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May 03, 2024
 

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Faye Flam
For Faye Flam's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 5, 2017
The weakness of the new conservative climate argument
Scientists do make mistakes, but scientific methods in many fields guard against unwarranted certainty. And there is a consensus on climate change.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 25, 2017
Enjoy Earth Day, while you last
Earth's climate will probably recover from this human-fueled round of global warming, but on time scales that are unimaginable to humans. And perhaps without humans.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2017
Scientists gear up for a battle against fake news
New forms of social media help deceivers reach a far larger audience than they could find using traditional outlets, prompting scientists to search for solutions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 8, 2017
Scientists discover the heavens are really hell
There isn't likely to be any planet in the universe that's habitable in the sense that you can just show up, breathe the air and drink the water.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2017
Fake news warning from an ex-propagandist
To create the kind of disinformation that changes the world, you need a story that's at least 60, 70 or even 80 percent true.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 3, 2017
Science ruined tomatoes (and it can fix them)
Growers' emphasis on yield and shelf life in the latter part of the 20th century cost tomatoes their sweetness.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 28, 2017
Three scorching years don't make a trend
The run of record-breaking temperatures doesn't mean we should expect every year to be relentlessly hotter than the last.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2017
More nuclear weaponry means more risk
As with guns, Americans are divided on the issue of nuclear weapons. One side is motivated by a "more is better" philosophy — a deep, intuitive belief that the best way to stop bad guys is to get more weapons to the good guys. On the other side are those who think we'd be safer with fewer weapons — and not just because of the risk of conflict. After all, as a country's nuclear arsenal grows, so too does the chance of accidents.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2017
Drunken monkeys and the evolution of boozing
If alcohol makes you feel sick rather than drunk, you may have a gene mutation that protects you from alcohol impairment and alcoholism.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 31, 2016
If you're so intelligent, why aren't you rich?
The latest research suggests IQ is only a minor factor in a person's success, or lack thereof.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 31, 2016
Farmers have tech, but weeds have evolution
Some 12,000 years ago, humans started a war against weeds — and the weeds are still a step ahead.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 4, 2016
Why biologists don't put too much stock in race
Race is a scientifically indefensible concept with no biological basis as applied to humans.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2016
How to debunk the U.S. presidential debates
Candidates engage in public debates to sell themselves. Viewers should question everything that's said — and not said as well.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 25, 2016
Could new drug prevent Alzheimer's disease?
A promising experimental drug called aducanumab could be an important development in preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 22, 2016
Inventions changed our genetic code
When humans invent technology, we also reinvent ourselves.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 4, 2016
An environmental victory (and cautionary tale)
The infamous ozone hole over Antarctica is starting to heal.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 21, 2016
Scientists give the tree of life a brand-new look
Humans are the only animal that has the power to choose which limbs of the tree of life survive.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 9, 2016
For orcas, menopause is just the beginning
Killer whales and humans are among the only animals known to experience menopause, and scientists are learning how this phenomenon benefits orcas.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 27, 2016
Now scientists can keep complicated life simple
The origin of life on Earth remains unexplained, but last week we saw the notion of a simpler version of life go from theory to reality.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 22, 2016
'Statistically significant' doesn't mean 'right'
Statistical techniques were invented by people who dreamed that the power of physics and chemistry might extend to a world of previously unpredictable phenomena, including human behavior.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Saudi Arabia steps up Gaza-related arrests as Israel ties edge closer
The arrests for Gaza-related posts indicate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s regime will take a hard line against citizens not toeing the line when it comes to normalizing ties with Israel.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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