Addressing Plastic Waste on the Seafloor: New Plastic Developed with Embedded Degradation Enzymes

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

海底のプラごみ対策 分解酵素混ぜた新たなプラスチック開発

2026年10月25日 5:09

環境

東京大学などの研究グループは、プラスチックの中にあらかじめ分解酵素を混ぜておくことで、海に流出した際の分解を速める新たなプラスチックを開発しました。海底にごみがたまり続ける問題の改善につなげていきたいとしています。

東京大学などの研究グループは、海に流れ込んだプラスチックごみが分解されず海底にたまり続ける問題に対処するため、新たなプラスチックを開発したと発表しました。

発表によりますと、開発されたのは微生物によって分解される「生分解性プラスチック」の一種で、あらかじめ分解酵素が混ぜ込まれているのが特徴です。

プラスチックの断面が水に触れると分解が進むということで、神奈川県三崎沖の水深750メートルあまりの海底に5か月間設置した実験では、ほぼ完全に分解されたことを確認したということです。

また、分解酵素を混ぜていない別の生分解性プラスチックを用いた同様の実験と比べて、30倍以上速く分解されたことがわかったということです。

グループは、あらかじめ混ぜた酵素によって分解されるため、海底にいる微生物の種類に依存することなく、プラスチックを速やかに分解できるとしています。

東京大学大学院農学生命科学研究科の岩田忠久教授は、「海底の厳しい環境で酵素による分解ができたので、海だけでなく山や川といった環境での活用も期待できる。実用化し、ごみがたまり続ける問題を改善したい」と話しています。

Translation

Addressing Plastic Waste on the Seafloor: New Plastic Developed with Embedded Degradation Enzymes

October 25, 2026, 5:09 AM

Environment

A research group, including members from the University of Tokyo, had developed a new type of plastic that contained embedded degradation enzymes, which could accelerate the material's breakdown if it ended up in the ocean. The team hoped this innovation could help address the ongoing issue of plastic waste accumulating on the seafloor.

The research group announced the development of this new plastic to tackle the problem of plastic waste entering the ocean and remaining on the seafloor, where it failed to decompose.

According to the announcement, the material was a type of "biodegradable plastic"—designed to be broken down by microorganisms—a key feature was that decomposing enzymes were pre-mixed into it.

The plastic began to decompose when its cross-section came into contact with water. In an experiment conducted at a depth of over 750 meters off the coast of Misaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, the material was found to have almost completely decomposed after five months on the seafloor.

Furthermore, the material broke down more than 30 times faster than a comparable biodegradable plastic that did not contain the decomposing enzymes.

The research team explained that because the plastic was broken down by the enzymes already present within it, the process could occur rapidly, without relying on the specific types of microorganisms present on the seafloor.

Professor Tadahisa Iwata (岩田忠久) of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences stated, "Since the enzymatic degradation proved effective in the harsh environment of the seafloor, this technology could also be applied to not just the sea, but in other environment such as in mountains or rivers. We aim to bring this to practical use and help resolve the persistent problem of waste accumulation."

So, a research group in Japan has developed a new type of plastic that contains embedded decomposing enzymes which could accelerate the material's breakdown if it ends up in the ocean. Apparently, this invention will help address the ongoing issue of plastic waste accumulating on the seafloor.

University of Tokyo and others successfully reduce substances that cause Alzheimer's disease in mice

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

アルツハイマー病の原因物質減らす マウスで実験成功 東大など

2026年10月11日 5:50

医療・健康

脳の老廃物を排出する機能を薬で活性化することで、アルツハイマー病の原因とされるたんぱく質の蓄積を抑えることにマウスを使った実験で成功したと東京大学などのグループが発表しました。

ヒトを含む動物の脳には、脳脊髄液などを通じて老廃物を外に出す「グリンパティックシステム」と呼ばれる機能があるとする説が注目されていて、アルツハイマー病などの治療や予防への活用を目指した研究が世界で進められています。

東京大学と新潟大学などの研究グループは、脳脊髄液の排出を促すことで脳の中にある、アルツハイマー病の原因の1つとされる「タウ」というたんぱく質の量に変化があるかを調べました。

人工的にタウが脳にたまるようにしたマウスに脳脊髄液の流れを促す薬を3か月間投与する実験を行ったところ、投与したマウスはしなかったマウスと比べてタウの蓄積が4割ほど抑えられたということです。

研究グループは脳にもともと備わる機能を活性化して原因とされるたんぱく質を取り除くことで、病気の進行を抑えられる可能性が示されたとしています。

東京大学認知症共生社会創成治療学の山田薫特任准教授は「ヒトに応用するためには薬剤の安全性や効果をより慎重に検討する必要がある。脳の老廃物の排出メカニズムをさらに詳しく調べていきたい」と話していました。

Translation

University of Tokyo and others successfully reduce substances that cause Alzheimer's disease in mice

October 11, 2026, 5:50 AM

Medical & Health

A research group including the University of Tokyo announced success in an experiment using mice to suppress the accumulation of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease by using a drug to activate the brain's waste-clearance function.

Attention was focused on the theory that the brains of humans and other animals possess a mechanism known as the "glymphatic system," which expelled waste products via cerebrospinal fluid; researches were carried out globally aiming at utilizing this system for the treatment and prevention of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

A research group comprising members from the University of Tokyo, Niigata University, and others investigated whether facilitating the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid would change the levels of "tau"—a protein in the brain considered a cause of Alzheimer's disease.

In an experiment, mice genetically modified to accumulate tau in their brains were administered a drug that stimulated cerebrospinal fluid flow for three months. The results showed that tau accumulation was reduced by approximately 40% in the treated mice compared to those that did not receive the drug.

The research group suggested these findings indicated a potential way to slow disease progression by activating the brain's innate functions to remove the causative protein.

Kaoru Yamada (山田薫), a specially appointed associate professor in the Department of Dementia Co-creation and Therapeutic Innovation at the University of Tokyo, stated, "To apply this to human, we need to carefully evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug. We intend to investigate the brain's waste-clearance mechanisms in greater detail."

So, a research group in Japan has announced success in an experiment using mice to suppress the accumulation of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease by using a drug to activate the brain's waste-clearance function. Apparently, it is important to know how safe and effective it will be to apply this drug to human.

Totally Farmed Eels to Begin Online Trial Sales Tomorrow

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

Totally farmed eels to begin online trial sales (Source: NHK)

完全養殖ウナギ あすからオンラインで試験販売開始

2026年5月28日16:19

水産業

流通大手のイオンは、卵からふ化させて育てたいわゆる「完全養殖」のウナギを29日から試験的に販売すると発表しました。完全養殖のウナギを一般向けに販売するのは初めてだということで、安定供給につながるかが注目されます。

イオンは28日九州地方の水産会社が完全養殖で育てた500尾あまりのウナギを、29日からオンラインで試験的に販売すると発表しました。

価格は1尾あたり5000円ほどで、完全養殖のウナギの販売は、世界で初めてだとしています。

国内で流通するウナギは、ほとんどが海や川で捕獲された天然の稚魚を育てて養殖したもので、国や企業が人工的に育てたウナギが産んだ卵をふ化させる完全養殖の技術開発を進めています。

水産庁の試算では、1尾あたりの生産コストは10年前の2016年度の20分の1程度にあたる1800円あまりに下がったものの、依然、通常の養殖に比べて3倍以上高いことが課題になっています。

イオンの土谷美津子副社長は「将来的に完全養殖のウナギが普通になることが重要だ。本格的な販売ができるよう取り組み、時代に合った買いやすい価格で提供できるようになればいいと思う」と話していました。

ウナギの完全養殖をめぐってはこのほかにも食品大手の東洋水産や近畿大学などでも研究が進められていて、絶滅のおそれが指摘される二ホンウナギの安定供給につながるかが注目されます。

Translation

Totally Farmed Eels to Begin Online Trial Sales Tomorrow

May 28, 2026, 4:19 PM

Fisheries

Aeon, a major retailer, announced that starting on the 29th it would begin trial sales of totally farmed eels from egg to hatching and raising. This was the first time wholly farmed eels would be sold to the general public, and attention was focused on whether this could lead to a stable supply.

Aeon announced on the 28th that starting from the 29th, it would begin trial online sales of over 500 eels, raised using fully farmed methods by a Kyushu-based fisheries company,

The price was approximately 5,000 yen per eel, and this was said to be the world's first sale of totally farmed eels.

Most eels distributed in Japan were raised from wild juvenile eels caught in the sea or rivers. The government and companies were developing fully farmed eel technology, which involved hatching eggs laid by farm-raised eels.

According to estimates by the Fisheries Agency, the production cost per eel had fallen to just over 1,800 yen, about one-twentieth of what it was 10 years ago in fiscal year 2016. However, it remained more than three times higher than traditionally farmed eels, and that was a challenge.

Mitsuko Tsuchiya (土谷美津子), Vice President of Aeon, said, "It is important that wholly farmed eels become commonplace in the future. We are working to enable full-scale sales and hope to be able to offer them at an affordable price that is in line with the times."

In addition to this, research on the completely farmed eels was also being conducted by major food company Toyo Suisan and Kinki University, among others. Attention was focused on whether this would lead to a stable supply of the Japanese eel that was considered being endangered.

              So, Aeon announced that starting on the 29th it would begin trial sales of completely farmed eels. This was the first time that completely farmed eels being sold to the general public. As Japanese eel is considered as endangered, completely farmed eel is becoming more important.

Note:

1. There are a few reasons why wholly farm-raised eels are still so expensive in Japan:

a. Eels are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity: Unlike salmon or tilapia, eels have a very complicated life cycle. For decades, scientists did not even know exactly where Japanese eels spawned in the ocean. Producing viable eggs, hatching larvae, and raising them to adulthood required decades of research.

b. High mortality rates: Young eel larvae are delicate and require specialized diets and carefully controlled water conditions. Many do not survive, making production inefficient and expensive.

c. Specialized feed and labor: The Japanese Fisheries Research and Education Agency has stated that feed costs and labor costs are major contributors to the high price. Researchers have reduced production costs dramatically, but they remain much higher than for conventional eel farming.  (ChatGPT)

Crabs' "Side walking" Might Have Begun Around 200 million Years Ago: Research by Nagasaki University and Others

Recently NHK news reported up the following:

カニの「横歩き」は約2億年前に始まったか 長崎大など研究

2026年4月29日4:06

サイエンス

カニが「横歩き」を始めたのは、およそ2億年前だった可能性が高いとする研究結果を長崎大学などのグループが発表しました。動物の移動様式がどのように進化してきたのかを理解することにつながる成果だとしています。

長崎大学などの研究グループは自然の環境に近づけた水槽の中で50種のカニの行動を10分間ずつ撮影して観察し、「横歩き」か「前歩き」かを調べました。

この観察データとカニが祖先からどのように枝分かれして進化してきたかを示す最新の「系統樹」を照らし合わせたところ、カニの「横歩き」は、およそ2億年前にもともと「前歩き」をしていた祖先が「横歩き」に進化し、その後、多くの種に受け継がれてきた可能性が高いことがわかったということです。

カニが「横歩き」を始めたとされるおよそ2億年前は大陸の分裂で浅い海が広がり、新しい環境でカニが多様化しやすい条件が整っていたと考えられ、左右どちらにも素早く動くことができ、移動する方向が予測されにくい「横歩き」の利点が生存に有利に働いたのではないかとしています。

長崎大学大学院総合生産科学研究科の河端雄毅 准教授は「『横歩き』はすごくヘンテコな行動で、動物界を見渡してもほかにこの歩き方をする動物はほとんどいない。この革命的な移動様式が生物の繁栄にどう関わってくるのかを理解することにつながる成果だと思う」と話していました。

Translation

Crabs' "Side walking" Might Have Begun Around 200 million Years Ago: Research by Nagasaki University and Others

April 29, 2026, 4:06 AM

Science

A research group from Nagasaki University and other institutions had published findings suggesting that crabs likely began "side walking" approximately 200 million years ago. This finding was expected to contribute to understanding how animal locomotion patterns evolved.

The research group from Nagasaki University and other institutions filmed and observed the behavior of 50 species of crabs for 10 minutes each in a tank simulating their natural environment to determine whether they were "side walking" or "forward walking."

By comparing this observational data with the latest "phylogenetic trees" showing how crabs had branched out and evolved from their ancestors, the researchers found that it was highly likely that crabs' "side walking" evolved approximately 200 million years ago from ancestors that originally "forward walked," and that this behavior was subsequently passed down to many species.

It was believed that around 200 million years ago, when crabs were thought to have begun "sideways walking," the continents split, creating shallow seas and providing ideal conditions for crab diversification in this new environment. The ability to move quickly to either the left or right, and the unpredictable nature of their movement through "sideways walking," might have been advantageous for their survival.

Associate Professor Yuki Kawabata (河端雄毅) of the Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology Nagasaki University commented, "'Sideways walking' is a very unusual behavior; there are hardly any other animals in the animal kingdom that walk this way. I believe this finding will help us understand how this revolutionary mode of locomotion relates to the prosperity of organisms."

So, a research group in Japan suggests that crabs likely began "side walking" approximately 200 million years ago. Apparently, this finding can help us understand how animal locomotion patterns have evolved over time.

日本擁有1200年歷史的櫻花資料庫迎來新主人（2/2）

Recently the New York Times reported the following:

Japan’s Cherry Blossom Database, 1,200 Years Old, has a New Keeper (2/2)

The remarkable catalog of dates is one of the longest-running records of climate change. Its creator died, setting off a search for a successor.

The NYT - By Hiroko Tabuchi - Hiroko Tabuchi covers pollution and the environment for The Times. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years in Tokyo and New York.

Published April 17, 2026

Updated April 18, 2026, 10:43 a.m. ET

(continue)

Slowly, the snippets of everyday life became records of the changing climate. Cherry blossoms need a period of winter cold to break dormancy, followed by warmer days to trigger blooming.

His data showed that, for roughly 1,000 years, peak bloom dates tended to fall around mid-April, with fluctuations in response to natural climate variations. But starting around 1820 to 1830, cherry trees began to bloom earlier, as Kyoto urbanized and humans burned more fossil fuels, releasing planet-warming gases into the atmosphere.

That trend has accelerated sharply in recent years. In 2021, the peak bloom in Kyoto happened on March 26, its earliest arrival in 1,200 years. That represents a shift of nearly three weeks compared to the historic average.

Using computer modeling, Prof. Aono estimated a general temperature rise of 3.4 degrees Celsius, or about 6 degrees Fahrenheit, on average in the Kyoto area over the past 170 years. He also examined the effect of Kyoto’s urbanization on local temperatures, because buildings and roads trap heat, which drives up local temperatures in a phenomenon researchers call the heat island effect.

His research still clearly indicated the effects of global warming. Climate change was making extremely early blooming events, like the record-early 2021 season, many times more likely, researchers at the British meteorological service found in a 2022 study coauthored by Prof. Aono.

Dr. Katata, his soon-to-be successor, said he aimed to further disentangle the distinct effects of global warming, urbanization, and natural variability on cherry trees. “That’s important to separate out to accurately see the impacts of climate change,” he said.

He said he hadn’t expected to be taking on a 1,200-year legacy. He had assumed that other researchers closer to the late scholar would have been prepared to take up his work, he said. But in recent years, Dr. Katata’s own research has been increasingly focused on reconstructing long-term historic climates, had started to converge with Prof. Aono’s.

The two scholars had been discussing working on a joint paper when Prof. Aono died in August, Dr. Katata said. “I had sent two final emails that I didn’t receive replies to,” he said. “I knew something was wrong.”

Patrick Gonzalez, a climate change scientist and forest ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley, called the cherry trees research “rigorous.” The data represented “a unique ecological time series,” Dr. Gonzalez said. In Washington, research had also shown cherry flowers blooming one week earlier, on average, he noted.

A shift in blossoms can have wider consequences. When flowers bloom too early, they may miss pollinators like bees and insects, for example, or be killed by a sudden late-spring frost.

Earlier blossom times can also harm fruit harvests in some species, or even lengthen pollen seasons, worsening allergies and affecting human health, said Lewis H. Ziska, a plant physiologist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

“The rise in carbon dioxide and change in temperature are affecting every aspect of human existence,” he said.

In some parts of Japan, seasons may be getting too warm for certain kinds of cherry blossoms to thrive. In a study this year, researchers at the Kyushu Research Center in Japan used weather models to investigate how warmer winters were failing to provide the necessary chilling for cherry trees. That was already starting to cause abnormal flowering on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, they found.

The millennium of data will be vital in navigating the coming changes, said Richard B. Primack, a plant ecologist and conservation biologist at Boston University and a co-author of the Kyushu study.

Still, some things don’t change, he noted. Just as ancient letters and diaries had provided valuable records in the past, today there is an abundance of photos of the blossoms uploaded onto social media, complete with time stamps and location tags, he said — a modern-day chronicle of cherry blossoms. This year, the cherries again reached full bloom significantly earlier, in early April, though later than the 2021 record.

“That data is all out there,” he said. “Scientists will have to just put it all together.”

Translation

日本擁有1200年歷史的櫻花資料庫迎來新主人（2/2）

這本非凡的日子目錄是紀錄氣候變遷持續最長時間的册子之一。在它的創建者去世後，人們開始尋找接班人

（繼續）

逐漸地，日常生活中的點滴演變成氣候變遷的紀錄。櫻花需要經歷一段冬季的寒冷才能打破休眠，隨後氣溫回暖才能開花。

青野教授的數據顯示，大約1000年來，櫻花的盛花期通常在4月中旬左右，並會隨著自然氣候變化而有所波動。但大約從1820年至1830年開始，隨著京都的城市化進程以及人類燃燒更多化石燃料，向大氣中排放更多導致全球暖化的氣體，櫻花開始提前開花。

近年來，這一趨勢急劇加速。 2021年，京都櫻花盛開的高峰期出現在3月26日，這是1200年來最早的一次。與歷史平均值相比，這提前了近三週。

青野教授利用電腦模型估算，過去170年間，京都地區的平均氣溫上升了3.4攝氏度，大約6華氏度。他也研究了京都城市化對地區氣溫的影響，因為建築物和道路會吸收熱量，導致局部氣溫升高，這種現像被研究人員稱為「熱島效應」。

他的研究仍然清晰地表明了全球暖化的影響。英國氣象局的研究人員在2022年發表的一項研究中發現，氣候變遷使得櫻花極度提前開花的現象（例如2021年創紀錄的早花期）發生的機率大大增加。青野教授有參與撰寫這項研究。

即將接替青野教授的Katata博士表示，他的目標是進一步釐清全球暖化、都市化和自然變異對櫻花樹的不同影響。他說 : 「要了解氣候變遷的影響，準確地區分這些因素至關重要」。

他表示，自己沒想到會接手青野教授長達1200年的研究遺產。他原本以為，與這位已故學者關係更密切的其他研究人員會接手他的工作。但近年來，Katata博士的研究越來越著重於重建長期歷史氣候，這與青野教授的研究方向開始趨於一致。

Katata博士說，在青野教授於8月去世時，兩位學者正在討論合作撰寫論文。 他說:「我最後發了兩封郵件，但都沒有收到回覆」。 「我知道有些不對勁」。

加州大學柏克萊分校的氣候變遷科學家兼森林生態學家Patrick Gonzalez稱這項櫻花研究「嚴謹」。Gonzalez博士說，這些數據代表了「獨特的生態時間序列」。他也指出，在華盛頓州，研究也顯示櫻花平均提早了一週盛開。

花期的變化可能會產生更廣泛的影響。例如，花朵過早開放可能會被授粉媒介如蜜蜂和昆蟲等錯過，或被晚春突如其來的霜凍凍死。

哥倫比亞大學梅爾曼公共衛生學院的植物生理學家Lewis H. Ziska表示，花期提前還會影響某些植物的果實產量，甚至延長花粉季，加劇過敏症狀，影響人類健康。

他說:「二氧化碳濃度上升和氣溫變化正在影響人類生存的方方面面」。

在日本部分地區，氣候可能變得過於溫暖，不利於某些品種的櫻花生長。今年，日本九州研究中心的研究人員利用氣像模型進行了一項研究，調查了冬季氣溫升高如何導致櫻花樹無法獲得必要低溫的原因。他們發現，這種情況已經開始在日本最南端的九州島造成異常開花。

波士頓大學植物生態學家兼保育生物學家、九州研究報告的合著者Richard B. Primack表示，千年來累積的數據對於應對即將到來的變化至關重要。

不過，他也指出，有些事情始終不變。正如古代書信和日記曾提供寶貴的記錄一樣，如今社交媒體上也湧現出大量帶有時間戳記和位置標籤的櫻花照片 - 這堪稱現代版的櫻花編年史。今年，櫻花再次提前盛開，在四月初就已盛開，但比2021年的記錄晚了一些。

他說:「所有數據都已公開」;「科學家們只需要把它們整合起來」。

So, for more than 1,200 years, Japanese have carefully recorded the timing of cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Cherry trees are particularly sensitive to changing temperatures, and as the planet is getting warmer, they bloom earlier and earlier. Apparently, the millennium of data is vital in knowing the past and comparing to the present. That data is out there and waiting scientists to put them together. 

Hair Regeneration Success in Experiments Using Mice: "Aiming for Application to Treat Alopecia"

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

毛の再生 マウス使った実験で成功 “脱毛症治療に応用目指す”

2026年2月25日午後5時20分

サイエンス

毛の再生に必要な3種類の細胞を特定し、マウスを使った実験で実際に毛を再生することに成功したとする研究成果を理化学研究所などのグループがまとめました。グループは脱毛症の治療への応用を目指すとしています。

理化学研究所の辻孝客員主管研究員らのグループは、これまでにマウスの皮膚から採取した2種類の細胞を使って、髪の毛を作り出す「毛包」という器官のもとを作製しています。

しかし、毛を生やすには皮膚に移植する必要があり、グループはほかにも発毛に関係する細胞があるとみてマウスの皮膚の細胞を詳しく解析しました。

その結果、ABM細胞という毛穴の近くから採取した細胞に、毛包を成長させ発毛を促す働きがあることを突きとめたということです。

この細胞と毛包のもとを作る2種類の細胞を大人のマウスから採取して一緒に培養したところ、1センチほどの毛が生え数週間ほどで生え替わったということです。

グループによりますと、薄毛などの脱毛症に悩む人は国内で2000万人以上いるとされますが、治療は毛が細くなるのを抑える薬などに限られるということで、グループは今後ヒトの細胞でも研究を進め、体の外で毛包と毛を作り出して患者に移植する臨床研究を行いたいとしています。

辻客員主管研究員は「髪の毛を毛包ごと移植できれば症状の重い人でも治療できる可能性がある。ヒトにも同様の細胞があり、実用化に向けて研究を進めたい」と話していました。

Translation

Hair Regeneration Success in Experiments Using Mice: "Aiming for Application to Treat Alopecia"

Science

A group including the RIKEN Institute had reported successful research results in identifying three types of cells necessary for hair regeneration, and successfully regenerating hair in experiments using mice. The group aimed to apply this to the treatment of alopecia.

A group led by Takashi Tsuji, an honorary supervising researcher at the RIKEN Institute who had previously used two types of cells extracted from mouse skin to create the base of “hair follicles” which were organs that produced hair.

However, hair growth required transplantation into the skin to grow. The group suspected that there were other cells involved in hair growth, so they conducted detailed analysis of mouse skin cells.

As a result, they discovered that ABM cells, cells extracted from near hair follicles, had the function of growing hair follicles and promoting hair growth.

When these cells, cultured together with two types of cells which formed the base of hair follicles that were extracted from adult mice, the hair grew about 1 cm and was then regenerated in a few weeks’ time. 

According to the group, it was said that there were more than 20 million people in Japan who were suffering from alopecia such as thinning hair, but treatments were limited to medications that controlled hair thinning. Therefore, the group planned to continue their research using human cells, and conduct clinical research to create hair follicles and hair outside human body and transplant them into patients.

Tsuji said, "If we can transplant hair along with its follicles, it may be possible to treat even people with severe symptoms. Human also have similar cells, and we would like to continue our research with the aim to put this into practical use."

So, a group from the RIKEN Institute has reported success in identifying three types of cells necessary for hair regeneration and successfully regenerating hair in experiments using mice cells. The group aims to use their finding to treat alopecia.

Note:

1. Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically, at least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. (Wikipedia)

2.  RIKEN ​is a large natural sciences research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has approximately 3000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, the main one in Wako, just outside Tokyo. RIKEN is an Independent Administrative Institution whose formal name in Japanese is 理化学研究所 (Rikagaku Kenkyūjo) and in English is The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. (Wikipedia)

3. Takashi Tsuji（つじ たかし） (辻 孝) is the honorary member of the group. He is a Japanese Life Science Researcher doing research activities at the RIKEN Institute (RIKEN). (ChatGPT)

To transplant iPS Cell into Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Trials to Begin as Early as December Next Year

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

iPS細胞 脊髄損傷患者に移植 早ければ来年12月にも治験開始へ

2026年2月24日午後10時42分

iPS細胞

iPS細胞から作った神経のもとになる細胞を脊髄を損傷した患者に移植する世界初の治験を早ければ来年12月にも開始すると、慶応大学発のベンチャー企業が発表しました。

慶応大学などのグループは去年3月、事故などで脊髄を損傷し体が動かせなくなった患者4人にiPS細胞から作った神経のもとになる細胞を移植して運動機能を評価する臨床研究を行い、リハビリだけの場合よりも改善がみられたと報告しました。

この結果を受け慶応大学発のベンチャー企業「ケイファーマ」は24日に会見を開き、早ければ来年12月にも国の承認を得るための治験を始めると発表しました。

治験は脊髄を損傷してから数週間ほどたった重症患者7人程度を対象に行うということで、投与する細胞の数など具体的な計画は今後、検討するということです。

グループによりますとiPS細胞を使った脊髄損傷の治験は世界で初めてだということで、慶応大学の岡野栄之教授は「どんな患者にどれくらい細胞を投与すると効果が得られるのか見極め、一日も早く治療を社会実装できるよう進めていきたい」と話していました。

Translation

To transplant iPS Cell into Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Trials to Begin as Early as December Next Year

iPS Cells

A venture company spun off from Keio University announced that it would as early as December next year begin the world's first clinical trial of transplanting nerve-forming cells created from iPS cells into patients with spinal cord injuries.

A group including Keio University conducted a clinical study in March last year by transplanting iPS cell-derived nerve-forming cells to evaluate the motor function of four patients who had been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries due to accidents or other causes. The group reported that the results showed improvement compared to just doing rehabilitation alone.

In response to these results, Kei Pharma, a venture company spun off from Keio University, held a press conference on the 24th and announced that it would begin clinical trials as early as December next year with the aim to earn government treatment approval.

The clinical trial would target approximately seven severely injured patients who had been injured for several weeks. Specific plans, such as the number of cells to be administered, would be considered later.

According to the group, this would be the first clinical trial in the world to use iPS cells for spinal cord injury, and Professor Hideyuki Okano (岡野栄之) of Keio University said, " We would like to determining which patients need how much of the cells to be administered to achieve a beneficial effect. We want to push it forward so that the treatment can be implemented in society as soon as possible."

So, a venture company under Keio University announces that it will begin the world's first clinical trial of transplanting nerve-forming cells created from iPS cells into patients with spinal cord injuries as early as December next year. I hope the transplant will be a success.

Japan's First Clinical Study of “Exosomes” for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

変形性ひざ関節症の治療に「エクソソーム」 国内初臨床研究

2026年2月17日午後6時42分

医療・健康

50歳以上の2人に1人がなるとされる「変形性ひざ関節症」の治療に、組織の再生を促す働きがあるとされる「エクソソーム」という物質が有効かを確かめる国内初の臨床研究を、神奈川県にある病院の研究グループが始めました。

これは神奈川県鎌倉市にある徳洲会湘南鎌倉総合病院の研究グループが、17日会見を開いて発表しました。

変形性ひざ関節症は加齢でひざの軟骨がすり減るなどして、変形や炎症が起きる病気で、国内の患者は50歳以上では2人に1人の割合とされています。

グループは、この病気の治療にエクソソームという物質が有効かを確かめる臨床研究を始め、ヒトの細胞の培養液から採取したエクソソームを1例目の患者に投与したと明らかにしました。

エクソソームは細胞から分泌される物質で、動物実験で軟骨を修復したと報告されるなど、組織の再生を促す働きがあるとされています。

美容などを目的に自由診療で提供するクリニックが増えていますが、グループによりますと、科学的に効果を確認する臨床研究は国内で初めてだということです。

ことし中に5人の患者に投与して安全性を確認するほか、痛みが治まるかやひざが動かしやすくなるかを評価するということです。

湘南鎌倉総合病院の小林修三院長は「高齢者の暮らしに大きく影響する病気なので、今回の研究をきっかけに多くの患者に応用できるようにしたい」と話していました。

Translation

Japan's First Clinical Study of “Exosomes” for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

February 17, 2026, 6:42 PM

Medicine & Health

A research group at a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture had begun Japan's first clinical study to test whether “exosomes”, a substance believed to promote tissue regeneration, were effective in treating “knee osteoarthritis”, a condition that was estimated to affect one in two people over the age of 50.

This was announced at a press conference on the 17th by a research group at Tokushukai Shonan Kamakura General Hospital (徳洲会湘南鎌倉総合病院) in Kamakura City (鎌倉市), Kanagawa Prefecture(神奈川県).

Knee osteoarthritis was a disease that caused deformation and inflammation due to the wear and tear of knee cartilage because of aging. It was estimated that in Japan one in two people over the age of 50 suffered from this condition.

The group had begun clinical research to test whether exosomes were effective in treating this disease, and announced that they had administered exosomes extracted from human cell culture medium to the first patient.

Exosomes were substances secreted by cells that were believed to have the ability to promote tissue regeneration, as shown by reports that they could repair cartilage in animal experiments.

While there were an increasing number of clinics offering this treatment for cosmetic purposes, etc., but according to the group, this was the first clinical study in Japan to scientifically confirm their effectiveness.

The drug would be administered to five patients this year to confirm its safety, and to evaluate whether it relieved pain and made knee movement easier.

Shonan Kamakura General Hospital Director Shuzo Kobayashi (小林修三) said, "This is a disease that has a major impact on the lives of the elderly, I hope that this research will inspire this application to many patients. "

So, Japan has begun its first clinical study to test whether “exosomes”, a substance believed to promote tissue regeneration are effective in treating “knee osteoarthritis”, and to evaluate whether they can relieve pain and make knee movement easier. I hope good news will come out from this clinical study.

Note:

1. Exosomes (エクソソーム), ranging in size from 30 to 150 nanometers, are membrane-bound extracellular vehicles (EVs) that are produced in the endosomal compartment of most eukaryotic cells. In multicellular organisms, exosomes and other EVs are found in biological fluids including saliva, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. EVs have specialized functions in physiological processes, from coagulation and waste management to intercellular communication. (Wikipedia)

Keio University Venture Improves Cardiac Function with Cardiomyocytes made from iPS Cells

Recent NHK News on-line reported the following:

“iPS細胞から作った心筋球で心機能改善” 慶応大発ベンチャー

2025年12月16日午後8時46分

iPS細胞

iPS細胞から作った心臓の筋肉の細胞を心不全の患者に移植したところ、心機能に改善が見られたとする治験の結果を、慶応大学発のベンチャー企業が発表しました。

慶応大学発のベンチャー企業「ハートシード」は、重い心不全の患者10人の心臓に、iPS細胞から作った心臓の筋肉の細胞のかたまり「心筋球」を注射で移植する治験を進めてきました。

5000万個から1億5000万個の細胞を心臓の血流を改善するための手術とあわせて移植し、半年以上たった時点で心機能の変化などを解析しました。

その結果、このうち8人は血液を送り出す心機能の数値が改善したほか、7人は階段を上るときなどに見られたどうきや息切れなどの症状がなくなり、6分間に歩ける距離が150メートルから500メートルに延びた人もいたということです。

重い副作用はなく、手術の影響が及ばない部分の心筋の動きにも改善が見られたとして、企業は今回のデータをもとに、来年の夏にも国への承認申請を目指すとしています。

この企業の社長で慶応大学の福田恵一名誉教授は「移植する細胞の数が多いほうが改善する傾向が見られた。多くの患者にこの治療を届けたい」と話していました。

iPS細胞をめぐっては、ことしに入り心臓病とパーキンソン病の治療で国に承認申請が行われるなど、実用化を目指す動きが相次いでいます。

Translation

Keio University Venture Improves Cardiac Function with  Cardiomyocytes made from iPS Cells

A Keio University (慶応大学) based venture company announced the results of a clinical trial showing that transplanting cardiac muscle cells created from iPS cells into patients with heart failure had improved their cardiac function.

HeartSeed, a Keio University-based venture company, had been conducting clinical trials to inject "cardiospheric cell clusters" (cardiac muscle cells created from iPS cells) into the hearts of 10 patients with severe heart failure.

Between 50 million and 150 million cells along were transplanted in conjunction with surgery to improve blood flow to the heart, then after over six months changes in cardiac function were analyzed.

The result was that eight of the patients experienced improvements in their cardiac pumping function, 7 people no longer experienced symptoms such as palpitations or shortness of breath when climbing stairs, and some patients even increased their six-minute walking distance from 150 meters to 500 meters.

There were no serious side effects and the surgery showed improvement in the function of myocardium in areas not affected by the surgery, the company aimed to apply for approval from the national government next summer.

The company's president and Keio University professor emeritus Keiichi Fukuda (福田恵一) said, "We observe a tendency for the more cells transplanted the better. We would like to make this treatment available to many patients."

There had been a series of movements in putting iPS cells to practical use, including applications for national approval this year for the treatment of heart disease and Parkinson's disease.

              So, Japan has announced the results of a clinical trial showing that transplanting cardiac muscle cells created from iPS cells into patients with heart failure could improve the cardiac function. Apparent, Japan is quietly making some improvements in using iPS cells to improve conditions of patients, from problems in the eye to the heart. It has already built an iPS cells bank that can help make iPS cell available quickly and economically. I am expecting more good news in this respect.

Six Types of Sugars Detected in Asteroid Sand Brought Back by NASA Probe

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

NASAの探査機が持ち帰った小惑星の砂から6種類の糖を検出

2025年12月2日午後7時02分

宇宙

NASA＝アメリカ航空宇宙局の探査機が地球に持ち帰った小惑星の砂から6種類の糖を検出したと、日本などの国際研究グループが発表しました。見つかった糖のうち「リボース」はRNAを構成する分子で、研究グループは、宇宙に生命の材料となる糖が存在し、地球に降り注いでいたことを示す結果だとしています。

日本とアメリカの国際研究グループは、NASAの探査機が太陽系の小惑星「ベンヌ」から地球に持ち帰った砂などのサンプルのうちおよそ0.6グラムを分析し、6種類の糖を検出しました。

このうち、「リボース」は遺伝情報を伝えるRNAを構成する分子で、「グルコース」は生命のエネルギー源となる分子として知られています。

研究グループによりますと、この小惑星のサンプルからは、これまでに、たんぱく質の材料になる「アミノ酸」や、DNAとRNAに使われる5種類の「核酸塩基」が検出されていましたが、糖が検出されたのは初めてです。

一方で、こうした糖の一部は地球上に落下した隕石（いんせき）からも検出された例があります。 

こうしたことから研究グループは、宇宙に生命の材料となる物質が存在し、それらが隕石によって地球にもたらされたという仮説を強く裏付ける結果だとしています。

研究グループの東北大学大学院理学研究科の古川善博准教授は「宇宙から生命の材料が来ていたことがより確実になった。宇宙から来た材料で生命ができたのか、地球での化学反応で生命の材料ができたのかはまだ分からず、さらに研究していきたい」と話しています。

「生命の起源」の元となる物質は宇宙から？それとも地球？

「生命の起源」の元となる物質が宇宙から来たのか、それとも地球でできたのかは、今も議論が続いています。

惑星科学に詳しい東京科学大学地球生命研究所の関根康人教授は、「地球外から来た材料物質が生命の誕生にどれぐらい寄与したのかは現時点ではっきりとは分からない」としています。

関根教授によりますと、生命の起源の元となる物質が原始の地球にどれくらいあったのかは当時の大気の化学組成によって大きく変わってくるということです。

大気の組成が生命の材料物質ができるのに適さなかった場合は、隕石などによる地球外からの材料物質の供給が相対的に重要になるとしています。

関根教授は小惑星のサンプルから糖を検出した今回の研究成果について、「われわれの生命の元となるもののでき方、生命のレシピを明らかにする研究をこれからやる必要がある」と話していました。

Translation

Six Types of Sugars Detected in Asteroid Sand Brought Back by NASA Probe

An international research group, including researchers from Japan, announced that they had detected six types of sugars in asteroid sand brought back to Earth by a NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration probe. Among the sugars found was ribose which was a molecule that made up RNA. The research group believed this result indicated that sugars, the building blocks of life, existed in space and had rained down to Earth.

An international research group from Japan and the United States analyzed approximately 0.6 grams of sand and other samples brought back to Earth by a NASA probe from the solar system asteroid Bennu and detected six types of sugars.

Of these, ribose was a molecule that makes up RNA, which transmitted genetic information, and glucose was known as a molecule that served as an energy source for life.

According to the research group, amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and five types of “nucleic acid bases” used in DNA and RNA had previously been detected in this asteroid sample, but this was the first time that sugars was detected.

However, there were incidents that some of these sugars had also been detected in meteorites that fell to Earth.

The research group stated that these results strongly supported the hypothesis that materials that could lead to life had existed in space and were brought to Earth by meteorites.

Associate Professor Yoshihiro Furukawa (古川善博) of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Science and member of the research group, said, "We are now more certain that the materials for life came from space. We still don't know whether life was created from materials that came from space, or whether the materials for life were created through chemical reactions on Earth, so we would like to conduct further research."

Did the material that formed the origin of life come from space? Or Earth?

Debate continued as to whether the material that formed “the origin of life” came from space or was created on Earth.

Professor Yasuto Sekine (関根康人) of the Earth-Life Science Institute at Tokyo University of Science, who specialized in planetary science, said, "At this point, we cannot clearly determine to what extent materials that came from outside Earth contributed to the birth of life."

According to Professor Sekine, the amount of material that could be the origin of life appeared on primordial Earth depended greatly on the chemical composition of the atmosphere at the time.

If the composition of the atmosphere was not suitable for the formation of the materials for life, then the supply of materials from outside the Earth, such as through meteorites, would become relatively important.

Regarding the results of this research, which detected sugars in asteroid samples, Professor Sekine said, "We need to continue research to uncover how the materials that gave us life are formed, and the recipe for life."

              So, an international research group has announced that they detect six types of sugars in asteroid sand brought back to Earth by NASA. Among the sugars found is ribose which is a molecule that made up RNA. The research group believes this result indicated that sugars, the building blocks of life, all along has existed in space and may have rained down to Earth previously. Apparently, this is an interesting discovery that may help find out whether “the origin of life” came from space or was created on Earth.

International Research Team Discovers Massive Black Holes in Seven Galaxies

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

巨大ブラックホール 7個の銀河の中に発見 国際研究チーム

2025年9月19日 21時47分

ハワイにある「すばる望遠鏡」で見つけた複数の銀河について、宇宙空間にある望遠鏡で詳しく調べたところ、7個の銀河の中に、ちりに覆われた巨大ブラックホールを発見したと、国際研究チームが発表しました。

日本の国立天文台などの国際研究チームは、「すばる望遠鏡」で見つけた、はるか遠くにある11の銀河について、宇宙空間から天体観測を行う「ジェームズ・ウェッブ宇宙望遠鏡」を使って詳しく調べました。

その結果、このうち7個の銀河について、ブラックホールがあることを裏付ける「クェーサー」が放った光を検出したということです。

クェーサーは、宇宙のガスやちりなどがブラックホールに飲み込まれていく際に強烈な光を放つもので、研究チームは、7個の銀河の中に巨大ブラックホールがあることを確認したとしています。

研究チームによりますと、見つかった巨大ブラックホールは、銀河のちりに覆われているため、地上の望遠鏡では、クェーサーからの光を見つけられませんでしたが、宇宙望遠鏡を使うことで、クェーサーからの微弱な赤外線を検出できたということです。

研究チームの1人で、愛媛大学の松岡良樹准教授は「銀河を見つける広い視野をもつ、すばる望遠鏡と、視野は狭いものの極めて高い感度をもつ宇宙望遠鏡の組み合わせが、非常に強力なことを示す成果だ」と話しています。

Translation:

International Research Team Discovers Massive Black Holes in Seven Galaxies

An international research team announced that they discovered massive black holes shrouded in dust in seven of the galaxies discovered by using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, and also after using a telescope in space to closely examine them.

An international research team, including members from Japan's National Astronomical Observatory, used the James Webb Space Telescope which conducted astronomical observations from space, conducted detailed observations of 11 distant galaxies discovered using the Subaru Telescope.

As a result, in seven of these galaxies, light emitted by "quasars" which used to confirm the existence of black holes was detected.

Quasars emitted intense light when cosmic gas and dust were swallowed by a black hole, and the research team confirmed the presence of massive black holes in the seven galaxies.

According to the research team, because the discovered supermassive black holes were obscured by galactic dust, light from the quasar could not be detected with ground-based telescopes, but by using a space-based telescope they were able to detect the faint infrared light from the quasar.

Yoshiki Matsuoka (松岡良樹), Associate Professor at Ehime University and one of the research team, said, " the combination of the Subaru Telescope, which has a wide field of view for finding galaxies, and a space-based telescope, which has a narrow field of view but extremely high sensitivity, shows an achievement that demonstrates something very powerful."

              So, an international research team has discovered massive black holes shrouded in dust in seven of the galaxies discovered by using the land-based Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, and subsequently also using the space-based James Webb Space Telescope to closely examine them. Apparently, it is a great scientific discovery.

Note:

1. A ​quasi-stellar radio source ("quasar") is a very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus. Quasars are extremely luminous and were first identified as being high redshift sources of electromagnetic energy, including radio waves and visible light, that were point-like, similar to stars. (Wikipedia)

University of Tokyo research group discovers "alternating magnetic material" that improves memory performance

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

メモリーの性能高める「交代磁性体」発見 東大の研究グループ

2024年12月13日 22時24分

コンピューターのメモリーの性能を飛躍的に高める「交代磁性体」と呼ばれる特殊な性質を持った物質を見つけたと、東京大学の研究グループが発表しました。コンピューターの消費電力の低下にもつながる成果だとしています。

これは、東京大学大学院工学系研究科の関真一郎教授らの研究グループが発表しました。

グループは、磁気の性質を使って情報を記憶させるメモリーの性能を飛躍的に高める「交代磁性体」と呼ばれる特殊な性質を持った物質を探しました。

その結果、化合物の「硫化鉄」がこの特殊な性質を持っていることを突き止め、従来のメモリーと同じように情報を読み込んだり書き出したりできることを実験で確かめたということです。

研究グループによりますと、今回見つかった交代磁性体は室温で使えるのが特徴で、理論的には、従来の磁気を使ったメモリーより小型化が可能で、処理速度が100倍以上速くなるということです。

また、交代磁性体を使ったメモリーは待機時に電力を消費しないため、関教授は「情報処理に必要な消費電力の低減が課題となる中、コンピューターの消費電力を劇的に下げるはずだ」と話しています。

Translation

University of Tokyo research group discovers "alternating magnetic material" that improves memory performance

A research group at the University of Tokyo announced that they had found a material with special properties called "alternating magnetic substance" that dramatically could improve the performance of computer memory. They said that this result could also lead to a reduction in computer power consumption.

This was announced by a research group led by Professor Shinichiro Seki (関真一郎) of the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo.

The group searched for a material with special properties called "alternating magnetic substance" that used magnetic nature to store information that could dramatically improve the performance of memory.

As a result, they found that the compound "iron sulfide" had this special property, and confirmed through experiments that it could read and write information in the same way as conventional memory.

According to the research group, the alternating magnetic material discovered this time was characterized by the fact that it could be used at room temperature, and theoretically, it could be made smaller than conventional magnetic memory and its processing speed would be more than 100 times faster.

Also, because the memory using alternating magnetic materials did not consume power when in standby mode, Professor Seki said, "At a time when reducing the power consumption needed for information processing is an issue, this should dramatically reduce the power consumption of computers."

              So, research in Japan has found a material called "alternating magnetic substance" that has a special property that can dramatically improve the performance of computer memory. They say that this will also lead to, among other things, a reduction in computer power consumption. Apparently, we will see a computer memory revolution soon.

A pig specially designed for organ transplantation into humans is born for the first time in Japan

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ヒトへの臓器移植を想定した特殊なブタ 国内で初めて誕生

2024年2月13日 0時46分

アメリカで開発された、ヒトに臓器を移植することを想定した特殊なブタを、明治大学発のベンチャー企業などのグループがクローン技術を使って生産することに成功し、国内で初めて子ブタが生まれたと発表しました。

これは、ブタのクローン技術などを研究する明治大学発のベンチャー企業「ポル・メド・テック」などのグループが発表しました。

このブタはアメリカのバイオ企業がヒトに臓器を移植することを想定して拒絶反応が起こりにくくなるよう遺伝子操作をした特殊なミニブタで、グループでは輸入されたこのブタの細胞からクローンを作製し、11日に3頭の子ブタが生まれたということです。

グループによりますと、ヒトへの移植を想定したこのブタが国内で生まれるのは初めてだということです。

ブタの臓器をヒトに移植する研究は、移植用の臓器の確保につながるとしてこの数年、各国で注目を集めています。

グループでは今後、研究機関などにブタを供給する予定だということで、ことし中にも臓器をサルに移植する研究を始めたいとしています。

ベンチャー企業の代表取締役で明治大学の長嶋比呂志教授は「無事に生まれてほっとしたが、これからがスタートだ。これで国内でも臨床応用に向けた議論が進むのではないか。安全性を大切に研究を進め、倫理的な課題の議論も深めたい」と話していました。

Translation

A group including a venture company from Meiji University announced that a special pig developed in the United States that was supposed to transplant organs to humans had been successfully produced using cloning technology, it was the first piglet born in Japan.

This was announced by a group including Pol Med Tech, a venture company from Meiji University that researched pig cloning technology etc.

This pig was a special mini-pig genetically engineered by an American biotech company to make it less likely to cause a rejection reaction in anticipation of organ transplantation into humans. The group created clones from the imported pig cells, three piglets were born on the 11th.

According to the group, this was the first time that a pig intended for transplantation into humans had been born in Japan.

The research on transplanting pig organs into humans had attracted attention in many countries in the past few years in as it could help secure organs for transplantation.

The group planned to supply pigs to research institutions etc. in the future, and was hoping to start research on transplanting organs into monkeys this year.

Hiroshi Nagashima (長嶋比呂志), CEO of the venture company and professor at Meiji University, said, ``I'm relieved that it was born safely, but this is just the beginning. I think this will move forward the discussion towards clinical application in Japan. We will conduct research with an emphasis on safety. I also want to deepen the discussion on ethical issues.''

So, a special pig for transplanting organs to humans has been successfully produced in Japan. If the transplant of organs from animal to human is made possible, that would be a big breakthrough in the medical history of mankind.