Tough times for social media enthusiasts capturing Mount Fuji

Posted on 22/05/2024

No more overcrowding of tourists to take photos of Mount Fuji in one of the most panoramic points: a barrier 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high has been installed to hide the view

no more iconic photos of mount fuji from popular spot

@CEKSINN/X

Starting yesterday, those who love posting selfies and photos on social media will face a new challenge. Visitors to Japan will no longer be able to capture images from one of the most iconic vantage points of Mount Fuji. In the small town of Fujikawaguchiko, workers have erected a 65-foot long and 8-foot high barrier to block the view of Mount Fuji from a scenic spot in front of a Lawson convenience store, a popular chain in Japan.

This drastic measure comes in response to the frustration of local residents, tired of the uncivil behavior of many tourists. The massive influx of visitors has led to significant issues, including littering, smoking outside designated areas, dangerous road crossings, and indiscriminate parking.

Some tourists even went so far as to climb onto the roof of a nearby dental studio to get the perfect shot. The municipality of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture has decided to intervene by constructing this barrier, drawing international attention as an example of managing the consequences of tourist overcrowding.

NO MÁS FOTOS DEL MONTE FUJI | La icónica imagen del Monte Fuji tomada en la calle de Fujikawaguchiko ya no se podrá hacer.

Autoridades decidieron bloquear el paisaje porque los turistas provocaban demasiado tránsito al momento de tomar la foto.

FRANCK ROBICHON (EFE) pic.twitter.com/6nOPJQ6z2Q

— Nuestro Diario (@NuestroDiario) May 21, 2024

More than just a photo blockade

In recent years, Japan has faced an unprecedented tourism boom, fueled by a record post-pandemic demand and the devaluation of the yen to historic lows over the last thirty years. For the first time, in March and April of this year, visitor numbers exceeded three million.

Mount Fuji is one of the main targets of this “invasion” of tourists, and the Japanese government is trying to contain the flow. This summer, hikers using the most popular route to climb the mountain will have to pay about $18 per person, with a maximum limit of 4,000 entries to alleviate congestion.

Covered in snow for most of the year, it attracts over 220,000 visitors between July and September, many of whom climb overnight to see the sunrise. This intense influx creates safety and environmental issues. Other popular photography spots in the region, like the Fuji Dream Bridge, are also facing similar complaints from residents.

Despite the new barrier, tour operators are ready to adapt. Some are already planning to take visitors to another nearby convenience store, where a similar view of Mount Fuji can be admired. This alternative solution will allow tourists to continue enjoying the beauty of Mount Fuji, while alleviating pressure on Fujikawaguchiko.

Japan’s iconic view of #mountfuji is blocked in #fujikawaguchiko – but can a black screen come between tourists and their insta moment?
We went to the picturesque town to find out. #Japan #overtourism #tourism #fujisan @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/CD0wmoIUbr

— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) May 21, 2024

Cancer research making strides with new protein discoveries

Scientists at the University of Oxford have discovered proteins in the blood that could warn people of cancer more than seven years earlier than currently possible.

@jamesstar/123rf

Cancer research is witnessing several significant advancements. A research group has discovered that proteins may be involved in the very early stages of cancer when the disease might still be preventable.

In two studies, the researchers identified 618 proteins linked to 19 different types of cancer, including 107 proteins in a group of individuals whose blood had been collected at least seven years before diagnosis.

The team believes that this breakthrough could not only help treat the disease at an early stage but potentially prevent it entirely.

The study

The researchers employed a powerful technique called proteomics, which allows them to analyze a broad array of proteins in tissue samples at once, to see how they interact with each other and to find any differences in proteins between different tissue samples.

In the first study, scientists analyzed blood samples taken from over 44,000 British citizens, including more than 4,900 individuals who were later diagnosed with cancer.

Using proteomics, the researchers examined a set of 1,463 proteins from a single blood sample from each person. They compared the proteins of individuals who were diagnosed with cancer and those who were not, to look for differences between them and to discover which were linked to the risk of disease.

The researchers also identified 182 proteins that differed in the blood three years before a cancer diagnosis was made.

In the second study, the team examined the genetic data of over 300,000 cancer cases to delve deeper into which blood proteins were involved in the development of cancer and could be targeted by new treatments.

While alterations in proteins can increase or decrease the chances of someone developing cancer, the researchers also discovered which proteins could lead to “unwanted side effects.”

However, the team, whose findings were published in the journal Nature Communications, emphasized that further research is needed to uncover the exact role that proteins play in the development of cancer. They must also determine which proteins are the most reliable to test, what tests could be developed to detect these proteins, and what drugs could target them.

To save more lives from cancer, we must understand better what happens in the early stages of the disease. We need to study these proteins in depth to see which could be reliably used for prevention.

These studies are important because they provide new clues about the causes and biology of multiple tumors, including information on what happens years before cancer is diagnosed.

Source: Nature

The article draws upon studies published and recommendations from international institutions and/or experts. We do not make claims in the medical-scientific field and report the facts as they are. Sources are indicated at the end of each article.