https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from University of Osaka Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed and evaluated a new eight-week training program that enables psychology trainees to effectively learn cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by applying its techniques to themselves. Based on Self-Practice/Self-Reflection (SP/SR), the present study suggests that this program may deepen trainees' understanding of CBT while strengthening self-awareness and reflective practice, skills considered important for effective psychological support. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-future-psychologists.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:50:01 EDT news694867202 Nearly every object we interact with in our lives has a mass, but where does this mass come from? Modern physics says matter acquires its mass from interaction with a physical vacuum—it is not an empty space, but contains a complex structure. Investigating the system of a meson—a composite particle made of a quark, an elementary particle, and its anti-matter, anti-quark—bound to an atomic nucleus, a mesic nucleus, provides precious insight into the vacuum structure, or mass generation mechanism. Scientists are now one step closer to further understanding the origin of mass thanks to new experimental results on a completely new type of mesic nucleus. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mesic-nuclei-reveal-mass.html General Physics Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:50:01 EDT news694797241 A joint research team between the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) at The University of Osaka and Fixstars Corporation has demonstrated one of the world's largest classical simulations of iterative quantum phase estimation (IQPE) circuits for quantum chemistry on up to 1,024 GPUs, surpassing the previous 40-qubit limit. The result expands the scale of molecular systems available for the development and validation of quantum algorithms for future fault-tolerant quantum computers, supporting progress toward industrial applications in drug discovery and materials development. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-world-largest-quantum-circuit-simulation.html Quantum Physics Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:10:01 EDT news694261507 Using high-intensity lasers, researchers have taken an important step toward miniaturization of particle accelerators by demonstrating free-electron laser amplification at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths (27–50 nm), with an acceleration length of only a few millimeters. By generating high-quality, monoenergetic electron beams (i.e. beams where all the electrons have nearly the same energy), they have achieved a key milestone toward compact accelerator technologies. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-desktop-particle-realms.html Optics & Photonics Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:40:01 EDT news694254901 From 3D movie screens to augmented-reality devices, many modern technologies rely on our ability to manipulate light. Doing so in a cost-effective and efficient way, however, is often a formidable task. In an article published in Optics Letters, researchers from the University of Osaka announced a new light-emitting diode (LED) design that may help shrink complex optical systems into much smaller devices. The LED produces circularly polarized light using a built-in nanostructured surface, eliminating the need for bulky external optical components. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-tiny-power-generation-technology.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:40:01 EDT news693754261 Despite a host of checks and balances that usually prevent harmful genetic mutations, sometimes mistakes happen, with serious consequences. Now, researchers from Japan elucidate how a common mutation underlying a common childhood cancer also makes it highly treatable. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-infant-leukemia-nutm1-gene-rearrangements.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:40:05 EDT news693652981 Modern polymer materials face a fundamental challenge: they must remain strong and durable during use, yet ideally degrade when they are no longer needed. Designing materials that satisfy both requirements has long been a major challenge in polymer science. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-polymer-movable-molecular-durabilitydegradability.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:07 EDT news693650821 Almost all living things have an internal 24-hour clock that remains accurate regardless of temperature or other environmental changes. This clock is a highly sophisticated yet simple timekeeping mechanism that is critically important to many functions, including metabolism and survival. Until now, the influences keeping the internal clock ticking reliably were unknown. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-truth-timekeeping-key-circadian-rhythms.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:40:02 EDT news693559861 Projection mapping has the potential to create shared immersive experiences in exhibitions, commercial facilities, and public spaces. However, the technique is highly sensitive to ambient lighting, meaning that clear projected images are typically only possible when the surrounding environment is darkened. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-method-blocks-ambient-images-sharp.html Engineering Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:04 EDT news693133164 Projection mapping is widely known as a lighting technique that overlays images onto buildings or objects to create visual effects. In fields such as extended reality (XR) and vision science, however, researchers have suggested that projection could go beyond simple overlays, potentially allowing the color, pattern, or even the perceived material properties of an object to appear as though they have physically changed. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-shadowless-images-indistinguishable.html Engineering Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:20:05 EDT news693050836 Potassium KCNQ2/3 channels are crucial for suppressing the excitability of brain cells, or neurons. When these channels don't work properly, they can cause specific types of epilepsy like benign familial neonatal convulsions and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. In "Coupling of Functionality to Trafficking of KCNQ2/3 Potassium Channels at the Axon Initial Segment," published in PNAS, Japanese researchers reveal the relationship between KCNQ2/3 channel functionality (i.e., how well they work to control electrical signals in neurons) and localization (i.e., where they are found inside a cell), with important implications for the treatment of these epileptic disorders. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-potassium-channels-functionality.html Neuroscience Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:20:06 EST news691858262 Diastereomers are structurally identical molecules that are not mirror images of each other. Diastereomers can have different biological activities, potencies or toxicities, which means they can influence biological systems, be separated from one another and more. To fully unlock their potential in organic chemistry, it is important to create the necessary diastereomer, but their creation is a key problem in organic synthesis. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-hard-diastereomers-cage-allyl-reagent.html Biochemistry Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:10:01 EST news691780682 The long-term stasis of blood in the liver, known as chronic liver congestion, can lead to a range of diseases, some of which are fatal. However, identifying how liver congestion causes these diseases has remained unclear, causing difficulty in proposing the best treatment pathway. In a study published in Gastroenterology, Japanese researchers have identified a molecular pathway connecting liver congestion to liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and liver tumorigenesis. This finding has important implications for potential therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-liver-congestion-dangerous-newly-pathway.html Endocrinology & Metabolism Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:00:01 EST news691340320 Achondroplasia, also known as short-limb dwarfism, is associated with neurological symptoms and complications due to narrowing of the skeletal structures surrounding the spinal cord. Despite achondroplasia being the most common cause of dwarfism, the mechanisms underlying the condition remain to be analyzed, meaning that current treatment options are insufficient. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-chondrocytes-behavior-reveals-bone-growth.html Genetics Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:01 EST news691262281 Ion channels are narrow passageways that play a pivotal role in many biological processes. To model how ions move through these tight spaces, pores need to be fabricated at very small length scales. The narrowest regions of ion channels can be just a few angstroms wide, about the size of individual atoms, making reproducible and precise fabrication a major challenge in modern nanotechnology. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-chemistry-powered-membrane-tiny-pores.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:40:05 EST news690650840 Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a highly transparent material made entirely from natural wood without adding plastic and uncovered why some wood becomes clearer than others. Their study reveals that transparency depends not only on chemical treatment but also on the direction of the wood's internal microscopic structure. The findings, published in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, open new possibilities for sustainable, plastic-free transparent materials for energy-efficient buildings and next-generation devices. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-clearer-future-unveil-transparent-plastic.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:42:21 EST news690637321 Ocean waves are one of the most abundant and predictable renewable energy sources on the planet, yet efficiently harnessing their power remains a major challenge. Traditional devices typically operate efficiently only within a narrow range of wave conditions, highlighting the need for more novel, constructive converters. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-power-motion-ocean-energy-harvesting.html Engineering Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:20:01 EST news690108613 By now, it's no secret that large language models (LLMs) are experts at mimicking natural language. Trained on vast troves of data, these models have proven themselves capable of generating text so convincing that it regularly appears humanlike to readers. But is there any difference between how we think about a word and how an LLM does? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-word-humans.html Computer Sciences Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:48:17 EST news689330881 As COVID-19 testing becomes less routine, official case numbers can make outbreaks look smaller than they really are. A research team led by Professor Michio Murakami has now shown that wastewater surveillance can uncover this "invisible" spread, providing a more objective picture of community infections and offering early warning signs for hospital-acquired cases. The study is published in the journal Environment International. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-sewage-uncovers-invisible-covid-cases.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:20:05 EST news688915641 Living organisms are made up of hundreds of thousands of cells that cooperate to create the organs and systems that breathe, eat, move, and think. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new way to track how and when cells touch each other to work together in these ways. In a study published in January in Cell Reports Methods, researchers from The University of Osaka reported the development of fluorescent markers for monitoring cell communication under a microscope. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-real-imaging-captures-contact-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:27:30 EST news688922821 A Japanese research team has discovered a new compound that can advance the body's internal clock—offering hope for faster recovery from jet lag and better adaptation to night-shift work. The compound, called Mic-628, specifically activates the transcription of a clock gene named Period1 (Per1). When given orally to mice, it advanced their body clocks and activity rhythms, regardless of dosing time. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-jet-lag-scientists-oral-compound.html Neuroscience Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:39:32 EST news688815541 Quantum computing represents a potential breakthrough technology that could far surpass the technical limitations of modern-day computing systems for some tasks. However, putting together practical, large-scale quantum computers remains challenging, particularly because of the complex and delicate techniques involved. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-wavelengths-approach-circuit-quantum.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:40:36 EST news688750801 Researchers at The University of Osaka have found that individuals in Japan who have been infected with COVID-19 are more likely to wear masks than those who have not. In a four-year-long study, they discovered this change is not driven by fear, but by a heightened perception of the risk of "silent infection," the idea that one could be infected and spread the virus without knowing. This insight could reshape public health messaging for future pandemics. The study, "The impact of COVID-19 infection experience on risk perception and preventive behaviour: a cohort study," was published in Epidemiology & Infection. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-covid-infection-linked-mask-due.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:40:02 EST news688657765 Changes in genes have been linked to the development of different diseases for a while. However, it's not exactly clear what the mechanisms, or the causes behind those specific genetic changes, are. Recent studies using fission yeast, which can act as an ideal model for human cells, have highlighted one possible mechanism linked to disease onset. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-yeast-dna-reveal-hidden-triggers.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:10:02 EST news687429841 Despite the immense amount of genetic material present in each cell, around 3 billion base pairs in humans, this material needs to be accurately divided in two and allocated in equal quantities. The centromere, located in the middle of each chromosome, is known as the site where cellular equipment attaches to divide chromosomes successfully, but the specific mechanisms behind this remain unknown. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-centromere-diversity-pathways-key-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:03 EST news687003662 Encouraging people to get vaccinated is often seen as a public health success story. However, understanding how persuading people to roll up their sleeves to receive vaccines creates social division is crucial—particularly in a post-COVID-19 world, where attitudes about infection control may influence conflict. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-price-persuasion-vaccine-messaging-deepen.html Vaccination Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:30:02 EST news686226328 Researchers have clarified the mechanisms by which energy loss is locally maximized at a certain rotational speed in gas-liquid two-phase flows driven by rotors, providing fundamental insights for energy savings and optimal design and operation in complex industrial equipment. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-energy-loss-peaks-rotor-driven.html Engineering Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:29:14 EST news685200541 Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. However, research progress into antiviral treatments and vaccines has been hindered by the absence of a robust reverse genetics system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-reverse-genetics-path-norovirus-vaccine.html Genetics Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:50:17 EST news684593401 Individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a higher incidence of tooth decay, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent evidence indicates that hyperglycemia could lead to the overwhelming presence of sugars not only in urine but also in saliva, yet its contribution to the development, or pathogenesis, of tooth decay is still unknown. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-sweet-tooth-blood-sugar-migration.html Diabetes Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:24:51 EST news684411858 Slow earthquakes have been discovered to exhibit anomalously slow, long-lasting and small slips, adjacent to regular earthquakes where we sometimes feel catastrophic vibration. However, no one knows the reason why slow earthquakes show such strange characteristics. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers at The University of Osaka succeeded in experimentally reproducing the multiple features of slow earthquakes in the lab and suggested the grain-scale origin of them based on their direct observations. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-simple-gel-jelly-beads-liquid.html Earth Sciences Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:41:21 EST news683811633