Japan earthquake

The Big Thirst: How Is Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Plant Making “Radioactive” Water?

In this installment, "The Big Thirst" author and Fast Company writer explores how water, which technically can't be made radioactive, could be the least threatening byproduct of the hobbled Fukushima plant.READ MORE›

• Why GE, Coca-Cola, and IBM Are Getting Into the Water Business

Turning Satellite Images Into Disaster-Relief Efforts

Several academic institutions are teaming up in an effort organized by the U.S. Geological Survey to help turn satellite imagery into actionable data in Japan.READ MORE›

Scientists Did Not Expect 9.0 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan

The March 2011 earthquake near Japan – which reached 9 on the Richter scale – was not anticipated for that region of the ocean, geophysicists say.READ MORE›

Was a Nuclear Renaissance Possible Before the Japan Disaster?

The Japan disaster stuck a fork in an already-cooked industry.READ MORE›

Should Hydropower Replace Nuclear Power, Post-Japan?

The Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011, proposed this week by 10 U.S. senators, could grow the country's hydropower infrastructure with grants and sped-up site approval. Is this a good thing? READ MORE›

The Location of Every Single Nuclear Plant in the World

The Fukushima Daiichi crisis has put new focus on nuclear power and a new map lets you see exactly where every reactor is globally, and where new ones are being built.READ MORE›

Post-Japan, Is a New Type of Nuclear Reactor in the Future?

As the ongoing nuclear saga in Japan plays out, a spotlight is being thrown on the reactor technology at the heart of it. With a proposed alternative and innovative reactor design, much of the disaster could've been averted.READ MORE›

The Hidden Beauty of Japan's Black Swan

A Black Swan event is a metaphor used to explain a disproportionate, hard to predict event that is beyond the realm of normal expectation. Perhaps there is no more apt metaphor to describe the macabre ballet of destruction that has engulfed Japan. READ MORE›

Amid Japanese Nuclear Concerns, RDTN Is a Crowdsourced Radiation Level Repository

Japan's ongoing nuclear crisis has triggered radiation hysteria all over the world. Enter RDTN, a crowdsourced radiation site that aims to keep users up to date on exactly how high radiation levels are in Japan and on the West Coast of the U.S.READ MORE›

How a U.S. Spy Drone Could Help Solve Japan's Nuclear Crisis

There are reports that the U.S. military used a Global Hawk spy drone to peep inside the damaged nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. Here's how this tech could help Japan solve its nuke woes.READ MORE›

Is Safe Nuclear Power Possible?

After Japan, are we going to have to abandon nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels? What if a safer kind of reactor had been in place when the quake and tsunami struck?READ MORE›

ShelterBox Kits Bound for Japan Show What You Should Pack for Emergencies

ShelterBox is sending kits to Japan to help with relief efforts. Take a look at what is included, and find out more about the conundrum of packing emergency kits for disasters. READ MORE›

Can Crowdsourcing Help Japan's Nuclear Crisis?

The Global Innovation Commons has compiled a list of patent disclosures and open source technology that could be used as part of Japan's disaster relief effort.READ MORE›

How the Japan Earthquake Shortened Earth’s Day

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan shortened Earth's day by 1.8 millionths of a second. While this might sound striking, perhaps even scary, don't panic: Earth is shifting slightly all the time, owing mostly to atmospheric and ocean currents. READ MORE›

Tweeting in Japan: The Good, the Bad, and the Panicked

Twitter and other social networks have, of course, been remarkable tools during past uprisings and disasters. But do they have a truth problem? READ MORE›

Cameron Sinclair Spearheads Japan Disaster Relief From SXSW Via Twitter & iPhone

Architecture for Humanity's Cameron Sinclair announces a $75,000 donor commitment to rebuilding after the Japanese earthquake, along with a Twitter-driven personal pledge. READ MORE›

Tsunami of Tears

Japan's tsunami brings back memories of another natural disaster for Dayna Steele.READ MORE›