News

A yellow and black wasp walks inside the pitcher-shaped modified leaf of a carnivorous pitcher plant.

Research Update

Carnivorous plants and wasps blur the line between friend and food

A new study on the chemical composition of pitcher plants and their wasp neighbors suggests that what was thought to be a purely predatory-prey relationship might benefit both sides.

A macroshot of two termites, one with a long nasal horn posturing in front of the camera, the other walking away. Both are standing on leaf litter.

Research Update

Innovation and ecological collapse gave rise to the tropics’ most important decomposers

Thousands of newly sequenced termite samples reveal how new traits and global extinctions paved the way for their evolutionary success.

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

Photo of a smiling man standing by the deep blue sea.

Research Update

Listening to the natural world and those who study it

Dr. Samuel Ross brings together a wide range of research disciplines and experts to study and help conserve Earth's ecosystems.

A scientist stands next to a giant water tank and looks at waves on the water’s surface.

Research Update

Making waves: water simulation of famous quantum effect reveals unexpected patterns

A new study reveals how a spinning vortex causes system-wide, counter-rotating wave patterns, mimicking effects that occur, but cannot be seen, in the quantum realm.

https://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/2026/4/10/medieval-japanese-poetry-and-buried-trees-help-elucidate-volatile-space-weather

Research Update

Medieval Japanese poetry and buried trees help elucidate volatile space weather

Combining carbon-14 measurements taken at the highest level of precision with historical literature lays a new foundation for studying unpredictable and hazardous solar proton events.

rof. Sam Reiter and Prof. Oleg Sitsel, 2026 HFSP Accelerator Grants awardees

Institutional News

Two OIST researchers awarded HFSP 2026 Accelerator Grants

Advancing international collaboration at the frontiers of life science and environmental research.

The 9th Sounds of Ryukyu performance was held at OIST

Institutional News

Carrying local culture into the future, and to the world

The 9th Sounds of Ryukyu performance was held at OIST.

A photograph of an octopus sitting at the bottom of the tank, facing the camera with its eight arms curled around its body.

Research Update

These arms are made for loving

Study discovers how octopuses use “taste by touch” sensory system to feel out potential mates.

Prof. Kenji Doya - The Tateishi Award Recipient

Institutional News

Prof. Kenji Doya receives 9th Tateishi Special Prize

The prize recognizes Doya’s outstanding achievements in advancing artificial intelligence, robotics and neuroscience

Illustration of a polymerization reaction

Research Update

Identifying the limits of protein evolution

Large-scale computational study describes limiting factors for protein evolution, highlighting unexplored protein design possibilities and origin of life insights.

pygmy squid (Idiosepius sp.)

Research Update

100 million years ago, an ‘evolutionary fuse’ was lit in the deep ocean, sparking squid diversification

New evolutionary mapping suggests deep sea origins and mass extinction triggered diversification of modern squid and cuttlefish.

Media Coverage

Coverage of OIST in the media and on the web

Media Coverage