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November 22, 2024
 

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Rowan Hooper

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Rowan Hooper
Rowan Hooper has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from Sheffield University, UK, and he worked as an insect biologist in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, for five years before spending a two-year period at The Japan Times in Tokyo. He is now news editor for New Scientist magazine, based in London.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 14, 2009
What lit the fuse of culture?
In this month's column, we solve the mystery of the emergence of modern human culture. As a bonus, there's a bit of good news for Tokyoites — and for those of us who may worry that success is solely down to brainpower.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 10, 2009
Swine flu highlights pig industry's fatal flaw
As office workers all over Japan tuck into their lunchtime katsudon (pork cutlet with rice), I'm sure many of them joke about the H1N1 swine flu that threatened to become a pandemic (an epidemic affecting a large region). At the time of writing, the World Health Organization hasn't classed it as a pandemic;...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Apr 12, 2009
I, robot, am looking forward to a very bright future
When robot history comes to be written, April 2009 will occupy a prominent place. Future robots will look back, perhaps with pride, at the events of this month. A robot has been created that has, for the first time, independently advanced scientific knowledge.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Mar 8, 2009
Looking forward to a 200-year-old human
If you believe everything you read about the health-giving properties of the traditional Japanese diet — and if you were to eat traditionally every day — you might expect to live to at least 150, in rude health.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Feb 8, 2009
City ecology explains Japan's low birthrate
Last week, a 33-year-old woman in California made headlines around the world when she gave birth to eight babies. She had been on fertility treatment and, it emerged, already had six children.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jan 11, 2009
Time a Darwinian 'true myth' evolved to rival religion
This year, 2009, is a double anniversary of particular relevance for this column.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 31, 2008
Japan's science in '08
In Chinese astrology, rats are said to hunger for power and to be unpredictable, and in 2008 — a Year of the Rat — both those characteristics were clearly in evidence. What with the financial crisis that is changing the established order of things, and the food and fuel crises that have sent shock...
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Dec 24, 2008
Common catfish
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 10, 2008
'Self' and the macaque mind
One of my favorite locations in Japan is an uninhabited island just off the coast of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture to the south of Tokyo. Uninhabited by humans, it is, however, inhabited by another primate: a troop of Japanese macaques.
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Dec 10, 2008
Japanese crested ibis
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Nov 26, 2008
Pacific reef egret
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Nov 12, 2008
Thread-sail filefish
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Nov 12, 2008
Science's own alternative history
I'm a sucker for stories that imagine alternate histories. Philip K. Dick wrote a classic, 1962's "The Man in the High Castle," that supposed Japan and Germany won World War II, and annexed the United States between them. Another came to mind last week; "The Difference Engine" (1990) by William Gibson...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Oct 29, 2008
TMS can reach parts of the brain conventional treatments may not
I am in a windowless basement in central London with two men I've only just met. It sounds like this story could veer toward the salacious, but bear with me.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Oct 22, 2008
Golden apple snail
Japanese name: Sukumiringogai
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Oct 8, 2008
Falling-letter weevil
Japanese name: Otoshibumi
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Oct 8, 2008
Tuna's just too cheap
A prime slice of fatty, creamy otoro — belly-meat of Bluefin tuna — isn't cheap. These days in Tokyo, you can expect to pay at least ¥10,000 ($100) for a goodly portion of the stuff.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Sep 24, 2008
Miyako toad
Japanese name:Miyako hikigaeru
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Sep 10, 2008
Coin turtle
Japanese name: Kusagame
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Sep 10, 2008
Dolphin 'crimes' exposed
I love it when animals do things that we don't expect, especially when they do things we might have species- centeredly thought were unique to humans, or when they do something that appears to be "out of character."
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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