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An international research project led by Kazuyuki Takeda of Kyoto University and Koji Usami of the University of Tokyo has developed a new method of light detection for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by up-converting NMR radio-frequency signals into optical signals.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-electro-mechano-optical-nmr.html

Research conducted by Toyohashi University of Technology in collaboration with Tohoku University elucidated the fusion process of proteoliposomes with an artificial lipid bilayer and the mechanism behind this process. In addition, the researchers also discovered that the domains composed of all cell membrane components exist as "islands" isolated from the artificial membrane. These findings will lead to further understanding of the functions of membrane proteins, which are an important target of drug development, as well as the development of experimental techniques. The results of this research were published in Scientific Reports on December 20, 2017.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-formation-cell-membrane-component-domains.html

Policies to extend working life should not exclusively focus on older people as the decision on when to retire is influenced by the course of a person's career, according to researchers investigating the factors affecting how long people work.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-early-career-decisions-affect.html

Nowadays, zinc oxide nanoparticles are among the most commonly used nanomaterials. They seem to be safe for humans, but there are still no standards for their toxicity, and despite investigations, the toxicological impact of ZnO nanomaterials remains ambiguous. Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw and the Warsaw University of Technology (PW) have recently developed a method for producing defect-free ZnO quantum dots with enduring physicochemical properties such as monodispersity, a relatively high quantum efficiency, record-long luminescence lifetimes and EPR silence under standard conditions. The tightly coordinated and impermeable organic shells that stabilize the surface make the new ZnO quantum dots resistant to both chemical and biological environments.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-safe-zinc-oxide-quantum-dots.html

Honda Motor on Friday nearly doubled its annual net-profit forecasts, citing strong growth in the sales of its cars and motorcycles, as well as US corporate tax cuts.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-japan-honda-revs-annual-net-profit.html

A hacking theft that netted $530 million, a ban on Facebook advertising, regulation even in Russia and more wild price swings: despite another stomach-churning week for cryptocurrencies, analysts say they are here to stay.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-02-highs-heists-cryptocurrency.html