The Nankai Trough seafloor cable seismic observation network DONET is used for earthquake early warning and tsunami prediction. A thermometer is attached to each of these ocean bottom seismometers to measure the temperature near the seafloor. In this study, by investigating long-term ocean bottom temperature data, a research group of Yusuke Yokota (Associate Professor at #UTokyo_IIS), Tomohiro Inoue and Tatsuya Kubota (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience) detected for the first time ocean waves fluctuating synchronously over an area of more than 100 km along the Nankai Trough. In oceanography, this may be a "Coastal Trapped Wave (CTW)" , and this is a rare observation case that shows the possibility of new oceanographic observations using the ocean bottom seismic observation network. The temperature change is very small, a phenomenon that cannot be detected by ocean bottom pressure gauges, and the signal is of a size that does not affect earthquake observations or slow slip observations in the Nankai Trough. In the future, if more accurate slow slip detection is implemented, it may become noise.

What exactly are quasicrystals, often called the “third state of matter”? Professor Keiichi Edagawa of #UTokyo_IIS has been a pioneering figure in the field of quasicrystal research since its early days. This article explores his groundbreaking work—such as capturing the once-enigmatic formation process of quasicrystals on video—and delves into the unique nature of this mysterious structure.

"Let me check your breathing." "I'm sure that you're in pain, but you're going to be okay." These were comments made by participants in a training session at the Disaster Management Training Center (DMTC), #UTokyo_IIS. The Disaster Management Field Guide is designed for hands-on training that closely simulates real-life scenarios as well as for use at actual disaster sites. We spoke with Associate Professor Muneyoshi Numada of #UTokyo_IIS, the creator of the Field Guide.

The digital world is filled with information being transmitted by individuals and sensors connected to the internet, offering valuable insights into the state of the world at any given moment. This information serves as a mirror of the real world, and within this vast amount of digital data lie valuable clues that make it possible to analyze and visualize social trends and forecast the future. Building on this concept, Professor Masashi Toyoda of the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo is exploring methods to harness the ever-growing volume of data that accumulates daily in digital space. Toyoda has proposed methods using data from social media to estimate various figures, such as the number of positive COVID-19 cases that will arise and the degree of attendance at various types of events, as well as techniques for visualizing the results of data analyses. How are such estimates made possible? And how will visualizing these various forms of data contribute to society? We spoke with Toyoda to find out.

Catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions with a high degree of efficiency are essential in a wide range of fields, from developing raw materials for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals to producing plastic products. However, as many catalysts rely on relatively expensive and rare precious metals, efforts have been underway to develop alternatives, either by creating catalysts that function with significantly reduced amounts of precious metals or by replacing them entirely with substitute materials. Amid these ongoing efforts, Professor Yusuke Sunada at #UTokyo_IIS has drawn significant attention for developing two innovative catalysts: one that functions with a far smaller volume of precious metals than conventional versions, and another that requires none at all. Recently, Sunada has been applying his precious metal-free catalyst technology to develop new methods of hydrogen production/storage and transportation. How were these groundbreaking catalysts developed, and what potential might they hold for the future? We sat down with Sunada to find out.

Aquaculture currently accounts for approximately 60% of the total global fish production. This proportion has been increasing since the 1990s, highlighting the growing importance of aquaculture. In response to this, Professor Daisuke Kitazawa of #UTokyo_IIS who has long been engaged in ocean-related research such as marine structures and marine energy use, is developing new aquaculture technologies aimed at expanding the areas in Japan where aquaculture is possible. Despite being surrounded by sea, Japan has relatively limited areas suitable for aquaculture, and in recent years, climate change has made conditions even harsher. What technologies are now necessary for aquaculture to continue meeting global demand? We spoke with Kitazawa about the current state and future of aquaculture technologies—and what lies beyond for the ocean and for us.

Here, we present a cross-talk between Associate Professor Kazuyuki Kuroyama and Lecturer Takamasa Tsukamoto, both of whom are from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo. Both researchers also work with nano-materials, but how did they feel about each other's work upon looking into it? In this discussion, they share their candid thoughts, including about their approaches and philosophies as scientists.

Research on nanoparticles has advanced rapidly since the 2000s. However, most studies to date have focused on particles 5 nanometers or larger in size. Against this backdrop, in recent years, increasing attention has been given to atomic clusters—structures approximately 1 nanometer in size, consisting of anywhere from several up to a few dozen atoms. Lecturer Takamasa Tsukamoto, at #UTokyo_IIS , is pioneering a groundbreaking method for synthesizing these atomic clusters, which hold untapped potential. At the same time, he is also working to identify the periodicity (i.e., the recurring regularity) of atomic clusters and delve deeper into their fundamental nature. We spoke with Tsukamoto to find out what has been discovered and what new possibilities lie ahead.

Quantum computers are developing rapidly in countries around the world. They are believed to have the potential to achieve computation speeds up to 100 million times faster than conventional computers. As an example, this would allow calculations that currently take over three years on a supercomputer to be completed in a single second. Quantum bits are a critical and foundational component of quantum computers, and Associate Professor Kazuyuki Kuroyama of the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, has achieved noteworthy results in his research aimed at expanding their potential. His research focuses on enabling the transfer of information between different types of quantum bits. What does this entail, and what possibilities does this research open up? We asked Kuroyama.