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.

AIST developed a gene sequence design method based on information technology. The method examines only the beginning of the gene sequence instead of the overall sequence. The method was applied to protein production of microorganism and a high probability of increased production was demonstrated.

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 fabricated GaN micro LEDs using neutral-beam etching technology that is known to have extremely low processing damage, and realized GaN micro LEDs with almost no drop in emission efficiency even when the LED size is reduced to 6 μm.

Many slow earthquakes occurred in the Nankai Trough. AIST calculated stress orientations within the Philippine Sea plate, investigated directions of fluid migration, and clarified that slow earthquakes occur as a result of fluid accumulating in the mantle below the Eurasian plate.

AIST has developed a new digital X-ray imaging device that enables digital inspection of infrastructures. The developed device can be driven with batteries. Combination with a battery-powered X-ray source enables X-ray inspection up to 10 cm thick iron objects.