Since peptide synthesis was first established in the 1950s, techniques have continued to evolve, leading to the development of peptides capable of application in a wide range of manufacturing settings, including the development of various materials and products, as well as drug discovery. The diverse variety of items that can be manufactured thanks to peptide synthesis includes gold (Au) nanoparticles synthesized with the aid of peptides for use in photothermal therapy, which involves heating cancer cells to a specific temperature to kill them, and also cell culture interfaces used in regenerative medicine, and sensors to detect viruses and explosives.

The peptides we ingest as food are composed of various compounds, which have a diverse array of functions relating to the nutrition, taste, and bioregulation of foods. They have a higher absorption rate than proteins and amino acids and are known to be the most efficient means of building muscle, for example. They are also involved in the most important element of food —— taste —— and studies currently underway aim to equip peptides with bioregulatory functions governing such matters as blood pressure and glucose metabolism.

Peptides often feature in the ingredient lists of foods and cosmetics, but what actually are they? Aside from peptides of these kinds, our own bodies contain peptides produced when proteins synthesized from amino acids are broken down. This diverse array of peptides has a variety of hormonal effects demonstrating powerful physiological activity. As they are molecules that already exist within the human body, they are less toxic than chemically synthesized drugs and have therefore been attracting attention in the drug discovery field for some time.

Reducing CO₂ emissions will require that we change our way of life and community-wide initiatives will be essential to achieve this. The City of Kitakyushu was one of the earliest municipalities to espouse the FutureCity Initiative and, in October 2020, declared itself a Zero Carbon City, vowing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Various initiatives are being undertaken in communities throughout the city. However, establishing ways of life that contribute to achieving the zero-carbon goal seems likely to take some time.

Plastics made from petrochemicals generate CO₂ in their manufacture and incineration. They also cause various environmental problems because they do not readily decompose in the natural environment. In addition to concerns about their impact on marine organisms and ecosystems, there are fears about their effects on humans via the food chain. However, given that plastics are indispensable in our daily lives, eradicating them is impossible. It goes without saying that we need to reduce their use, so there is a pressing need to develop plastic alternatives that minimize the burden on the environment.

The government has announced that it aims to create a zero-carbon society by 2050, but the path to achieving this goal will be a rocky one. While the widespread use of renewable energy will be essential, there is disquiet about the ability of solar and wind power to provide a stable supply of electricity to support the Japanese economy, given that intermittency in supply will inevitably occur at times when they cannot generate power. It would be fair to say that thermal power generation is a practical option for making up for the intermittency. High-efficiency third-generation thermal power technology could hold one of the keys to bringing a zero-carbon future to fruition.

Countries worldwide are stepping up efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Japan has decided on a target of reducing GHG emissions by 46% from FY2013 levels by FY2030. However, achieving this massive target will require a great many challenges to be overcome, and it will be extremely difficult to do so within a socioeconomic structure bound by the conventions that have held sway until now. Not only technological innovation, but also a drastic transformation in the very fabric of society will be needed.

Vaccines are powerful weapons that save humanity from many infectious diseases. However, vaccine hesitancy is still deeply rooted in Japan, and more than 2,800 women a year die of cervical cancer, for example. Just as all drugs have side effects, there are no vaccines with no adverse events. Not every event that occurs after a vaccination is necessarily a adverse reaction. We must be fully aware of this and make appropriate judgments, taking into consideration the risks of infections.

Until now, the process from development to supply of vaccines —— our trump card in the fight against infectious disease —— has been said to take at least 15 years. However, vaccines against the novel coronavirus COVID-19 have been commercialized in just one year. Some are a completely new type of vaccine based on mRNA drugs. The realm of therapeutics based on mRNA drugs is diverse, encompassing not only the treatment of infectious diseases, but also cancer vaccines and antibody drugs. The emergence of mRNA vaccines is set to speed up research and development of mRNA drugs.

New types of vaccines are currently emerging, and vaccinations are being administered at a hitherto-unprecedented speed. However, greater readiness will be essential, given the risk of new pandemics and bioterrorism. It is said that using nucleic acid platforms to create mock-up vaccines in advance would enable the optimal vaccine to be produced swiftly by introducing into them a modularized antigen tailored to the pathogen concerned.