Japan wants to bring artificial gravity to the moon
The proposed 1,300-foot-tall lunar structure would spin three times every minute, generating Earth-like gravity for its inhabitants.
The future of space exploration will likely include longer stays in low gravity environments, whether in orbit or on the surface of another planet. Problem is, long stays in space can wreak havoc on our physiology; recent research shows that astronauts can suffer a decade of bone loss during months in space, and that their bones never return to normal. Thankfully, researchers from Kyoto University and the Kajima Corporation are seeking to engineer a potential solution.
The proposal, announced in a press release last week, looks like something ripped straight from the pages of a sci-fi novel. The plan consists of three distinct elements, the first of which, called “The Glass,” aims to bring simulated gravity to the Moon and Mars through centrifugal force.
Gravity on the Moon and Mars is about 16.5% and 37.9% of that on Earth, respectively. Lunar Glass and Mars Glass could bridge that gap; they are massive, spinning cones that will use centrifugal force to simulate the effects of Earth’s gravity. These spinning cones will have an approximate radius of 328 feet (100 meters) and height of 1,312 feet (400 meters), and will complete one rotation every 20 seconds, creating a 1g experience for those inside (1g being the gravity on Earth). The researchers are targeting the back half of the 21st century for the construction of Lunar Glass, which seems unreasonably optimistic given the apparent technological expertise required to pull this off.

The Straits Times - Aug 04
To help dogs that can't shed their fur coats to stay cool, a Tokyo clothing maker and veterinarians have teamed up to create a wearable fan just for dogs -- and even cats.

nationworldnews.com - Jul 30
Sudden strong currents can be fatal while swimming in the sea. An AI system should recognize them and automatically call for help.

Japan Today - Jul 29
Damage estimates released Thursday by the Hokkaido government show tsunami could kill 149,000 people in the event a major earthquake hits off Japan's northernmost main island, surpassing a central government prediction by around 12,000.

NHK - Jul 25
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a volcanic eruption occurred on Sakurajima in southwestern Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday evening.

1news - Jul 25
A volcano on Japan's main southern island of Kyushu has erupted, spewing ash and rocks.

NHK - Jul 24
Japan's space agency has announced that it successfully test-launched a small research rocket, which conducted tests for a future supersonic scramjet engine.

maritime-executive.com - Jul 23
The first installation of a rigid, winged sail has been completed on a commercial bulker with the vessel recently floated at the Oshima Shipyard in Japan.

CNA - Jul 22
Japan's nuclear regulator on Friday (Jul 22) formally approved a plan to release more than a million tonnes of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

theedgemarkets.com - Jul 21
Shionogi's experimental Covid-19 treatment Xocova failed to win the backing of health experts in Japan who said there wasn’t enough data to show the medicine’s efficacy.

ANI News Official - Jul 17
The Hologram technology produces 3D visual effect by reflecting light. This holographic image moves three dimensionally and even shows all the details.

alarabiya.net - Jul 14
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he ordered as many as nine nuclear reactors to be restarted to help ease concerns about a possible power crunch.

Reuters - Jul 12
For half a century, Takeo Nakajo has been catching katsuo, or skipjack tuna - indispensable in Japanese cuisine whether eaten raw, dried or used as a base for the broth.