haruhiko Fuwa from Chuo University and Professor Masashi Tsuda from Kochi University has culminated in the structure elucidation and total synthesis of anticancer marine natural products, iriomoteolide-1a and -1b. These natural products were originally isolated from the marine dinoflagellate collected off the Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led international research team has found some clues to how plants survive in colder regions.

Parasports challenge societal perceptions of disability and promote inclusion, with psychological support playing a crucial role in this progress. This article features insights from Kyushu University’s Associate Professor Wakaki Uchida, who discusses the impact of sport and exercise psychology on para-athletes, and two-time Paralympian Mitsuya Tanaka, who shares his experiences navigating identity and media portrayal. They emphasize the need for understanding biases and recognizing the capabilities of individuals with disabilities beyond their physical challenges.

A coordination polymer called KGF-9 has achieved record-high photocatalytic efficiency for CO₂-to-formate conversion, as reported by researchers at Science Tokyo. Using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method, the team synthesized KGF-9 with enhanced crystallinity and surface area compared to a previous synthesis route, boosting its apparent quantum yield ten-fold to 25%. These findings demonstrate KGF-9's significant potential for advancing sustainable technologies that effectively reduce carbon emissions.

A groundbreaking transverse thermoelectric effect is observed in WSi₂, a mixed-dimensional semimetal. This study reveals that WSi₂ exhibits axis-dependent conduction polarity, efficiently converting heat into electrical energy along perpendicular axes. Unlike traditional thermoelectric materials, WSi₂ achieves high efficiency without an external magnetic field, with performance comparable to the best anomalous Nernst effect materials. These findings highlight WSi₂ as a promising candidate for heat management applications and open new avenues for thermoelectric materials research.

In a recent study, researchers from Chiba University delved into a promising path toward solid-state optical cooling using perovskite quantum dots. Focused on anti-Stokes photoluminescence, a process in which materials emit higher-energy photons than they absorb, this research could revolutionize the existing cooling technology. Their findings highlight both the potential and limitations of this novel cooling approach, with exciting prospects in energy-saving technology.