News Headlines: Life Sciences, Energy and the Environment
Lightweight NIRS headsets detects brain activity of up to 20 people
A research group led by Professor Ryuta Kawashima of Tohoku University and Hitachi, Ltd. have jointly developed a prototype Microminiature Near-Infrared Spectroscopy which is able to simultaneously measure activity in the brain of up to 20 people. The headset shaped device uses near-infrared light to detect the amount of blood in the brain and then the data is displayed on a computer in real time, which is hoped to be applied to research that elucidates how the brain interacts. (15 September 2011, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun)
Human iPS cells-derived neural stem cells restore mobility of mice with spinal injury
A research team led by Professor Hideyuki Okano of Keio University and Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University have succeeded in regaining the motor capability of mice with spinal cord injuries by transplanting neural stem cells generated from human iPS cells. The researchers have observed that no tumour was formed 4 months after the transplantation, and that 50 % of the transplanted neural stem cells were differentiated into neurons, which transmit neural information. (27 September 2011, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun)
Demonstration for tidal power generation
In response to rising demand on natural energy, Kitakyushu City and Kyushu Institute of Technology (KTI) will start a five-year demonstration of tidal power generation at the Kammon Straits - one of the fastest tidal areas in Japan. They are introducing the „Darius‟ waterwheel signed by Dr Hiraki, Associate Professor of the KTI. The fastest tides in the Straits reach speeds of 4.8 meters per second, which has the potential to generate energy equivalent to that of winds of 40 meters per second. They are expecting to generate about 10KW with eight hours operation a day. (6 September 2011, Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun)
World’s largest demonstration facility for space photovoiltaics
Kyoto University announced on 28 September that they have finished constructing the world‟s largest demonstration facility for space photovoltaics in their Uji Campus. The facility, which cost a billion yen (GBP7.7M), will demonstrate the technology to send energy generated by solar panels floating in the space
back to earth. They will work on downsizing and weight saving of the transmission equipment. The facility is also expected to be used for research for electric vehicles‟ wireless charging. (29 September 2011, Nikkei Shimbun & Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun)
METI and MoE to support geothermal studies in national parks
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), in collaboration with Ministry of the Environment (MoE), will support private companies to conduct studies on geothermal reserves in national parks. Geothermal development in national parks has been regulated in order to protect the landscape, and this has been kept the capacity of geothermal power generation facility to fairly small levels such as 540,000 kilowatts. However, due to the rising demand for renewable energy, METI has made the decision to back the development of geothermal activities. (6 September 2011, Denki Shimbun)
