Science View

At 3,776 meters, Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest peak. Its bold, beautiful shape is famous the world over and is often seen depicted in woodblock prints. But Fuji is also an active volcano that has erupted violently many times in the past. Today, volcanologists are growing increasingly concerned that it might erupt again in the near future. On this episode of Science View, we leave the studio and visit a village on the foothills of Mt. Fuji. We'll take a look at both the beautiful and potentially dangerous sides of the famous mountain. We'll also report on the latest research into whether another eruption will occur. This program was shot in December on a beautiful clear day. Science watcher Eiji Mizushima and Reporter Rena Yamada were able to enjoy a clear view of the snow-capped mountain. Too bad it was so cold! Our 2 hosts were practically frozen by the end of the day.

On today's The Leading Edge, we focus on yellow dust: huge dust clouds that travel to Japan from East Asia's dry interior. Yellow dust is a phenomenon that occurs in Japan every spring, brining with it a fair amount of trouble. In Tokyo yellow dust causes a haze that disrupts economic activity and affects people's health. But up until now, there were many things scientists did not understand about yellow dust. Now, research has revealed some surprising facts. This is not your average dust! In fact, some scientists are now referring to it as a microbial ark or an airborne chemical plant. Scientists also believe studying yellow dust could help us learn more about the global environment and maybe even help us prevent global warming. Join us as we take a detailed look at yellow dust!

A huge number of toxins exist all around the world. And believe it or not, the nine deadliest toxins come from living things! Tetrodotoxin, found in the organs of blowfish, is particularly notorious. When blowfish is prepared for consumption in Japan, it must be prepared by a licensed chef who is trained to cut the toxic organs out. It is possible, however, under special conditions, to raise blowfish that are not toxic at all. In fact, blowfish aren't even born with the poison at all. So, where does it come from? Scientists are looking for ways to use biotoxins for medicinal purposes. For example, conotoxin, which paralyzes nerves, could be a thousand times more effective than a certain drug you may have heard of. Can you guess what it is? Join us as we step into the deep and amazing world of biotoxins.

In a 2-part series, Science View steps out of the studio to explore some hidden treasures of Japanese nature and science, in a visit to the all-new Natural History Collection Wing of the National Museum of Nature and Science Tsukuba Research Departments. The National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo has a history of more than 130 years. In addition to its valuable exhibits in the fields of natural history and the history of science and technology, it also engages in pioneering research. The new natural history building in Tsukuba, which houses most of the more than 4 million items in the natural history collection, was completed in April 2012. You can see fascinating items not normally shown to the public, as we explore the natural world of Japan, how the Japanese people interact with it, and also Japan's growth as a technological power.
 

In Part 1, we focus on the fauna of Japan. Our first port of call is the ancient specimen collection, where we examine a fossil that is considered one of Japan's treasures. What makes this 6 plus-meter long plesiosaur, discovered in 1968, such a national treasure? Well, it actually helped overturn a widely held assumption about Japanese natural history. Tune in to find out what it was. Meanwhile, a fossil found nearby suggested that our Futabasaurus was engaged in a ferocious battle with another creature. What was this creature, who helps inspire vivid images of an ancient Japanese ecosystem? We peer into the scientists' toolkit to see how CT scanning is now being used to study the structure of such valuable fossils - without breaking them! CT scans have also revealed much about the way of life of an ancient mammal known as the "mysterious beast"!

Next, we visit the vertebrate skeleton room to see and hear about the whales that live in waters around Japan. Scientists have been investigating why healthy whales strand themselves on beaches. You might be surprised to hear one of the reasons we reveal... Something related to both particular whale ability and a common topographical feature of the Japanese coast. What could they possibly be? Many new species of fauna and flora are still being found in Japan. It has climate zones that range from tropical and temperate to subarctic. It has warm coral seas and also trenches 8,000m deep, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species dwells here. In a vast specimens room, we see a new species of octopus first reported in 2008, and a researcher reveals what's behind its unusual name. There are many other new species to marvel at, too. Join us for this rare opportunity to see some of the treasures from Japan's rich natural world.

The National Museum of Nature and Science have a proud history of over 130 years. Besides its valuable exhibits in the fields of natural history and the history of science & technology, it also engages in frontier research. The new Natural History Collection Wing, which houses almost all of the more than 4 million items in the natural history collection, was completed in April, 2012. In this 2-part series, Science View steps out of the studio to visit this new Natural History Collection Wing of the National Museum of Nature and Science Tsukuba Research Departments in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. We view materials not normally displayed to consider the natural world of Japan, how the Japanese people interact with it and also Japan's growth as a technological power.
 

The theme of this, the 2nd program in the series, is the history of the Japanese people. First we visit the human bone collection, which houses samples of Japanese human bones from early to modern eras. We get up close to bones from the Edo period, during the 17th to 19th centuries. Studies of more than 10,000 bones from this period tell us much about the people's daily habits and health issues. What sort of life did they lead, you ask? Traces of disease in their bones provide some answers. The Museum also stores 3,000 year old bones of people from the Jomon Period. The Jomon people lived in Japan from 15,000 to about 3,000 years ago. Then came the Yayoi people, who arrived across the sea from continental China to settle in Japan. Surviving bones and archaeological remains suggest that the 2 people had very different physical features and ways of life. How are they connected to the modern Japanese? Scientists have been studying the mitochondrial DNA in their bones, and their results have revealed a remarkable secret about the emergence of the Japanese people. What could it be? Other scientists have been using mitochondrial DNA to peer much further back in time to discover how people migrated to Japan tens of thousands of years ago. It seems that the ancestors of today's Japanese people arrived from truly diverse places, and that this Far Eastern archipelago was quite a melting pot.

In the 2nd half of the program, we consider the Japanese people through the lens of the history of science and technology. The key to that history is found in the science and technology of the Edo period. 3 nationally designated Important Cultural Properties - a myriad year clock, a celestial globe and a terrestrial globe - hold special importance. How did the Japanese incorporate Chinese and Western technologies to make something unique to Japan? We hear the story while examining 2 of these treasures themselves - the celestial and terrestrial globes. Highly valuable and rarely shown to the public, tune in to see for yourself and learn the secrets they contain.

Our body clock makes us feel hungry or sleepy at set times. You probably know the feeling. The latest studies have found as many as 300 substances in the human body that vary in amount according to a 24-hour cycle to generate the body's rhythm. We also now know there are body-clock genes which govern these processes. While experience tells us that we are likely to get sick if our body clock is disrupted, and more likely to fall ill at particular times of day, science is now tackling these issues, too. Mice with disrupted body clocks, for example, catch a sickness that people often get. What do you think it is? A gene has also been discovered which generates a rhythm and then controls embryonic growth. What hidden links are there between life and time? Don't miss this fascinating report!

How Gut Microbes Influence Immunity This week's The Leading Edge is all about gut microbes. With a name like gut microbes, you might think that these tiny organisms are bad for you, but in fact, they play a key role in keeping your gut healthy. Recent studies have even shown that gut microbes enhance our immune system. We go over all the details of how they manage to make our immune system stronger. Research has also revealed a species of microbe that helps keep the gut healthy and functioning properly. It took scientists 40 years to identify it. Can you guess what it is? Tune in to find out all about the essential, microscopic work of gut microbes and how they affect our immune system.

Mystical Lake Mashu in Hokkaido is swathed in mist for more than 100 days of the year. Hemmed in by steep mountains and with no river flowing into it, it is known for its exceptionally clear water. This lake, however, is in crisis. Its water clarity, once the highest in the world at 41.6m, has dropped year by year. Trees in the surrounding mountains have started to wither. What is going on at Lake Mashu? A survey team set out to discover the cause of the lake's deterioration. Could it be mudslides? Or the soaring deer population? Various possibilities were considered but... Science View hunts down the real culprit. Tune in for the must-see conclusion!

Security cameras have become a common sight even in Japan now. But we can't be complacent about these cameras and their random images of people in the crowd. The technology exists to have them reveal sensitive personal information, and it is closer to reality than you might think! Called facial recognition software, this technology can identify individuals from their facial characteristics. Already employed in criminal investigations, and evolving apace, Japan is a world leader in the field. Our special guest is an expert in the field, and together we look at how far techniques have advanced, explore whether the privacy issues can be solved and discuss the benefits and problems this new science raises for us all. You might regret it if you miss this Leading Edge!

This topic might sound a little challenging, but is sure to intrigue any amateur scientist or animal lover out there. We focus on the striped patterns on animals. Have you ever wondered how those patterns are formed? A Japanese scientist delved deep and found an answer. His breakthrough findings made the cover of a prestigious scientific journal, and overturned the accepted view that these patterns are encoded in the genes. We also look at the contribution of brilliant British mathematician, Alan Turing, whose own ideas anticipated this new finding. A mathematician? Join us to connect the dots on the program. In the meantime, a small hint is "cell waves". Hmm...thinking caps on!

Body Area Networks: Using the Human Electric Field What if you could learn all about someone just by placing your hand near them? It's not a science fiction movie, but a scenario from the frontline of scientific research. Body area networks - using the human body to communicate information - is now a hot topic.

The Future Robots as trusty servants and witty conversation partners? It sounds like science fiction, but the fantasy is already a reality. Until now, robots have been used most actively in factories and the like. They were considered incapable of the ad hoc responses required for everyday interaction with people. But technological advances have now made it possible for robots to react more flexibly to circumstances, and their usage is expanding accordingly.

Scientists bore a drill 1,000 meters below the seafloor of the 7,000 meter-deep Japan Trench. What was the purpose of this rather daring undertaking? They were drilling at the boundary of 2 quake-causing tectonic plates hoping to shed light on what caused the massive earthquake and tsunamis of March 11, 2011 in northern Japan. Working at these depths is no walk in the park. They were lucky to have Japan's state-of-the-art deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, but did they succeed in recovering samples from 8,000 meters below the ocean's surface? Did they find clues to the cause of the March 11 disasters? Don't miss this report to find out.

The blood that circulates in our own bodies contains substances that can help warn of the presence of disease very early. Called metabolites, they are tiny - at up to only a nanometer in diameter. About 300 types are known, but they are formed in only minute quantities. If we succeed in identifying how they are created, they could be used as markers for disease. This includes a disease that often afflicts drinkers, and a common mental condition you might know. A team led by Nobel Prize winner Koichi Tanaka is also working in this area using an enhanced antibody to capture disease-related substances in the blood. Learn about the great progress being made in this field that could transform medicine.

Calcium could be called the "magic metal" of life. It is found throughout the body - 99% in our teeth and bones, and 1% in the form of ions in our cells. That 1% weighs only about 10 grams in total, but plays a crucial role in our bodies' basic functions. Did you know we depend on momentary shifts in the concentration of calcium ions in our cells for our muscles to contract, and neurons to transmit information? And that it all happens at lightning speed? What cellular process produces such changes in only half a second? Calcium is also intimately involved in the formation of new life. We explain the "calcium oscillations" that are fundamental to the process. Tune in to find out what role they, and other little-known activities of this magic metal, play in our bodies.

Osteoporosis? It's the condition that makes our bones brittle and breakable, and can even make people bedridden. It affects as many as 75 million people in the industrialized world, but its mechanism has been a mystery. Using cutting-edge bioimaging, a Japanese researcher has captured the world's first footage of cells breaking down bone, and it just might lead to development of an optimal treatment. Marvel at our cells at work, and learn some preventative measures, too!

You only find glaciers in polar and extreme alpine regions like the Himalayas - or so it was thought. But glaciers have now been found in temperate Japan, and in quite a stunning form! The key to their formation here lies in the conjunction of some very rare weather and geological conditions. Intrigued? Come and explore Japan's glacial wonders with us on this week's Science View!

Seeing things that aren't there. Not seeing things that are there. Optical illusions reveal a handy strategy our brains have developed to help process vast masses of information. In exploring eyesight this week, we also take a look at some fascinating studies linking eyesight and human inspiration. Join us for a tour of the mysterious world in which eyesight, optical illusion and brain activity meet.

Welcome our new host, astronaut Naoko Yamazaki in her first Science View appearance! Join us as we explore "Life in Space" with a genuine space program veteran. Just what does it take to survive up in space? Leadership, stress management, lightening up the atmosphere. Could you pass the astronaut test, or join a space tour? Yamazaki also goes back to school in her very own "Space Class". Don't miss the wonderful Q&A. You might want to book your own trip to space! Tune in, and be inspired.

Trash is an issue even in outer space. Used rocket boosters and satellite parts are floating all around our Earth. Some traveling at speeds of 30,000 km per hour. Sound a little scary? How much of this space junk is out there, and what happens if it hits a satellite? Our high-speed camera footage makes it all too real. This space debris also threatens the lives of astronauts in space. Tune in to hear astronaut Naoko Yamazaki explain the latest initiatives to reduce the risks. Don't miss it!

Tornadoes seem to come out of the blue. But do they really? The latest research shows that they are closely related to cumulonimbus storm clouds called 'supercells'. Cumulonimbus clouds usually turn into rain and disappear. But with an extra element present, the likelihood of a tornado forming out of them soars. Come and explore the mysteries behind this fearsome force of nature with Science View!

Did you know that the sophisticated systems of some of our fellow living organisms are teaching us high-tech humans a thing or two? We might soon be relying on alternative energy that arose from the wings of a dragonfly, or using a new material inspired by the structure of an abalone shell! Even NASA is interested in that one. Join us to explore the myriad ways biomimetics has the potential to enrich our lives.

A treatment to recover lost vision using iPS cells is on the horizon. Dr. Masayo Takahashi will lead the world's first human clinical research, and the world is watching! Dr. Takahashi joins us to explain all about this groundbreaking project, and what inspired her to take on the retinal regenerative therapy challenge. And don't miss 2012 Nobel prizewinner Professor Shinya Yamanaka revealing the promise Dr. Takahashi made to him 6 years ago. Come explore the cutting edge of regenerative medicine.

It blew out of an erupting volcano in southern Kyushu over 20,000 years ago. This pyroclastic deposit known as "shirasu" is a fine soil that now covers a vast plain. But unsuited to cultivation, it soon became known as a curse among locals. Now scientists have created a new material with it. Called "SPG", it has found uses in compact electronics and even cutting edge medical applications. You'll have to tune in to find out more about this mystery new material!

They have enough destructive power to wipe out whole communities in an instant. "Deep-seated" landslides can move at 100km per hour leaving no time for escape. We now know that their cause lies in the makeup of Japan's mountain ranges. We also know that radar can now help to predict them. In this Science View, we take a close look at just how these devastating natural calamities occur.

We all know microwave ovens. Now those same microwaves are moving out of the kitchen, and into the innovation spotlight. Microwaves produce heat by vibrating water molecules. By putting this special feature to work microwaves can fire pottery in a quarter the time it takes a conventional kiln. And transform sludgy waste oil into a reusable liquid. How is this possible? Science View explores the secret magic of microwaves.

Did you know that the human ear is really like a piece of high-precision machinery? There's the spiral-shaped cochlea, for a start. It features some unique cells called the outer hair cells, which appear to dance to the tune of sound vibrations. But why is it that the fainter the sound, the more they move? Join us to explore what the latest research has uncovered about our amazing sense of hearing.

In the ongoing search for cancer treatments, the research world is focusing on blood vessels. Cancer cells require oxygen and nutrition just like any other cells in our body. When we damage our blood vessels through injury, oxygen-deprived cells produce a protein called "VEGF," which stimulates new blood vessel growth. We now know that cancer uses this process too, causing an explosion of blood vessel growth. Tune in as we explore new anticancer treatments aiming to prevent this process.

Is this food good for me? Or could it be poisonous? We can tell the difference thanks to our sense of taste. But this sense can be affected by a variety of factors. Responding to smell or sight indicators, lemon-scented water can "taste" acidic. Experience can also influence our sense of taste. It's actually a survival strategy! We explore the science of taste, right down to our multipurpose taste receptor cells.

Japanese islands are surrounded by sea. Sea that harbors a vast source of potential energy wealth. It is like a dream come true for resource-poor Japan. There is wave power generated from wave motion, tidal power generated using spinning turbines and ocean thermal energy conversion using low temperature deep-sea water. We explore the latest technologies now that they are coming within sight of commercial viability, and the fierce competition in marine power R&D.

A major discovery that could call for history books to be rewritten was made in a small Japanese lake, Lake Suigetsu. By some miracle, this lake combines a number of features that have allowed its sediment to preserve 70,000 years' worth of data. And it is accurate to within plus minus 30 years per 10,000 years! This is far more accurate than carbon dating. A major global warming theory based on ice core monitoring may also be revised. We spotlight the cutting-edge research on this miraculous lake.

In August 2013, the Kitakami mountain region in Japan's north-east was chosen as the country's candidate site for the International Linear Collider (ILC). The ILC is a mammoth project to build a huge underground particle accelerator over 30 kilometers long. It aims to recreate conditions in the universe right after the Big Bang, to track down unknown elementary particles and new physics phenomena. Tune in as we lift the veil on preparations for this colossal global project.

3D printers have been called "magic boxes" that could revolutionize manufacturing. We could be creating almost anything we want from anywhere in the world, with a click and digital data file download! They are paving the way for an age of one-off production that could replace the current mass production standard. And yet their technology is surprisingly simple. Could they even become a standard home device? We open the lid on these magic 3D boxes, to explore their possibilities and problems.