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Sci-tech 2008-2009
Leave Your Chores to a Robot
(March 2009)
Researchers at the University of Tokyo are integrating information technology and robotics to develop robots that can perform household chores. Their work on the Information and Robot Technology Research Initiative, or IRT, has already resulted in public demonstrations by some housekeeping robots.
Turning Thoughts into Pictures
(March 2009)
A group of Japanese researchers led by the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) has developed the world's first procedure for recreating images processed by the human eye based on analysis of blood flow inside the brain.
Fibers of the Future
(February 2009)
The world's first silks exhibiting fluorescence and other pioneering properties have been successfully developed as a result of transgenic silkworm research conducted by Japanese researchers. The functional fibers are expected to have wide-ranging applications.
Digital Camera Goes 3-D
(January 2009)
A Japanese camera maker has developed the world's first compact digital camera featuring a three-dimensional image system that allows three-dimensional still and moving images to be viewed with the naked eye.
Self-cleaning Walls and Windows
(January 2009)
Researchers in Japan have developed a method for keeping walls and windows clean without human intervention. The key to these self-cleaning surfaces are photocatalysts, substances that mediate chemical reactions and are activated by light energy.
Biofuels from Nonfood Sources
(December 2008)
Bioethanol produced from crops like corn and sugar cane is currently the main biofuel. The problem is that these are food crops, so using them for biofuel risks reducing food stocks. To address this problem, researchers all over Japan are working to develop biofuel made from nonfood plant sources and the inedible parts of food crops.
Making Farmwork Easier
(October 2008)
Rice is the staple food of Japan and the nation's most important crop. But the environment surrounding Japanese rice production is changing as the number of people working in agriculture declines. In order to adapt to this new reality, scientists and engineers are working closely to develop rice planters that can function with minimal operation by human.
New Tool Against Food Poisoning
(October 2008)
A start-up company in Japan has succeeded in developing an inexpensive miniature device that detects and evaluates substances in solution. One of the applications of the device is the quick detection of food poisoning bacteria, making it a potential life saver in schools and hospitals.
Robot Suit To Enter Mass Production
(August 2008)
Japan is a world leader in robotics, and in October 2008 a Japanese company will become the first in the world to begin mass-producing a robot that assists humans in moving their limbs.
Broadening The Led Color Spectrum
(August 2008)
Kyoto University and Nichia Corp., which is known for its light-emitting diodes, announced in January 2008 that they had successfully developed a revolutionary LED capable of emitting a variety of colors of light, including white and intermediate colors.
A Safe Way To Protect Crops
(July, 2008)
In recent years, both consumers and farmers have increasingly turned against the use of chemical pesticides out of awareness and concern about their safety and environmental impact. To address these concerns, Japanese researchers recently developed the world's first pesticides that use lactobacillus bacteria instead of harmful chemicals.
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