Once a driving force behind Japan’s economic growth and a key industry, the textile sector is now referred to as a “declining industry” due to fierce international competition from countries like China and other parts of Asia, as well as a shrinking domestic market. Symbolic news also broke that Unitika (predecessor of Dainippon Spinning), which had supported the textile industry as one of the three major spinning companies, has decided to withdraw from the textile business, bringing down the curtain on its 135-year history. Meanwhile, the textile industry has come under fire for its significant carbon dioxide emissions. To understand the current state of the textile industry, Japan’s efforts to address those issues, and how consumers can contribute to tackling environmental issues moving forward, we spoke with Professor INOUE Mari from the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment. She has been researching textile materials for nearly 40 years and collaborating with industry leaders.

The ARTEMIS project, a groundbreaking initiative funded by the European Union with 12 millions euros, began on 1st January 2025 and it is set to revolutionise the preservation, restoration, and safeguarding of cultural heritage by exploiting the transformative power of Reactive Digital Twin technology. By merging cutting-edge digital methodologies with heritage science data, ARTEMIS aims to create dynamic, responsive, and predictive tools to address the challenges faced by cultural assets in an ever-changing world.

At its core, ARTEMIS seeks to elevate the concept of Digital Twins beyond static 3D models to what it defines as Reactive Heritage Digital Twins (RHDT). These advanced systems will simulate the impact of real-world events—such as climate change, natural disasters, and human interventions—on cultural heritage assets, enabling proactive strategies to mitigate risks and optimise conservation efforts.

Every minute, 38 people are diagnosed with cancer, and 18 people die from it globally, and it's estimated to increase by 77% to 35 million in 2050. However, study shows that up to 40% of cancers diagnosed and nearly half of cancer deaths could be prevented through lifestyle changes.

Julianne Fernandez parlayed her experience as a University of Cincinnati geosciences student into a career that has taken her to the bottom of the world and thousands of feet beneath its surface.

This story highlights the 407 lives NASA-developed search and rescue technologies saved in the United States in 2024 and outlines the technology’s role in the upcoming Artemis missions.