Science View - Season 11 / Year 2022

From the 1950s to the 1960s, Minamata Bay in Kumamoto Prefecture, located in the western part of Japan, was contaminated with organic mercury contained in wastewater from a factory, causing Minamata Disease. Now, the film MINAMATA starring Johnny Depp has once again brought this issue to global attention. In this episode of Science View, we will look back at what was going on inside the factory, based on an NHK program that contains testimonies of the employees of Chisso, the company responsible for Minamata Disease. Find out why the people working at the factory could not prevent the spread of the disease. Professor Yuki Morinaga of Meiji University, an expert in environmental studies, joins the program to look at the latest research on industrial pollution, share her discussions with her students on this topic, and to help us reexamine the lessons we should be applying to today's society.

With the spread of COVID-19, as well as the declining birthrate and aging population in Japan, the shortage of blood has become an important issue. As the number of blood donors decreases, it will become more difficult in the future to secure blood for transfusion. Recognizing this risk, Professor Teruyuki Komatsu of Chuo University's Faculty of Science and Engineering is working on the development of artificial blood that can be administered to anyone at any time. He has succeeded in developing an artificial oxygen carrier by extracting hemoglobin from red blood cells and encasing it in a protein called albumin. Moreover, Professor Komatsu's artificial blood does not have a blood type and eliminates the need for compatibility tests, a key advantage for immediate transfusion in an emergency. Animal experiments have already confirmed its effectiveness in stabilizing blood pressure during hemorrhage and treating strokes, and he is now focusing on the possibility of applying it to humans. We'll take a closer look at the research of Professor Komatsu, who is aiming to realize the dream of artificial blood as soon as possible.

Both in Japan and other developed countries, social infrastructure built during periods of rapid economic growth is rapidly aging, and accidents involving aging infrastructure are becoming more frequent. The useful life of infrastructure is considered to be about 50 years due to the deterioration of concrete, a key component. Concrete eventually cracks due to internal chemical reactions and external forces, and so-called "moving cracks" that are gradually progressing due to the constant application of force are particularly dangerous. However, finding such cracks is a difficult task that requires significant time and effort. That's why Nao Terasaki, a team leader at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and his colleagues have developed a luminescent material that helps reveal dangerous cracks by making them glow. The technology is called "stress luminescence," which generates faint light at locations inside an object where force is concentrated. This makes it possible to see cracks in progress, including both small ones as well as those likely to occur in the near future. In this episode of Science View, we'll examine Terasaki's groundbreaking research that has made stress visible.

What do geckos, static electricity and wood have in common? They're all contributing to a concept for a new battery design. In this episode, we'll meet Doctor Mikio FUKUHARA. He's working on a potentially revolutionary change to one of the fundamental components of a battery, the electrolyte substance used to store electricity. A special type of laboratory-produced wood known as "cellulose nanofiber" has microscopic structures that are key to this breakthrough idea. We'll join FUKUHARA as he consults with the inventor of this new high-performance artificial wood.

On weekends, the beautiful sound of cello music echoes throughout the corridors of Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application. It is played by Professor Koji Eto. He treasures the time of total serenity between his research. In 2018, Professor Eto succeeded in producing large quantities of high-quality platelets from iPS cells. His work was featured on the cover of a global scientific magazine, attracting much attention. What was the secret to his success? Professor Eto had discovered what researchers at the time had never thought of – megakaryocytes, the source of blood platelets, are "exposed to turbulence" to produce high-quality platelets. The clinical trial of iPS cell-derived platelet transfusion will soon begin at Kyoto University Hospital. It will be performed on patients with an intractable disease called thrombocytopenia, a condition of low platelet count. Meet Professor Eto and find out about his next challenge that can benefit the future.

For the first time in nearly 120 years, "hachiku" bamboo is flowering all across Japan. The hachiku bamboo plant expands by sending out underground stems, which can grow at a rate of about 2 meters per year. The plant then essentially creates clones of itself by sending up shoots from these stems. Yet once every 120 years, the hachiku bloom, leave seeds and die off en masse. Why has this type of bamboo developed such an unusual flowering cycle? First, researchers ran simulations on the evolutionary process of bamboo based on observational data. Analysis of the results has yielded clues into bamboo's incredible survival strategy. We'll also look at rare footage of hachiku bamboo flowering, and see how a new material made from bamboo could change space development. On this episode, we'll explore the science behind this very common yet equally mysterious plant.

[J-Innovators]
3D Mapping to "See" Underground Infrastructure

Remote work is expanding into many other areas besides office work. Robots and remote-control technology make a greater range of tasks possible, from stocking convenience stores, to operating heavy machinery and even serving as a labor force in space. A key advantage of remote-controlled robots is that they do not require the kind of complex programming found in automated robots, such as industrial robots that work in factories. This means that remote-controlled robots are more flexible, easily adapting to work that cannot be programmed. Greater use of this technology can allow robots to take over dangerous and exhausting work, subsequently helping to deal with labor shortages and improve work environments. In this episode, we'll look at the forefront of remote robotics, and see examples of how this technology could transform work.

[J-Innovators]
A Muscle Suit for Back Protection

Many people might think of food or exercise when they hear the word "protein." But proteins perform a vast array of functions within our bodies. In this episode, we'll visit a Japanese laboratory where most of the main proteins of the human body can now be produced artificially. And we'll see how human and even insect proteins can be put to work in drugs and medical sensors. We'll also get a look at a new device to remove pollutants from ocean surfaces.

[J-Innovators] A Floating Ocean Surface Skimmer

New insights on how brains develop in young children reveals that child abuse and neglect can be even more damaging than previously understood. In this episode, we'll see how maltreatment can result in measurable physical damage to the brain. Then we'll look at some ways experts are making progress with treatments to repair that damage. Plus, we'll have a report about a new and faster way of conducting inspections on aging bridges.

[J-Innovators] A Faster Way of Inspecting Bridges

Fish have generally not been considered as intelligent animals. Yet recent research on fish brains and behavior has revealed that some fish are highly intelligent. New findings have shown that some fish can recognize their own reflection in a mirror, identify individual fish by the differences in their facial patterns, and are even believed to have feelings of compassion. In this episode, we'll start out by exploring the surprising intelligence of fish. Then later in the program, the Takumi / J-Innovators corner will feature the novel development of 3D food printers.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) recovery technologies are attracting attention as a means of halting global warming. The hope is that by capturing and sequestering CO2, we will be able to mitigate the effects of climate change, and a variety of approaches are being proposed. Using one method called Direct Air Capture (DAC) which collects CO2 from the air, a Japanese university student has invented and begun selling a compact DAC machine the size of a suitcase. Another technology developed at Kyushu University utilizes a special thin membrane that allows only CO2 to pass through, and the university is working on a device to convert the collected CO2 into ethanol and other resources. We'll take a closer look at these technologies and other methods being developed in Japan to capture CO2. Then, our Takumi / J-Innovators corner in the latter half of the program features a vegetable cultivation kit with automatic LED lighting control that enables even amateur farmers to grow value-added vegetables rich in taste and nutritional value.

Japan's mastery of nanomaterials culminated in 2016 with the invention of the electroencephalograph (EEG) patch, a revolutionary new medical device made possible with the technology. EEGs once required major equipment, time and costs, but the EEG patch makes a quick brainwave scan possible just by placing it on the patient's forehead. It can even be used in other fields, such as scanning for building infrastructure issues. In this episode, we examine the nanomaterial that is poised to bring about a new future.

A prosthetic hand substitutes a limb that may have been missing at birth or that is lost later in life. They can be classified into several types according to their functions, and the myoelectric prosthetic hand is known to be the most functional. It has a sensor that detects weak "myoelectric signals" generated when muscles contract and converts the signals into hand movements. Most myoelectric prosthetics available in Japan are made overseas and are hard to obtain. Moreover, they cost over US$15,000 and weigh around 1kg, making it unsuitable for the average Japanese person. For such reasons, most prosthetic hand users in Japan end up settling for cosmetic prosthesis which are lightweight and affordable. Masahiro YOSHIKAWA, an associate professor at Osaka Institute of Technology, is taking on the challenge to tackle this problem by developing an affordable, lightweight yet highly functional electrically-powered prosthetic hands. Find out how YOSHIKAWA is making prosthetic hands more accessible by using 3D printers and his original "muscle bulge sensor."

A new genome editing biotechnology can alter genes, known as the "blueprints" of life. Some foods produced with this technology are already on the market in Japan: red sea bream, faster-growing fugu, and tomatoes rich in amino acids said to lower blood pressure. The technology might help solve future food scarcity problems, because it can produce foods with superior properties in less time than with conventional breeding. Many people, however, express concerns about the safety of such food and its impact on the environment. In this episode we look at the latest in genome-edited food research in Japan.

Robotic engineering continues to evolve swiftly, yet developing a robot that can detect and pursue odors has proved difficult for the science. Shunsuke SHIGAKI, an assistant professor at Osaka University, seeks to address the problem by analyzing the scent-detection abilities of silk moths. To understand how airflow or sight affect their perception of scents, he built a VR unit for insects in order to gather data. The algorithm created from it allowed him to program a robot with similar odor-detection capabilities. Now, he attempts to give it enough environmental adaptability to navigate obstacles, or operate outdoors. In this episode, we follow SHIGAKI's efforts to create a high-tech robot with abilities learned from actual organisms, so that it might eventually be put to use in search and rescue operations.

Edible insects are attracting attention as a way to address global issues such as food shortages, malnutrition and the environmental impact of raising livestock. Interest was sparked by a report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2013. Why insects, you may ask? Some are high in protein, an essential nutrient for humans, while others are rich in minerals and vitamins too! In this episode, we look at efforts to make consumption of insects more widespread, from insect farms in both Japan and Southeast Asia, to research on creating allergen-free insects through genome editing. Then, in our J-Innovators segment, we'll examine a new communication device that supports people who have difficulty communicating through speech.

[J-Innovators]
"Looking" to Improve Communication for the Speech-impaired

The term "weather pains" encompasses a variety of pains that people feel when the weather changes for the worse, ranging from headaches to stiff shoulders, joint pain, back pain or fatigue. The phenomenon is estimated to affect more than 10 million people in Japan, and its mechanism had long been shrouded in mystery. However, after 15 years of research, a Japanese physician succeeded in identifying the cause – the vestibular system in the inner ear reacting to changes in atmospheric pressure. In this episode, we follow weather pains specialist Dr. Jun SATO as his patients lead him to uncover the three major patterns that prompt weather pains. Then, in our J-Innovators segment, we'll take a closer look at a new type of cutlery that brings out the true flavor of food.

[J-Innovators]
A Flavor Revolution with Zirconia Cutlery

The film, "MINAMATA," starring Johnny Depp has once again brought attention to the issue of Minamata disease. It is known worldwide that a factory operated by Chisso Corporation dumped wastewater containing organic mercury into Minamata Bay from the 1950s to the 1960s, causing Minamata disease. In this special episode of Science View, we will reexamine valuable testimonies given by former Chisso engineers and former government officials to uncover what was happening inside Chisso Minamata Factory. Find out exactly why the people working at the factory were unable to stop further spread of the damage. Professor Yuki Morinaga of Meiji University, an expert in environmental studies, joins the program to identify the issue from a scientific approach and help us understand the lessons we should be applying to today's society.

Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan that has long-fascinated people with its beautiful, well-proportioned shape. However, it's also an active volcano that has erupted about 180 times over the past 5,600 years. The most recent one was more than 300 years ago, the Hoei eruption of 1707, and experts anticipate that another eruption could occur again before long. In 2021, the Mt. Fuji eruption hazard map was revised for the first time in 17 years, thanks to new findings by researchers studying the past eruptions. In this episode, we'll tag along with one researcher that discovered how the Hoei eruption altered both the mountain and its surrounding environs, and also revealed new clues about pyroclastic flows, as we learn about the latest research on Mt. Fuji's eruptions.

[J-Innovators]
Flexible LED Lighting that Glows in the Dark

There are approximately 6,000 species of mammals on Earth, and all of them have one thing in common: they raise their young by nursing them with milk. Researchers studying this mysterious liquid have discovered that milk is "custom-made" with ingredients optimized for each species, and also revealed the clever mechanism in human breast milk that protects babies from disease. Based on the latter's research results, technological development is underway to make formula that is more like human breast milk. In this episode, we'll explore the origins of milk and its amazing powers among mammals.

[J-Innovators]
A New Device to "Visualize" Discussion