In this blog post, we explore the relationship between criminal tendencies and genetic factors from the perspectives of brain science and neurocriminology.   On September 13, 1848, blasting operations were underway on a large rock in the Green Mountains of Vermont, USA. Foreman Phineas Gage was tasked with placing explosives in the drilled holes; the procedure involved pouring sand into the...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the scientific principles behind water droplets rolling off lotus leaves and how nanotechnology, which mimics this phenomenon, is being applied across various fields.   Everyone has probably experienced the inconvenience of getting completely soaked by a sudden downpour at least once. If you had been wearing clothes that didn’t get wet even in the rain, you...

In this blog post, we’ll explore why money—which has neither a physical form nor an absolute value—has become a central tool in our lives.   Money is an actor playing a crucial role in the play that is our lives. We work for the sake of a few digits appearing in our bank accounts. The reason students study late into the night even when they want to go out and have fun is also to earn more...

In this blog post, we explore how aesthetic detachment and art transform human experience. Together, we reflect on the impact art has on our lives within social and ethical contexts.   Imagine a single white rose before us. Although it is a single, identical object, the ways we perceive it vary widely. It might be seen as a commodity designed to generate profit, or as a subject for botanical...

Literature is not merely words; it possesses the power to transform our lives. In this essay, I explore how literature influences us and the profound meaning we discover within it.   Throughout her life, my mother asked me, “What’s the point of studying literature if you can’t put it to practical use?” Only now do I offer her a belated answer. Literature is not a shortcut to power; in that...

In this blog post, we’ll explore what personal dreams and happiness mean in the midst of endless competition and reflect on the balance between social success and true happiness.   This is a story from a children’s book. It begins in the trash can of a living room. Inside the trash can lay a piece of glass that had been shattered to pieces by a baseball a few days earlier. The living room...

In this blog post, we’ll explore ways to prevent free-riding and the reasons for living honestly, applying lessons from group projects to real life.   If you search for “group project,” the video “The Cruel History of Group Projects,” created by the TV comedy show “SNL (Saturday Night Live),” appears first in the related search results. This video depicts a group leader struggling to...

In this blog post, we explore the role of individual assessment and group leaders in preventing free-riding in university group projects and propose effective solutions.   Throughout college, students inevitably participate in group projects. Through repeated experiences with these projects, students come to understand firsthand why communism has failed in the real world. When a group...

In this blog post, we take a scientific look at the true role of enzymes—which are gaining attention as health supplements—and address the misconceptions found in exaggerated advertisements.   “Enzymes are that good?” This is a common advertising slogan we often see in newspaper articles or online media. It lures consumers by suggesting that simply taking enzymes will strengthen the stomach...

In this blog post, we’ll explore whether the success of mobile games stems from their portability or their intuitive touch-based controls.   It has long been a common sight to see people of all ages playing games on their phones wherever they go. The popularity of mobile games began to rise as soon as smartphones first appeared. Mobile gaming has achieved such a high status that virtually...