In this blog post, we’ll examine the principles behind yogurt cup lids and water-repellent car coatings, and explore how superhydrophobic materials inspired by the nanostructure of lotus leaves are being developed and utilized.   I often enjoy eating yogurt in a cup. The real pleasure of eating yogurt this way was licking the yogurt stuck to the lid with my tongue. It may seem a bit silly to...

In this blog post, we’ll examine what “dirt”—which we often consider unsanitary—is actually made of, and how excessive scrubbing affects skin health.   These days, public bathhouses are becoming increasingly rare—it’s hard to spot one while walking down the street. Even when you do visit a bathhouse, the number of professional scrubbers who charge a fee to remove dead skin has dwindled, so...

In this blog post, we’ll examine the characteristics and uses of fossil fuels—such as oil, coal, natural gas, and oil sands—as well as their depletion, the environmental issues they raise, and trends in the development of alternative energy sources.   What Is Fossil Energy? Fossil energy, or fossil fuels, refers to fuels formed over long periods of time as the remains of plants and animals...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the basic concepts of deep learning and examine exactly how it works, using the example of training a computer to recognize letters written in various handwriting styles.   ‘Will Doctors Become an Extinct Profession?’, ‘Humans Are No Longer Needed’, ‘The Arrival of Learning Machines’, ‘The Future of Jobs Transformed...

In this blog post, we’ll examine how hacking occurs in the digital age—where computers and networks have become essential foundations of daily life—and how security technologies have evolved to counter it.   In modern society, where nearly all work and communication rely on computers and networks, the issues of hacking and security have become critically important. Hacking no longer merely...

In this blog post, we’ll examine the problem of past digital information potentially becoming unreadable in the future due to technological changes in digital storage media, hardware, and software, as well as the importance of digital archaeology in preserving it.   Will digital information eventually become unreadable? It’s the day before the team project deadline. The file a team member...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the principles behind how the dimples on a golf ball’s surface reduce air resistance and increase distance, as well as the historical evolution of these dimples.   What is the secret behind a golf ball? “Inbee Park wins the gold medal!” South Korea’s Inbee Park won the gold medal in the golf event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. When watching a golf match, you’ll...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the convenience and diverse use cases of drones, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life, while also considering the limitations they present—such as privacy invasions, safety incidents, criminal misuse, and security concerns.   Imagine an era where you can sit at your computer, do your grocery shopping, and then send your drone to the...

In this blog post, we’ll examine how the familiar concept of “virtual” is implemented in computers and explore the principles behind virtual memory, a prime example of virtualization.   What is “virtualization” in the context of computers? Have you ever heard the term “virtual couple” on a TV show? If not, you’ve probably heard the term “virtual account.” Even if you’ve never heard of either...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of social media and its leading platforms, examining everything from its benefits—such as networking and information sharing—to its drawbacks, including biased public opinion, criminal exploitation, and the spread of misinformation. We’ll also look at what we need to be mindful of in today’s evolving social media landscape.   What is social media...