Researchers in AIST developed lapping technology that achieved high-speed planarization of SiC wafers in collaboration with Mizuho Co., Ltd. and Fujikoshi Machinery Corp. In particular, 12 times the polishing speed was achieved in the previously slow mirror finishing process. The new batch processing technology demonstrated the comparable surface quality to that of a mirror grinding process using the single wafer processing method.

Researchers in AIST analyzed the contents of the symbiont capsules produced by adult females of the plataspid stinkbug Megacopta punctatissima and identified a novel secretion protein as the major protein component of the capsules. This protein was shown to protect fragile essential symbiotic bacteria from the harsh condition outside the host and ensure the maternal transmission of the bacteria to the next generation. It was also found that capsule production shortened the female’s lifespan. This indicates mother stinkbugs produce the symbiont capsules to their offspring “at the expense of their own survival.”
This is a new discovery identifying the host factor essential for symbiosis with microorganisms and leading to the elucidation of the molecular mechanism underling the maintenance of symbiosis. This discovery will give a great insight how symbioses with microorganisms shape the evolution of dependencies between generations of hosts.

AIST has developed a thermo-projection shaping method that enables easy high-speed 3D shaping without damage to electronic circuits fabricated on a flat resin sheet. The heat applied to the sheet during shaping is partially blocked to create non-deforming areas, thus avoiding damage to the circuits.

AIST developed a prototype sensor that selectively detected the plant hormone ethylene in collaboration with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS). Ethylene gas concentration is a key parameter to quality control of fresh produce during storage and logistics. This portable prototype provides simple operation for measuring ethylene based on a novel detection method.

A "hygroelectric cell" was developed by an AIST researcher. It can generate electricity using changes in the moisture in the air.
Development has been ongoing for many years for energy harvesting technology that uses minute energy present in the environment, such asthermoelectric conversion, photovoltaics, and vibration-based power generation, as stand-alone power supply for small electronic devices. However, locations with conventional energy sources such as heat, light, and vibration are limited, which made it difficult to say that this was technology that "can generate electricity anywhere." Therefore, energy harvesting technology is being developed that uses moisture (water vapor in the air) that exists nearly everywhere on the earth as an energy source. Conventional power generators that use moisture provide current on the nanoampere to microampere level, which cannot be a practical power supply. The newly developed hygroelectric cell operates on a new principle that combines deliquescent material and osmotic (salt concentration differential) power generation, and it has low internal resistance which enables continuous output of milliampere-level current. This cell can generate electricity using the difference in daytime and nighttime moisture simply by exposure to air. This technology is expected to apply an ultra-low power supply for IoT devices.

AIST has published a next-generation geological map “Urban Geological Map of Central Tokyo (Special Wards Area)”. It visualizes the subsurface geological structures beneath central Tokyo to a depth of tens of meters in three dimensions.
It was difficult to accurately express subsurface geological structures beneath urban areas with conventional planar geological maps. Analysis of large amounts of survey data from as many as 50,000 sites with originally developed 3D modeling technology enabled to visualize the detailed subsurface geological structure of central Tokyo in three dimensions. As a result, the distribution of a valley-filling soft stratum called the post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) deposits in the lowlands of downtown Tokyo was depicted in great detail. Furthermore, it was clarified that a weak stratum similar to the post-LGM deposits is also distributed in a part of the Musashino Upland in the Yamanote area, which had generally been considered hard ground. This 3D geological map can be easily viewed by anyone free of charge, so widespread use is expected such as for earthquake hazard maps and urban infrastructure development in central Tokyo (special wards area). The map was released on the “Urban Geological Map of Central Tokyo” page of the AIST website on May 21, 2021.

Researchers in AIST developed a prototype of a new omnidirectional standard LED in collaboration with Nichia Corporation. This is a new standard light source using LEDs that emits light covering the full visible wavelength range over all directions.
The developed omnidirectional standard LED achieves stability and reproducibility of optical power comparable to the conventional standard lamp and has a spectrum covering the full visible wavelength range. Furthermore, combination with a special optical material that diffuses light uniformly in all directions successfully realized spatial light distribution that is ideal as a standard light source for total luminous flux measurement. The commercialization of the standard LED is expected to contribute to the sustainable development of lighting industry and to improve the accuracy of light source evaluation in manufacturers, etc.