Science View - 2012/06/28

Jun. 28, Thu.
The Effects of Low-dose Radiation on Human Health
J-Innovators:Fabric Dyed with Gemstones
Michelle tries on a shawl that has been dyed with gems
Three of the gemstone-dyed shawls

J-Innovators:
Fabric Dyed with Gemstones

We meet two Takumi who have developed a beautiful silk-dyeing technique that uses gemstones like malachite, red jasper and lapis lazuli. The gems are ground down into tiny granules, in order to be mixed into the silk fibers.
Now, with standard dyeing techniques, only a tiny proportion of the dye actually attaches to the cloth. A huge quantity of gemstones would be required to dye fabric this way. But using some very cool physics and chemistry, the two Takumi have made it possible to dye an entire shawl with just three grams of gems. How did they develop this amazing method? Reporter Michelle Yamamoto investigates. Check it out!
Rena Yamada and Professor Kitazawa
Battery-powered trains

Science News Watch:
Battery-Powered Trains

Science Watcher Koichi Kitazawa hones in on railway companies doing R&D on trains powered by batteries. The basic idea is to outfit trains with lithium ion batteries like the ones already used in electric cars. These trains would emit much less carbon dioxide than diesel trains. For Kitazawa, though, the most attractive feature of all is that these trains would not require pantographs, the electric-rod devices that sit above trains, or the wires that pantographs draw electricity from. These are actually the biggest source of mechanical problems for trains that use them. Kitazawa is hoping for a great leap forward in smooth train operations.
Monitoring cesium levels at the Institute for Environmental Sciences in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture (Institute for Environmental Sciences)
Red blood cells with DNA damage from low-dose radiation, viewed under a microscope. Courtesy: Institute for Environmental Sciences
Graph comparing lifestyle and radiation-related cancer risks

The Leading Edge:
The Effects of Low-dose Radiation on Human Health

Massive amounts of radiation have been released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since it was hit by the tsunami caused by last year's Great East Japan Earthquake. Now, more than a year later, the cleanup work is progressing, but many radiation hotspots remain, and there is continuing anxiety about how radiation might affect the health of residents living near the plant. Japan is a world leader in epidemiology -what can its studies tell us about the health effects of long-term exposure to relatively low doses of radiation? Children are said to be especially vulnerable -are the effects different for them? There are still many questions that remain to be answered. We report on the latest Japanese studies into the impact of radiation on the human body.

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part 1 of 1: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ii66ja05meo0q5s