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First transplantation of iPS cells-derived corneal epithelial cell sheets

A group of researchers led by Prof. NISHIDA Kohji of Osaka University transplanted iPS cells-derived corneal epithelial cell sheets into a patient with corneal disorders in July 2019.

This is the first clinical study of cornea regeneration using iPS to examine the safety and effects of sheet-shaped corneal epithelial cells, which are cultivated by inducing corneal epithelial cells using iPS cells from others (provided by the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University), with their own method. The status of the patient, who was discharged from hospital on August 23, 2019, will be continually monitored.

Corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency caused by damage to the corneal epithelium has challenges, such as donor shortage and rejection in recipients of transplants using donor corneas. In order to ultimately solve these challenges, the research group has advanced the development of regenerative therapies using hiPS-derived corneal cells.

CRISPR uncovers gene that supercharges vitamin D—and stops tumors in their tracks

A gene called SDR42E1 has been identified as a key player in how our bodies absorb and process vitamin D. Researchers found that disabling this gene in colorectal cancer cells not only crippled their survival but also disrupted thousands of other genes tied to cancer and metabolism. This opens the door to highly targeted cancer therapies—by either cutting off vitamin D supply to tumors or enhancing the gene’s activity to boost health. The findings hint at vast possibilities in treating diseases influenced by vitamin D, though long-term impacts remain uncertain.

The first observation of a giant nonlinear Nernst Effect in trilayer graphene

The generation of electricity from heat, also known as thermoelectric energy conversion, has proved to be advantageous for various real-world applications. For instance, it proved useful for the generation of energy during space expeditions and military missions in difficult environments, as well as for the recovery of waste heat produced from industrial plants, power stations or even vehicles.

Study reveals hidden regulatory roles of ‘junk’ DNA

A new international study suggests that ancient viral DNA embedded in our genome, which were long dismissed as genetic “junk,” may actually play powerful roles in regulating gene expression. Focusing on a family of sequences called MER11, researchers from Japan, China, Canada, and the US have shown that these elements have evolved to influence how genes turn on and off, particularly in early human development.

The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences in the genome that originated from ancient viruses. Over millions of years, they spread throughout the genome via copy-and-paste mechanisms.

Deep life’s survival secret: Crustal faulting generates key energy sources, study shows

Chinese researchers have recently challenged the long-held belief that “all life depends on sunlight.” In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers identified how microbes in deep subsurface areas can derive energy from chemical reactions driven by crustal faulting, offering critical insights into life deep below Earth’s surface.

Common feature between forest fires and neural networks reveals universal framework

Researchers from the University of Tokyo in collaboration with Aisin Corporation have demonstrated that universal scaling laws, which describe how the properties of a system change with size and scale, apply to deep neural networks that exhibit absorbing phase transition behavior, a phenomenon typically observed in physical systems. The discovery not only provides a framework describing deep neural networks but also helps predict their trainability or generalizability. The findings were published in the journal Physical Review Research.

In recent years, it seems no matter where we look, we come across in one form or another. The current version of the technology is powered by : numerous layers of digital “neurons” with weighted connections between them. The network learns by modifying the weights between the “neurons” until it produces the correct output. However, a describing how the signal propagates between the layers of neurons in the system has eluded scientists so far.

“Our research was motivated by two drivers,” says Keiichi Tamai, the first author. “Partially by industrial needs as brute-force tuning of these massive models takes a toll on the environment. But there was a second, deeper pursuit: the scientific understanding of the physics of intelligence itself.”

Psychologists introduce third path to ‘good life’—one full of curiosity and challenge

New research suggests that psychological richness—a life of perspective-changing experiences—may matter just as much as happiness or meaning.

For centuries, scholars and scientists have defined the “good life” in one of two ways: a life that is rooted in , characterized by , or one that is centered on meaning, guided by purpose and personal fulfillment. But what if there is another, equally valuable path—one that prioritizes challenge, change and curiosity?

This , which may result in a more psychologically rich life for some, is being explored in a new study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, led by University of Florida psychologist Erin Westgate, Ph.D., in collaboration with Shigehiro Oishi, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago. According to their research, some people prioritize variety, novelty, and intellectually stimulating experiences, even when those experiences are difficult, unpleasant, or lack clear meaning.