Japan govt. compiles report on possible impacts of solar flares
2週間スマホが使えない?「太陽フレア」最悪の被害想定 政治部・小野孝記者
Solar activity has a cycle and is likely to intensify around 2025, when solar flares are expected to increase.
The report released by the ministry's panel of experts on Tuesday describes the worst case scenario when solar flares cause disruptions in the earth's magnetic field.
The report says mobile phone and TV broadcast services could become unavailable intermittently for two weeks, and car navigation systems might fail to function properly as the accuracy of GPS satellites could be affected.
It also says power facilities without pre-emptive measures could malfunction, causing blackouts.
The report recommends that forecasts and warnings which focus on social impacts be introduced. It also says that in fields such as communications, frequencies that could easily be affected should be avoided, and alternative means, such as landline communications, should be secured.
Ishii Mamoru of Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology said he wants businesses to become aware of such a scenario and take gradual steps to enhance infrastructure.

Nikkei - Feb 08
On a quiet day at work around 10 years ago, Tadanori Fukushima started receiving alarming email messages from a sender he did not recognize. The emails warned that his company's broadcasting satellite -- worth roughly $150 million -- was on a collision course with an unidentified object. The sender turned out to be the U.S. Air Force.

GeologyHub - Feb 02
In the last week, both the Nishinoshima & Bayonnaise Rocks volcanoes began producing new eruptions in Japan. Both volcanoes exist above calderas in a similar geologic setting.

Animalogic - Jan 29
This is the northern-most living wild primate in the world, the Snow Monkey.

Kyodo - Jan 28
A pharmaceutical advisory body for Japan's health ministry on Friday expressed no objection to the manufacturing and marketing of an abortion pill, bringing the medication a step closer to becoming the first of its kind to gain approval in the country.

AP - Jan 26
Japan successfully launched a rocket Thursday carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite on a mission to watch movements at military sites in North Korea and improve natural disaster response.

NHK - Jan 21
Japanese astronaut Wakata Koichi has completed his first spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

gulfnews.com - Jan 20
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NHK - Jan 20
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FRAME - Jan 20
Today on FRAME, a feature on the Production line of the Japanese manufacturer, Honda. Check out how the iconic Civic Type R is made in one of the most advanced facilities in Japan, the Saitama Factory.

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NHK - Jan 04
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Kyodo - Dec 23
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world-nuclear-news.org - Dec 22
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scotsman.com - Dec 20
Physicists have proposed that ‘neutrinos’ – one of the most abundant fundamental particles in the universe – could be the origin of all matter in the universe today.

NHK - Dec 15
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cnbc.com - Dec 12
Japanese lunar exploration company ispace began its long-anticipated first mission on Sunday, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching the venture’s lunar lander from Florida.