author

 
Menu
Search
 
May 17, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Rowan Hooper

Meta

Twitter

@rowhoop

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.
For Rowan Hooper's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
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...
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."
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Japanese billionaire sues Meta over investment scams using his image
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Unraveling the Japanese prose of Yukio Mishima
Author Yukio Mishima accepts the Arts Festival Award in the drama category at the 20th Arts Festival Award Ceremony on Jan. 22, 1966.
New Taiwan president to set tone for ties with China at inauguration
Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te arrives at the CyberSec 2024 Exhibition in Taipei on Wednesday.
Japanese billionaire sues Meta over investment scams using his image
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there
Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER