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National Institutes of Natural Sciences


The gold standard: Researchers end 20-year spin debate on gold surface with definitive, full-map quantum imaging

The study definitively resolves the controversy by capturing complete two-dimensional snapshots of electron spin and orbital shape on the Au(111) Shockley surface state. The experiment unambiguously confirms the Rashba effect, establishing a robust reference dataset for spin-resolved photoemission.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the Physical Society of Japan·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 17, 2025

First high-precision measurement of potential dynamics inside reactor-grade fusion plasma

Scientists successfully measured electric potential in plasmas using a non-contact diagnostic technique, enabling the detection of temporal transitions in internal plasma potential distribution. The method allows for improved predictive models of plasma behavior and confinement frameworks in fusion research.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNuclear Fusion·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 12, 2025

Breakthrough in water-based light generation: 1,000-fold enhancement of white-light output using non-harmonic two-color femtosecond lasers

Researchers discovered a new optical principle to amplify light in water using non-harmonic two-color femtosecond laser excitation. This breakthrough achieves a 1,000-fold enhancement in broadband white-light output and unlocks advances in bioimaging and ultrafast spectroscopy.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalOptics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2025

First precise altitude distribution observation of blue aurora using hyperspectral camera

Researchers successfully estimated precise altitude distribution of nitrogen molecular ions responsible for blue aurora emissions at high altitudes. The study revealed a peak emission intensity at 200 km altitude, suggesting higher-than-thought density of nitrogen molecular ions in the atmosphere.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2025

Discovery of a brown dwarf orbiting a red dwarf through the synergy of ground- and space-based observatories

A brown dwarf companion, J1446B, has been found orbiting a nearby M dwarf star, LSPM J1446+4633. The discovery uses a synergy of ground- and space-based observatories, including Subaru's IRD instrument and the Gaia mission, to determine the dynamical mass and orbital parameters of the brown dwarf with unprecedented accuracy.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 21, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions

Researchers engineered a nanoreactor cage with visible-light absorption to drive highly efficient photochemical reactions. The cage achieved perfect stereo- and site-selectivity in cross-[2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, enabling catalytic transformations of chemically inert substrates.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

Positive charges stabilize instantly in key solar fuel catalyst: New simulations track ultrafast polaron formation in NaTaO3.

Researchers used quantum-chemical molecular dynamics to visualize the ultrafast formation of polarons in NaTaO3, a key photocatalyst for solar water splitting. Positive hole polarons stabilize rapidly and significantly within 50 femtoseconds, while electron polarons show insignificant stabilization energy change.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2025

Establishment of a method for analyzing the gene function of the Japanese rhinoceros beetles using electroporation

A research team led by Professor Teruyuki Niimi has developed a new gene function analysis method for the Japanese rhinoceros beetle using electroporation. This advancement will significantly deepen our understanding of how the rhinoceros beetle's horn forms and evolves.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2025

Does a sharper image lead to better results? Diffusion MRI denoising put to the test

Researchers from the National Institute of Physiological Sciences evaluated the impact of denoising algorithms on dMRI data for detecting tissue abnormalities in glaucoma. They found that denoising increased signal-to-noise ratio and altered image appearance, but had limited effect on disease-related changes.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 6, 2025

"Molecular meridians" reveal how glycans control antibody behavior — unlocking new possibilities for therapeutic antibody design

Researchers discovered how glycosylation modulates IgG antibody architecture, enabling precision immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The study's findings highlight the power of integrating experimental and computational approaches to decode glycoprotein dynamics and optimize clinical performance.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2025

Breakthrough engineered enzyme for recycling of PET bottle and blended fibers at moderate temperatures

Researchers have engineered a novel enzyme, PET2-21M, to enhance the biodegradation of bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. This breakthrough offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional recycling processes, achieving significant improvements in catalytic activity and substrate efficiency.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2025

Space-based experiment opens new avenues in Alzheimer’s research — First structural analysis of Tottori-type amyloid β fibrils conducted in microgravity —

A space-based experiment successfully analyzed Tottori-type amyloid β fibrils in microgravity, uncovering new insights into Alzheimer's disease mechanisms. The study found that microgravity suppresses off-pathway aggregates, enabling the formation of well-ordered fibrils suitable for structural analysis.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 24, 2025

New insights into planet formation from public data with new imaging technique

Researchers discovered signs of planet formation in disks around still-forming baby stars, suggesting planets begin to form earlier than previously believed. The new high-resolution images show ring or spiral patterns in 27 of the disks, providing a better understanding of when planet formation begins.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 24, 2025

Information entropy untangles vortices and flows in turbulent plasmas

Researchers develop a novel analytical method to capture localized structures and reveal the intertwined behavior of multiple fluctuating fields. They introduce two new measures based on information entropy, which quantify structural complexity and degree of coupling between turbulent structures.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 1, 2025

Keep the cool feeling: A lipid enzyme for maintaining cool temperature sensation and avoidance

Researchers have identified a monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT)-coding gene named bishu-1 that maintains the expression level of thermal receptors and modulates cool temperature sensation and avoidance behavior. The discovery could promote the development of lipid-mediated treatments for maintaining thermosensation in humans.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2025

Research team traces evolutionary history of bacterial circadian clock on ancient Earth

A team of scientists has studied the evolutionary history of the bacterial circadian clock, tracing its origins back to ancient cyanobacteria that emerged 3 billion years ago. They discovered that the oldest KaiC proteins lacked the necessary function for rhythmic qualities, but acquired it over time through molecular evolution.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2025

How did plants evolve the ability to transport massive amounts of protein into seed vacuoles?

Researchers discovered that the plant-specific vacuolar transport system arose from molecular innovations in VAMP7, including amino acid insertions and acidification. This pathway enabled massive accumulation of storage proteins in seed protein storage vacuoles, making it a crucial adaptation for plant growth.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 19, 2025

Detecting vibrational sum-frequency generation signals from molecules confined within a nanoscale gap using a tightly confined optical near-field

Researchers successfully integrated femtosecond-pulse VSFG spectroscopy with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to detect VSFG signals from molecules in nanoscale gaps. Phase analysis revealed molecular orientation, and the technique's spatial confinement enabled detection of signals from a limited number of molecules.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2025

Decoding the brainstem: A new window into brain–body–mind interactions

Researchers developed a live brainstem imaging method to study the nucleus tractus solitarii's role in emotion regulation and body-brain interactions. The D-PSCAN technique enabled high-resolution visualization of NTS neural activity in response to vagus nerve stimulation and gut hormone cholecystokinin, shedding light on potential the...

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalCell Reports Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2025

Catching aromaticity in the act: direct real-time tracking of how ‘excited-state aromaticity’ drives molecular shape changes

Researchers tracked ultrafast structural changes of a molecule driven by excited-state aromaticity, revealing its emergence within hundreds of femtoseconds and facilitating planarization. The study provides new insights for designing photoactive materials like sensors and light-driven switches.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2025

Clarifying the mechanism of coupled plasma fluctuations using simulations

A simulation study clarifies the physical mechanism of coupled plasma fluctuations, which can lead to significant losses of energetic particles in fusion research. The study reveals that the two fluctuations occur in a coupled manner via deformation of the energetic particle distribution function.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 21, 2025