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Thermal cyclers are the workhorses of modern PCR, yet many suffer from imprecise temperature control. More reliable devices will improve experimental outcomes and reproducibility.
COVID-19 sparked intense interest in vaccines. Some Japanese immunologists took up the gauntlet to help slow the spread of the virus, while others have strived to digitally map human biology.
Researchers are monitoring multiple underwater species dynamics for the first time using tiny snippets of shed environmental DNA, while others are tracing the complex routes of mineral pollutants.
A Japanese pharmaceutical company has set its sights on advancing the field of regenerative medicine, by developing a new liquid medium for growing human stem cells best suited for stem-cell therapy.
From powering miniature lab-based brains, to helping humans understand quantum mechanics, cross-pollinating AI with other disciplines is creating new and surprising research directions.