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Season 2025 - Episode Guide

Episodes

Origami Engineering - Unfolding Hidden Potential

Episode: 2025-01-28 | Airdate: Jan 28, 2025

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Japan's traditional papercraft, origami, has come to be used in engineering, as researchers observe insects and other specimens to develop "crease patterns" that can be utilized in diverse fields.

The Hidden Possibilities of Mushrooms

Episode: 2025-02-04 | Airdate: Feb 4, 2025

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From regulating the body's internal clock, to possibly curing Parkinson's disease, mushrooms have been revealing one amazing ability after another!

Robotic Avatars for Remote Work

Episode: 2025-02-18 | Airdate: Feb 18, 2025 (28 min)

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Robotics engineer HARUNA Masaki is intent on making life better in developing countries. He's designing remote-controlled robotic avatars so that more people can do various work from home.

A New Glue from Algae

Episode: 2025-03-11 | Airdate: Mar 11, 2025

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Part plant and part animal, microscopic euglena algae have been used as foods and bio-fuels. Now they're helping produce an adhesive that could be used in car manufacturing.

Point Clouds for 3D Visualizations

Episode: 2025-04-15 | Airdate: Apr 15, 2025

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This episode looks at the "point clouds" for 3D data visuals used in architecture, archaeology, and autonomous driving. Plus, robots learn new moves.

Ant Talk: Communicating Through Sound

Episode: 2025-04-22 | Airdate: Apr 22, 2025

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This episode looks at leaf-cutter ants that grow food, and shake their bodies to communicate through vibrations. Plus, humans might grow spare teeth.

Seawater Breakthroughs: The Next Great Resource

Episode: 2025-06-17 | Airdate: Jun 17, 2025

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Japan turns to seawater to tackle global issues with desalination technology and hydrogen generation. Plus, a robot that enhances pianists' abilities.

Parasite Planet

Episode: 2025-06-24 | Airdate: Jun 24, 2025 (28 min)

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Cutting-edge research has shown that parasites add to the complexity and diversity of the ecosystem. In Japan, discoveries have linked coexistence with parasites to autoimmune disease treatment.

Protecting Corals with Genetic Technology

Episode: 2025-07-15 | Airdate: Jul 15, 2025 (28 min)

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Bleaching is destroying coral reefs around the world. But a Japanese marine biologist is now using genetic analysis technology to protect corals.

Marine Plastics (Part 1): Finding Them

Episode: 2025-07-22 | Airdate: Jul 22, 2025

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A Japanese marine research team looks for plastics on the Pacific Ocean floor, 6,000 meters down. Plus, monitoring neutrinos to better understand the Earth's long-term future.

Marine Plastics (Part 2): Identifying Them

Episode: 2025-07-29 | Airdate: Jul 29, 2025

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A survey expedition field tests new equipment to automate the mapping of marine plastics. Plus, using robots, AI, and VR to study how humans learn to think.

Curiosity Saves the Cat

Episode: 2025-08-19 | Airdate: Aug 19, 2025

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There's hardly a greater paradise than Japan for cat lovers. Researchers there explore subjects such as the evolutionary reason for cuteness, and how cat DNA may help treat kidney disease.

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