Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo


Looking inside the glass

A team of researchers from The University of Tokyo used electron spectroscopy and computer simulations to study the internal atomic structure of aluminosilicate glass. They found intricate structures that have not yet been analyzed by scientists, including complex coordination networks among aluminum atoms within phase-separated regions.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateNov 16, 2020

Tokyo's voluntary standstill may have stopped COVID-19 in its tracks

A comparative analysis of Tokyo residents' mobility data revealed a significant slowdown, leading to reduced social contacts and lower disease transmission. The study found that people with higher income were more capable of limiting their movement and contact, validating the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Stress-free gel

Scientists at the University of Tokyo developed a method for creating stress-free gels with less internal mechanical stress by delaying network formation. This breakthrough may help understand biological processes involving cytoplasm and improve industrial processes that create semisolid products, such as foodstuffs.

0.5°C of additional warming has a huge effect on global aridity

A new study by the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science found that limiting warming to 1.5°C rather than 2°C above pre-industrial levels would significantly reduce global aridity, particularly in Mediterranean regions and western Europe. The research highlights the importance of considering regional impacts and suggest...

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateSep 17, 2020

Crystal wars

A team of researchers at The University of Tokyo and Fudan University studied crystallization processes when multiple structural arrangements are possible. They found that transient precursors of various crystalline orderings coexist and compete with each other, leading to complex crystal engineering methods.

Red light for stress

Researchers at The University of Tokyo have introduced a novel color-changing organic crystal that displays superelastochromism, returning to its original shape and hue after being stressed. This property has potential applications in sensors for shear forces, particularly in industries like heavy manufacturing and shipping.

But what about flow? The effect of hydrodynamics on liquid-liquid transitions

A team of researchers from The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science has expanded our understanding of liquid behavior by describing the role of hydrodynamics in these transitions. They found that changes in density lead to hydrodynamic fluctuations, affecting domain growth and long-range interactions.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2020

Wisdom of the crowd? Building better forecasts from suboptimal predictors

Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. have introduced a method for enhancing the power of existing algorithms to forecast the future of unknown time series by combining suboptimal forecasts. This approach was tested on real-world flood data and theoretical equations with chaotic behavior, resulting in...

A new view for glasses

Researchers at The University of Tokyo introduced a new physical model that predicts the dynamics of glassy materials based solely on their local degree of atomic structural order. This theory greatly improves our understanding of how glassy liquids become more viscous on cooling, with potential applications in manufacturing.

Liquid-liquid transitions crystallize new ideas for molecular liquids

Researchers have discovered a significant coupling between crystallization and liquid-liquid transition (LLT) in molecular liquids, leading to drastic enhancements of crystal formation. This finding has implications for understanding and controlling crystallization in various fields, including materials science and disease research.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2019

Jam-packed: A novel microscopic approach to amorphous solids

A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a new method for understanding amorphous solids using computer simulations. They focused on local mechanical properties and introduced a new order parameter called vibrability, which controls atomic vibrations in soft discs or spheres. This discovery may help design more effici...

China, India economic development key to achieving MDG for safe drinking water

Research led by The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science found that China and India's rapid urbanization, especially in China, and rural development in India were major enablers of the success in achieving MDG Target 7C-Water. Economic development was also found to be imperative in expanding drinking water coverage.