AIST combined a new analytical approach to evaluate genetic diversity with metatranscriptome analysis, and discovered that when degrading heavy oil in wastewater, nitrifying bacteria that are small minority microbes in activated sludge influence the heavy oil degradation performance of the overall activated sludge.

AIST examined the expression levels of inotocin, an ant neuropeptide, between young worker ants staying the nest and old worker ants active outside. It was clarified that inotocin controls the synthesis of hydrocarbons that prevent the water loss from the body surface.

"Long-term Care Robot Development Guidebook" and related documents were created and free distribution started from September 10, 2018. The guidebook mainly targets long-term care robot developers, and systematically summarizes information such as safety design and testing methods for development of long-term care robots.

AIST has realized a solid material that converts near-infrared light to yellow visible light by using the rapid drying cast method. This material consists of newly synthesized metal-complex molecules that absorb near-infrared light uniformly dispersed in a luminescent material on solidification.

AIST has developed a sensor sheet with a wide measurement range and high-sensitivity temperature detectors arranged on a film. The sheet was fabricated using printing technology. The measurable temperature range was expanded up to 140°C and the measurement accuracy of ±1°C was achieved.

Water environment maps of two new areas and the previously published water environment maps of four areas have been published on the website of AIST. In addition, the results of wide area groundwater flow survey have also been published as the Groundwater Database for Japan.

AIST has developed a circuit measurement method to measure the transmission characteristics of high frequency transmission lines (coplanar waveguides). The developed method enabled high precision measurement of the characteristics of coplanar waveguides fabricated using printing technology in the ultra-high frequency range over 300 GHz.