Hydrogen, a promising fuel, has extensive applications in many sectors. However, its safe and widespread use necessitates reliable sensing methods. While tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) has proved to be an effective gas sensing method, detecting hydrogen using TDLAS is difficult due to its weak light absorption property in the infrared region. Addressing this issue, researchers developed an innovative calibration-free technique that significantly enhances the accuracy and detection limits for sensing hydrogen using TDLAS.

 Plesiosaurs once roamed Earth’s waters, using four equal flippers to propel their elongated bodies through the water. Fossils from these Mesozoic marine reptiles do not preserve the muscle tissue needed to explain how they maneuvered. Yet a group of researchers have harnessed a bio-inspired control system, creating a plesiosaur-like robot that reveals key insights into how they once traversed the oceans. The model could be used in the future to shed light on the movement of other extinct animals.

Hydrogen's potential as a promising future energy source is increasingly recognized. However, safely transporting large quantities of hydrogen gas remains a notable challenge. Researchers from University of Tsukuba have addressed this issue by developing a durable, poison-resistant non-noble metal anode that can potentially replace the expensive metal electrodes currently used in organic hydride electrolytic synthesis. This method allows the handling of hydrogen as a liquid energy carrier.

Researchers from Osaka University found that Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) in the workplace experience significantly higher levels of stress compared to their non-HSP colleagues. Approximately 26% of working adults could be classified as HSPs, indicating that a substantial portion of the workforce might be experiencing higher levels of stress. Interestingly, HSPs also exhibit greater empathy, suggesting that their heightened sensitivity enables them to connect deeply with others, potentially fostering a more supportive work environment.

Slightly overweight stroke survivors have a lower risk of sustaining disabilities. The Kobe University finding adds another aspect to the obesity paradox but also highlights the importance of considering the population’s normal when recommending best practices.

Using a transmission electron microscope, researchers at the University of Tsukuba have directly observed the breaking of carbon nanotube fibers is induced by molecular slippage, involving repeated transitions between static and kinetic friction. Furthermore, they have discovered that this slippage can be considerably suppressed by doping nitrogen into individual carbon nanotube molecules, followed by bundling them into fibers. Specifically, when these nitrogen-doped nanotubes are irradiated with an electron beam, the resulting fibers exhibit enhanced strength.

New research has shown that puberty plays a key role in shaping kidney health in adolescent girls, revealing a surprising shift in how the kidneys respond to injury. Although estrogen is known to protect against kidney damage in adult women, a recent study has found that the hormonal surge during puberty may instead increase the risk of kidney injury in adolescent girls, raising important questions about how sex hormones influence kidney health throughout life.

When performing a knee replacement surgery or total knee arthroplasty, doctors traditionally try to align the hip, knee, and ankle in a straight line, forming a neutral alignment, rather than replicating the patient’s original alignment. To understand which approach is better, researchers from Kyushu University have conducted a post-operation questionnaire comparing patient-reported outcomes to changes in knee alignment before and after surgery. Their findings may improve current surgical guidelines and patients’ long-term quality of life.

Physicians often work for extended hours to provide medical care for patients, which can result in sleep loss and affect their optimal functioning. Researchers from Juntendo University have conducted a national survey and used a computer-based psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) to assess the impact of long work hours and sleep duration on alertness and the psychological health of Japanese physicians. Poor PVT performance was significantly associated with physician depression and burnout.