Expo 2025 Tests 3D-Printed Toilets

OSAKA, Feb 16 (News On Japan) - At the site of Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, construction is underway using 3D printers to create architectural structures, including restrooms. The technology, which prints out designs in three dimensions, is being tested for large-scale applications.

The concept seems futuristic—press a button, and a building emerges in no time. But is it really that simple? Our investigation reveals that while 3D printing offers new possibilities for construction, achieving precise results isn’t always as straightforward as the data suggests.

Source: ABCTVnews

Mayor Expresses Shock as Shirahama’s Pandas to Return to China

The entire population of pandas at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, is being returned to China, delivering a major blow to both the mayor and residents. The emotional and economic impact is significant.

Rules Tightened for Parental Leave Benefits

The rules surrounding benefits for parents on childcare leave were tightened in April due to concerns over the practice known as 'aiming to miss nursery placement.'

Last Chance to See Hokkaido’s Fabled Bridge as Collapse Looms

The "phantom bridge," a Hokkaido heritage site in the Tokachi region known for appearing and disappearing with the seasons, has begun drawing visitors again in 2025 as its elusive form grows increasingly fragile.

Japanese Skater Tomono Debuts New Routine for Next Winter Olympics

Kazuki Tomono of Daiichi Juken Group performed his new short program for the upcoming season targeting the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics during the Prince Ice World show held in Yokohama on April 26th.

Japan's Prisons Shift Focus from Harsh Discipline to Inmate Rehabilitation

Japan's prison system is undergoing a major shift as it prepares to introduce "confinement punishment," moving away from traditional penal servitude that emphasized punishment toward a new focus on rehabilitation.

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MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Discarded Vegetables Transformed into Crayons

Vegetables that were destined for disposal are being given a new purpose as crayons that retain their natural colors and even a faint trace of their original scent.

Parts Fall from Flying Car

One of the main attractions at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the "flying car," experienced an unexpected malfunction, raising concerns about safety and delaying its return to operation.

Could Nitric Oxide Be the Missing Link in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?

What does it feel like to have Restless Legs Syndrome? To me, it’s like being buried in sand, with a deep heavy ache, and trying to resisting the urge to move making it even more unbearable.

Toxic Chemicals Detected in Rivers and Groundwater Across Japan

Organic fluorine compounds known as PFAS—suspected to be harmful to human health—have been detected at concentrations exceeding the national provisional target in rivers and groundwater at 242 sites across 22 prefectures, according to a government survey.

Kyoto University Links Lung Disease to PFAS Exposure

Kyoto University and its research team have revealed that several former employees of Daikin Industries developed lung diseases, potentially linked to exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemical compounds used in industrial manufacturing.