I’m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment! If a major earthquake struck right now, how would your home move and shake? When it comes to protecting buildings from earthquakes, there are three major approaches: “earthquake resistance,” “vibration control,” and “base isolation.” Of these, earthquake resistance is relatively easy to picture because […]

I’m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment! Would you like to see radiation with your own eyes in the science lab? In this lesson, we’ll use a homemade cloud chamber to observe the tracks of α particles released by uraninite, a naturally radioactive mineral. Cloud chambers are popular attractions at science […]

I’m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment! The other day, at Mine Park in Gunma Prefecture, I finally managed to catch an Oniyanma, often called “the king of Japanese dragonflies”! With a body nearly 10 cm long, this giant dragonfly is an incredible sight as it zips around right in front […]

I’m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment. Have you ever seen news footage of a supposedly sturdy building tilting after an earthquake, or manholes suddenly popping up out of the ground? The culprit may be a phenomenon called “soil liquefaction,” in which the ground behaves almost like a liquid. This time, […]

I’m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment. A clear liquid suddenly transforms into a sparkling mirror before your eyes. Have you ever seen anything that looks quite so magical? The world of science is full of beautiful experiments that seem almost like alchemy. One of the most spectacular examples is the […]