Do earthquakes provide any identifiable precursors? Recent research into thermal infrared and gamma radiation conducted by Lee Lou-chuang, acting director of Academia Sinica’s Institute of Earth Sciences and Minister of the National Science Council (NSC), may offer new clues for predicting earthquakes.
The NSC, the Central Weather Bureau and the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering have teamed up in establishing the nation’s first Experimental Earthquake Prediction Observatory Park as part of the newly opened Eastern Taiwan Earthquake Research Center (E-TEC) at National Dong Hwa University. E-TEC convener Ma Kuo-fong says that he hopes earthquake prediction capabilities can be achieved as soon as possible in order to better meet disaster prevention needs.
Lee’s research found that prior to an earthquake, the formation of steam occurs, along with the release of radon and an increase in infrared rays, all of which are brought on by pressure from tectonic plates. On March 29 this year, Lee discovered that an unusual increase in infrared rays occurred in the ocean off the coast of Taitung, which was followed by an earthquake on March 31 with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. Four earthquake detection stations are currently set up at National Chung Cheng University in Chiayi County, in Pingtung County’s Kenting area, on Yangming Mountain in Taipei and at Hualien’s Dong Hwa University.
Photo: Tang Chia-ling, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者湯佳玲
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
地震發生是否有跡可循？國科會主委及中研院地科所所長李羅權最新研究熱紅外線與γ輻射偵測，可望為地震預測提供新線索。
國科會、氣象局、國家地震工程研究中心等共同在東華大學建置「台灣東部地震研究中心」，成立我國首座「地震前兆觀測實驗園區」。東部地震研究中心召集人馬國鳳表示，希望儘速達到地震預測目標，提供防災所需。
Photo: Hua Meng-ching, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者花孟璟
李羅權研究發現，地震前受到板塊擠壓，帶動水氣形成、氡氣釋出，紅外線會變多。今年三月二十九日發現台東外海熱紅外線量異常增加，三十一日就發生芮氏規模六點二地震。目前已在嘉義中正大學、屏東墾丁、台北陽明山與花蓮東華大學建置四個觀測點。
（自由時報記者湯佳玲）
Photo: Tang Chia-ling, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者湯佳玲
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been used in cooking for over a century to enhance flavor. It is often found in Chinese dishes and many other cuisines. Despite its common use, many people misunderstand the safety of MSG. The bad __1__ of MSG started in the late 1960s, when a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine described symptoms like a racing heart, weakness, and numbness after the writer ate Northern Chinese food. While no specific cause was __2__, a series of questionable studies in 1968 began to point the finger at MSG. In one such study, neurologist Herbert Schaumburg and
A: The World Expo 2025 is set to open in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday, with 158 countries and regions and nine international organizations participating in the event. B: Wow, what’s the theme this time? A: The theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” B: Do you want to go? How long will it last? A: It’ll run for 184 days, until Oct. 13. Maybe we can go to Osaka during summer vacation. A: 2025年世界博覽會預計週日將在日本大阪開幕，158個國家或地區及9大國際組織將參與盛會！ B: 哇這次的主題是什麼？ A: 主題是：「創造閃耀生命光輝的未來社會」。 B: 你想要去嗎？展出多久啊？ A: 世博會共展出184天到10月13日，或許我們暑假時可以去大阪玩。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
A: The World Expo 2025 is about to open in Osaka. Is Taiwan going to participate in the event too? B: Sure, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will launch a Taiwan pavilion named “Tech World.” A: That sounds cool, and it can showcase our national strength in technology. B: The theme is “Connecting the world to create better future lives together.” The pavilion aims to attract over one million visitors. A: I hope humans can really create better future lives through this year’s fair. A: 2025年世博會即將開幕，這次台灣也會參加嗎？ B: 當然啦，外貿協會的台灣館將以「Tech World」名義參展！ A: 聽起來蠻酷的，應該是想強調台灣的科技實力。 B: 策展主題則是：「連結世界，共創未來美好生活」，希望能吸引到100萬人次參訪。 A: 希望藉由這次世博會，人類真的能共創美好生活。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
The study had several issues. Small sample sizes made it hard to draw __7__ conclusions. Additionally, taking a __8__ like pure MSG on an empty stomach is likely to make a person ill in any case. Choosing individuals who already had a history of the symptoms could have created a bias because they were likely to __9__ the reactions again. When real scientific research on the effects of MSG was eventually done, many of the myths surrounding it were proven __10__. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global organizations have found MSG safe to eat. Today, MSG
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