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Kyoto University


Chimps caught crabbing

A study by Kyoto University reveals that chimpanzees habitually catch and consume freshwater crabs, suggesting a year-round source of protein and salts for females and growing juveniles. This finding sheds light on human evolution and the diverse diets of our closest genetic relatives.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateMay 29, 2019

Should I stay or should I go?

A team from Kyoto University analyzed the dispersal patterns of golden lion tamarins, revealing that males and females use different tactics to maximize their reproductive success. The study aims to inform management strategies for conserving other threatened species.

SourceKyoto University·JournalAmerican Journal of Primatology·DateApr 2, 2019

Infertility's roots in DNA packaging

Researchers at Kyoto University have made a breakthrough in understanding the root cause of abnormal sperm morphology in infertile mice. By modifying a single amino acid on a key protein, they were able to restore fertility in test mice, opening up new possibilities for treating infertility.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Signaling·DateMar 26, 2019

A petrifying virus key to evolution

A newly discovered Medusavirus giant virus provides new insights into host-virus co-evolution, with features including DNA coding for five histones and unique capsid surface proteins. The discovery suggests a lateral gene transfer model between host and virus.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Virology·DateMar 25, 2019

Materials that open in the heat of the moment

Researchers at Kyoto University have designed a temperature-controllable copper-based material that can dynamically change pore sizes, allowing for improved gas separation and storage. The material can selectively adsorb gases based on temperature, opening channels to separate gases with different molecular sizes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience·DateJan 24, 2019

Using microcredit to increase rice yield in Bangladesh

A study by Kyoto University found that microcredit programs in Bangladesh increased rice yield and overall crop farm income. Households also showed a higher adoption of hybrid and high-yield rice varieties. Additionally, there was a positive effect on cultivating owned land and livestock ownership.

SourceKyoto University·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·DateNov 26, 2018

Making an eye for you

A team at Kyoto University has discovered that individual cells sense and modulate themselves to form the spherical shape of the eye through a process called self-bending. This phenomenon generates a hinge that pushes cells into the cup-like structure, resulting in the formation of an optic cup.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 21, 2018

Making steps toward improved data storage

Researchers at Kyoto University successfully created intense terahertz pulses to fine-tune the switching behavior of a phase-change memory material. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more stable memory technologies with increased density.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 6, 2018

Talking to an android

Researchers from Kyoto University and ATR upgraded the interaction system for conversational android ERICA, giving her more dynamic speaking skills. The team focused on developing a system for 'attentive listening', allowing ERICA to engage in fluid dialogue with human subjects.

A new 'periodic table' for nanomaterials

Researchers created a machine learning technique to categorize different molecules based on the nano-sized shapes they form. The approach could help materials scientists identify suitable precursor molecules for synthesizing target nanomaterials.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 23, 2018

Controlling the manufacture of stable aerogels

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new approach to create soft, porous materials with controlled porosity. By controlling the self-assembly of molecules, they were able to form an ultralight aerogel with permanent porosity, opening up potential applications in building insulation, energy storage and aerospace technologies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 12, 2018

Turbulence is good for the blood

A Kyoto University study reveals that turbulence enhances platelet generation in the blood, potentially resolving global shortages of these cells. The discovery could enable mass production of platelets using iPS cell technology.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell·DateJul 12, 2018

New gears in your sleep clock

Researchers find two opposing kinases regulating circadian clock, one stabilizing key protein PER2 and the other promoting its degradation. This discovery provides new targets for treating circadian disorders.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 11, 2018

A sense of disgust in bonobos?

Researchers at Kyoto University found that bonobos show a strong aversion to food contaminated with feces or soil, indicating an adaptive system of disgust. This instinctual response helps protect against parasites and pathogens in the environment.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJun 3, 2018

What do animals want?

Researchers at Kyoto University used machine learning to study the behavior of worms searching for food on surfaces with different temperature zones. The findings showed that the worms combined sensory information from environmental temperature and change in temperature to make decisions, similar to rational decision-making in humans. ...

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 28, 2018

Programming synthetic molecular codes to turn genes 'on'

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a synthetic molecular code that can script gene activation, targeting histones and emulating the natural histone acetylation process. The code, called Bi-PIP, successfully activated a specific gene associated with central nervous system disorders in living cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 24, 2018

A shape to remember

Kyoto University scientists have developed a shape-memory effect in porous materials, which can change and retain their shapes. The new material, with a porosity of 46%, has been shown to adsorb carbon dioxide and retain its shape after multiple cycles.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 27, 2018

Human impact on sea urchin abundance

Researchers found that changing water temperature and algal blooms affected sea urchin populations, leading to abnormal development of their larvae. The study provides valuable insights into the importance of long-term monitoring for detecting ecological changes and understanding their causes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalEcological Indicators·DateApr 25, 2018

The fewer the deadlier

Researchers discovered that HTLV-1 survives by evading immune surveillance through transient Tax expression in infected cells. This unique strategy allows the virus to maintain a population of infected leukemic cells, making it a potential target for new therapies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2018

Flipping lipids for cell transport-tubules

Researchers developed a process to observe lipid-flipping enzymes' activity in conjunction with membrane deformation. They found that ATP10A enzyme flips phosphatidylcholine lipids, causing curvature changes that trigger tubule formation, enhancing endocytosis and membrane dynamics.

SourceKyoto University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMar 29, 2018

Twisting graphene into spirals

Kansai researchers successfully synthesized hexa-peri-hexabenzo[7]helicene, the first helically twisted chiral graphene. The discovery offers promising applications in nanomechanics and has unique electronic structure properties.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 29, 2018

Stem cell 'twins' to study disease

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a gene editing method called MhAX, which creates genetically matched stem cell 'twins' for studying disease-related mutations. The technique guides the cell's own repair mechanisms and allows for precise removal of reporter genes, leaving only the modified SNP behind.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2018

Culturing cheaper stem cells

Kyoto University scientists have created a more cost-effective culture system for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which can support their long-term renewal without expensive growth factors. The new 'AKIT' culture, using three chemical compounds, is five to ten times cheaper than existing methods.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMar 5, 2018

Capturing the balance of nature

A study spanning twelve years reveals that natural ecological communities are dynamic and influenced by species diversity and interactions. The researchers developed a method to calculate the fluctuating stability of a natural ecological community in Maizuru Bay, providing new methodologies for ecological and population research.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2018

What a handsome schnoz!

Research at Kyoto University found that larger noses are correlated with physical strength, reproductive ability, and the number of harem females. The study suggests that nasal enlargement modifies male vocalizations, making them more attractive to females.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 21, 2018

Electro-mechano-optical NMR detection

Researchers at Kyoto University and University of Tokyo have developed a new method for light detection in nuclear magnetic resonance, promising higher sensitivity for MRI. The 'up-convertion' technology converts radio-frequency signals into optical ones using an elastic membrane and optics.

SourceKyoto University·JournalOptica·DateFeb 1, 2018

Cells rockin' in their DNA

A study by Kyoto University has found that certain 'mechanosensitive' genes are suppressed when exposed to audible sound. The effects vary depending on the cell type, with some cells showing significant suppression while others show little response.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 31, 2018

Visualizing danger from songbird warning calls

A new study reveals that songbirds can 'see' reference to certain vocalizations, enabling them to perceive an inanimate object as a real snake. This cognitive ability allows birds to efficiently search out a predator regardless of its spatial position.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 29, 2018

Black hole pair born inside a dying star?

Researchers at Kyoto University have proposed a new theory on the formation of binary black holes within collapsing stars. Their study suggests that these black holes could form through dynamical fragmentation of the star's inner core, leading to two fragments becoming black holes and orbiting each other.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 18, 2017

Lightning, with a chance of antimatter

A team of Japanese researchers from Kyoto University used gamma-ray detectors to study the effects of lightning on atmospheric elements. They found that lightning emits positrons, a form of antimatter equivalent to electrons, through interactions with nitrogen and other elements in the atmosphere.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature·DateNov 22, 2017

What grosses out a chimpanzee?

Researchers found that chimpanzees delay eating food placed on replica feces, recoil from soft and moist substrates, and hesitate after touching them. These reactions suggest that chimpanzees have an adaptive system of disgust, similar to humans, which helps protect them from pathogens and parasites.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateNov 17, 2017

Winds blowing off a dying star

Researchers have observed the formation of aluminum oxide dust around an AGB star, providing insight into wind acceleration. The team discovered that AlO was distributed within three stellar radii, while SiO remained gaseous beyond five stellar radii.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 10, 2017

How far did you fall from the tree?

Researchers at Kyoto University used a chimpanzee parent-offspring trio to estimate direct mutation rates, finding higher rates than in humans. The study also revealed a strong male-biased mutation spectrum and new structural alterations.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 7, 2017

Coloring the heartbeat

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a device that uses structural color to measure the beating of heart cells, enabling high-throughput testing for pharmaceuticals. This innovation aims to speed up the process of finding good drugs for heart patients and is a significant step towards improving treatment outcomes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRSC Advances·DateNov 5, 2017

The secret lives of ancient land plants

The study of Marchantia polymorpha's genome sheds light on land plant evolution, showing liverworts possess ancestral characteristics. The findings have significant implications for molecular and genetic studies, providing insights into future agricultural applications.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell·DateNov 2, 2017

Mending hearts in three dimensions

A Kyoto-Osaka team uses hiPSCs to develop biodegradable aligned nanofibers as a scaffold for culturing cardiomyocytes, forming robust and functional cardiac tissue-like constructs. These CTLCs show excellent operability leading to favorable heart function recovery in injured rat hearts.

SourceKyoto University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 26, 2017

How am I feeling? Ask my house

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a more advanced radar-based device that can accurately measure the body's vital signals without attaching cumbersome wires. This technology has great promise for remote health monitoring and could potentially be integrated into household appliances to monitor residents' vitals.

Next-generation drug testing on chips

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a tiny 'body-on-a-chip' device to test the side effects of anti-cancer drugs on human cells. The device revealed that a metabolite of the drug caused toxicity in heart cells, leading to improved pre-clinical testing for these medications.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRSC Advances·DateAug 25, 2017