Researchers at Hokkaido University found that dopamine signaling in the brain's striatum region enables animals to adapt to threats by shifting their focus towards rewards. After repeated exposure, dopamine activity decreases, allowing attention to shift towards opportunities for learning and reward-seeking behavior.
Research from Hokkaido University suggests that the immune system's response during the first 24 hours after infection can determine survival, with a critical 'checkpoint' identified. This early immune response triggers key cells and signaling proteins that can inform future treatments for severe viral diseases.
Researchers from Hokkaido University have developed a new method to predict metal-binding sites in proteins, overcoming the long-standing challenge. The method, called PRIME, uses a deep-learning approach and achieves high accuracy and speed, making it possible to analyze whole organisms or large protein databases.
Scientists at Hokkaido University developed a surface engineering approach to deliver mitochondria directly into target cells, preserving their energy-producing function. This method, e-MITO, enables efficient cellular uptake and respiratory modulation, promising to advance organelle-based therapeutics.
New research from Hokkaido University shows that team success or failure strongly influences how individuals learn from their mistakes. When an individual makes an error, they are less likely to correct it if their team succeeds, but more likely to adjust their behavior when the team fails.
A genomic study of the Asian house shrew has uncovered a previously undocumented Indo-Pacific network linking Iran, Yemen, East Africa, and West and Southeast Asia. The research reveals multiple waves of dispersal over a long period, suggesting a far more extensive and complex network of human interaction across the region.
Hokkaido University ranks 7th worldwide and 1st in Japan in THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026. The university excels in various SDG categories, including Zero Hunger, Sustainable Cities, and Life Below Water. Hokkaido University aims to contribute to solving global issues and achieving the SDGs through its sustainability strategies.
A new study reveals that Antarctic glaciers are speeding up and moving towards the ocean due to meltwater draining from their surface to their base. This process, known as hydrofracturing, reduces friction and accelerates glacier movement.
A team from Hokkaido University found that red auroras can extend to extremely high altitudes even during moderately intense storms, suggesting these storms may be stronger than conventional indices indicate. This could have implications for satellite operations and space weather forecasting.
A new, non-invasive monitoring system captured striking footage of hyperbenthos, including a snailfish exhibiting backward swimming behavior, and the acoustic presence of narwhals. The study highlights the dynamic nature of the deep-sea environment, with organic particles concentrating in response to tidal currents.
Researchers examined two mechanisms of whole genome duplication in cells, finding that cytokinesis failure leads to more stable and viable cells, while mitotic slippage results in uneven chromosome distribution and reduced viability. The study suggests targeting chromosome separation could help limit survival of abnormal cells.
Embryos can tolerate disruption of cell division at certain stages of development, particularly during the gastrula phase where a mechanism called the spindle assembly checkpoint helps them withstand misaligned chromosomes. Disruptions during other stages, such as the pre-gastrula period, are more deadly and lead to defects.
Early octopuses were gigantic predators that hunted at the top of the food web, alongside large marine vertebrates. They had powerful jaws with extensive wear marks, indicating a strong biting force and aggressive feeding strategy.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a new method to measure small forces with high precision, discovering light can twist tiny objects sideways. This phenomenon depends on optical helicity, a subtle property of the light's electromagnetic field.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a mathematical model that can measure fish freshness in real time. The model uses the degradation pathway of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in fish muscle after death to estimate current freshness and predict changes over time.
Researchers found that Stentor coeruleus uses geometric features to navigate its environment, with a preference for corner spaces. The microorganism changes its shape to interact physically with surfaces, allowing it to locate and settle into protected niches.
Researchers from Hokkaido University have developed a superacid-resistant BODIPY dye, enabling stable fluorescence in highly acidic conditions. The new dye outperforms conventional BODIPY dyes by maintaining fluorescence for more than a day in extremely acidic environments.
Countries are taking different approaches to regulating polygenic embryo testing, which raises new ethical and legal concerns. The technology has expanded from screening for monogenic diseases to assessing complex traits like intelligence and disease risk, but its clinical value is uncertain due to environmental influences.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a new platform to evaluate male reproductive function in living mice, enabling non-invasive, real-time monitoring of fertility. This approach reduces animal use and costs, while providing continuous and long-term data, and has potential applications in oncofertility research.
A new international survey reveals distinct differences in how veterinarians and animal welfare scientists in Japan and the UK perceive animal welfare, particularly animal behavior. The study found that cultural values, such as Japan's interdependence-oriented culture and the UK's individualistic society, influence attitudes towards an...
Researchers at Hokkaido University studied 56 japonica rice cultivars, identifying 196 different types of lipid molecules with potential anti-inflammatory effects. Black and green rice varieties were found to have a higher health-promotion index due to their unique lipid composition.
Researchers from Hokkaido University used a new method to track groundwater levels and greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asia's peatlands, finding they release more gases than previously thought. Human activities like drainage and agriculture increase emissions by tripling or sixfolding, contributing 30% of Japan's annual emissions.
A team of researchers at Hokkaido University characterized the unique mechanics of Arcella, a shelled single-celled amoeba, to move skillfully across various surfaces. They found that differences in traction stress distribution control straight-line and sideways movement.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed an environmentally friendly method to synthesize organosodium reagents using ball-milling mechanochemistry. This approach replaces traditional methods using highly reactive and toxic materials, offering a sustainable alternative in organic synthesis.
Researchers have recorded hundreds of narwhal interactions with moorings, suggesting that passive acoustic monitoring may not be as non-invasive as assumed. The study found that narwhals were attracted to the devices, possibly due to confusion with prey or curiosity.
Researchers from Hokkaido University developed a computational method to predict the optimal ligand for generating reactive alkyl ketone radicals. The Virtual Ligand-Assisted Screening (VLAS) method successfully identified L4 as the optimal ligand, enabling the generation of ketyl radicals with high yield.
Scientists have created the highest-performing underwater adhesive hydrogel technology, exceeding 1 MPa in adhesive strength, using data mining and machine learning. The gels can withstand repeated ocean tides and wave impacts, making them suitable for biomedical engineering and deep-sea exploration applications.
Researchers discovered that subtle differences in molecular structure can significantly affect mRNA-based drug performance. The study found that optimizing stereoisomers of ionizable lipids like ALC-315 could lead to safer vaccines, as the (S,S)-form delivers mRNA efficiently with reduced toxicity.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a new recipe for muscle-like gel polymers, which exhibit rapid self-strengthening due to mechanophores with weak bonds. The innovative design enables the creation of thermostable materials with improved stability and potential applications in biological fields.
Researchers developed a facile hydrogen atom transfer method using xanthone as a promising ketone photocatalyst for activating carboxylic acids. The method generates minimal reaction waste and has broad applicability with over 40 examples. It also reveals a novel photocatalysis of ketones.
A new study published in Science reveals that ancient squids were the most abundant swimmers in the ocean 100 million years ago, with over 40 new species discovered. The advanced fossil discovery technique allowed researchers to identify thousands of fossilized cephalopod beaks, providing key clues for studying squid evolution.
Researchers from Hokkaido University found that chemical processes in the atmosphere, such as buffering effects and acidity-driven gas-particle partitioning, contribute to the persistence of nitrates. These findings help improve climate modeling by refining atmospheric nitrate levels.
A new review highlights the role of neutrophils and NETs in kidney diseases, revealing an overactive immune response can damage the kidneys. Targeting neutrophils and NETs could lead to a major shift in treatment, with potential therapies showing promising results in clinical trials.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy are associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children. The research tracked over 74,000 mothers and their children to explore potential links between maternal metal exposure and infection risk.
A new study by Hokkaido University found that colder temperatures significantly increase the risk of gastroenteritis among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Kutupalong and Nayapara camps. The study reveals a link between temperature changes and gastroenteritis risk, with both extreme cold and heat contributing to higher numbers of cases.
The companies have created a microfluidic device-based LNP production system that enables precise control over particle size, addressing previous productivity issues. The system can produce various types of LNPs in small-batch or mass quantities, from personalized medicine to vaccines for infectious diseases.
The FLUID robot, developed by Hokkaido University researchers, automates the co-precipitation of cobalt and nickel to create binary materials with precision. The open-source system uses a 3D printer and off-the-shelf electronics, making it customizable and cost-effective for researchers worldwide.
A multidisciplinary survey in the eastern Indian sector of the Southern Ocean found that the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current has shifted southward, causing a change in water temperature and mac zooplankton composition. The survey also estimated the biomass of Antarctic krill in the area, with comparable results t...
Researchers found two new types of gene clusters capable of producing large volumes of hydrogen in marine bacteria. The study suggests that the diversity in these clusters is related to speciation and ecological niches, with some species producing higher levels of hydrogen than others.
Research finds that strengthened westerly winds enhance clockwise oceanic circulations, transporting warm seawater and causing accelerated ice sheet melting in East Antarctica. This study's findings improve future sea level rise projections.
A new class of zwitterionic phospholipids, DOPE-Cx, enhances the functional delivery of mRNA via lipid nanoparticles, overcoming endosomal escape and improving mRNA expression. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced therapeutic applications, including mRNA vaccines, cancer treatment, and protein replacement therapy.
Despite decades of overfishing warnings, Southeast Asia's catch fisheries have maintained biodiversity and ecological health, with a three-fold higher ratio of underfished stocks compared to the global average. This study highlights the benefits of non-species-selective multispecies fishing practices in promoting sustainable fisheries.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have successfully cultivated an ultrasmall bacterial strain that parasitizes methanogenic archaea, inhibiting their growth. This discovery represents the first successful cultivation of such bacteria and proposes a new phylum Minisyncoccota, advancing our understanding of microbial ecology.
A new study reveals that glacier speed varies on a daily basis due to changes in air temperature, rainfall, and tides. The research found acceleration events coinciding with high temperatures or heavy rainfall, highlighting the complex interactions between environmental factors and glacial dynamics.
The OSIRIS-REx mission returned a large sample from asteroid Bennu, which Japanese collaborators detected includes all five nucleobases required for life. The analysis revealed high concentrations of ammonia and nitrogen-rich organic matter.
A new computational tool, PsiPartition, simplifies genetic data analysis for evolutionary biology, allowing researchers to efficiently study species relationships. The novel method improves both computational efficiency and accuracy of phylogenetic trees.
Juvenile dolphins possess specialized receptors for detecting fatty acids in their mother's milk, which plays a crucial role in energy and brain development. This 'fat taste' system may provide an evolutionary advantage in selecting high-quality milk from mothers.
A research team at Hokkaido University developed novel cerium oxide-based thermal switches, surpassing prior benchmarks with high efficiency and sustainability. The switches feature a new benchmark for electrochemical thermal switches, offering broad applications in industries such as electronics cooling and renewable energy systems.
A study found that climate- and land use change will alter the availability of wild traditional foods in the Russian Far East, affecting Indigenous Peoples' health and livelihoods. Rural households heavily rely on these foods for income, with losses predicted in central and southern areas.
Researchers at Hokkaido University discovered that deep-sea hydrothermal vent bacteria can reduce nitrous oxide through an efficient energy metabolism mechanism. The study found that denitrification genes are negatively regulated by transcriptional regulators, suggesting a potential approach to mitigate climate change.