Archives for 2020

A Japanese live streamer who died last year on Mt. Fuji while streaming his climb has won the 2020 Darwin Awards. Tetsu “Tedzu” Shiohara, 47, lacked the “proper gear, climbing experience, and a booster pack of common sense” when he made the fatal climb on Oct. 28, 2019, according to the Darwin Awards via SoraNews24. Tedzu became the first Japanese person to ever win the … [Read more...] about Japanese Man Who Died Live Streaming Fall From Mt. Fuji Wins a Darwin Award

On June 12, Tokyo Metro conducted its first test run of using an unmanned robot to disinfect commonly used surfaces in Tsukishima station, located in the Chuo Ward of Tokyo. The robot, named Patoro (from the first two syllables of the Japanese word for “patrol”, パトロール or patorōru, and the “ro” from “robot”) was created by Japanese robotics company, ZMP Inc. The company … [Read more...] about Tokyo Metro tests its first unmanned security and cleaning robot at Tsukishima Station

A few days ago I was cycling down the River Arakawa when I came to Ojima Komatsugawa park. Being on a spur of land that juts out into the river, it’s surrounded by water on three sides. At the top of the hill in the middle of the park, I came across this startlingly beautiful sculpture. A plaque informs passersby that it was created to commemorate the lost continent of Mu, … [Read more...] about Mu: a clue to a legendary lost kingdom in Ojima Komatsugawa park

A proof by Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki of an over 30-year-old problem in number theory has obtained validation, Kyoto University said Friday following controversy over his theory often labeled as too novel and complicated to understand. The Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences of the university accepted for publication his 600-page proof of the abc … [Read more...] about Japanese mathematician gets validation for number theory solution

A thin sheet of copper fiber that can speed up the process of inactivating virus particles, potentially stopping them from causing infections, has been developed by a university-based startup in collaboration with a local textile manufacturer here. The Gunma University-based venture Gunma University Development & Innovation (GUDi), in the Gunma prefectural city of Kiryu, … [Read more...] about East Japan venture develops copper fiber sheet that hastens virus particle inactivation