Latest news with #Riken
Asahi Shimbun
6 days ago
- Science
- Asahi Shimbun
Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours
A researcher shows a sample of ocean-degradable plastic at the Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) of Japanese research institution Riken in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, on May 27. (REUTERS) WAKO, Saitama Prefecture--Researchers in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, offering up a potential solution for a modern-day scourge polluting oceans and harming wildlife. While scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo say their new material breaks down much more quickly and leaves no residual trace. At a lab in Wako city near Tokyo, the team demonstrated a small piece of plastic vanishing in a container of salt water after it was stirred up for about an hour. While the team has not yet detailed any plans for commercialization, project lead Takuzo Aida said their research has attracted significant interest, including from those in the packaging sector. Scientists worldwide are racing to develop innovative solutions to the growing plastic waste crisis, an effort championed by awareness campaigns such as World Environment Day taking place on June 5. Plastic pollution is set to triple by 2040, the U.N. Environment Program has predicted, adding 23-37 million metric tons of waste into the world's oceans each year. 'Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with best possible environment,' Aida said. Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain. As salt is also present in soil, a piece about five centimeters (two inches) in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added. The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team are focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours
A researcher shows a sample of ocean-degradable plastic at the Center for Emergent Matter Science of Japanese research institution Riken in Wako, Saitama Prefecture. PHOTO: REUTERS Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours WAKO, Japan - Researchers in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, offering up a potential solution for a modern-day scourge polluting oceans and harming wildlife. While scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, researchers from the Riken Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo say their new material breaks down much more quickly and leaves no residual trace. At a lab in Wako city near Tokyo, the team demonstrated a small piece of plastic vanishing in a container of salt water after it was stirred up for about an hour. While the team has not yet detailed any plans for commercialisation, project lead Takuzo Aida said their research has attracted significant interest, including from those in the packaging sector. Scientists worldwide are racing to develop innovative solutions to the growing plastic waste crisis, an effort championed by awareness campaigns such as World Environment Day taking place on June 5. Plastic pollution is set to triple by 2040, the UN Environment Programme has predicted, adding 23 million to 37 million metric tons of waste into the world's oceans each year. 'Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with best possible environment,' Dr Aida said. Dr Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain. As salt is also present in soil, a piece about 5cm in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added. The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team are focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Dr Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Fujitsu and Riken develop world-leading quantum computer
Fujitsu and Riken said Tuesday that they have developed a world-leading 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer with four times the computing power of its predecessor. The new computer will be available for use by research institutes and companies by June. Quantum computers are said to have more computing power than supercomputers, but require tens of thousands to 1 million qubits per unit to prevent computing errors. Competition is intensifying in Japan and abroad for making quantum computers smaller and improving error detection methods. The newly developed quantum computer cools integrated circuits made of superconducting materials to almost absolute zero, and the machine is designed to efficiently release internal heat. The predecessor, whose development was announced in 2023, had 64 qubits. Fujitsu, a Japanese technology company, and Riken, a government-backed research institute in the country, said they plan to develop a 1,000-qubit superconducting quantum computer in fiscal 2026, which starts in April next year.
NHK
22-04-2025
- Science
- NHK
Japan-developed quantum computer boasts 4-fold increase in capacity
Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu and research institute RIKEN have announced the development of a quantum computer that has four times the computational capabilities of a previous model. Scientists say quantum computers are capable of making calculations much faster than supercomputers. If put into general use, they could bring about major changes to society. The first quantum computer developed by Riken, Fujitsu and other entities began operating in 2023. The two have since continued their work in the field. The model unveiled on Tuesday has 256 quantum bits, or qubits, making it one of the largest such systems in the world, with four times the amount of qubits in its predecessor. Plans are underway for another four-fold increase to 1,024 qubits in the fiscal year that starts next April. However, a quantum computer needs tens of thousands of qubits before it can be put into practical use. This is seen as a high technological hurdle, as it would require a system overhaul. The head of Fujitsu's Quantum Laboratory, Sato Shintaro, described the latest upgrade as a key milestone in developing a quantum computer for practical use. He expressed the hope that technological innovation will lead to solutions for society's problems.
Japan Times
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Identifying choke points in the semiconductor supply chain
The COVID-19 pandemic brought shortages of masks, medical supplies, automotive semiconductors and IC chips for contactless cards, underscoring the vulnerability of global supply chains. Yet in truth, concerns around manufacturing had existed for much longer. Past disruptions — such as Riken's engine piston ring shortage during the 2007 Chuetsu offshore earthquake, Renesas Electronics' automotive microcontroller shortage following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the rare earth crisis triggered by the 2010 Senkaku Islands dispute — have spurred industries, especially in the automotive sector, to reexamine and diversify their supply sources. In spite of this history, why has chipmaking become so critical? Five years ago, only industry insiders were talking about the 'semiconductor supply chain.' Now, it's become a common term, and the fact that it is frequently discussed in industrial circles and public-private dialogues highlights the deep challenges it poses.
