https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Tohoku University Predicting material properties remains a major challenge in materials science, as it often requires complex and computationally intensive calculations. In particular, understanding how materials respond to electric fields is essential for the development of next-generation electronic devices. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-physics-based-ai-frontiers-dielectric.html Condensed Matter Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:30:01 EDT news695573511 Aluminum die-cast components are widely used in automotive and precision machinery applications due to their combination of low weight and structural strength. However, internal defects known as porosity—voids formed by entrapped air during casting—remain a persistent challenge. These defects are difficult to detect through external inspection and can compromise mechanical integrity and long-term reliability. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-supercomputer-simulation-porosity-die.html Materials Science Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:40:01 EDT news695564762 A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool could make it much easier to discover better materials for clean energy technologies. The system, called StableOx-Cat, helps scientists identify stable metal oxide electrocatalysts—materials that play a key role in processes such as water splitting and fuel production. The findings are published in the journal AI Agent. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ai-tool-stable-metal-oxide.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:04 EDT news695464713 Recent progress in advanced energy manufacturing has opened a new path for lithium battery design. A joint research team led by Associate Professor Eric Jianfeng Cheng of Tohoku University has published a review in Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, that highlights the potential, the pitfalls, and different perspectives of 3D printing's role in manufacturing lithium batteries. The article provides a systematic roadmap for how 3D printing may redefine next-generation lithium batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-lab-industry-3d-future-lithium.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news695477997 When looking to the future of information technology, researchers have pinpointed a once-theoretical particle-like structure: the skyrmion. Magnetic skyrmions are very stable structures found on micromagnetic materials that have a vortex-like spin. Because they can be moved with minimal electrical current, these structures could help develop memory to power the next generation of computing without consuming a lot of power. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-theoretical-skyrmion-supercomputing-memory.html Nanophysics Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695377131 Venus, often called Earth's twin, is in fact a planet of extremes. Beneath its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere are crushing surface temperatures and dense clouds of sulfuric acid. While the planet's main cloud layer sits between 47 and 70 kilometers above the surface, scientists have long been puzzled by a mysterious layer of particles below 47 kilometers, known as the "lower haze." First detected by spacecraft in the 1970s, the origin of this haze remained unexplained for more than half a century. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-cosmic-source-venus-enigmatic-haze.html Planetary Sciences Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:40:02 EDT news695374801 Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent with a variety of applications in both industrial and household settings. Researchers are working on developing better and better ways to produce H2O2, such as photocatalytic H2O2 evolution techniques, which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The reaction simply uses energy from the sun, water, and oxygen to make H2O2. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-advances-precise-nanoscale-cn-catalysts.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:20:07 EDT news695304121 Materials databases lie at the heart of future data-driven discovery in energy-related fields, say researchers from Tohoku University. In an article published in the journal Precision Chemistry, they have examined how different types of databases, both computational and experimental, work together to support modern artificial intelligence (AI) tools used in materials science. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bridging-ai-experimental-materials-discovery.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:40:04 EDT news694965804 The delicate butterfly served as the inspiration for a new lightweight lattice structure that also boasts enhanced mechanical strength, impact resistance, and energy absorption capability through advanced structural design. A collaborative research team from Tohoku University and the Wuhan University of Technology developed this strong yet light-as-a-butterfly material with the hopes of one day using it for airplanes or earthquake-resistant infrastructure. The work is published in the International Journal of Mechanical Sciences. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-bio-impact-resistance-energy-absorption.html Engineering Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:30:01 EDT news694869150 "Methane reforming" is a process that turns methane (CH4) into hydrogen—which can be utilized as an environmentally friendly source of energy. The biggest downside is that methane reforming, in its current state, is not quite so gentle on the environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-precisely-oxygen-carriers-enable-temperature.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:30:02 EDT news694686241 In a striking example of nature's ingenuity, a collaborative research team has revealed that a bioluminescent fish glows not by producing its own light-emitting molecules, but by "stealing" them from its prey. Details of the findings were published in Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fish-protein-genome-sequencing-unique.html Plants & Animals Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:01 EDT news694683301 A research team at Tohoku University and Future University Hakodate has demonstrated that living biological neurons can be trained to perform a supervised temporal pattern learning task previously carried out by artificial systems. By integrating cultured neuronal networks into a machine learning framework, the team showed that these biological systems can generate complex time-series signals, marking a significant step forward in both neuroscience and bio-inspired computing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-brain-cells-enable-machine.html Hi Tech & Innovation Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news694426202 Imagine being able to assess how healthy the front of our eyes are not only in hospitals, but also in remote eye-screening camps, elderly-care facilities, pharmacies, or even train stations. That is the future a research team led by Professor Toru Nakazawa at the Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University is working toward with a newly developed portable AI-powered scanning slit-light device. This convenient device hopes to make ophthalmic care more accessible, so patients can be assessed any place and any time. The findings are published in Scientific Reports. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-powered-portable-eye-scanner.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:40:02 EDT news694341301 Psst, have you heard that mushrooms can "gossip" and spread information to their neighbors? Underneath the umbrella-like shapes we see on the forest floor is a hidden underground network that allows mushrooms to communicate. This interconnected network we often overlook—called a mycelial network—is actually the main body of a mushroom. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-gossiping-mushroom-networks-urination-secrets.html Ecology Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:06 EDT news694258130 Augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets let us see the world around us with virtual elements superimposed on top. For example, many modern AR/MR headsets use hand-tracking cameras to detect hand gestures in the air, which allows users to type on a virtual keyboard that appears to be floating in front of the user. As exciting as this sounds initially, the approach often needs handheld controllers, and keeping your hands in the air for a long time can cause arm fatigue. These air gestures also lack physical feedback, which can make interaction less comfortable. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-technique-everyday-surfaces-walls-desks.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:04 EDT news694095059 Scientific discovery is often tedious, expensive, incremental trial and error, but the advent of artificial intelligence is accelerating the process. A multi-institutional team based in China recently used AI to identify a key characteristic of compounds called catalysts that are used to initiate and speed up the chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide into molecules that can be used to develop sustainable fuels. The team then used the AI—dubbed Catalysis AI Agent—to guide their catalyst designs, ultimately discovering the universal design principle for copper-based single-atom alloy (SAAs) catalysts. They published their results on Feb. 24 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ai-agent-catalyst-discovery-sustainable.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:30:05 EDT news693754832 An international research team has successfully synthesized oriented belt-shaped vanadium dioxide (VO2(B)) single crystals via a hydrothermal reduction method, using one-dimensional vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanofibers as the starting material. This work, published in the journal ACS Sensors, provides a new material platform and design guidelines for the development of next-generation low-power gas sensors capable of operating at room temperature. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-belt-vob-crystals-high-sensitivity.html Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:20:02 EDT news693581401 Bonding lithium metal to a ceramic surface should be a dream team combination for creating solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, getting them to bond is the hard part. Impurity layers tend to form on the surface, which hinders a process called wetting that is crucial to the adherence of metals and ceramics. To get these two materials with very different characteristics to bond, a different strategy was needed. Researchers at Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) thought outside the box, finding that ultrasonic welding brought these two materials together. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-faster-route-solid-state-batteries.html Engineering Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:01 EDT news693561481 A research team has discovered a new way to control tiny magnetic properties inside materials using electric current, which could possibly pave the way for new types of computing technologies. The work is based on spintronics, a field that uses not only the electric charge of electrons but also their "spin," a quantum property that can be thought of as a tiny magnet. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-electric-current-stabilizes-unstable.html Condensed Matter Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:02 EDT news693476461 There is a near-infinite number of material candidates out there—and simply not enough time to hunker down in the lab and test them all. Thankfully, researchers have a variety of tools (such as AI) at their disposal to streamline what would otherwise be a time-consuming process of trial-and-error. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-comprehensive-digital-materials-ecosystem-sanity.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:20:02 EDT news692620681 Ammonia isn't just for cleaning supplies and plant fertilizers—it can also serve as a precursor to clean hydrogen energy. The decomposition of ammonia (NH3) is a promising carbon-free pathway that makes hydrogen, which can be used as a fuel that doesn't emit harmful fumes like fossil fuels do. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-doped-catalyst-ammonia-sustainable-hydrogen.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:40:05 EDT news692533742 Researchers at Tohoku University, working with international collaborators in France, have developed an ultrafine "soft yarn" actuator fiber capable of bending, contracting, and producing complex three-dimensional movements when electricity is applied. The technology offers a new pathway for building safer soft robots and body-conforming wearable devices designed to interact closely with people. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-hair-thin-soft-yarn-actuator.html Engineering Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:00:06 EDT news692376301 Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way scientists discover and design new materials. In a specially invited review published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Tohoku University researchers highlight how large AI models are redefining catalyst discovery and paving the way for faster, smarter innovation in clean energy and sustainable technologies. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-large-ai-catalyst-discovery-synthesis.html Analytical Chemistry Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:00:01 EST news691946027 Quantum computers work by applying quantum operations, such as quantum gates, to delicate quantum states. Ideally, quantum computers can solve complex equations at staggeringly fast speeds that vastly outpace regular computers. In real hardware, the operations of quantum computers often deviate from the ideal behavior because of device imperfections and unwanted noise from the environment. To build reliable quantum machines, researchers need a way to accurately determine what a quantum device is actually doing. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-quantum-method-tomography.html Quantum Physics Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:40:03 EST news691858141 The best candidate for next-generation magnetic devices—technology that can power, store, sense or transport information—may be, counterintuitively, antiferromagnets. Today, the most widely used magnetic materials are ferromagnets, which exhibit permanent magnetization and therefore strongly attract each other. Their opposite, called antiferromagnetic materials, exhibit no net magnetization at all. Despite a net zero magnetic field, they offer appealing properties that would solve the challenges of current magnetic technologies, like stray magnetic field generation or slow operation. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-liquid-crystal-phase-antiferromagnets-electrically.html Condensed Matter Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:20:01 EST news691760161 Tiny changes at the atomic scale can determine the future of clean energy. In a new study, Tohoku University researchers have revealed how the precise coordination environment surrounding a single cobalt atom dramatically influences its catalytic behavior in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)—a key process in fuel cells and sustainable hydrogen peroxide production. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-atomic-precision-smarter-oxygen-reduction.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:20:07 EST news691329781 A battery's positive end (cathode) and negative end (anode) are two vital components that largely define how well it can perform. In particular, researchers have focused on improving the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of cathode design, since they can account for a significant amount of the costs for producing lithium batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-cathode-distortions-lithium-ion-batteries.html Engineering Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:40:11 EST news691320601 Producing clean hydrogen from water is often compared to storing renewable energy in chemical form, but improving the efficiency of that process remains a scientific challenge. Researchers at Tohoku University have now developed a catalyst design that helps hydrogen form more smoothly under alkaline conditions, a key step toward practical green hydrogen production. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cheaper-green-hydrogen-catalyst-energy.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:03 EST news690731709 As researchers around the world race toward the realization of 6G wireless communication systems, the need for antennas that can dynamically adapt to ever-changing signal environments has never been greater. A key requirement of 6G is intelligent beam control, which enables signals to be steered, shaped, and optimized in real time to support ultra-high data rates, low latency, and massive device connectivity. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-magnetic-gear-reconfigures-yagi-uda.html Telecom Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:38:29 EST news690561481 DNA, the blueprint of life, is best known for its fundamental role as genetic material—storing and transmitting biological information through the precise sequence of its bases. For decades, this information-storage function has defined how we think about DNA. But what if DNA could do more than encode life? What if it could act as a reaction vessel that precisely guides and controls specific chemical reactions? https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dna-redox-cues-reversibly-link.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:20:01 EST news690123850