Japanese architecture of recent decades is unique for its daring style and futuristic design, a prime example of which is the stunningly ingenious S-House by Yuusuke Karasawa Architects. Lined by enormous glasses on all of its sides, this spectacular, split-level home features a complex network of shapes and forms, representing the myriad of cross-cutting trends…
Ever since the Fukushima Daiichi disaster back in 2011, Japan is becoming increasingly dependent on other countries to meet its energy requirements. As a solution for the nation's growing green energy problem, engineer Atsushi Shimizu has designed the world's very first wind turbine that harnesses usable power from typhoons. Shaped like an egg beater, this…
Nestled in the picturesque country in Japan are a group of five teepee-shaped huts that together serve as a center for elderly care. Situated in the Shizuoka Prefecture in the country's Honshu region, these stunning timber-clad buildings were designed by Tokyo-based architect Issei Suma as a place for looking after the needs of older residents…
Wondering what the train of the future would look like? If architect Kazuyo Sejima has her way, we could soon be travelling in near-invisible trains, with super-reflective exteriors that blend seamlessly into the surroundings. What's more, Seibu Group, the Japanese company that commissioned Sejima to create the design, is actually gearing to bring the rather unusual…
The field of biomedical engineering has made great strides in recent decades, with scientists now able to develop artificial muscles, regenerated thymus gland and even microscopic cardiac tissues that are capable of beating like a real heart. For the very first time, a team of Japanese researchers has grown complex skin tissue, containing hair follicles as…
Experiencing writer’s block? You might want to take the help of artificial intelligence. Developed by scientists in Japan, a super-smart AI robot recently authored a short story, with some assistance from humans. What is more, the work has made it through the initial stages of screening, as part of a literary competition. (more…)
Japan-based Kyocera Corporation is gearing up to build and deploy the world’s largest floating solar plant, some 75 km east of the capital city of Tokyo. Floating power stations have been around since 2006, and are usually constructed on lakes and freshwater dams. The current project, according to the developers, is part of a worldwide…
If you haven’t already guessed it, we at HEXAPOLIS are in awe of tardigrades. Also known as water bears, these microscopic organisms are one of nature’s most impressive wonders, possessing the extraordinary ability to withstand the most extreme natural conditions, such as prolonged desiccation, near-100 percent fluid loss, very low and high temperatures, incredibly powerful…
Who doesn’t like chocolate? It can be eaten on its own or added to other food items for a richer taste. To help chocolate fanatics indulge in their guilt pleasure some more, Japan-based company Bourbon has come up with the genius idea of sliced chocolate. Much like sliced cheese or sliced ham, this easy-to-use confectionery…
Many of today’s technologies have their basis in nature and natural processes. Spider silk, for instance, has long been the object of fascination for scientists across the world. Basically a type of protein fiber used by spiders to make webs, the silk has some truly incredible properties, including high tensile strength comparable to that of…