A method to interpret artificial intelligence (AI) models used in materials discovery by analyzing their learned features has been developed by researchers from Japan. The method extracts key features from an AI model trained on atomic structural data and optical absorption spectra, and then groups materials with similar structural and spectral characteristics. This approach can be extended to reveal how atomic arrangements influence other material properties, paving the way for more efficient materials design.

A research group led by Professor Katsuhiro Ichikawa (Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University) and Professor Kaoru Tada (Faculty of Health Sciences / Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University Hospital) has successfully developed an ultra-high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) system dedicated to extremities, achieving approximately five times higher spatial resolution than conventional X-ray CT systems (voxel size: 0.08–0.10 mm).

Based on their 18-year long cohort study, researchers at Tohoku University have found which depressive symptoms have the most impact on the “healthspan” (remaining years of healthy living) of older adults, and how this differs for men compared to women.

Okayama University of Science and Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, have launched a joint research project to establish the world’s first fully closed-cycle land-based aquaculture system for chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) using the university’s proprietary “Third Water” technology. The project aims to address the dramatic decline in salmon returns caused by climate change and changing marine ecosystems. More than 2,000 juvenile salmon are currently being reared in a 35-ton closed recirculation aquaculture system at the university’s Next-Generation Aquaculture Center. Researchers expect the fish to reach market size within one to two years. If successful, the project could provide a sustainable alternative to ocean-dependent salmon production and contribute to the long-term resilience of salmon fisheries in Japan and worldwide.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new paradigm for identifying online phishing campaigns. Their new system, PhishLumos, is triggered when links show signs of concealing information, and looks for clues in the “infrastructure” of the website to uncover the whole campaign of which the site is only a tiny part. Real-world testing showed detection which was 8 days faster than an expert, with 190,000 URLs detected over 6 months.

Researchers at Kanazawa University have identified a previously unrecognized mechanism by which structural changes in the cerebellum influence social behavior. The study demonstrates that disruption of specialized extracellular structures surrounding cerebellar neurons alters neuronal activity across brain circuits involved in social behavior. The findings provide new insight into the neural mechanisms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Long COVID (LC), characterized by onset of symptoms within 3 months of COVID-19, poses a major clinical challenge. This highlights the need for biomarkers to evaluate the pathophysiology of LC. In this context, researchers have analyzed the antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins in patients with LC. It was observed that N-antibody levels reflected prior infection severity, while lower S-antibody levels were linked to memory problems and poor quality of life.

Small intestinal cancer is a rare and poorly understood disease, partly because the molecular drivers behind it have remained unclear. Now, researchers from Japan have identified mutations in COPA—a gene involved in cellular cargo transport with no prior link to cancer—as an alternative route to small intestine tumorigenesis. Their findings may help explain how these tumors develop and could inform and advance future diagnosis and treatment strategies.

The valence state of iron in majorite, a major mineral in the deep interiors of Earth and Mars, was determined using high-pressure experiments and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analysis. The results show that majorite contains moderate amounts of Fe³⁺, suggesting that it may have played an important role in controlling the oxidation state of planetary mantles and in the formation of oxidized magmas near the surface after planetary formation.

Researchers investigated the prevalence of an emerging foodborne disease-causing bacterium in wild raccoons and environmental water. They found genetic similarities between the strains found in both, suggesting possible transmission between wildlife and water. Genomic analyses of samples taken from the raccoons showed that many strains found in the animals carried virulence genes associated with diarrhea outbreaks in humans.