Science View - Season 1 / Year 2012

This time we feature a project to build a telescope with a 30-meter mirror. It's called the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) and is being developed by a consortium of five nations, including Japan. Such a large telescope would be impossible without technology to make ultra-high-precision mirrors, and adaptive optics that boost the image resolution even further. We'll meet Japanese scientists and engineers involved in overcoming these daunting technical challenges.

The enormous biodiversity of life on Earth makes the natural world a treasure trove of benefits for humanity. Kevin put his life sciences expertise to work explaining why. An organism from coastal tidepools has yielded a valuable anticancer drug. As an island country, Japan has a long and storied record in marine biology research. Joining forces with Japan's cutting-edge research techniques in analytical and synthetic chemisty, Japanese science brought a new drug from sea to clinic.

How can we predict volcanic eruptions? How can we know about them before they happen? A nation full of volcanoes, Japan has been at the forefront of research seeking to answer these questions. On this program, we learn about instruments that have been placed inside volcanoes to measure their expansion, how magma movements are being measured by minute changes in gravitational pull, and how one cutting-edge experiment is using cosmic particles to peer inside volcanoes. Every improvement in volcano prediction has the potential to save lives. Meet the dedicated researchers who are blazing new trails in this field!

One in three Japanese people will die of cancer, so it's no surprise that cancer research is one of the most important medical fields. Currently, there are three established treatments: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But today scientists around the world are working to add a fourth: cancer vaccines. And Japanese researchers are right in the thick of it! They are identifying genes that are expressed only in cancer cells, and making vaccines from molecules called peptides that form from the breakdown of the proteins these "cancer genes" encode. We hear about patients who were treated with the vaccine-and saw amazing results. And in the studio, we have Yusuke Nakamura of the University of Tokyo Institute of Medical Science, one of Japan's leading researchers in this field.

Automobile safety has recently shifted its focus to preventing accidents before they happen. Research is currently underway to develop a car that can detect obstacles and pedestrians, automatically apply the brakes, and take evasive maneuvers. Control mechanisms that were once only used in robots are now finding their way into automobiles. How far have Japan's world famous automobile manufacturers taken driving technology? You're bound to find this week's topic interesting, even if you're not a car fanatic. The fusion of robotic and automotive technology looks set to change all our lives!

The vast Sahara Desert stretches 5,000 kilometers from east to west, and 1,500 kilometers from north to south. Today there is growing interest in its potential as a solar power site. It sounds like a far-fetched idea, but a group of mainly Japanese researchers are pushing a plan to turn the Sahara Desert into a giant solar farm. It's called the Sahara Solar Breeder Plan, and it goes like this: use desert sand, an inexhaustible resource, to make cheap silicon... and out of that silicon, mass-produce solar panels. These panels would harness the tremendous solar radiation that the Sahara receives to generate electricity... which would be sent around the globe by superconducting power lines. How's that for an ambitious project! On The Leading Edge, we'll explore this boldly original idea.

The coelacanth appeared on Earth before the dinosaurs and it is still around today virtually unchanged! For a long time the life cycle of this "living fossil fish" was unknown, but a team from Japan's Aquamarine Fukushima, based in the same Fukushima Prefecture where the 2011 nuclear accident took place, is using an unmanned submersible with high-definition video cameras on board to film the coelacanth in its native waters in Indonesia. The team was the first to capture images of coelacanth fry. Meanwhile, a research group representing Japan and Tanzania has succeeded in sequencing the coelacanth's entire genome. Coelacanth-related discoveries are flying in! Professor Norihiro Okada of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, who worked on the coelacanth genome project, joins us in the studio to explore the mysteries of evolution.

The Takamatsuzuka Tomb was erected 1,300 years ago in what is now the village of Asuka in Nara Prefecture. On its four walls are painted the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Black Tortoise and a group of women in vibrant hues called the Asuka Beauties. It was one of the greatest discoveries in the history of Japanese archaeology, but mold and dehumidification have since led to the murals' deterioration. Can the power of science and technology restore and preserve this priceless artistic and cultural treasure for future generations?

Do you know the term bioimaging? It is a technique for observing living cells by making them shine or light up, and people are saying that it will change the face of medicine. In surgery, for example, doctors can remove cancer cells much more easily when they are lit up. Bioimaging is also leading to rapid advances in our understanding of the mechanisms behind cancer, Alzheimer's, and other pathological conditions. This new understanding should help find these conditions earlier than ever before. Japanese bioimaging technology is at the global forefront. Tune in and see for yourself!

The voice of CG pop idol Hatsune Miku simply soars! Perhaps you've heard it? Singing voices synthesized by computers are storming on to the stage. One recording with synthesized singing even reached number one on the Japanese charts! And all of this is underpinned by the amazing progress of voice synthesizing technology, just in the past few years. The voices are made by computer, but they sound natural and full of feeling! There is even technology that can synthesize just about anybody's voice, even yours! What are the secrets behind these amazing advances? What is the essence of expression? What does singing mean to people? We ask these essential questions from the front line of voice synthesizing technology.

Technological advances are shedding light on the world of the deep ocean. One focus of interest is hydrothermal vents that spew out super heated water from the ocean floor. These vents are home to many fantastic creatures that feed on poisonous chemical compounds like hydrogen sulfide and methane. Recent studies even suggest that life on earth may have started around hydrothermal vents. Japan's most advanced submersible performed the world's first major survey to investigate this hypothesis. Did it find clues about the birth of life? Tune in to find out all the details!

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa crashed down like a falling star into the dessert in Australia in June 2010. It was an image that captivated many people around the world. Hayabusa's return to earth marked the end of its 6 billion kilometer journey that lasted 7 years. The unprecedented project landed a probe on the asteroid Itokawa and brought a sample back. But along the way there was all sorts of trouble including engine problems and a fuel leak, but the ion engine developed in Japan managed to bring Hayabusa nack home safely. Two films also came out in February and March 2012, keeping Hayabusa very much in the spotlight in Japan. We go behind the scenes of this first ever successful sample return mission to a celestial body other than the moon.

Do you know what the most significant source of damage is to a building during an earthquake? While most people might think of the magnitude and intensity scales as a way to measure a quake's destructiveness, there is actually another important factor: an earthquake's period of oscillation. For example, during earthquakes with a long period of oscillation, tall buildings are most susceptible to damage because of a phenomenon called resonance. Studies have now begun to analyze the kind of ground cities are built upon in an effort to predict the period of earthquakes before they happen. We report on this cutting edge research protect buildings against giant earthquakes.

We know a lot about animals, but how much do we really know about their lifestyles? Bio-logging is a new technology that gives us an inside look at how animals live. Cameras, GPS modules, thermometers, barometers and other devices are attached to animals. These devices then record the animals as they go about their normal everyday lives. The resulting video and data have given us amazing new insights into animal behavior. Scientists are now observing animal behavior through the viewpoint of the animals themselves—but what exactly are they looking for? Join us as we show you a rich selection of astonishing bio-logging videos from land, sea and sky.

On this week's episode, we examine Quince, the Japanese rescue robot that was deployed into the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Since a hydrogen explosion at the plant, radiation levels remain high inside. That makes it difficult for workers to continue cleanup efforts for long periods at a time. Quince was deployed three months after the accident. Its goal was to measure radiation levels and check the status of the plant's cooling system. Quince was developed by a Japanese university research team. It was designed to be a highly maneuverable rescue robot. We look at the latest developments in Japanese robotics and consider how current research might be applied in the future.

The Internet has become an essential part of our lives. Cryptography the technology that protects our private information using codes. But there is always the possibility that the codes can be broken. Quantum coding is a way to avert that danger. The idea is to make perfectly secure codes using the principles of quantum physics. A project has now begun in Japan to being limited use of this new technology in just four years!

Scientists hope to change medicine for the better through creating artificial cells. For example, artificial cells could be used to help heal injured or diseased body organs. Studies on artificial cells are now surging forward in Japan. But how are they made? And what defines a cell in the first place? How similar do artificial and natural cell have to be to be considered living cells? Though there are still huge challenges ahead, scientists are striving to understand the very essence of life!

Scientists hope to change medicine for the better through creating artificial cells. For example, artificial cells could be used to help heal injured or diseased body organs. Studies on artificial cells are now surging forward in Japan. But how are they made? And what defines a cell in the first place? How similar do artificial and natural cell have to be to be considered living cells? Though there are still huge challenges ahead, scientists are striving to understand the very essence of life!

iPS cells are created from normal human skin cells. They possess the same potential as fertilized eggs cells, meaning they can be developed into any kind of cell in the human body. It was 5 years ago when the successful creation of the first iPS cells was announced. At first, practical application of this revolutionary new technology was thought to be 10 to 20 years away. How far has iPS cell technology come since then? How close is clinical application? What obstacles have been overcome? We talk at length in the studio with the father of iPS cells Dr. Shinya Yamanaka. Dr. Yamanaka is currently the director of the Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) and also the Japanese scientist considered closest to winning the Nobel Prize. He talks about his resolve, how his research has far exceeded his expectations, and how he was affected by what a patient's mother told him. Tune in!

The magnitude-9.0 megaquake that struck Japan on March 11th, 2011 induced many more earthquakes across country, some of them in places where quakes almost never happen. In addition, there are twenty Japanese volcanoes that rumbling more since megaquake. A mass of data on these quakes and volcanoes is being studied for clues as to where the next megaquake will strike, and what we can do to mitigate the damage. What exactly has been happening underneath Japan? We report on the latest science.

There is an amazing world beneath our feet, from earthworms and woodlice to countless tiny bacteria. And we don't know very much at all about how 99% of these creatures actually live. Scientists are learning how symbiotic relationships between the creatures of the soil form complex ecosystems. Organisms called endophytes that live inside plants are attracting particular attention. Soil ecology is a deep and fascinating field. What are some of the extraordinary features of the soil and its ecosystems? The latest science is uncovering the universe hidden beneath the soil.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in Japan. Among the many new cancer treatments currently being researched, a method that uses viruses to kill cancer cells is attracting particular attention. This surprising method, using a pathogen to fight cancer, is made possible by a very common virus: herpes. The genes of the herpes virus are recombined to render it harmless to healthy cells, but deadly to cancer cells. In animal experiments, scientists altered just three of herpes's genes, but this small change created a virus with powerful anti-cancer properties. Human clinical tests are now underway. Will this method become a common form of cancer treatment? Join us as we investigate.

Heat-generating objects are all around us, from personal computers and televisions to cars and factories! This heat represents an enormous amount of energy, but most of it goes unused, a huge waste. Efforts to capture this heat, and generate power from it, are now in the spotlight. One key to these efforts is the Seebeck effect: a phenomenon where a difference in temperature can generate electrical power. We will explain this effect in detail, and introduce research in Japan that is generating thermal power using a related, but different, scientific principle. The fascinating new method that uses this principle generates electricity using electrical insulators. Join us as we investigate the great potential of thermal power generation. It is using everything from industrial waste heat to the heat from our own bodies to create a more eco-friendly future.

Massive amounts of radiation have been released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since it was hit by the tsunami caused by last year's Great East Japan Earthquake. Now, more than a year later, the cleanup work is progressing, but many radiation hotspots remain, and there is continuing anxiety about how radiation might affect the health of residents living near the plant. Japan is a world leader in epidemiology -what can its studies tell us about the health effects of long-term exposure to relatively low doses of radiation? Children are said to be especially vulnerable -are the effects different for them? There are still many questions that remain to be answered. We report on the latest Japanese studies into the impact of radiation on the human body.

Even most Japanese people don't know that Kagoshima Bay in southern Japan is home to a gigantic active undersea volcano. 30,000 years ago this volcano, then on land, underwent one of largest eruptions ever in Japan, blasting ash across the Japanese islands. The eruption resulted in the Aira Caldera, a formation 20 kilometers across that currently sits 200 meters below the water's surface. A recent survey of the caldera discovered it contains a unique oceanic ecosystem that exists in only two other places in the world. In 2011, another major discovery was made: deposits of rare metals. Join us as we probe the mysteries of this enormous but little-known volcano.

Join us for our 2nd episode focusing on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Our 1st iPS cell episode, broadcast in May of this year, was about the latest iPS cell research. On this episode, we present a historic conversation between Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, the man who first successfully generated iPS cells, and Ian Wilmut of Edinburgh University, the British scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep.

With IKAROS (the Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun), the Japanese space program has amazed the world. IKAROS is the world's first spaceship that can fly about freely in space without a mechanical engine. It's like something out of science fiction. How exactly does IKAROS propel itself? The idea behind IKAROS was first conceived by a U.S. research institution a century ago, but it took uniquely Japanese talent to make it a reality -actually, origami was a crucial source of inspiration for the engineering team. Now, a new, larger craft modeled on IKAROS is being designed to explore our solar system. It is expected to take flight in 2020. IKAROS is promising to change the shape of space exploration. Don't miss this episode.

Carbon dioxide is often thought of as one of the main causes of global warming. But scientists are finding new ways to turn CO2 into a useful resource. We see how fast-growing seaweed can be used to absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and how the CO2 is then used to make plastics and methane gas. What's the secret behind this miraculous new technique? Here's a clue: microorganisms. Tune in and see the latest scientific attempts to turn "trash into treasure."

Japan might soon experience its own gold rush! Scientists are hoping to tap the vast deposits of gold, silver, copper, and other rare metals found in oceanic plate boundaries. State-of-the-art Japanese technology is being employed to locate and extract metals from these deposits, which are produced by the dynamic forces at work inside our planet. Japan was once referred to as "Zipangu" by Marco Polo, a land fabled for its gold. With all of the new gold deposits being discovered in Japanese waters, Zipangu might not be a myth after all.

There are roughly 100 billion neurons in the brain. Neurons can live up to 120 years, but unlike other cells, they cannot divide. How do neurons store our memories? On this episode of Science View, we focus on new research that aims to answer that question. An advance in imaging technology has made it possible to observe neural activity in real time using a method called two-photon microscopy. Using this technology, scientists have revealed the dynamic life of cells.

Rare earths are essential to contemporary industry, including energy-efficient electrical appliances. Take neodymium, for example, one rare earth element. Neodymium magnets are used in the motors of devices like washing machines and hybrid cars. In 2009, China, which supplies more than 90% of the world's rare earths, briefly suspended rare earth exports. The shock that this gave to Japanese industry triggered new interest in developing alternative technologies to ones that use rare earths. We report on the research at the forefront of this burgeoning field.

The gigantic magnitude-9 earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, also unleashed an enormous tsunami that reached as high as 38 meters along the country's eastern coast. A seabed survey conducted off the Sanriku Coast in August 2011 discovered a surprising phenomenon. It is now being suggested that if widely expected earthquakes strike various regions of Japan in the future, this same phenomenon could produce more huge tsunami, and compound the damage wrought by these earthquakes. We introduce the newly understood mechanism behind mega-tsunami.

A Japanese research group is working on a new technique that could triple the output of wind power generation. Called the wind-lens turbine, it gathers the wind much as a lens concentrates light by means of a special device that is attached around the turbine. So, what could that be? Look forward to this! It's simpler than you'd think! Tests have already started on turbines out at sea in preparation for practical introduction. Effective use of the wind around Japan's coasts could far more than satisfy Japan's electricity needs. We report from the vanguard of this dream new technology.

The stars and galaxies are in constant motion across our vast universe, and Akari, a Japanese infrared observation satellite, has been providing some fascinating information about them. Akari uses the special properties of infrared radiation to capture breathtaking scenes: stars being born, intergalactic collisions. Akari has also provided astonishing new images of Betelgeuse, a well-known star in the Orion constellation, and there's a special connection to the Orion Nebula, which sits over 1,000 light years away from Earth. What is this connection? And what makes infrared special? Tune in to discover the answers, and see some of Akari's amazing images of our universe.

The cell is the smallest unit of life but still many riddles remain about what goes on inside it. We introduce a new technique that observes a single molecule in the cell. A cutting edge microscope uses laser technology to reveal unanticipated molecular movement. What is this amazing activity, which even disproved a theory proposed by a Nobel Prize winner? We also take a look at a needle that works on the micrometer scale to move and remove tiny quantities of matter in the tiny organelles found in cells. Join us for a closer look at these achievements, coming in quick succession from Japan, and the new discoveries these world-class techniques are making about the internal world of the cell!

Jellyfish are one of the most popular sights at Japanese aquariums. Did you know their bodies are about 95% water? And did you know they have some astonishing abilities? One type of jellyfish is able to do something that humans have been trying to accomplish since ancient times. What could it be? Substances obtained from jellyfish are also being used in medicines, including one remedy for sore knees. Researchers are even hoping to use jellyfish to regrow forests. Join us as we focus in on the amazing powers of jellyfish!

Dolphins and beluga whales are known for their intelligence. Their brains are the second largest relative to body mass in the animal kingdom behind humans. Recent research has focused on three abilities: Mimicking human speech, remembering the names of things, and engaging in playful physical contact with each other. But the intelligence of dolphins and belugas whales isn't the only thing that's amazing about them. They are also capable of emitting ultra-high frequency signals that help them avoid obstacles, find their prey and even find out how big their prey is. A new kind of sensor inspired by this ability has even found its way into commercial fishing. Tune in to find out just how amazing dolphins and belugas are.

Metabolism is a term that most people probably know, but do you know just exactly what metabolism is? It's the process by which living creatures chemically change and create substances. On a cellular level, life works like a chemical plant. Animals are capable of producing over 3,000 different substances while plants can produce nearly 200,000. Today, we focus on a few of the substances that play a key role in metabolism. First, an oil made by algae that could be used as a new bio-fuel. It was even used to fly a jet plane. Next, a substance that is used to produce a drug for treating pancreatic cancer. But that's not all! Tune in to learn more about the newest research on the amazing mechanisms of living things and how they can help create new kinds of energy and medicine.

The collapsing ceiling of the Ibaraki Airport lobby was one of the first scenes relayed after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. The ceiling was made of plaster boards and anyone struck by them would have been badly injured. Why did this ceiling fail? The earthquake in fact revealed an unexpected weakness in a certain kind of building. The problems came with the suspended ceilings which are used in various other public buildings as well, aside from airports. What is the mechanism of their collapse? What can be done? Professor Kenichi Kawaguchi of the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science joins us in the studio to talk about studies aimed at saving lives when buildings suffer earthquake damage. You have to see this!

In December, 2010, news about the discovery of a special fish in Lake Saiko in Yamanashi Prefecture spread rapidly across Japan. It was the kunimasu, a relative of the sockeye salmon that was thought to have died out 70 years ago. But what's even more amazing, Lake Saiko was more than 500 kilometers away from Lake Tazawako in Akita Prefecture, where the kunimasu was previously known to live! How did the kunimasu reappear so far away? NHK joined forces with a Kyoto University research team using sonar and underwater cameras to observe the secrets of its habitat and how it survives. Tune into learn the amazing story of how the kunimasu was found 70 years after supposedly going extinct. We've also got rare footage of the kunimasu in the wild.

Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University was awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing the first induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). On this week's Science View we bring you a special Nobel Prize episode in advance of the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10.

On October 24, a press conference was held with Shinya Yamanaka and John Gurdon of Cambridge University who shares this year's prize. At the time, the 2 scientists were attending an international symposium in San Francisco. The symposium was the first time the 2 had seen each other since announcement of their Nobel Prize. This week's special episode focuses on footage from the press conference, while giving an overview of iPS cells technology.

In 1962, Dr. Gurdon successfully reprogrammed the adult cells from an African clawed frog. Then, nearly half a century later in 2007, Professor Yamanaka made the first iPS cells. How are these 2 discoveries related? iPS cell technology is nearly ready for clinical application. Shinya Yamanaka hopes to bring the benefits of iPS cell technology to patients with incurable diseases as soon as possible. John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka also share their views on the benefits and risks of clinical application. 

On May 25, 2012, we broadcasted an episode in which Shinya Yamanaka joined us in the studio. During his visit, he spoke in detail about just how close iPS cell technology was to clinical application as well as the hurdles that still exist. Then, on July 13 and September 29, we broadcasted conversation held between Shinya Yamanaka and Ian Wilmut of Edinburgh University, the scientist who made the cloned sheep, Dolly. In this conversation, both scientists shared their views about the ethics of science. We will also rebroadcast portions of this discussion. During a lecture in San Francisco Professor Yamanaka talked about 2 letters that hold special meaning to him. VW. But he's not referring to a car. To find out more, tune into Science View.

On this episode of Science View we bring you news on Shizuku, Japan's state-of-the-art weather satellite. In August 2012, it was announced that Arctic sea ice had shrunk to a new record low. This announcement was based on data provided by Shizuku, an observation satellite developed and launched in May the same year by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). In fact, until early spring, Arctic sea ice had been relatively abundant compared to the previous decade. So scientists were caught off guard when Shizuku started to observe the rapidly diminished sea ice. But what was causing it? Was it global warming?

Shizuku actually monitors the microwaves emitted by water molecules. Water, of course, can be solid, liquid or gas and the strength of the microwaves vary depending on which state it is in. These differences can tell us how much rain is falling, how the clouds are moving as well as detailed ice conditions. The microwave sensors on Shizuku can also monitor water conditions on land, seawater temperature and wind speed over the sea more precisely than ever before. The ability to observer water like this around the globe has many applications from tracking environmental changes, disaster response, weather forecasting, as well as assisting farming, fishing and various other activities, too. Professor Taikan Oki of the University of Tokyo, for example, is trying to use Shizuku's data to assist disaster response. Flooding in Thailand in October, 2011 killed more than 800 people. It also damaged factories, causing significant repercussions for the global economy. Professor Oki believes that using data from Shizuku could help prevent flood damage before it occurs. Tune in to find out what kind of data Shizuku is providing and how it's being used. Scientists also hope that data provided by Shizuku will be useful for farming and fishing. Shizuku can predict the best fishing grounds for different types of fish as well as provide data to assist in conservation efforts. The data can also help predict droughts and harvest volumes for farmers.

Professor Taikan Oki of Tokyo University, the leader of a scientific team that is analyzing Shizuku's data joins us in the studio as we take a close look at the advanced technologies used in the satellite. He also talks about the latest ways its data is being used.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants obtain energy from sunlight. Scientists have long tried to artificially replicate this process. If they succeed, it could have a major impact on both energy production and our way of life. In fact, in 2011, Japanese scientists made a breakthrough discovery in the field of artificial photosynthesis. They pinpointed the structure of an enzyme that was a mystery for 200 years. The research project began 20 years. It also discovered a surprising feature of the enzyme's structure. Researchers are also using the science behind photosynthesis in an effort to use light energy to extract hydrogen from water. This research makes use of a material with astonishing properties. Can you guess what material they are using? Join us for an in depth look at latest efforts to realize artificial photosynthesis.