Japan

In Japan, you can go on a haunted hayride on a public train

Every August, the Keifuku Electric Railroad company in Kyoto, Japan runs a series of “ghost trains” or “yokai trains” on weekend evenings. On these trains, spirits and monsters from Japanese mythology scare the heck out of children who are shocked and betrayed that their parents would make them ride an electrical railway rife with supernatural…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 24

Why Earthquakes Are So Hard To Predict

In an article originally published March 14th, New Scientist explains why earthquakes are so hard to predict, how seismologists have tried to foretell quakes in the past, and what promising approaches may lead to successful prediction in the future. Can earthquakes be predicted? No—at least not so that we could issue an advanced warning for…

Tech News Phil McKenna - New Scientist Aug 23

The Censored Diary of a Lonely Fukushima Robot Driver

Deadly levels of radiation inside Fukushima’s reactors mean robots doing human work. Which is great! But robots can’t drive themselves, and their operators are placed in solitude and danger. One engineer documented his experience online before being purged. The Japanese driver, who went only by “S.H.” online, kept a blog of his daily routine before…

Tech News Sam Biddle Aug 23

Even An Orangutan Knows How To Cool Himself Off

This orangutan at Tokyo’s Tama Zoo sure knows how to cool himself off. Faced with an 86 degree day, the primate grabbed a wash cloth, dipped it in water and wiped himself repeatedly. Too bad he hasn’t learned how to share with overheated little buddy who desperately wants in on the cooling action. [Discovery]

Tech News Kelly Aug 23

It May Be Decades Before the Fukushima Area Is Habitable Again

The two mile radius surrounding Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant may be out of commission for longer than anyone had previously thought; according to the Daily Yomiuri, land within about 3km could be kept off-limits “for several decades.” It may also, according to the NY Times, be quite some time before residents within a 12-mile radius…

Tech News Brian Barrett Aug 22

iOS 5 Will Offer Earthquake Alerts in Japan

Apple is taking disaster prep and baking it right into iOS. With the upcoming release of iOS 5, customers in Japan will also get earthquake alerts connected to the country’s early warning system. https://gizmodo.com/the-apps-you-need-to-prepare-yourself-for-a-disaster-5781077 Unfortunately, it looks as though it will drain your iOS device’s battery life, so keeping it on constantly would be a…

Tech News Kwame Opam Aug 22

There’s nothing more artsy than a disassembled Gundam statue

Remember that 1:1 scale Gundam sculpture in Shizuoka, Japan? Videographer Darwinfish105 (who previously did a time-lapse video of the statue) has now made a similar montage of the statue, now broken into pieces and surrounded by police tape. I’d hate to see the authorities’ list of culprits. https://gizmodo.com/this-giant-gundam-time-lapse-video-makes-an-excellent-c-5607693 [Via Technabob]

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 21

Headphone Cord Clutter Meets Its Beautifully Elegant Match

Arriving in Walnut, Wenge, Odom or Japanese oak, these Tumoni headphone cord organizers will be most appreciated by the import market lovers amongst us, but for me and the rest they’re wonderfully elegant eye candy. [Book of Joe]

Tech News Jack Loftus Aug 21

Men Can’t Resist Pissing on Pictures of Insects in Urinals

According to University of Illinois professor May Berenbaum, men “have a deep-seated instinct to aim at targets” in the urinary sense. Logically, sticking a picture on the back of a urinal will cause men to aim for it like lemmings. This is where the Thermal Urinal Fly comes in. These Japanese creations are thermally-sensitive, so…

Tech News Adrian Covert Aug 16

Toxic Nuclear Sludge Found 60 Miles Away from Fukushima Reactor

More proof that March’s crisis persists: the Japanese government’s found deadly cesium isotopes near the Fukushima district courthouse—that’s over 60 miles from the plant. What’s worse, the radioactive gunk contained over 20 times the “safe limit” of cesium. For perspective, that scattered contamination is 20 miles more than the distance between DC and Baltimore. This…

Tech News Sam Biddle Aug 16

Japanese researchers grow plants on high-tech sheets that are microns thick

The Mebiol corporation in Japan has created a super-thin hydrogel called “Imec” that allows plants to be suspended and fed a nutrient solution. Although larger crops can’t be held up by the sheets, this does raise the possibility of someday festooning your living room with curtains of arugula and coriander. I mean, some of us…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 15

Graphic Images Depict the Brutal Consequences of an Historical Global Conflict

In Focus’s latest tribute to World War 2, called Daring Raids and Brutal Reprisals, is perhaps the most stomach-turning yet. Graphic content awaits, but this is war. You should know that already. The comparatively tame image above depicts one of the 16 bombers that took part in the famous Doolittle Raid. While the raid was…

Tech News Jack Loftus Aug 14

Honda’s Most Adorable Robot Is About to Go Nuclear

Asimo, the cutest durned robut you ever did see, is about to roll its precious sleeves and pitch in on the Fukushima recovery effort. PhyOrg is reporting about ASIMO’s new sense of purpose. Honda created ASIMO eleven years ago as a part of its research into robotics and human mobility. It has evolved a lot…

Tech News Brent Rose Aug 12

In Japan, politicians can apparently get away with Dragon Ball Z cosplay

In America, politicians plus whimsical costumes tend to equal “ill-advised career move.” But in Japan, cosplay is just one of those staples of existence, nobody gives a fig. http://gawker.com/5765660/why-is-this-us-congressman-wearing-a-fuzzy-tiger-costume Indeed, two Japanese politicians recently put on their finest garb for the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya. Reports Anime News Network: Nagoya City Mayor Takashi Kawamura…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 6

The World’s First Flying Sphere Looks Like an Alien Death Bot

Looking more UFO than UAV, the Japanese Defense Ministry has created a spherical surveillance drone which they have deemed the world’s first. Designed for use in urban areas, the menacing, all-black machine can fly up to 37 miles-per-hour. Weighing less than a pound, the AFP says the craft’s 17-inch shell was designed to protect it…

Tech News Adrian Covert Aug 5

Two-Way Charger For Nissan Leafs Means Your Home Can be Charged by Your Car

Nissan’s poky little electric Leaf car will be able to power your home in the case of a blackout, via a new two-way charging system called Leaf to Home, an idea that originated from March’s Fukushima disaster. The country is still being affected by the Fukushima fallout, with areas still going through occasional power shortages.…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Aug 3

For $77,000 you can buy a bear robot to carry you around

Good news first: our civilization is rapidly approaching the watershed moment in which we will all ride around on ursine mecha. Riken’s RIBA-II elderly-person-lifting bearbot is the first step towards tooling around in a titanium grizzly that has Tomahawk missiles for molars. The bad news? The RIBA-II costs $77K and won’t be available commercially until…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 2

If you decapitate a ninja with a boomerang, he just ain’t dead

In the 1966 Toei fantasy flick The Magic Serpent, the hero Ikazuchi-Maru is ambushed by a gang of boomerang-wielding ninjas (who are way more dangerous than hula-hoop-wielding ninjas). https://gizmodo.com/hula-hoops-and-fish-grenades-two-contenders-for-the-wo-5810125 The dastards succeed in decapitating our hero, but he’s got one last stupid ninjutsu up his sleeve. Also, witness the most ignominious death of a ninja…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Aug 1

How a Plastic Coolbox Saved a Man’s Life

A fisherman that had been swept out of his boat off the coast of Japan’s Niigata prefecture managed to stay alive for 24 hours, while he clung to his plastic esky that acted as a life-aid. Found a day later and 36km away from where he’d been knocked out of his boat, he is apparently…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Aug 1

Fire-Ice Dug Up From the Ocean Floor Could Fill Japan’s Fukushima-Shaped Hole

After the Fukushima disaster, Japan has obvious reasons for seeking out an energy alternative to replace 1/3 of its power. This so-called “fire-ice” could be drilled from the bottom of the Pacific ocean, though it’s not the safest option around. https://jezebel.com/the-complete-japan-crisis-timeline-live-updates-5780998 According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, just one cubic meter of…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Jul 28

In Japan, you can go on a haunted hayride on a public train

Why Earthquakes Are So Hard To Predict

The Censored Diary of a Lonely Fukushima Robot Driver

Even An Orangutan Knows How To Cool Himself Off

It May Be Decades Before the Fukushima Area Is Habitable Again

iOS 5 Will Offer Earthquake Alerts in Japan

There’s nothing more artsy than a disassembled Gundam statue

Headphone Cord Clutter Meets Its Beautifully Elegant Match

Men Can’t Resist Pissing on Pictures of Insects in Urinals

Toxic Nuclear Sludge Found 60 Miles Away from Fukushima Reactor

Japanese researchers grow plants on high-tech sheets that are microns thick

Graphic Images Depict the Brutal Consequences of an Historical Global Conflict

Honda’s Most Adorable Robot Is About to Go Nuclear

In Japan, politicians can apparently get away with Dragon Ball Z cosplay

The World’s First Flying Sphere Looks Like an Alien Death Bot

Two-Way Charger For Nissan Leafs Means Your Home Can be Charged by Your Car

For $77,000 you can buy a bear robot to carry you around

If you decapitate a ninja with a boomerang, he just ain’t dead

How a Plastic Coolbox Saved a Man’s Life

Fire-Ice Dug Up From the Ocean Floor Could Fill Japan’s Fukushima-Shaped Hole

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

Utah Is Giving Dr. AI the Power to Renew Drug Prescriptions

Here’s the Perfect Excuse to See ‘Project Hail Mary’ Again

US Airlines Are Hiking Bag Fees Amid Iran War Oil Crisis

This Ridiculously Simple Trick Might Stop Gulls From Nabbing Your Lunch

‘Starfleet Academy’ Season 3 Could Have Done the ‘Voyager’ Sequel Episode of Robert Picardo’s Dreams

Judge Kills Lawsuit Against Infamous Study That Might Have Increased Teen Suicides

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