Basic Research & Academia

Japanese researchers from RIKEN, Nippon Medical School, and Tohoku University developed a breakthrough AI method for cancer prognosis prediction. By incorporating medical knowledge through "intermediate reasoning scores," the system overcomes the dual challenges of institutional and specimen variations, achieving consistent predictions across different hospitals.

Yamaguchi University researchers discovered four new rare earth-containing minerals at Gunma Prefecture's Mokurasawa Mine. Amid Japan's push to reduce China dependence, this discovery holds both scientific significance and strategic implications for resource security.

Japanese-led international research team reveals the quenching mechanism of thorium-229 isomers crucial for next-generation nuclear clocks. Discovery shows electrons in crystals reset nuclear states, advancing portable solid-state nuclear clocks for GPS and dark matter research.

NIMS and University of Tokyo researchers have developed a revolutionary wafer-scale deposition technology for next-generation semiconductor material MoS2 (molybdenum disulfide). By discovering two key growth mechanisms, self-alignment and self-limiting, they achieved uniform, high-quality monolayer films across entire 2-inch wafers. This breakthrough opens the path to post-silicon semiconductors for sub-1nm node transistors.

Australian researchers have developed "thermoradiative diodes" that convert infrared radiation emitted from Earth into space at night into electricity. This reverse solar panel technology shows promise for satellite power and deep space missions. Explore the potential and challenges of this renewable energy breakthrough.

SFTS is a tick-borne disease with a 10-30% fatality rate. A treatment was approved in 2024, which made early diagnosis the bottleneck. Japanese institutions including Osaka University are developing a 15-minute test on the model of flu antigen kits. 2025 brought a record 183 cases and Hokkaido's first infection.

Researchers at Juntendo and Hiroshima Universities have found that soluble ST2 (sST2), naturally maintained at high levels in the body, suppresses food allergies by blocking IL-33 signaling. The study identifies fibroblasts as the key sST2-producing cells and points toward new allergy prevention and treatment strategies.

A Kyoto University team has identified the brain's "motivation brake" behind the inability to start unpleasant tasks. The VS-VP pathway, linking the ventral striatum and ventral pallidum, suppresses action initiation under stress. The finding may inform work on avolition in depression and on burnout.

Groundbreaking research from Shinshu University and Asahimatsu Foods reveals that koya-dofu (freeze-dried tofu), a traditional Japanese preserved food, contains resistant protein that promotes GLP-1 production, potentially preventing obesity and fatty liver disease. Discover why the world is turning to Japanese fermented and preserved foods for health benefits.