Japan

Japanese scientists have engineered the smallest lifeform that can move on its own. The team introduced bacterial proteins that enable movement into a simple synthetic bacterium that normally cannot move, causing it to change shape and become mobile.

Scientists in Japan have demonstrated a technique that allows them to remotely control the movements of worms. By implanting light-sensitive proteins into the organisms, the team was able to make them move under green light and stop under UV.

Health authorities in Japan have issued emergency approval to a new oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 called ensitrelvir. The once-daily pill works similarly to Pfizer's Paxlovid, and initial Phase 3 results indicate it shortens the duration of symptoms.

With its small size and 4WD, the Mitsubishi Delica is a beloved favorite for adventure van lifers. The new Mitsubishi Delica Mini shrinks that adventurous spirit down even more, to kei size. It promises to make an amazing micro-camper once it's here.

We’ve all been annoyed by someone taking a loud call in a quiet room, and now a Japanese tech company has unveiled a creative, if somewhat bizarre, solution. The Mutalk is a Bluetooth mouthpiece that “mutes” users who speak into it.

Ingenhoven Associates has completed work on a pair of skyscrapers in Tokyo. Featuring a bottom-heavy design enlivened by lush greenery, the tallest of the two towers is also Japan's tallest residential skyscraper.

A torn meniscus, the cartilage in the knee, is a common sports injury, and unfortunately it doesn’t heal well. But researchers in Japan have now identified a hormone that helps repair the cartilage after a surgical treatment.

Sleeping in a culvert generally means you've fallen on hard times, but that's not the case with this unique project by Nendo. The minimalist dwelling is built using the precast concrete box culverts usually used to construct waterways and tunnels.

Japanese scientists have successfully cloned mice from freeze-dried adult cells, which can be stored easily for long periods of time. The cloned mice were later able to have their own offspring, potentially aiding conservation of endangered species.

Japan's solar potential isn't great, but it does sit right next to one of the world's most powerful ocean currents – so the country is searching for novel ways to bulk up its green energy generation in the form of giant deep ocean turbines.

A six-year round trip to an asteroid has yielded unprecedented insights into the formation of the solar system. Scientists have analyzed samples returned from asteroid Ryugu, finding a detailed history starting with the oldest material ever found.

Researchers in Japan have clocked a new speed record for data transmission – a blistering 1.02 petabits per second (Pb/s). Better yet, the breakthrough was achieved using optical fiber cables that should be compatible with existing infrastructure.