Catherine Hodges

Dr Ryuho Kataoka stands arms spread wide under a bright starry-sky featuring a green aurora. He is next to a fence and some scientific equipment in a snowy tree-lined field.

Research Update

The man sending cameras to Mars

Meet Dr Ryuho Kataoka, an aurora expert on a mission to take pictures from other planets.

18 September 2026

A membrane featuring glycan chains

Research Update

Secret sugar pairings curb abnormal cell-growth signals

Never-before-seen, weak and fleeting sugar-sugar interactions shed new light on how cell membranes function, opening possibilities in cancer biology and drug development.

In the foreground, a fly sniffs at an airborne scent. Abstract circuitry can be seen in the background

Research Update

How to decipher smells like a fruit fly

A new fly-brain-inspired algorithm enables energy-efficient scent classification, with potential applications from monitoring air pollution to detecting explosives.

Six people stood outside a building and a sign saying ‘OIST Innovation Core 2’.

Research Update

New startup Surzen Biotherapeutics aims to innovate pain management

Biotherapeutics startup targets recently discovered pain mechanisms with peptide therapeutics.

An illustration of the inner workings of a mouse brain

Research Update

Artificial hibernation reveals secrets of long-term memory

Challenging long-held assumptions on how memory works, scientists uncover the importance of engram architecture to long-term memory retention.

A light switch sits in front of a background composed of two different chemicals, one fluorescent and one not.

Research Update

Light-controlled switches get a glow up

Bistable molecular switches with turn-ON fluorescence and other controllable properties bring exciting possibilities for future molecular electronics, data storage, and more.

A shoal of striped fish swim amongst a coral reef

Research Update

Hidden hormone–habitat relationship revealed in reef fish

Multi-omics study shows biology behind the dramatic differences in fish raised in different habitats

A 3D molecular reconstruction of three subunits within an Mfa filament, shown in grey.

Research Update

Cryo-EM helps identify the mechanisms of dental plaque formation

Near atomic resolution structures give insights into the attachment mechanisms of gum disease-related bacterium P. gingivalis, informing future drug development.

A silicon wafer is printed with intricate circuit designs, and shimmers with iridescent hues of pinks, blues, greens and yellows.

Research Update

New high-NA lithography optical system design aims to revolutionize semiconductor chipmaking

With transformative potential for data center power reduction and next-gen electronic devices, simulations reveal simpler design that could overcome long-standing optical challenges and enable cheaper, more advanced chipmaking.

Salt crystals are exposed along the edge of a large, serene body of water. The water reaches some far-off, cloud-capped mountains in the background.

Research Update

Extreme adaptation helps Dead Sea single-celled organisms to swim

Cryo-electron microscopy unveils the unique sheathed filament structure that supports survival and mobility in salty seas.

A close-up photo of crystals of two different complexes, one shown in yellow and one in orange, on a grey background

Research Update

Capturing an elusive step in molecular sandwich making

First structural characterization of a double ring-slipped intermediate brings new possibilities for stimuli-responsive materials design

A close-up photo of a water droplet, shaped in an elongated oval, pumping out a spray of tiny microdroplets from one end.

Research Update

Explosive evaporation unlocks new possibilities in 3D printing and chemical analysis

144-year-old theory expanded in water droplet evaporation experiments