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April 20, 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.
For Rowan Hooper's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jul 26, 2019
The happiness of the otaku: Daydreaming to well-being
Using the imagination to daydream may be more useful than we thought. But who would have guessed that a key to unlocking its benefits would be pursuing manga, anime and games — otherwise known as 'otaku' culture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 20, 2019
Revealed: What happened, physically, to the city of Hiroshima after the A-bomb
Everyone in Japan knows that on Aug. 6, 1945, a nuclear bomb destroyed Hiroshima. But what happened to the mass of building debris that was swept up to disappear in the giant mushroom cloud?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 28, 2019
Japanese scientist puts forward theory to solve 50-year moon rock mystery (it's not cheese)
The moon was formed when it was washed out of the right eye of the god of the land while he was bathing. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon god of Japanese folklore, then lived forever in the heavens after climbing a giant celestial ladder from his father's bathroom.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Mar 22, 2019
How many times do we have to die before we are dead?
Thanatometabolomics, a new field of science that looks at how biomarkers can help determine time of death, brings up new questions on the definition of 'dead'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Feb 24, 2019
There's so much that bonobos and chimps can teach humans
About 6 million years ago in Africa there was an ape species that would change the world. We don't know much about that animal, but we do know that one population separated from the rest and would eventually evolve into our species, Homo sapiens.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jan 25, 2019
Japan's commercial whaling may have two silver linings: freeing up the IWC and sparing the Southern Ocean
The condemnation of Japan became louder with the announcement that Tokyo would leave the International Whaling Commission, but is there a benefit to this?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 24, 2018
2018 in science in Japan: Climate change, space exploration and water bears
In casting an eye back over memorable science and environment stories from Japan in 2018, it is impossible to ignore the extreme weather that hit the country.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Nov 23, 2018
The little blind fish that can mend a broken heart
The Mexican tetra is a small and boring-looking animal, but appearances are deceptive. This fish is famous among evolutionary biologists, physiologists and sleep scientists for its hidden talents.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Oct 27, 2018
Salivary glands and other organs grown in laboratory
Organoids, blobs of tissue grown in the lab, could change the face of organ transplants and even pave the way for brain augmentation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Sep 21, 2018
University of Tokyo student goes the extra trillions of miles to study exoplanets
A Ph.D. student at the University of Tokyo, has recently helped discover 44 planets outside of our solar system. Such planets — known as exoplanets — were until recently only theoretical, and they inspire great excitement among astronomers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Aug 28, 2018
Get ready for the robot invasion — of our classrooms
We may be wary of trusting robots enough to let them educate our children, but what if children were to help teach them a thing or two?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jul 28, 2018
Can dolphins teach humans how to come up for air?
A look at new dolphin research may help Japanese pearl and seafood divers and other free divers learn more about countering decompression sickness.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 22, 2018
Baobabs a wake-up call for action on climate change
The decline of the baobab, a tree whose longevity has astounded many, is an indication that more needs to be done to prevent climate change.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 2, 2018
Memory athletes could be on the right track to a longer life
To memory athlete Akira Haraguchi reciting pi is like chanting the Buddhist mantra and meditating: 'Everything that circles around carries the spirit of the Buddha. I think pi is the ultimate example of that.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Apr 26, 2018
Scientists discover hormone that helps plants sense drought
Plants deserve more credit. They can't move to find food or water, or to escape a predator. But that doesn't mean they are helpless — far from it. They don't have eyes, ears, a nose or mouth, but they can sense the world remarkably well — in some cases better than we can.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Mar 23, 2018
Tiny tardigrades might hold the key to the origin of life
The city of Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture is famous for the three sacred mountains that are central to the practice of Shugendo. In this fascinating fusion of Buddhism and Shinto, disciples climb and descend the thousands of stone steps that lead to the summit of Mount Haguro. The ascetic practice is said to simulate the process of death and rebirth, and in the natural hot springs on Mount Yudono, pilgrims can revive their aching limbs and energize their spirits.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Feb 23, 2018
'Dreamless' mice in Japan help unravel the mystery of sleep
A dream can sometimes stay with us all day, perhaps even longer. Other times we wake up and don't really remember much of what we've dreamed about. But what about other animals? Do they dream? It's a question we'll perhaps never be able to answer — but let's give it a shot.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jan 27, 2018
'Living' robot implants are nothing to be squeamish about
I think it's safe to assume that Shogo Shimada, a thoracic and cardiac surgeon at the University of Tokyo Hospital, did not start his career thinking he might one day be implanting robots into living animals. Yet that is just what Shimada and a team of surgeons and roboticists from around the world have now achieved.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 23, 2017
A year of discoveries gives scientists something to aim for in 2018
In my round up of this year's science stories I'm going to choose some big ones as well as some stories that made less of an impact but still resonated with me.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Nov 28, 2017
Bee research may redefine understanding of intelligence
The brain of a honeybee is tiny — the size of a pin head — and contains less than a million neurons, compared to the 85 billion in our own brains. Yet with that sliver of brain, bees can do some extraordinary things. They can count and interpret abstract patterns. Most famously, bees have the ability to communicate the location of flowers to other bees in the hive.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran
A reported strike against Iran by Israel on Friday came against the backdrop of Iran's support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
Former No. 1 Kento Momota retires from international badminton at 29
Badminton star Kento Momota leaves a news conference after announcing his retirement from Japan's national team, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

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

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on
By Lance Henderstein

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