Masato Ota, Assistant Professor at the National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes for Natural Sciences (at the time of the research, a graduate student at the Graduate School of Science, Osaka University); Youichi Sakawa, Associate Professor at the Institute of Laser Science, Osaka University; Ryutaro Matsui, Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes for Natural Sciences (at the time of the research, Assistant Professor at Kyoto University); Yasuaki Kishimoto, Program-Specific Researcher at the Institute for Chemical Research and Program-Specific Professor at the Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University; Toshinori Yabuuchi, Chief Scientist at the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute; and Yuji Fukuda, Senior Principal Researcher at the Kansai Institute for Photon Science (KPSI), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)—has developed a new measurement technique that simultaneously captures diffraction signals ranging from ultra-small angles to wide angles with a single camera when a single X-ray pulse is irradiated onto a structure. By combining this method with an X-ray free-electron laser, the team derived the rarefaction velocity of high-energy-density plasma on a picosecond timescale across a broad range of spatial scales—from nanometers to submicrometers. A comparison of experimental results and numerical simulations revealed that even an increase of just a few nanometers in the size of the initial plasma on a solid surface reduces the efficiency with which the laser is absorbed by the microstructured solid to approximately one-fourth.

Cold snaps can damage grapevine tissues, weaken photosynthesis, and reduce yield stability, yet the molecular relay that converts a temperature drop into cellular protection has remained unclear.

A research team has developed a highly efficient cytosine base editing platform for potato, overcoming a major barrier to precise improvement of this genetically complex crop.

The circadian clock—plants' internal timekeeping system—does more than regulate when flowers open or leaves fold. 

With the global aging trend intensifying, cancer presents a significant health challenge for the elderly. This study aims to assess the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) burden of cancer among individuals aged 60–94 worldwide from 1990 to 2021. Data on the prevalence, mortality, and DALY for 35 cancer types in the elderly were derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) spanning 1990 to 2021. The analysis was performed at four stratified levels: global, 21 GBD regions, 204 countries, and five sociodemographic index (SDI) categories. Age-standardized rates for prevalence, mortality, and DALYs were computed. In 2021, the global elderly population (60–94 years) reported 691.13 × 10⁵ [627.13 × 10⁵, 773.82 × 10⁵] cancer cases and 71.86 × 10⁵ [65.07 × 10⁵, 77.31 × 10⁵] cancer deaths, with a DALY total of approximately 1394.17 × 10⁵ [1281.20 × 10⁵, 1495.54 × 10⁵]. Trends indicate a gradual increase in cancer cases and mortality over time, with DALY rates escalating with aging. Notably, high-income North America exhibited the highest age-standardized prevalence. High SDI regions faced the most substantial elderly cancer burden. The burden of cancer among the elderly exhibits considerable variability globally, with developed socioeconomic areas experiencing a greater prevalence than those in underdeveloped regions, necessitating urgent attention from health professionals.