Science View - 2012/06/07

 

Jun. 7, Thu.
Right Under Our Feet: The Hidden Web of Life in the Soil
J-Innovators:The Taste-sensing Machine
The world's first taste gauge assigns numerical values to flavors
Michelle Yamamoto compares her impressions of different cups of coffee with those produced by the innovator Hidekazu Ikezaki's taste gauge

J-Innovators:
The Taste-sensing Machine

Did you know there is a machine that can not only perceive taste the same way humans do, but can also take measurements of these tastes? This time, our Takumi, or innovator, is the man who developed the world's first machine that can assign numerical values to flavors. The secret is in the machine's six sensors, all of which use a special kind of membrane that generates an electric potential when it comes in contact with acidic or bitter substances. As today's Takumi explains, the sensors were actually modeled on the human tongue. The device took over 20 years to complete, but it has already become an important tool in the development of instant noodles and other processed foods. It is particularly useful in determining what flavor adjustments a product needs to better suit the palates of people in different countries. Watch as Reporter Michelle Yamamoto matches her tasting abilities against the machine's. This is one J-Innovators you'll definitely savor!
Rena Yamada and John Gathright in the studio.
This protein that regenerates severed nerves was discovered by a team led by Associate Professor Naoki Hisamoto of Nagoya University.

Science News Watch:
Nerve-regenerating Protein Discovered

John Gathright was interested in an announcement from Nagoya University: scientists there have discovered the first protein we know of that can regenerate severed nerves. The hottest topic in regenerative medicine these days is probably induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. But the research group at Nagoya took a different approach. They severed the nerves of nematodes, also known as roundworms, and observed the regenerative process. They found that a gene active during this process synthesizes a protein called SVH. John Gathright hopes that this protein will become useful in treating everything from spinal cord injuries to nerve-related diseases.
Associate Professor Koki Akiyama of Osaka Prefecture University has isolated a substance that plants use to attract symbiotic fungi.
Associate Professor Kazuhiko Narisawa of the Agriculture Department at Ibaraki University is experimenting with ways to harness the power of endophytes for farming.

The Leading Edge:
Right Under Our Feet - The Hidden Web of Life in the Soil

There is an amazing world beneath our feet, from earthworms and woodlice to countless tiny bacteria. And we don't know very much at all about how 99% of these creatures actually live. Scientists are learning how symbiotic relationships between the creatures of the soil form complex ecosystems. Organisms called endophytes that live inside plants are attracting particular attention. Soil ecology is a deep and fascinating field. What are some of the extraordinary features of the soil and its ecosystems? The latest science is uncovering the universe hidden beneath the soil.

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part 1 of 1: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?rwscx7fhy04qh6m