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University of Tokyo


Lower current leads to highly efficient memory

Researchers have developed a gallium arsenide-based ferromagnetic semiconductor that can act as memory by quickly switching its magnetic state in the presence of an induced current. The new material suppresses instability and lowers power consumption, offering highly efficient memory.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Electronics·DateNov 30, 2020

Astronomical instrument hunts for ancient metal

Researchers have developed a new instrument that can analyze the chemical signatures of distant quasars, providing insight into the origins of metals like iron. By studying these ancient galactic cores, scientists hope to refine their understanding of the early universe and its role in forming the elements necessary for life.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 30, 2020

A pressure sensor at your fingertips

A new nanomesh pressure sensor allows for precise recording of finger movement and touch, without disrupting user sensitivity. The technology has potential applications in sports, medical science, neuroengineering, and the digital archiving of craftwork.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience·DateNov 19, 2020

Robotic AI learns to be spontaneous

Researchers developed a new method for designing spontaneous behaviors in robots, inspired by complex temporal patterns in animal brains. The approach uses high-dimensional chaos and reservoir computing to implement humanlike cognitive functions.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 11, 2020

Tips for making nanographene

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new and efficient way to create nanographene, a material that is expected to revolutionize technology. The method uses an atomic force microscope (AFM) to precisely control the fabrication process, allowing for the creation of tailored nanographene formations.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNano Letters·DateNov 11, 2020

Weighing space dust with radar

Researchers have successfully combined radar and optical observations to study interplanetary dust, gaining insights into meteor mass and composition. By correlating subtle signals in radar data with detailed optical information, scientists can now explore comets and aspects of solar system evolution.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPlanetary and Space Science·DateNov 10, 2020

New kind of superconductivity discovered

Scientists have demonstrated a novel material that exhibits superconductivity in the form of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), bridging a gap between two previously thought incompatible methods. This breakthrough could lead to new understanding and applications of superconduction, including potentially room-temperature devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 6, 2020

Water on ancient Mars

Analysis of a Martian meteorite suggests water was present on ancient Mars around 4.4 billion years ago, raising questions about the origin of water on Earth and potential for life beyond. The finding could impact theories on planetary formation and exploration.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 30, 2020

Highly selective membranes

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has discovered a feedback system between water molecules that opens up new design possibilities for highly selective membranes. These membranes, which can filter out viruses and other contaminants, could also be used to improve lithium-ion battery performance.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 20, 2020

High-capacity tape for the era of big data

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new magnetic material and recording process that can vastly increase data capacity. The process relies on high-frequency millimeter waves, allowing for more stable magnetic particles and higher storage densities.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 8, 2020

Printing organic transistors

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a new method for printing organic transistors, which could lead to the development of new display technologies and wearable electronic products. The breakthrough uses a lyophobic surface and a special U-shaped metal-film pattern to create uniformly grown semiconductor films.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 7, 2020

New extreme ultraviolet facility opens for use

The new extreme ultraviolet facility allows for investigation of time-dependent phenomena and reveals details of biological or physical samples with unprecedented clarity. It offers ultrashort pulses with high frequencies, useful for probing fast phenomena and investigating the structure and chemical properties of matter.

Ryugu's rocky past

Researchers discover two types of boulders on Ryugu, hinting at a collision between a small S-type and C-type parent asteroid. The findings provide clues to the asteroid's turbulent past and may shed light on Earth's history.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 21, 2020

Modern theory from ancient impacts

New study from University of Tokyo researchers calls into doubt a long-held theory about the early solar system. They found evidence that asteroid Vesta was hit by multiple impacting bodies around 4.4 billion to 4.15 billion years ago, earlier than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateSep 15, 2020

Photonic crystal light converter

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a simple device to convert circularly polarized visible laser light into circularly polarized vacuum ultraviolet light, twisted in the opposite direction. This new method can be useful for researchers in medicine, life sciences, molecular chemistry and solid state physics.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalOptica·DateJul 22, 2020

Music on the brain

Researchers found that trained musicians showed greater powers of rhythmic prediction compared to nonmusicians, with subtle differences between those trained in Japanese or Western classical music. The study also reveals that different cultural upbringings can have a tangible effect on brain development.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateJul 20, 2020

Responses to cyberbullying

A study of over 6,000 Japanese adolescents found that emotional competence can both protect against and worsen the negative effects of cyberbullying. The researchers suggest that intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional competence play different roles in moderating the impact of cyberbullying victimization on adolescent mental health.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Adolescence·DateJun 29, 2020

Fish fossils become buried treasure

Researchers discovered that ancient fish fossils near Japan hold valuable rare-earth elements, indicating potential new global supply sources. The findings suggest that fish populations were drawn to specific locations due to climate change and underwater geology, resulting in concentrated deposits of these metals.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 18, 2020

High-speed atomic video

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has successfully captured high-speed atomic video at 1,600 frames per second using a powerful electron microscope and highly sensitive camera. This achievement is 100 times faster than previous experiments and enables the observation of previously inaccessible details.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalBulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan·DateJun 4, 2020

Limits on evolution revealed by statistical physics

Researchers used statistical physics models to study biological complexity and found that organisms are restricted to a low level of dimensionality. This means that their essential building blocks appear to be linked to each other, with variations fitting a one-dimensional curve or low-dimensional surface regardless of the environment.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 29, 2020

A small twist leads to a big reaction

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have discovered a way to speed up chemical reactions involving amide bonds, which are key components of proteins. By applying a slight twist to their structure, they increased reaction rates by up to 14 times, potentially benefiting medical research and drug development.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 28, 2020

A soft touch for robotic hardware

Researchers developed soft robotic technology using reservoir computing, enabling flexible control of pneumatic artificial muscles. This innovation may lead to wearable rehabilitation devices, biomedical robots, and remote-sensing applications, all with improved safety and adaptability.

What's Mars made of?

Scientists have measured the velocity of seismic waves in iron-sulfur alloys thought to comprise Mars' core, providing crucial information about the planet's internal structure. This study simulates the Martian core's composition and origin, helping researchers compare observations with Martian space probes.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 13, 2020

Abundant element to power small devices

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has developed an iron-based thermoelectric material that can convert waste heat into electricity. The material, which is mostly iron and relatively inexpensive, has shown promise in powering small devices such as remote sensors and wearable devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateApr 27, 2020

The future of semiconductors is clear

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a tin dioxide semiconductor with the highest mobility ever reported, enabling more efficient solar panels and touch-sensitive displays. This breakthrough could lead to improved transparency and conductivity in materials, benefiting various industries.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 22, 2020

Advanced memory from advanced materials

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated a method to switch a novel material between two different nonvolatile states at very high speeds and with great accuracy. This breakthrough finding has potential applications in creating high-speed memory devices that are also energy-efficient.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateApr 20, 2020

Journey to the center of the Earth

Scientists have successfully determined the density of liquid iron and sound propagation speed through it at extremely high pressures. They found the density of the molten outer core to be about 8 percent less dense than pure liquid iron, suggesting the presence of additional lighter elements.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 15, 2020

Light driven proton pump in distant relative

Researchers discovered a novel light-sensitive protein in Asgard archaea that functions as an inward proton pump, opening possibilities for controlling pH levels in cells or microorganisms with light. This finding could lead to the development of new biomolecular tools and applications in optogenetics.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020

Better, safer batteries

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new fluorinated cyclic phosphate solvent electrolyte that improves upon existing ethylene carbonate, offering nonflammable properties and increased voltage tolerance. This breakthrough could lead to longer journeys in electric vehicles and improved fire safety in home energy storage.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Energy·DateMar 27, 2020

A new window into psychosis

A recent study in mice found that psychosis may be caused by problems with specialized nerve cells and learning behavior. The researchers hope this could provide insight into the emergence of delusions in patients with psychosis or schizophrenia.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateMar 18, 2020