Avsnitt
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Back to another episode of News Bites!
I’m Paz Bueno.
And I’m Brody Halverson.
In today's news:
The number of pet dogs and cats increases, nurses say ransomware is stressing hospital operations, and seeing double!
Keep on listening to find out more!
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寵物貓狗的數量 逐年增加
Number of Pet Dogs and Cats Increases
Having a pet is a great way to keep you company.
Over the past decades, the number of pets has constantly (持續) increased.
The statistics are shown in a recent survey done by the Ministry of Agriculture (農業部).
Last year, there were almost 1.5 million dogs and more than 1.3 million cats in Taiwan.
Compared to 2021, the number of dogs increased by 19% and cats by 50%.
As for other pets, there was also a 3.3% increase.
This phenomenon (現象) is happening globally.
Statistics show that there are over half a billion dogs and cats in the U.S., E.U., and China alone.
Not to mention the other countries.
The global COVID-19 pandemic (疫情) also contributed to the increase of pets.
As people were under lockdown (封鎖) in their homes, millions of them adopted a pet to keep them company.
In Australia alone, there was an increase of 1.2 million pet dogs after the pandemic.
Another reason is that as raising children is challenging, many have turned to raising pets.
As a result, the pet industry is rapidly growing.
According to the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (台灣經濟研究院), the average amount that pet owners spend on a pet every year is NT$28,000.
It is estimated around NT$50 billion (寵物經濟規模達到五百多 億) are spent on pets every year in Taiwan.
Going to the vet, regular grooming at pet salons, pet food and treats, equipment and toys and so much more.
每年舉辦寵物展的場次幾乎快超越婦幼展了。
In a few years, the number of pets in Taiwan will surpass (超越) the number of children.
This also poses a problem for pet control.
Currently, the law requires pet dogs to be microchipped and registered.
Whereas, only Taipei requires owners to register cats.
The MOA is assessing the possibility of a mandatory (強制) cat registration throughout the country.
So, don’t be surprised if you see more dogs than children in the park in the near future.
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勒索軟體癱瘓醫院作業
Nurses Say Ransomware Is Stressing Hospital Operations
When a computer is attacked by ransomware, all the files are locked.
You can still turn your computer on and off, but that’s basically everything you can do.
In other words, your computer is kidnapped (綁架) by hackers (駭客).
You have to pay a ransom (贖金) of crypto currency (加密貨幣).
After that, you might receive a password to regain control of your computer.
If you don’t want to pay, you can always format (格式化) and reinstall the operating system on your computer.
But you will lose all your files.
Imagine the amount of damage ransomware can do to a company, or even a hospital.
A recent attack on a major US hospital network is endangering patient’s health.
All the nurses, doctor and staff have to shift to paper records.
With the computers down, doctors have to write paper prescriptions (處方簽).
The nurses then have to take it to a machine to enter manually (手動輸入) to obtain the medication.
With the system offline, it’s almost impossible to cross-check it with the pharmacy.
This might lead to an overdose (過量) of medication.
Due to the hack, lab results that usually take 30 minutes to 1 hour to process are now taking hours.
This will cause a delay in patient care and immediate (即時) treatment.
All these are matters of life and death.
The reason that cybercriminals (網路犯罪份子) target healthcare organizations is because they possess an enormous volume of sensitive data that can be sold for money.
Healthcare organizations also can’t afford to be offline for too long and are more likely to pay the ransom.
Experts say that many hospitals also lack sufficient cyber security measures (手段).
這些勒索軟體的攻擊，其實比大多數人認為的還要頻繁。
249 ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations were reported in America last year.
Authorities should really assist with cyber security in the healthcare industry.
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So, in today's News Bites:
The number of pet dogs and cats is increasing.
As raising children is challenging, many have turned to raising pets.
________________________________
And,
Nurses say ransomware is stressing hospital operations.
Information have to be handwritten and could delay patient treatment.
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趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Chameleons and seahorses can move their eyes separately.
This allows them to see in two directions at the same time!
Chameleons can move their eyes independently, giving them nearly 360° vision.
And just like a chameleon, seahorses can look in different directions at once.
It’s a handy skill for hunting, allowing them to keep an eye out for both prey and predators!
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If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you’d like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
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Hi everyone, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!
I'm Kelly Kimura…
And I'm Jacob Ingram.
Coming up next in today's news: Taiwan wins awards at the Robofest World Championship and an eight-year-old is a fashion trendsetter at school!
And in today's Tasty Tidbit, a man mails a postcard from one cool post office to another!
Stay tuned for more on those stories!
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台灣奪得世界機器人大賽冠軍
Taiwan Wins at the Robofest World Championship
Taiwan is a leader in robotics (機器人技術).
And smart students here are already becoming leaders in robotics!
Last month, the Robofest World Championship (錦標賽) was held for three days at a university in Michigan, in the U.S.
Students from 16 countries, from Grades 4 to 12, competed (競爭).
Over 500 students competed in 100 teams.
Taiwan had 50 students in 12 teams.
They won eight awards (大獎)!
In the two exhibition competitions (展覽競賽), Taiwan won first place awards.
In the senior exhibition competition, a team named "SmartHome Hub" from National Pingtung Senior High School competed against 11 teams.
The SmartHome Hub team won scholarships (獎學金) to the university for $80,000 US dollars, or over two and a half million Taiwan dollars.
In the junior exhibition competition, a team named "Dreamer" competed against 13 teams.
For this exhibition competition, teams thought of a problem that a robot could fix or something it could do.
Then they designed, made, and programmed (寫程式) their robot.
They made a video and wrote reports for the judges (裁判).
Then they showed their robot, gave a 4-minute report in English, and answered the judges' questions.
Taiwan also won in the game competitions.
In the senior game competition, a team named "Just Right," from Cheng Yi Senior High School in Kaohsiung, won first place.
It competed against 21 teams.
This team also won $80,000 US dollar scholarships.
In the junior game competition, a team named "Justice," also from Cheng Yi Senior High School, won sixth place.
It competed against 29 teams! Whoa!
The teams played a two-minute game called "Autonomous (自駕) Taxi."
Their robots picked up small balls and delivered them to different boxes.
In the game, the robots were taxis picking up and dropping off people and food orders!
In the senior medical (醫療的) robot competition, a team named "FAME" won third place.
They got scholarships for $56,000 US dollars, or $1,800,000 Taiwan dollars.
This new wave of young leaders in robotics will help Taiwan make smarter and faster robots!
這些學生的創新想法，可以幫助台灣在機器人領域更成功.
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八歲男孩成為時尚潮流領袖
An Eight-Year-Old Boy Is a Fashion Trendsetter
It's Wednesday, a school day, and the kids are looking good.
It's because of one classmate in a rural (鄉村的) school in a small rural town.
One day he decided he wanted to wear a suit to school.
That was okay. Kids in most public schools in the U.S. don't wear uniforms.
They can choose the clothes they want to wear.
So this 8-year-old boy chose a green three-piece suit: pants, vest, and jacket.
He put on a nice white shirt and a necktie too.
His classmates were surprised at first.
They didn't know why he was dressed up (穿得那麼正式)
They didn't know what to think!
Was this strange or was this cool?
Hmmmmm…
The boy kept wearing suits to school.
He knew he was dressed differently from everyone else.
But he didn't care.
He liked dressing up.
He said, "I can be who I want to be."
Kids got used to (習慣) seeing him dressed up.
One by one, they started dressing up too.
And… they thought they looked good!
It made them feel good!
Even if a dress or a jacket was itchy (發癢), they felt good.
One boy said he felt like a president (總統)!
So the boy in the three-piece suit became a fashion trendsetter (時尚潮流引領者).
And students decided that Wednesdays are "Dapper (穿著考究的) Wednesday."
Kids dress up… if they want to.
The school has a "Dapper Closet (衣櫥)."
People donate (捐贈) dressy (比較正式的) clothes there so that every child can dress up… if they want to.
One teacher thinks dressing up is a great idea.
He says the kids are different when they're dressed up.
They seem to feel better about themselves all day.
But the boy who wears suits doesn't think all kids need to dress up.
He says they should wear what they want to wear.
That's what he does!
這個小男孩有信心做自己，真是太好了.
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So in today's News Bites:
Smart students in Taiwan are already becoming leaders in robotics.
At the Robofest World Championship, eight teams from Taiwan won awards.
Some teams also won scholarships.
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And…
An eight-year-old boy became a fashion trendsetter when he wore a suit to school.
Students didn't know what to think at first.
Then they started to dress up and liked it.
Now they dress up every Wednesday… if they want to!
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趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
For a little money, a stamp will send mail very far.
An Italian man loves stamps.
He sends postcards from interesting post offices.
He sends them to other cool post offices.
This year, he sent a postcard from the Penguin (企鵝) Post Office, the southernmost post office in Antarctica (南極洲).
He sent it to the only cave (洞穴) post office in the world.
The postcard left Antarctica on a cruise ship (遊輪).
Then it went to the U.K. by plane.
Thirty-two days after it was mailed, the postcard arrived at the cool cave post office in Slovenia (斯洛維尼亞)!
Postojna Cave is a wonderful world with a train and… baby dragons!
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And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at [email protected].
You might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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B*News Bites 文字檔 (國中)
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Hi there.
It's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Jacob Ingram.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
In today's episode, we'll be talking about Malayan Tigers, and football-playing AI robots!
And for today's Tasty Tidbit: The king of the jungle!
Stay tuned for those stories.
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臺北動物園新生報到兩瀕危馬來虎
Malayan Tigers Debut at Taipei Zoo
Exciting news from Taipei Zoo: Two Malayan tigers have just made their first public appearance.
Their names are Shima and Serikin.
These tigers came all the way from France, arriving on March 1st from a special zoo dedicated to big cats (來自法國一家專門保育大型貓科動物的動物園).
Shima and Serikin spent over two months in quarantine (檢疫) and spent some time getting used to their new home.
After that, they were ready to meet visitors!
Zookeepers say Shima and Serikin have very different personalities (個性大不同).
Shima loves to play and explore her new surroundings, while Serikin is more shy and careful.
This is a big deal for Taipei Zoo, because it's the zoo's first time participating in a global program to help save Malayan tigers.
Malayan tigers live in the forests of southern Thailand and Malaysia.
They are an endangered subspecies (亞種) of tiger.
They're named after Peter Jackson!
No, not that Peter Jackson - the director the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
不是魔戒電影的導演。
They're named after another Peter Jackson, who's a notable tiger conservationist (老虎保育人士).
Jackson "earned his stripes" way back in 2005, when the Malayan tiger subspecies was discovered, and named after him.
Sadly, Malayan tiger numbers are dropping because of habitat loss and poaching.
Taipei Zoo Director Chen I-tsung (諶亦聰) says these tigers are critically endangered, which means they are at very high risk of extinction.
Deforestation for palm oil plantations (棕櫚樹園區) and urban development (城市發展) has significantly reduced their natural habitat.
This makes it harder for them to find sufficient prey and leads to increased encounters with poachers (盜獵者).
Poaching remains a major threat, driven by the illegal wildlife trade, where tiger parts like their coats (皮毛) are highly valued.
盜獵依然是重大威脅，由於老虎的皮毛非常值錢，帶來許多非法的野生動物交易。
Thankfully, conservation efforts are underway to protect the remaining Malayan tigers.
These efforts include anti-poaching measures, habitat preservation and community engagement programs.
保育措施包括反盜獵、棲息地保護和社區參與計畫。
Shima and Serikin are both very elegant and quiet, so the zookeepers ask visitors to be considerate when visiting them.
They can be found in the Tropical Rainforest Area at Taipei Zoo.
Let's help raise awareness about these beautiful animals and support efforts to protect them.
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日內瓦人工智慧展 機器人踢足球
Robots Play Soccer at AI Showcase in Geneva
Time to head over to Switzerland for this next story - the land of chocolate, mountain landscapes and luxury watches.
Recently, an A-I for Good Global Summit took place in Geneva.
最近日內瓦舉行了一場人工智慧全球高峰會，探討怎樣讓AI做好事。
You remember what A-I is, right? It stands for Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence can do many things.
It can look at a lot of data very fast and find important information.
AI can do boring and repetitive tasks, so people can do more interesting work.
It helps with decision-making by showing patterns and predictions.
But it can do much more than that!
At the Summit, AI-controlled robots played soccer, answered trivia questions, and even poked fun at human mistakes! Cool, huh?
These robots were built by students from ETH Zurich - a public research university in Zurich, Switzerland.
這些機器人是由瑞士蘇黎世的公立研究型大學ETH Zurich的學生所打造的。
The robots kicked, passed, and tracked the ball using sensors.
The project supervisor Jan-Nico Zaech said it helps students learn and test new algorithms (演算法) that can be used in the real world.
Apart from robots playing soccer, the summit also showcased other amazing AI technologies.
For example, prosthetic limbs (義肢) that learn from users and adapt to their movements, as well as devices to help visually impaired people avoid obstacles (幫助視障人士避開障礙物的設備), and bionic pets (跟真正寵物很像的機器寵物) to keep people company.
________________________________
So in today's News Bites,
Two Malayan tigers made their debut at Taipei Zoo after arriving from France.
Their names are Shima and Serikin.
Zookeepers say they have different personalities.
Shima is playful and adventurous, while Serikin is more reserved.
Taipei Zoo is participating in a global program to save these critically endangered tigers, whose numbers are declining due to habitat loss and poaching.
The Zoo urges visitors to be respectful.
________________________________
And,
The AI for Good Global Summit recently took place in Geneva, Switzerland.
AI, short for Artificial Intelligence, can process data quickly, perform repetitive tasks, and assist with decision-making.
At the summit, AI-controlled robots built by students from ETH Zurich played soccer and showcased advanced technologies.
These innovations demonstrate how AI is revolutionizing various fields and improving lives around the world.
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趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
And for today's Tasty Tidbit,
You might have heard that tigers are called "kings of the jungle".
Well, it just so happens that stripe pattern on a tiger's head looks like the Chinese character for king (王).
有趣的是，老虎頭上的條紋圖案與中文「王」字相似。
In Chinese culture, the tiger holds a special significance as a symbol of power, strength, and bravery.
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And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Hey there! Thanks for tuning in to today's New Bites!
I'm Paz Bueno.
And I'm Brody Halverson.
Today's stories…
Taiwan's millet seeds are stored in the Artic, a gardener makes music, and stories of mermaids in the Caribbean!
Let's begin!
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臺灣珍貴種子 走進北極
Taiwan's Tiny Treasures Go to the Arctic
Seeds (種子) are tiny but mighty treasures essential for our food and agriculture.
They carry the genetic blueprint of plants (植物的基因藍圖).
Protecting seeds means preserving the diversity of our crops (保護農作物的多樣性)…
…which helps us adapt (適應) to changes like climate shifts and disease.
Speaking of protecting seeds, did you know that a team from Taiwan traveled to the Arctic (北極) at the end of May?
They took 170 seeds of a grain called millet (小米) to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway (挪威的斯瓦爾巴全球種子庫).
Oh, the "Doomsday Seed Vault! (世界末日種子庫)!
It's like a safe place for seeds from all over the world, right?
Exactly! It helps keep seeds safe in case of big problems like climate change, wars, or other disasters.
At the end of May, there was a ceremony in Svalbard to celebrate Taiwan's participation in this important project.
Many important people from Taiwan were there, including scientists and representatives of Taiwan's indigenous Peoples (臺灣原住民).
Millet is very important to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan.
It's a staple food and has special cultural rituals.
小米是一種主要的食物，並且有特殊的文化儀式。
These seeds will help ensure that future generations can continue to grow millet.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located in the northernmost town in the Arctic Circle (北極圈內最北邊的小鎮).
It's a very secure place, protected by natural freezing conditions and strong underground tunnels.
It can even withstand earthquakes and nuclear attacks!
它甚至能夠承受地震和核武攻擊！
By sending millet seeds to the Global Seed Vault, Taiwan is helping to protect global agriculture and preserve (保存) important parts of its culture.
It's amazing how something so small can have such a big impact on our world.
Every seed counts when it comes to protecting our planet's biodiversity (生物多樣性) and ensuring a healthy future.
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園丁的新旋律
A Gardener's New Tune
Humans have always been creative (有創意) with music, inventing countless instruments over the centuries.
From simple drums and flutes to complex (複雜的) pianos and electric guitars…
…each new instrument has brought unique sounds and styles.
People have even used everyday objects (日常物品) to make music!
Anything can become an instrument with a bit of imagination.
And now, a gardener (園丁) in England has found a way to make music with…plants!
He has introduced a whole new way to create and enjoy music.
A gardener named Martin Noble-James discovered a unique way to make music using plants.
Martin built a special machine called a synthesizer (合成器) to turn plants' electrical impulses into sounds (將植物的電脈衝轉化為聲音).
This new music style is called bio-sonification (生物聲音化).
Bio-sonification works by connecting electrodes (電極) to plants.
These electrodes pick up the plants' natural electrical signals (自然的電訊).
The signals are then transformed into music (轉化為音樂) through the synthesizer.
Martin got interested in this during the COVID-19 lockdown (新冠疫情封鎖期) and has been experimenting ever since.
He says he enjoys making music without controlling it.
Instead, he collaborates (合作) with the plants.
He finds it exciting to perform live, just plugging in a plant and seeing what happens.
他覺得現場表演很好玩，只需要插入一株植物，看看會發生什麼事。
Changes to the plants, like watering them or tearing off a leaf, can alter the sounds they produce.
假如改變植物，比如澆水或撕下一片葉子，都會改變它們產生的聲音。
Martin says that the plants produce voltage (電壓), and you can create different sounds with that voltage.
It's a unique way to enjoy music and see how plants can create beautiful sounds.
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So, in today's News Bites…
A team from Taiwan traveled to the Arctic at the end of May.
They took 170 special millet seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway.
It's a place for seeds from all over the world, keeping them safe for food security and agriculture.
________________________________
And,
A gardener named Martin Noble-James discovered a unique way to make music using plants.
Martin built a special synthesizer to turn plants' natural electrical signals into sounds.
The electrical signals are transformed into music through the synthesizer.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Famous Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is known for reaching the Americas in 1492.
On January 9th, 1493, Columbus was sailing near the Dominican Republic.
While sailing, he thought he saw three "mermaids" in the water.
He said these "mermaids" were not as beautiful as the ones in legends.
But these creatures were not mermaids at all.
They were actually…manatees! *manatee sound*
They are large, gentle sea animals.
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi everyone, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!
I'm Kelly Kimura…
And I'm Nancy Sun.
Coming up in today's news: Hualien holds a racing event for snails and a new airline for dogs takes flight.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit, an elementary school baseball team is going to the U.S. thanks to one woman!
Stay tuned for more on those stories!
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**花蓮舉辦蝸牛競賽 **
Hualien Holds a Snail Competition
We humans have been using animals for sports ever since we were able to train (訓練) them.
We race horses and dogs.
Some people make dogs and roosters (公雞) fight.
Using animals for fights is cruel (殘忍的).
It’s also illegal (違法的) in most places.
Recently (最近), animal competitions (競賽) have become more creative (更有創意) and interesting.
Nepal (尼泊爾) has elephant soccer.
California has dog surfing (衝浪).
Here in Taiwan, we have snail (蝸牛) racing.
Yes, you heard that right: snail racing.
A snail competition was recently held in Fenglin Township (鳳林鎮) in Hualien.
Fenglin Township is well known for its slow-paced lifestyle (慢節奏的生活方式).
Ten years ago, an international association (國際協會) that promotes (推廣) a slow-paced lifestyle named Fenglin Township a “slow” city.
It’s the first “slow” city in Taiwan.
Its mascot (吉祥物) is a snail.
So snail racing and Fenglin Township are a good match (絕配)!
The snail racing competition promotes a slow-paced lifestyle.
It also brings visitors – and snails – from all over Taiwan to this beautiful town.
This year, 81 people brought snails to race in the competition.
The race is on a cloth with two concentric circles (同心圓) on it.
The snails start at the inner circle (內圈) and go to the outer (外) circle.
The first one to crawl across 33 centimeters wins.
Four races were held with about 20 snails in each race.
The winner was a Giant African Snail.
Its name is 宇宙強強滾, or “The Universe Rolls On.”
It reached the outer circle in 1 minute and 25 seconds.
The top three snails got a medal and sweet potato leaves (地瓜葉).
One woman said she had picked up ten snails a week ago.
She trained them with sweet potato leaves.
She chose the best of the ten for the competition.
Her snail won second place! It finished in 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
鳳林人希望能藉由這個活動把慢活的哲學推廣出去。
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**狗狗航空公司起飛 **
A New Airline for Dogs Takes Off
Do you have a dog?
If you do, maybe you understand how it feels to leave your dog when you go on a trip.
Poor dog!
Sure, you can take your dog with you.
It’s easy when you’re going on a road trip.
Many dogs love riding in cars.
But… what if you’re flying?
Most airlines (航空公司) only allow dogs that are less than 9 kilograms in the cabin (機艙).
However, they must be kept under the seat in a pet carrier (寵物籠).
Large dogs must fly in the cargo hold (貨艙) under the cabin.
Even on smooth flights (順利飛行), dogs are anxious (焦慮的).
They are also not comfortable.
A new airline started, and it’s what some dog lovers have been waiting for.
A pet company started it with a private jet charter company (私人飛機包機公司).
Dogs are treated like people are.
Maybe they’re treated even better!
The airline says dogs are their top priority (最優先).
Before flights, the airline serves (提供) them snacks and gives them noise-canceling earmuffs (降低噪音的耳罩).
During flights, the airline serves them drinks to help their ears with changes in air pressure (空氣壓力).
The dogs can meet other dogs or stay in their seats.
唯一的缺點是昂貴的票價.
A one-way trip from New York to Los Angeles costs $6,000 US dollars for one dog and one person.
That’s about 195,000 Taiwan dollars!
From New York to London, the price is $8,000 US dollars.
That’s about 260,000 Taiwan dollars! Wow!
The airline says the price will go down as more dogs fly with them.
It’s expensive, but this new airline is still great news for dog lovers who fly with their dogs.
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So in today's News Bites:
Animal competitions around the world are becoming more interesting.
In Taiwan, Hualien holds snail races.
The competition promotes the slow-paced lifestyle of Fenglin.
___________________________________________________________
And…
Dogs are the top priority for a new airline.
They can sit with their owners in the cabin.
The airline serves the dogs snacks and drinks.
But the tickets are not cheap.
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趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
A baseball team from Pingtung is Taiwan's national champion in an international baseball league.
Congratulations (恭喜)!
The players are from Yu-Tian (玉田) Elementary School and Daping (大平) Elementary School.
The next games are the international games in the U.S. in August.
The trip will cost about $4,800,000 Taiwan dollars!
The schools didn't know if they could get enough money to go.
Then a woman called one school.
She said she wanted to give the team all of the money!
The school thought she was joking (開玩笑).
That's a lot of money from one person!
But that afternoon, she sent the money to the school's bank account (帳戶)!
Wow! What a great thing to do!
Good luck to the team!
_________________________________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at [email protected].
You might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Wealth Gap and Climate Action
Hi everyone, it's time for a new episode of News Bites…
I'm Paz Bueno.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
In today's episode…
Taiwan has a big wealth gap, scientists have four big ideas to fight climate change, and built-in allergy relief!
Let's get into it.
________________________________
台灣貧富差距擴大
Taiwan's Wealth Gap Gets Bigger
Do we live in a fair society (公平的社會)?
Of course some people have more money than others.
It would be great to hear that our society is improving and becoming fairer.
But is that the way it's really going?
Unfortunately, one measure shows that things are moving in the opposite direction.
That means the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.
富人愈富，窮人愈窮。
The government has collected lots of data (數據) about this question.
Now, they say the wealth gap is increasing.
That means the difference between how much money the richest have, and how much the poorest have.
The richest families in Taiwan have 67 times more wealth than the poorest 20% of families.
台灣最富有的家有的財富是最貧窮的家的67倍。
67 times as much money? That's a huge gap.
That means for every one dollar a poor family has…
…a rich family has 67 dollars.
That's four times bigger than the wealth gap was 30 years ago.
There is some good news, though.
Taiwan has a smaller wealth gap than some other developed countries (已開發國家).
Australia's wealth gap is 93 times, and France's wealth gap is 627 times!
But why is it bad to have a big wealth gap?
Actually, there are a few reasons.
First of all, it's unfair (不公平).
It can cause feelings of anger between the rich and the poor.
This may lead to increased crime or other violence.
However, there is a more important reason.
That is, a big wealth gap hurts the economy.
巨大的貧富差距會損害經濟。
If the rich get more money, they tend to just save it (存錢).
But if the poor get more money, they will spend it (用錢), to buy the things they need.
That means shops will sell more, farmers will plant more, factories will build more, and the whole economy (經濟) will grow.
In other words, if the people with less money have more of it to spend, this will help everyone.
So, we should try to make Taiwan's wealth gap smaller.
Not just because it's more fair, but also because it will make the economy stronger.
________________________________
科學家講述最有力的氣候行動
Scientists Tell Strongest Climate Actions
How can you help with climate change (全球暖化)?
We all know the climate is changing, and the Earth's atmosphere is getting warmer.
This is dangerous for everyone, so we need to take action (採取行動).
But what can you really do?
I have an idea.
I'll make a big fridge and put the Earth inside, to cool it down.
Don't joke around (不要開玩笑), this is serious.
For real answers, we should listen to science.
A recent survey asked 380 climate scientists this question.
These are the top four answers they gave, for ways that one person can help with climate change.
調查問了 380 名氣候科學家，以下是他們最推薦的四種方法。
Let's count them down.
Coming in at number four is…
…using less energy for home heating and cooling (減少家庭供暖和冷氣的能源).
That means we need to find better ways to warm and cool our houses.
Traditional gas heaters and AC units use lots of power, which puts CO2 into the atmosphere.
But new technologies like the heat pumps (熱泵) are much more efficient.
The number three way is to eat less meat (少吃肉).
The animals we use for meat take up so much of our planet's resources!
For example, cows need a huge area of land.
They eat tons of food and fart out (放屁) harmful emissions, all for a little beef.
It's much better for the environment if we eat a vegetable-based diet.
The number two way is to fly less (少坐飛機).
That's because airplanes use so much fuel, making lots of emissions.
If you care about the Earth, just take your holiday closer to home.
And the number one way is to vote (投票).
That's right, use your vote to choose leaders (領導人) who will act on climate change.
And if you're too young to vote…
…then at least you can talk about it with people who do vote, like parents and other family.
Why is voting the best action you can take?
One person can only do a little bit.
We need to change the whole system (變整個系統).
And we can only do that if our leaders really understand the problem.
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites…
Taiwan's wealth gap is getting bigger.
That means the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.
That's not just unfair, it also harms the economy.
________________________________
And,
Scientists shared the top actions you can take to fight climate change.
They say the best thing you can do is vote for leaders who will take strong action.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Did you know that laughing can help with allergies?
If you have hay fever, try laughing about it!
A study showed that people who watched funny videos had fewer allergy symptoms for a few hours.
This means that laughing might help reduce allergies.
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi everyone, it's time for a new episode of News Bites…
I'm Nancy Sun.
And I'm Brody Halverson!
In today's news…
Readers hit it out of the park, and buyers pay up for a rare feather.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit…
Students from Yunlin tell us about some of their favorite news stories.
Let's check it out.
________________________________
閱讀全壘打6月起跑
Read Books for Game Tickets
"Now the batter steps up to the plate…"
"…stands at the ready…"
"The pitcher winds up the ball and…"
"It's going, going, GONE! It's a home run!
Get ready young sluggers and all-stars.
This summer, you could hit your own "big fly" by hitting the books!
It's the "2024 Home Run Readers" event.
What does reading have to do with sports?
Here's how it works…
People can get points by borrowing books from public libraries.
Once they have 10 points, they can fill out a form.
They can exchange (兌換) the form for a ticket to a CTBC Brothers baseball game.
This year, 7 cities and counties are taking part in the program.
That means there's over 200 public libraries to choose books from!
Readers have from June 11th to July 31st to do this.
可以透過合作縣市超過200個公共圖書館的線上閱讀存摺，或借閱實體書籍，累積點數。
And that's just the first inning.
There's fun for other sports fans too.
In October, "Home Run Readers" heads into overtime.
If you love basketball, this second phase is for you.
At that time, readers can also complete missions (任務).
And then they can exchange points for tickets to T1 League CTBC DEA games.
All in all, that's 16,000 baseball and basketball game tickets up for grabs!
今年預計會發放1萬6000張棒球和籃球門票。
So grab your library card, hit the books, and get ready to cheer loud!
________________________________
世界上最貴的羽毛
World's Most Expensive Feather
Some things that go on sale at auctions can be surprising.
In fact, many of these things sell for a lot of money.
There are diamonds, cars, artwork, even teeth from famous people.
But what about a single feather?
A feather was sold at auction in New Zealand, for $28,000 US dollars.
That's over $900,000 NT (九十萬塊台幣)!
It is the most expensive feather ever sold.
一根紐西蘭鐮嘴垂耳鴉羽毛，在拍賣會上以台幣約90萬元的價格售出，創下了新紀錄。
Why is it so valuable (有價值)?
The shiny black feather has a bright white tip (尖端), and it's not just any feather.
It's a feather from a huia.
Huia lived in New Zealand.
They were songbirds that made a sound like their name.
But why would their feather be so expensive?
Well, the huia is now extinct (滅絕).
Huia birds use to be all over New Zealand.
In fact, they were sacred (神聖) to the Maori people.
Their feathers were worn by chiefs and their families.
Then after Europeans arrived in New Zealand, everyone wanted huia feathers.
There was too much hunting, and huia also lost their homes when people cut down forests.
The last time a live huia was seen was in 1907.
And that's why huia feathers are now so valuable.
Experts hope the feather can be a reminder to people.
They hope it will help everyone remember the importance of protecting nature and wildlife.
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites…
The "2024 Home Run Readers" gives points for reading books.
Then readers can get tickets to some sports games.
This year, 7 cities and counties are taking part in the program.
That means there's over 200 public libraries to choose books from!
________________________________
And,
A feather was sold at auction in New Zealand, for $28,000 US dollars.
It is the most expensive feather ever sold.
The shiny black feather has a bright white tip, and is a feather from a huia.
Huia lived in New Zealand, but they are now extinct.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Here's your daily dose of laughs in today's Tasty Tidbit…
You ready?
Why do tigers have stripes?
Because they don't want to be SPOTTED!
And now we have two students from Yunlin County's Chung Shan Elementary School, telling us about their favorite news stories and thoughts about the world.
First up is 12-year-old Julia Chen!
…
And here's 10-year-old Roy Liao with his favorite.
…
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites.
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
B*News Bites 文字檔 (國中)
________________________________
Hey you guys, it's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Jacob Ingram.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
In today's news: The Ministry of Environment is planning to start a trial ban on free plastic bags, and Vietnam's vintage 1960s steam locomotives are back on the rails!
And for today's Tasty Tidbit: The origin of the plastic bag.
Stay tuned for more on those stories.
________________________________
環境部七月開始試辦 禁止提供免費塑膠袋
Ministry of Environment to Trial Ban on Free Plastic Bags
Plastic pollution is so serious nowadays.
Plastic waste can be found almost anywhere: High up in the mountains, deep in the forests, and even thousands of meters underwater in the ocean.
塑膠汙染很嚴重，到處都看得到：不管是在高山上，或是在森林深處，或是在海洋中都能看到塑膠垃圾。
Authorities around the world are working hard to solve the problem.
Taiwan officials have also decided to take things up a notch (更進一步).
Since 2002, the government began introducing policies (政策) to reduce the use of plastic bags.
Then in 2018, the free plastic bag ban was extended to 14 types of businesses, including convenient stores and government agencies.
Over the past two decades, the annual use of plastic bags has been reduced by about 50%.
過去二十年來，人們每年使用的塑膠袋已經減少了一半。
But the government isn't stopping there.
The Ministry of Environment wants to introduce charges (收費) for plastic bags at night markets.
That basically means vendors (攤販) at designated (指定的) night markets will no longer be allowed to offer free plastic bags.
The ban doesn't include plastic bags containing food.
That's good news for me! It means I won't have to pay extra for 鹽水雞！
If everything goes well, the trial (試辦的日期) will start in July and go on until the end of the year.
Taipei's Ningxia Night Market (寧夏夜市) might be selected as the first night market for the trial.
Over the years, the night market has been striving (致力於) to become more eco-friendly.
Almost all the vendors have replaced disposable tableware (拋棄式餐具) with reusable ones (重複使用餐具).
The Ministry said Ningxia Night Market's vendors and customers should be more accepting of the plastic bag ban.
Let's wait and see how it goes!
________________________________
越南六零年代的蒸汽火車回來了
Vietnam's Vintage 1960s Steam Locomotives Are Back on the Rails
Have you ever gone on a train journey? Train rides can be luxurious (豪華) and enjoyable.
Some trains even have sleeping bunks for long overnight trips.
There are many train journeys that offer views so breathtaking that many people put them on their bucket list (願望清單).
For example, the Glacier Express in Switzerland offers amazing views of the Alps (阿爾卑斯山).
And the 40-hour Beijing-to-Lhasa Express transports its passengers from the neon lights of urban China to snow-capped mountains and endless blue skies of Tibet (西藏).
A train journey in Vietnam might be catching the attention of train and history enthusiasts (喜愛歷史的人).
The country has revamped (改造) a pair of vintage steam locomotives (古董蒸汽火車頭) from the 1960s.
The two locomotives are the last working steam trains in Vietnam.
They date back to when Vietnam was still a French colony (法國殖民地).
During the last few years, the trains have been restored using original parts.
The people working on them were also the last remaining steam engineers working for the national railway system.
Each train will be fitted with two retro-styled (復古風格) passenger carriages, a kitchen car and a baggage carriage (行李車廂).
The luxurious interiors are furnished to reflect the French Colonial era with mahogany (紅木) tables and chairs, gold accents (裝飾) and decorative tiles.
The carriages are also equipped with large windows to allow views of passing landscapes.
Train staff also dress in 1960s clothing, providing passengers with an immersive experience.
火車上的員工也會穿上六零年代的服裝，帶給乘客身歷其境的體驗。
The trains will travel between the central city of Da Nang and the former royal capital Hue.
So if you're looking for a retro experience during your next trip to Vietnam, this might be something to check out!
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites:
The Ministry of Environment will start a trial ban on free plastic bags in July.
This is because plastic pollution is a big problem, with plastic found everywhere, even in the ocean.
Taiwan has been reducing plastic bag use since 2002, cutting it by 50% in twenty years.
Officials are eyeing Taipei's Ningxia Night Market for a trial run banning free plastic bags.
________________________________
And…
Vietnam has brought back vintage 1960s steam locomotives for a unique train journey.
These are the last working steam trains in Vietnam, restored with original parts and operated by the last steam engineers.
The trains feature luxurious, French Colonial-style interiors with mahogany furniture and large windows for scenic views.
They will run between Da Nang and Hue, offering a retro experience for passengers.
________________________________
And for today's Tasty Tidbit, here's a fun fact about the origins of the plastic bag: Did you know it was actually invented to save the planet?
Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin invented the plastic bag in 1959 as an alternative (替代) to paper bags.
Plastic bags are more durable (耐用) than paper bags, and can be cleaned and re-used.
The inventor's son said his dad always carried a folded plastic bag in his pocket whenever he went out, in case he needed to do some shopping.
Isn't it ironic (諷刺) that something originally meant to be environmentally friendly turned out to cause a bigger problem?
Next time you think of throwing away a plastic bag, consider reusing it instead.
________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Hello there! You're listening to an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Paz Bueno.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
Today's stories…
A study shows immigrant children have worse eating problems, and a kindergartner gets a special graduation ceremony.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit…chickens could make cats less allergenic!
Let's check it out.
________________________________
新住民兒童的飲食問題
Worrying Eating Habits among Immigrant Kids
Eating disorders (飲食失調) are serious health problems that affect how people eat and feel about their bodies.
They can make people eat too much or too little…
…and it can cause a lot of stress and health issues (引起壓力和健康問題).
It's important to understand eating disorders so we can help those who are struggling (才能幫助受飲食問題困擾的人).
A study shows that children of immigrants (新住民的孩子) in Taiwan have more eating problems than their classmates.
This research was done by Professor Chen Duan-rung at National Taiwan University.
這項研究是由台灣大學陳端榮教授主持。
From March to June 2019, 729 middle school students, aged 13 to 16, from three schools in New Taipei City were surveyed.
The study found that nearly 17% of children from immigrant families had eating problems, compared to 10% of other kids.
This is a big difference.
Professor Chen found three reasons for these eating problems.
First, immigrant kids might feel different and face bullying (遭遇霸凌).
Second, they might feel pressure to be thin (可能感受到變瘦的壓力).
Third, their parents might not worry much about them becoming overweight (超重).
Mental health researcher and NTU Professor Chang Shu-sen (張書森) said that one in 10 middle school students have eating problems.
But for immigrant children, it's one in six.
This might be due to stress or other mental health issues.
Long-term (長期的) eating problems can lead to serious eating disorders, which are very dangerous.
Another professor from National Chengchi University says that some immigrant kids feel like they don't belong, even though they are successful.
國立政治大學教授說，有些新住民兒童雖然很成功，但感覺自己不屬於這裡。
Also, not being allowed to speak their native language (母語) when they were young might cause stress, leading to eating problems.
It's important to understand and support our classmates to help them stay healthy and happy.
________________________________
高空上的幼稚園畢業典禮！
Sky-High Kindergarten Graduation!
Making special memories (創造特別的回憶) when you are young is very important.
These memories can be anything from a fun day with friends to special family events.
They stay with you forever and make you happy when you think about them.
A special moment like that happened on a Frontier Airlines flight in the US (美國邊疆航空公司).
The flight attendants (空服員) celebrated a boy's kindergarten graduation (幼稚園畢業典禮).
The boy, Xavier, was traveling with his family and had to miss (錯過了) his graduation ceremony.
But the flight attendants didn't want him to miss out.
So, they decided to give him a special graduation ceremony on the plane!
A woman shared a video of the event on TikTok.
In the video, you can see Xavier smiling and wearing a graduation cap (方帽子) made by the flight attendants.
They even made a big announcement to everyone on the plane, and passengers cheered and celebrated with him (大家都為他歡呼慶祝).
Many people online loved the video.
One person, Amanda, said it was so cute when everyone got excited about the graduation.
Another person, Kathy, said it's simple acts of kindness (簡單的善行) that keep us happy.
Kay loved how everyone perked up (感到興奮) when they heard about the graduation.
Danii said it was unforgettable (難忘) to graduate over 12,000 meters up in the air.
And Anna was touched (覺得很感動) by the high fives Xavier got at the end.
The video became very popular, with over 1.2 million views.
People were moved by the kindness of the flight attendants and how they made Xavier's day special.
This story shows how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
小小的善行也能產生很大的影響。
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites…
Eating disorders are serious health problems that affect how people eat and feel about their bodies.
A study shows that children of immigrants in Taiwan have more eating problems than their classmates.
The study found that nearly 17% of children from immigrant families had eating problems, compared to 10% of other kids.
________________________________
And,
A special moment happened on a Frontier Airlines flight in the US recently.
A boy named Xavier was traveling with his family and had to miss his graduation ceremony.
But the flight attendants decided to give him a special graduation ceremony on the plane!
Many people online loved the video.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Are you allergic to cats?
Chickens might be able to help!
Some people think farm-fresh eggs can help with cat allergies.
Scientists say that could be because chickens that live near cats can develop special antibodies (抗體).
These antibodies are against a protein found in cat saliva that causes allergies in humans.
The chickens can pass these antibodies into their eggs.
So if cats eat these eggs, they might cause fewer allergies.
Scientists are still studying this idea, and there isn't much research yet.
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi there.
It's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Nancy Sun.
And I'm Brody Halverson.
In today's news…
Taking the top prize by twisting balloons, or doing absolutely nothing.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit
The biggest animal in the world is all heart! Stay tuned for all that and more, coming up next!
________________________________
台灣學生勇奪折氣球大賽冠軍
Taiwan Student Wins Qualatex Balloon Twisting Contest
Taiwan is a country with a lot of skillful people.
Many talented (有才華的) people have gone to international competitions.
And many have done very well.
Some Taiwan competitors (參賽者) have won awards for making chocolate, playing badminton, baking, and more.
And now, a student from Taichung won first place at another international competition!
11th-grader Yen Jui-chun (顏睿軍) won a balloon twisting (折氣球) contest held by Qualatex.
Qualatex is a company that makes balloons.
They have been making balloons for over a hundred years.
Every year, the company holds a balloon twisting competition.
It encourages participants to show their creativity.
This year, Yen won the competition with his masterpiece (傑作) "Alligator".
The balloon alligator stands with a toothbrush in its hand.
It has white teeth on each side of its mouth.
The toothbrush even has pink toothpaste on it.
Qualatex posted a picture of the Alligator on social media.
It praised Yen's balloon twisting techniques (技巧).
Yen says he got the idea after reading a Japanese children's book "Crocodile and Dentist."
When Yen was 4 years old, he went to a speech therapist (語言治療師).
The therapist used balloons as a tool.
Balloons really helped him speak and say words.
That sparked (激發) his interest in balloon twisting.
Since then, he has been teaching himself how to twist balloons.
Around 4 years ago, he got his first cellphone.
He then started learning from balloon twisting masters through social media.
Yen also thinks that balloon twisting brings happiness to people.
During the summer and winter vacations, he visits orphanages (孤兒院) and schools for children with special needs.
他很喜歡看見孩子學習折氣球時臉上的笑容。
Yen wants to keep going to international competitions.
He wants to let the world see Taiwan through balloon twisting.
________________________________
南韓舉辦發呆大賽
Who's Best at Doing Absolutely Nothing?
When was the last time you did NOTHING?
Just sitting there…
Spacing-out (發呆)…
Staring at blank space.
A while ago, a "space-out competition" was held in Seoul.
People tried to space-out for 90 mins without falling asleep, checking their phone or talking.
During the competition, participants' heart rates are monitored (被監測).
Whoever had the most stable (穩定) heart rate wins.
Over 4000 people applied to participate (參加).
But only 117 participants were chosen.
The youngest was a student in grade 2.
And the oldest participants were in their sixties.
The Space-out Competition was started by a visual artist Woopsyang 10 years ago.
At that time, she was burnt out (過勞) by all the stress in her life.
She felt really anxious (焦慮).
She felt that way after comparing herself with people who led busy lives.
And Woopsyang wondered why she felt so bad about doing nothing.
She thought maybe those busy people would want to space out and do nothing too.
So she created a competition where everyone could space out.
They could pause (暫停) everything, together at the same time.
Since then, the contest has expanded to cities around the world, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo and others.
Woopsyang said that the contest can help people realize that spacing-out is not a waste of time.
This year's winner was Kwon So-a.
She works at several jobs.
Kwon said that doing nothing is good for both mental and physical health.
But our body can only relax when our brain relaxes.
他們覺得每天花一點時間發呆有益身心健康。
________________________________
So in today's News Bites,
11th-grader Yen Jui-chun won an international balloon twisting contest.
He won the competition with his masterpiece "Alligator".
Yen wants to keep going to international competitions.
He wants to let the world see Taiwan through balloon twisting.
________________________________
And
A "space-out competition" was held in Seoul, and people tried to space-out for 90 mins without falling asleep, checking their phone or talking.
Whoever had the most stable heart rate wins.
This year's winner was Kwon So-a.
She says our body can only relax when our brain relaxes.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
In today's Tasty Tidbit,
They're the largest animal in the world…the blue whale. These marine giants can be as long as 3 buses. Then there's the heart of the blue whale. These are also the biggest hearts in the animal kingdom.
Blue whale hearts are about the size of a car. And they weigh as much as a cow. And, if you put an enormous stethoscope up to a blue whale's chest underwater, you would only hear a heartbeat 2 times each minute!
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or an interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi everyone, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!
I'm Kelly Kimura…
And I'm Jacob Ingram.
Coming up in today's news: A hiker in Hualien survives the earthquake and a one-room school is the heart of a community!
And in today's Tasty Tidbit…one word in Japanese changes a woman's life!
Stay tuned for more on those stories!
___________________________________________________________
地震中的白楊步道
Baiyang Trail During the Earthquake
Early in the morning on April 3rd, a young man from Germany (德國) chatted with the owner (老闆) of the hostel (青年旅館) where he was staying.
He was going to go hiking in Hualien's Taroko Gorge.
He was planning to take Shakadang Trail (砂卡噹步道), but the hostel owner thought Baiyang Trail (白楊步道) would be better.
The young man rode his scooter (小型摩托車) to Taroko Gorge.
He parked (停放) it at a store.
Then he went hiking on Baiyang Trail.
Three minutes later, his phone vibrated (震動).
Then the earthquake (地震) happened.
It was his first earthquake.
He went down to the ground!
Rocks and debris (碎片) fell onto the trail.
Rocks hit his back (背部) and legs.
A rock hit his head.
His face was bleeding (正在流血) in several places.
His right leg hurt.
But he was afraid he would die slowly if he stayed on the trail, so he got up and ran.
He stood against the side of a cliff (將身體壓在懸崖面上).
He covered his head with his arms.
And then he waited for the earthquake - or his life - to be over.
Thick dust from the rocks (岩塵) blocked (遮蔽) the sun.
He waited and waited in the dark. His phone didn't work.
He screamed (尖叫) for help.
Nobody came.
He had a red jacket.
He put it on.
He hoped the red jacket would make it easier for rescuers (救援人員) to see him.
Then he waited for help again.
Four and a half hours passed.
The earth stopped shaking as much.
The young man started to worry about being on the trail at night.
So he slowly limped (跛行) back to the store where his scooter was.
Several other injured (受傷) people were there too.
Rescuers came to the store that night.
They took all the injured people to the hospital.
The young man got back to the hostel at three in the morning.
His friends and family were very, very happy!
The man was very lucky he had listened to the hostel owner and taken Baiyang Trail.
He survived (存活).
Sadly, some hikers on the other trail did not survive.
不幸的是，有些去其他步道的登山者並沒有活下來
___________________________________________________________
社區中心的一所單室學校
The One-Room School at the Heart of a Community
A small American town has a popular ski resort (滑雪勝地)
The town is very high up in the mountains.
The road to the town is narrow (狹窄的).
But every year, half a million skiers visit!
The snow is great.
Last year, almost 23 meters of snow fell there!
The town has about three hundred people.
And it has a school.
The town needs a school so that workers with kids don't leave.
The students' parents work at the ski lodges (滑雪屋), restaurants, shops, and other businesses in the town.
What's the school like?
It's in an old storage room (舊儲藏室) in a ski lodge.
The one-room school has students from kindergarten (幼稚園) to eighth grade!
There are 14 students and one teacher.
They start the day with a walk through the resort, making observations (進行觀察) and learning about weather science.
They have a math quiz every morning.
The students play in the snow at recess (課間休息).
They enjoy being in nature (自然環境).
They ski when they have P.E.!
They're very good skiers.
Parents help with P.E. classes.
At this school, the teacher is very busy!
For each subject, every student has a different lesson!
So the students learn to work by themselves (獨立地) and find answers by themselves.
They also work together.
Every month, the students write a newspaper.
They make newspaper ads (報紙廣告) for the town's businesses and then sell the ads to them!
The students put the newspapers in ski lodges.
Every year, the students also write and act in a play (表演戲劇).
Their parents and many other people come to see it!
This small one-room school and its students, teacher, and parents are the heart of the community (社群).
___________________________________________________________
So in today's News Bites:
A young man went hiking on Baiyang Trail on April 3rd.
Three minutes later, the earthquake happened.
He was injured when the earthquake made rocks fall on the trail… and on him.
He was very lucky that he survived.
___________________________________________________________
And…
A popular ski resort town in America has a one-room school.
It has 14 students from kindergarten to eighth grade and one very busy teacher!
The students write monthly newsletters and every year, they act in a play.
The school has become the heart of the town!
___________________________________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
When you go to another country, try to speak the language there, even if it's just one or two words.
One woman makes short videos of herself, using a selfie stick (自拍桿).
She posts them on social media (社群媒體).
She went to Japan.
She liked the sound of the Japanese word "kudasai."
That means "please."
In one video, she is walking and saying, "sushi kudasai, ocha kudasai, mizu kudasai, gohan kudasai, kudasai, kudasai."
"Sushi please, tea please, water please, rice please, please, please."
She wrote that these are the only Japanese words she knows.
Over 14 million people have seen the video.
Now she's the famous "kudasai girl" that fans want to meet!
One word in Japanese changed the woman's life - kudasai…. please… please.
_________________________________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at [email protected].
You might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
B*News Bites 文字檔(國中) ________________________________ Hi there. It’s time for an all-new episode of News Bites. I’m Jacob Ingram. And I’m Brody Halverson. In today's news: more no-smoking zones for Taipei, and an all-women rock band from Saudi Arabia! And if you could have any pet, what would it be? Stay tuned for those stories, coming up next. ________________________________ 台北信義區計畫六月起將禁菸場所擴大 Taipei’s Xinyi District Planning to Expand Smoking-free Zones We’ve got some bad news for smokers (抽菸者) but good news for everyone else: Taipei health officials are planning to expand (擴大) smoking-free zones (禁菸區) in the city. Way back in April of this year, the Department of Health announced that people were no longer allowed to smoke under covered walkways (騎樓) outside of some convenience store and coffee shop chains. 台北市衛生局公告，有些連鎖便利商店和咖啡店一樓門市前面的騎樓中不許抽煙。 So customers of these places won’t have to worry about passive smoke (二手菸) wafting in (飄進來) from outside. In fact, that’s why we need these smoking bans. Passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke, can be harmful to non-smokers, causing respiratory issues and other health problems. 被動吸菸（也稱為二手煙）對非吸菸者可能有害，會引起呼吸問題和其他健康問題。 Smoking bans create a safer and healthier environment for non-smokers. Taipei health officials started clamping down (取締) on outdoor smoking as far back as 2016. They banned smoking in some parts of Xiangti Avenue Plaza (香堤廣場), including Songshou Square Park (松壽廣場) and under some covered walkways (騎樓). Now, they’re planning to ban smoking in other areas! Woohoo! Starting from June this year, it will also be illegal to smoke on No. 20, Songgao Road (松高路２０巷人行道). If you’re caught smoking in banned areas, you could face a fine of up to 10 thousand NT. The Health Bureau says they're listening to what citizens want. If more folks want smoke-free spots, they'll make it happen. ________________________________ 沙烏地阿拉伯的女子搖滾樂團 An All-Women Rock Band from Saudi Arabia JAKE! Excuse me! What’s up? What on Earth are you doing? Sorry about that. I was just practicing my singing. 我剛才只是練習一下唱歌而已。 Is that what you call singing? I genuinely thought you were dying for a moment. Say, have you heard of Seera? Who’s that? It’s an all-women rock band from Saudi Arabia! This is what they sound like: Sounds cool. 酷斃了！ Seera blends traditional Arabic melodies (阿拉伯式旋律) with dreamy-sounding rock guitar riffs (搖滾吉他節奏). Seera 將傳統的阿拉伯式旋律與迷幻般的搖滾吉他節奏融合在一起。 This would unthinkable just years earlier in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is traditionally very conservative. For example, women weren't allowed to drive until 2018 … … and they had to abide by strict dress codes. They also weren’t allowed to work in certain professions, such as retail, hospitality and engineering. But Saudi Arabia has been liberalizing some aspects of its society. 沙烏地阿拉伯傳統上非常保守，但近期開始解放一些社會中的面向。 The rock band Seera is one example of the way women are finding their voice and expressing themselves through the arts. 搖滾樂團 Seera 是女性通過藝術找到自己的聲音並表達自我的一個例子。 The band’s name, Seera, can mean “life” or “biography” in Arabic. Seera’s music style revolves around the life experiences of the band members. They sing in Arabic. 她們以阿拉伯語演唱。 They all have stage names (舞台名字). The drummer’s stage name is “Thing”, the guitarist “Haya”, the bassist “Meesh” and her sister’s “Nora”, who sings and plays keyboard. At a recent concert, youths in leather jackets and black rock T-shirts swayed and danced to the band’s music. Meesh said they didn’t know how people would react to their music. Nora said she wanted the band to be “an inspiration for the younger generation” to express themselves. She added that it’s OK to be yourself! 她又說道：「可以好好地做自己！」 Seera plans to release their debut album (首張專輯) later this year. They’ve also booked a gig in Dubai, which will mark their first time performing outside of Saudi Arabia. ________________________________ So in today’s News Bites, Taipei is making more places smoke-free. They started by banning smoking in covered walkways near some stores and cafes, then expanded it to No. 20, Songgao Road. If you smoke in these areas, you might get fined up to 10,000 NT. Authorities say they will listen to what people want and might make even more places smoke-free in the future. ________________________________ And, Seera is a rock band from Saudi Arabia with only women members. They mix rock music with traditional Arabic melodies. This is unusual in Saudi Arabia because it's usually very strict. Seera wants to inspire people to be themselves. They're planning to release their first album and perform in Dubai soon. _______________________________ 趣味小點 Tasty Tidbit If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be? Kai, from Puli Elementary School in Nantou, tells us his… A dinosaur, eh? You’d have to have a pretty big house for that! ________________________________ And that's it for today's episode of News Bites! *If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty tidbit to *[email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode. We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi everyone, it's time for a new episode of News Bites…
I'm Paz Bueno.
And I'm Brody Halverson.
Today's stories…
Kaohsiung police find a man making fake money, and how young is too young to have a smartphone?
And in today's Tasty Tidbit…the reason dogs spin in circles before pooping.
Let's check it out.
________________________________
高雄警方逮捕假鈔犯
Fake Money Maker Caught in Kaohsiung
What can I do if I have no money?
You could get a job.
That will let you earn some money (賺錢) for yourself.
That sounds boring.
Okay… why don't you ask your family or friends for some money?
They won't give it to me.
I know… maybe I can create money.
I'll use my printer (影印機) to print it out.
Then I'll have unlimited cash.
That's a bad idea.
Making fake money is called counterfeiting (偽造), and it's against the law.
Did you hear about the counterfeiter that showed up in the south of Taiwan recently?
Yes! It started when the Kaohsiung police found some fake money.
They found 30 fake bills (假鈔) in stores and night markets around the city.
There were all kinds, 100 NT, 500 NT, even 1000 NT bills.
Police didn't know where the counterfeit money was coming from.
It could be one criminal, or it could be a whole gang of them.
They decided to use security cameras (監視器) to find out.
They found video of a man using the fake money, and they traced him back to an apartment.
When cops went to check the place out, they found a 48-year-old man with no job.
They also found lots of evidence (證據).
There were a bunch of counterfeit bills, a paper cutter, five color printers… and 22 bottles of nail polish (指甲油).
Nail polish? What did he need that for?
He used it to make the money look more real.
He would print it off the printer, cut it out, and then paint some parts with the nail polish.
Oh! You mean the shiny (閃亮的) parts of the bill?
Exactly.
But even then, the money didn't look very real.
Police were surprised (驚訝) that shop owners took the money from him, because it looked so bad.
Now they are trying to find out if the man was alone, or part of a group.
Wow. Actually, it sounds like a lot of work to counterfeit money.
Yep. It's simpler to just get a normal job.
找一份正常的工作比較簡單。
________________________________
報告顯示兒童13歲之前 不應該使用智慧型手機
Report Shows Kids Shouldn't Use Smartphones Before 13
Are you too young to have a smartphone (智慧型手機)?
Ummm… I don't think so. I'm 31 years old.
Then how young is too young to have a smartphone?
Some elementary school students have phones…
…and I even saw a baby playing with one.
A new report (報告) says kids shouldn't have a smartphone before they are 13 years old.
The report comes from France.
The President of France (法國總統) was worried about kids spending too much time using a screen.
So, he asked a team of scientists to look into it.
The result was pretty surprising.
First, they said children younger than three years old should not look at any screens (螢幕).
Not even a TV screen!
For kids 11 to 13 years old, the report says they can have a "dumb" phone (傻瓜手機).
It's a simple phone that can't connect to the internet.
At 13 years old, they can get a web-connected phone.
But they shouldn't use social media (社群媒體) until they are 18 years old.
Does that make sense? Teenagers use social media all the time.
Right. But the report says this is harming young people's emotional development.
這些科技會傷害年輕人的情感發展。
Young people get addicted (上癮), and then they find it hard to look away.
Plus, it distracts them from other things they should be learning.
Not just schoolwork, but also learning how to live in the real world (現實世界) and interact with real people.
Is this fair?
Parents are using phones all the time, even when they are with their kids!
That's a good point.
The report also says that adults should spend less time on their phones when they are with their kids.
In the end, the report blames the tech industry (科技業).
It says tech and social media companies try to capture children's attention, so it can control them.
科技和社群媒體公司要吸引兒童的注意力，好控制他們。
That's scary… and what does the President of France say?
He is also worried about the report.
He says there will be new bans and restrictions (限制) to help protect children.
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites…
Police in Kaohsiung caught a man making fake money.
He used a color printer and nail polish to counterfeit the money.
________________________________
And,
Scientists in France say kids shouldn't have a smartphone before the age of 13.
They say smartphones and social media can harm your emotional development.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
If you own a pet dog, you might have noticed that dogs spin in circles before they poop.
Scientists have discovered that's because dogs use Earth's magnetic field when they poop!
Researchers observed 70 dogs from 37 breeds over two years.
They found that dogs like to poop in a north-south direction.
This means they avoid facing east or west.
The reason why dogs do this is still unknown.
Scientists are not sure if dogs can sense the magnetic field or if they just feel more comfortable this way.
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi there.
It's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Nancy Sun.
And I'm Kelly Kimura.
In today's news…
Pet-friendly taxis, and coins you can't spend.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit
Boing boing boing…it's not a rubber ball, it's a raw egg!
Stay tuned for all that and more, coming up next!
________________________________
台中市推廣寵物友善計程車
Taichung Offers Pet-friendly Taxi Service
Are you ready to hit the road with your furry best friend?
Taichung City is now offering a new type of taxi service.
Some taxis in the city are now "pet-friendly".
This means owners can ride with their pets.
And they do not pay extra charges for their furry friend.
搭乘寵物友善計程車時，收費模式以跳表計費，不額外加收費用。
So how does it work?
There are 16 taxi companies that have pet-friendly taxis.
The companies are listed on the city government's website (網站).
Pet owners can choose which one they like.
And many of these taxi drivers own pets too!
But hold on…
There are a few rules (規則) that you have to follow.
Before you hop in…
Make sure your pet is safe in a carrier.
And remember to help keep the taxi clean on your ride…
Or you may have to pay extra cleaning fees.
So what about the fare (車費)?
Don't worry, it's just like any other taxi ride.
You pay the regular metered fare.
Isn't that "paws-itively" amazing?
Just make sure to double-check for some special taxi types, or ones that provide special services.
Sounds like life in Taichung is very nice for pets and their owners.
And it's great timing too.
Because government data shows that Taichung ranks second in Taiwan for the number of registered dogs and cats!
政府資料顯示，台中市犬貓登記數量達超過33萬4000多隻，數量占全國第2，僅次於新北市。
That's a lot of tail-wagging and purring!
So, the next time you need to go somewhere with your pet in Taichung, why not take a pet-friendly taxi?
It's a win-win for you and your furry friend!
________________________________
等了100年！丹麥拍賣富豪錢幣收藏估值逾23億
Rare Coin Collection Up for Auction
Would you like to have a super valuable collection of coins that you can't spend?
Over 100 years ago, there was a man in Denmark, named Lars Emil Bruun.
When he was a boy, he really liked collecting coins.
After he grew up, he earned a lot of money selling butter.
And with his wealth (財富), he kept collecting rare and valuable coins.
These came from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the U.K.
In total, he collected around 20,000 coins, medals, and banknotes.
That's a lot of treasure!
But here's the coolest part.
Bruun didn't just keep his coins for fun.
He had a special plan for his treasure.
You see, Bruun lived through World War I (第一次世界大戰).
He saw the devastation (毀滅) a war like that brings.
He wanted to protect his country.
So in his will (遺囑), Bruun said his coins could not be sold or used for 100 years after his death.
During that time, the coins must be kept as a reserve (儲備金) for Denmark.
That means if another war breaks out, Denmark could use the coins for money.
And Bruun says if 100 years passed by without Denmark fighting a war, the coins could be sold.
And the money would be given to his children and grandchildren.
Lars Emil Bruun passed away in 1923.
Now, more than 100 years have passed since his death.
And his amazing coin collection is finally up for sale.
An auction house in New York is helping Bruun's family sell the coins.
The auction house says it's the most valuable collection of coins ever!
They think some may sell for around $50 US dollars…
And some may sell for over $1 million!
Altogether, the auction house thinks the collection is worth over $72 million US dollars.
Most people did not know about this amazing coin collection.
Many history experts say it's like finding a hidden treasure!
________________________________
So in today's News Bites,
Taichung City is now offering a new "pet-friendly" type of taxi service.
This means owners can ride with their pets.
And they do not pay extra charges for their furry friend.
But hold on…
There are a few rules that you have to follow.
Before you hop in…Make sure your pet is safe in a carrier.
And remember to help keep the taxi clean on your ride…
Or you may have to pay extra cleaning fees.
________________________________
And
A man in Denmark, named Lars Emil Bruun collected around 20,000 coins, medals, and banknotes.
And in his will, Bruun said his coins could not be sold or used for 100 years after his death.
Now, his amazing coin collection is up for sale.
Altogether, experts think the collection is worth over $72 million US dollars.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
In today's Tasty Tidbit,
Raw eggs seem pretty fragile…but did you know you can actually make a raw egg bounce?
The trick is to soak a fresh egg in vinegar for around 2 days. The vinegar eats away at the eggshell. Then take out the egg and carefully wash it with water.
Now you can gently bounce the egg!
But not too hard! Or…SPLAT!
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or an interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hi there.
It's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Jacob Ingram.
And I'm Paz Bueno.
In today's news: A research team from National Taiwan Ocean University discovered a bacteria that consumes plastic, and a tourist in Norway was fined for getting too near a walrus.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit: Elevator music!
Stay tuned for those stories, coming up next.
________________________________
海大研究團隊發現能分解塑膠的新細菌
NTOU Research Team Discover Plastic-Consuming Bacteria
A team from National Taiwan Ocean University recently discovered something incredible.
What would that be?
I'll give you a clue: It can do incredible things for the environment.
Care to tell me?
Oceanimonas pelagia.
Never heard of it.
It's a bacteria strain (細菌株) that can decompose plastic (分解塑膠) and partly remove diesel (去除柴油).
Consider me interested.
讓我十分感興趣。
The researchers say the bacteria strain was isolated from marine sediments along Taiwan's northern coast.
這種細菌是從台灣北部海岸的海洋沉積物分離出來的。
Do you remember its name?
Oceanimonas pelagia.
Well done on remembering that.
I just read it off the script.
This special bacteria's full name is actually "Oceanimonas pelagia NTOU-MSR1".
The researchers said not only can it degrade plastic, it can also produce plastics that are more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastics.
研究人員說除了能分解塑膠外，這種細菌還可以製造比傳統塑膠產品更環保的替代品。
So why is this such a big deal?
Well, plastic pollution is a big problem worldwide.
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans, damaging marine life.
So this new discovery might just be the solution to the problem.
What's more is the bacteria can also survive in lots of different environments.
For example, environments with high salinity (高鹽度), and even a wide range of temperatures and pH levels (酸鹼值).
它有很好的環境適應能力，能夠耐受高鹽度，在各種不同溫度和酸鹼值下也都能存活。
So, what's next?
Well, the team plans to dive deeper into the potential of this bacteria.
They want to explore how it can be used to protect our environment and recycle resources.
________________________________
挪威觀光客因為太靠近海象而被罰錢
Tourist in Norway Fined for Approaching Walrus
Time to head to Norway for this next story!
Recently a tourist there was fined for approaching a walrus on the archipelago of Svalbard.
有一名觀光客因為太靠近海象而被懲罰。
He was fined 12,500 Norwegian Kroner, which is about 34,000 NT.
Fined that much just for getting too near a walrus? Yeah!
The tourist went out onto an ice floe (大浮冰) to try and take a photo of it.
But many considered his actions disrespectful and dangerous.
People nearby took photos of the man and reported him to the local governor (當地總督).
Authorities said the man "disturbed a walrus that was lying on the ice", and that bystanders (旁觀者) saw him approach the mammal.
They added, "The incident was also observed by the governor's employees".
There is a law in Svalbard which states that people must not unnecessarily disturb wildlife.
斯瓦爾巴群島有一項法律規定，人們不可以無緣無故騷擾野生動物。
The tourist was brought to the governor's office, where he accepted the fine.
According to the government's Norwegian Polar Institute, walruses were hunted in Svalbard and almost went extinct.
That was until they were protected by law in 1952.
斯瓦爾巴群島居民曾經獵捕海象，讓牠一度瀕臨滅絕，直到1952年才受到法律保護。
Even though walruses in that area have been protected since then, their numbers are still low.
To this day, they remain on a Norwegian endangered species list.
Norwegian authorities are planning to introduce more rules to protect walruses, such as lowering speed limits.
________________________________
So in today's News Bites,
Researchers from National Taiwan Ocean University discovered a new strain of bacteria that can consume plastic.
Oceanimonas pelagia was isolated from marine sediments off the northern coast of Taiwan.
It can survive in lots of different environments that have high temperature and pH ranges, and those that have high saline levels.
Researchers hope it can help solve the problem of plastic waste in oceans.
_______________________________
And,
A tourist in Svalbard, Norway was fined around 34 thousand NT for getting too close to a walrus.
He went out onto an ice floe to take pictures of it, and the authorities say he broke the law.
Walruses there are protected by law, as their numbers are low.
That means people there are not allowed to act in a way that disturbs wildlife unnecessarily.
_______________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
And in today's Tasty Tidbit,
Do you know why elevator music was invented?
It was to calm fearful passengers who were using an elevator for the first time.
It was first introduced in the 1920's, when elevators were becoming more common.
________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hey you guys, get ready for another episode of News Bites.
I'm Jacob Ingram.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
In today's news: Taiwan High Speed Rail Company debunks a video about the dangers of using umbrellas on train platforms, and the first 'extreme' solar storm in 20 years lights up the sky!
… And today's Tasty Tidbit is about the size of the Sun!
Stay tuned for more on those stories, coming up next.
_______________________________
網傳雨天月台撐傘會觸電 高鐵闢謠
THSRC Debunks Video about Dangers of Using Umbrellas on Train Platforms
Recently a video has been circulating on the internet.
The video claims that people who hold up umbrellas (撐雨傘) on rainy days while standing on train platforms could be electrocuted (觸電).
影片聲稱，雨天時站在火車月台上撐雨傘的人可能會觸電。
It even mentioned that people could be "sucked" into the overhead wires above the trains.
影片甚至提到，人們可能會被吸進火車上方的高壓電線中。
This is, of course, not true.
Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corporation has officially refuted (反駁) the video.
THSRC said it's an old video that first appeared on a Chinese social media platform in 2016.
It was filmed at a high-speed railway station in China and has simplified Chinese (簡體字).
Despite being debunked in the past, the video sometimes re-emerges online.
雖然這部影片以前已經被駁斥，但它有時候會又出現在網路上。
THSRC clarified that passengers are safe so long as they stand behind the yellow line on the platform, even if they are holding umbrellas.
只要是乘客站在黃線後面，就沒事了，不管有沒有撐雨傘。
However, the company acknowledges (承認) if objects are held too close to the wires over the platform, there is a risk of electric shock.
Therefore, passengers are reminded not to bring long objects within a 2 meter-meter radius (半徑) of the wires.
The overhead electric wires are usually 5 meters away from the platform.
As long as passengers don't climb on top of trains, they should be safe.
This applies to all train stations in Taiwan.
Over the past twenty years, there were a few incidents of people getting electrocuted by overhead electric train wires.
But these were all isolated incidents.
這些意外都是因為個人行為而發生的。
Last year, a man was electrocuted at a railroad crossing.
He was carrying a fishing rod that was 5 meters long.
The rod came in contact with the wires and he was electrocuted.
In 2020, a man climbed onto a train at a station in Taichung.
He touched the wires when he stood up and was electrocuted.
Both men were hospitalized, and they both recovered.
So long as people don't do anything foolish when taking the train, it's a safe way to travel.
________________________________
二十年來最強太陽風暴 照亮夜空
First Extreme Solar Storm in 20 Years Lights up the Sky
Have you seen aurorae (極光) before?
They are beautiful dancing ribbons of green, red and purple light that appear in the sky.
The lights are actually caused by solar storms (太陽風暴) from the sun.
To understand how it works, we'll have to talk a bit about everyone's favorite subject: Physics!
So, our planet Earth is like a giant magnet (磁鐵).
It has a magnetic field (磁場).
When a solar storm approaches Earth, some of the energy and small particles (粒子) goes along the magnetic field lines at the North and South Poles into the atmosphere (大氣層).
These particles then interact with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating the beautiful lights.
Aurorae are usually seen near the poles (極地).
For example, parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Russia.
But during this month, the lights appeared in unexpected places (出現在意想不到的地方).
They were seen in the northern part of countries like the UK, Germany, China, America and even Japan.
In the southern hemisphere (南半球), the lights were also visible in parts of New Zealand and Australia.
Why were the lights seen in these places?
This is because the solar storm that struck the Earth was the strongest in 20 years.
Beautiful as it seems, it can be quite dangerous.
Solar storms can cause changes to the Earth's magnetic field and induce currents (引發電流) in power lines.
This might disrupt communications and GPS systems.
這可能會破壞通訊和全球定位系統。
Many farmers complained of problems in their tractors' GPS systems.
有些農夫說他們的聯結機全球定位系統變得怪怪的，不能使用。
The last time a storm like this happened was in October 2003.
It caused blackouts (停電) in Sweden and damaged power infrastructure (電力設施) in South Africa.
Nature truly is beautiful and dangerous at the same time.
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites:
Taiwan High Speed Rail Company debunked a video which claimed using umbrellas on train platforms was dangerous.
Overhead power lines above train tracks are too far away for normal umbrellas to reach.
Therefore, so long as passengers use common sense, keeping a safe distance from platform edges, there's no need to worry.
________________________________
And,
The first 'extreme' solar storm in 20 years lights up skies in many unusual places around the world.
Aurorae are caused by solar storms from the Sun.
They are usually seen near the poles.
But because the storm was so intense, lots of countries saw them, including Japan and even Australia and New Zealand.
Although beautiful, they can cause blackouts and damage power lines.
________________________________
And in today's Tasty Tidbit:
Did you know the Sun is the largest object in our solar system?
It's 100 times wider than the Earth.
It's also 10 times larger than our solar system's largest planet: Jupiter.
________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
-
Hello and welcome back to another episode of News Bites!
I’m Paz Bueno.
And I’m Nancy Sun.
In today's news:
Hotter summers and wilder typhoons, saving coral reefs, and introducing our favorite singers!
Stay tuned for more on those stories, coming up next.
________________________________
台灣的氣候未來
Taiwan’s Climate Future
Studying climate change is very important.
Climate change means the weather is changing in ways that can be dangerous for our planet.
By studying climate change, scientists can understand what is happening to our world.
This helps us find ways to protect our environment (保護環境) and keep our planet safe for the future (讓地球未來更安全).
Scientists in Taiwan are studying how our weather could change in the future if we don't do more to stop global warming.
A new report says that if we don't control greenhouse gases (溫室氣體), Taiwan could have summers that last seven months by the end of the century.
一份新的報告指出，如果我們不控制溫室氣體，到本世紀末，台灣的夏天可能會長達七個月。
This means hotter days for much longer.
In the worst case, temperatures in lowland areas (低窪地區) could reach 36 degrees Celsius for an extra 75 days a year.
The report also talks about typhoons (颱風).
There might be fewer typhoons hitting Taiwan in the future, but they could become stronger and more dangerous.
Right now, we have about four to five typhoons each year.
This could drop to (數字可能會降到) one or two by the end of the century.
But there are more changes coming.
We could see longer dry spells (更長的乾旱期), which means a higher risk of droughts (乾旱).
At the same time, heavy rains could become more common, leading to more floods (洪水).
If temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, sea levels (海平面) could go up by 34.5 centimeters.
Climate change will also impact (影響) our health.
Diseases like dengue fever could become more common, and more people might suffer from respiratory diseases.
像登革熱這樣的疾病可能會變得更常見，患呼吸道疾病的人數可能也會增加。
The report was put together by 68 scientists and took 18 months to complete.
It was a big job!
They hope this report will help the government make good plans to deal with climate change.
Let’s all think about how we can help protect our planet!
________________________________
菲律賓的珊瑚英雄
The Philippines' Coral Heroes
Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are very important to our planet.
They are like underwater cities where many fish and sea animals live.
Coral reefs protect our coastlines (海岸線) from big waves and storms.
Many people love to visit coral reefs to see the colorful fish and beautiful coral.
But coral reefs are in danger from pollution, climate change, and other problems.
It is also important to protect and help them so they can stay healthy and strong.
In the coastal town of Bauan in the Philippines, scuba diving experts (潛水專家) are helping to save damaged coral reefs.
They are setting up coral nurseries to help damaged corals grow and recover.
他們正在設立珊瑚苗圃，幫助受損的珊瑚生長和恢復。
Divers collect coral that has been damaged (受損) by natural disasters and human activities.
In 2020, a mass coral bleaching event (一場大規模的珊瑚白化) affected about 72 kilometers of coastline in Bauan.
Coral bleaching happens when high temperatures make corals lose their color and turn white.
This event inspired (激發) Carmela Sevilla, a scuba diving instructor and resort owner (潛水教練和度假村老闆) in Bauan, to start coral nurseries.
She invited other conservationists (保育人士) to join her in this important work.
They save the living parts of these corals and place them in special nurseries.
Coral nurseries not only provide a safe place for damaged corals to grow but also serve as a backup to replenish coral reefs in the future.
珊瑚苗圃不僅為受損的珊瑚提供了一個安全的生長環境，還可以在未來需要時補充珊瑚礁。
Sevilla believes that small efforts can make a big difference over time.
So far, she and her volunteers (志願人員) have collected 64 pieces of damaged coral for their nurseries.
These small actions help create a lasting impact on coral conservation.
這些小小的行動對於珊瑚保育都會有長遠的影響。
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites:
Scientists in Taiwan are studying how our weather could change in the future if we don't do more to stop global warming.
A new report says that if we don't control greenhouse gases, Taiwan could have summers that last seven months by the end of the century.
________________________________
And,
In the coastal town of Bauan in the Philippines, scuba diving experts are helping to save damaged coral reefs.
They are setting up coral nurseries to help damaged corals grow and recover.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
Who is your favorite singer?
My favorite band is Paramore.
They are an American rock band.
Zachary from Taiping Junior High School told us about his favorite musical group!
[…]
________________________________
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you’d like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We’ll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Hi everyone, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!
I'm Kelly Kimura…
And I'm Nancy Sun.
Coming up next in today's news: Taiwan's air is worse for you than a pack of cigarettes. And ice cream is saving Indian farmers!
And in today's Tasty Tidbit, these fish have lungs!
Stay tuned for more on these stories!
___________________________________________________________
台灣空汙引起肺癌的風險高於每日一包菸
Taiwan's Air Pollution More Likely to Cause Lung Cancer Than a Pack of Cigarettes a Day
Doctors always tell people not to smoke because they could get lung cancer (肺癌).
But recent studies show that people may get lung cancer even if they don't smoke.
This is more likely (可能) when they live in areas (區域) with air pollution (空氣污染).
National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學) did a study.
Their researchers found that breathing in (吸入) air pollution increases the risk (風險) of lung cancer more than smoking a pack of cigarettes (香菸) every day!
In Taiwan, liver (肝) cancer was the most common cause of cancer-related deaths (肝癌是所有癌症死亡原因中最常見的) twenty years ago.
Lung cancer now causes the most cancer-related deaths, with over ten thousand deaths every year.
Let's look at air pollution.
PM, or particulate matter (懸浮微粒) means very, very small solid and liquid particles (固體和液體顆粒) in the air.
How small?
PM is measured in micrometers (以微米為單位).
A micrometer is one millionth of a meter.
PM 2.5 is particulate matter that is less than two and a half micrometers wide.
In comparison (相比之下), spider silk (蜘蛛絲) is about 4 micrometers wide (寬).
PM 2.5 increased in residential areas (住宅區) over 30 years.
The researchers analyzed (分析) Taiwan's lung cancer statistics (統計數據) from 1997 to 2020.
They compared statistics for lung cancer and air pollution.
The research results show long-term exposure (暴露) to PM 2.5 increased the risk of adenocarcinoma lung cancer (AdLC 肺腺癌) by 1.044 times more than that of people who smoked over a pack of cigarettes a day.
Reducing air pollution is very important to lower the risk of lung cancer.
政府必須致力於減少工業區及大眾運輸工具的空氣污染。
If air pollution gets worse, we'll need to wear a face mask every day in Taiwan!
___________________________________________________________
從沙漠到甜點, 冰淇淋拯救了印度遭受乾旱的農民
From Desert to Dessert: Ice Cream Saves Drought-Hit Farmers in India
As the climate crisis (氣候危機) gets worse every year, droughts (乾旱) are becoming more common (常見的).
Rajasthan (拉賈斯坦邦) is a state in India known for its forts (堡壘), desert safaris (狩獵旅行), palaces (宮殿) and temples.
But for the last 20 years, the drought in that state has been very bad.
Farmers have given up on farming.
They look for jobs in other states.
Luckily, ice cream has given farmers a chance to earn money.
Ice cream has changed their lives.
No one knows when farmers began selling ice cream.
But people told stories of the snack culture in richer states.
Families and friends in those states buy ice cream, popsicles (冰棒), and sodas from roadside food carts (路邊小吃攤) until late at night.
Farmers change their mini-trucks into ice cream trucks.
Around 50,000 mini-trucks are changed into ice cream trucks every year!
50,000!
Ice cream has also created new businesses and local jobs.
There are now many service and repair (服務和維修) shops for ice cream trucks and ice cream equipment and supply (設備和用品) shops.
From November to February, farmers get ready to sell ice cream.
They get their mini-trucks changed into ice cream trucks.
They get the trucks serviced.
They buy ice cream equipment and supplies.
They buy so many ice cream posters that the local printers need extra workers to make them!
When March comes, the farmers drive to other states to sell ice cream during the hot season.
They come back home in October.
他們在外地所賺的錢，讓他們能夠在家鄉建造水泥房屋。
Now the farmers can dig wells (水井) to get water for their homes and farms.
The farmers are thankful they can sell ice cream, even though it means being far from their families for most of the year.
___________________________________________________________
So in today's News Bites:
Taiwan's air pollution is more likely to cause lung cancer than smoking one pack of cigarettes a day.
The concentration of PM 2.5 has risen in residential areas over the years.
Reducing air pollution is very important to lower the risk of lung cancer.
___________________________________________________________
And…
Selling ice cream has saved drought-hit farmers in India.
The lack of rain made farmers give up farming.
Selling ice-cream for many months a year in other states every year has changed their lives.
___________________________________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
And in today's Tasty Tidbit…
In the last story, you heard "drought" (乾旱)
When there's a drought, most fish can't survive when the water they live in dries up.
But African lungfish aren't like most fish.
Lung… hmmm… in the first story, you heard "lung" (肺)
These fish have lungs!
When there's a drought, these fish go into mud (污泥).
They secrete mucus (分泌黏液) to make a pod (莢) around themselves.
Only their mouths are not covered.
This lets them breathe in air.
They don't dry up in their pods.
Everything in their bodies works very slowly.
They can stay alive in these pods for four years!
Hopefully rain falls before then!
___________________________________________________________
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at [email protected].
You might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Hi there.
It's time for an all-new episode of News Bites.
I'm Nancy Sun.
And I'm Hope Ngo.
In today's news…
The new VP wants a better balance between men and women lawmakers, and countries around the world choose new leaders.
And in today's Tasty Tidbit
If you want to hear something more quickly, get in the water!
Stay tuned for all that and more, coming up next!
________________________________
副總統希望立委女性比例達到50%
Vice President Hsiao Wants 50% Women in Legislature
Who are the women leading Taiwan?
There are lots of female (女性) mayors and lawmakers.
And don’t forget, for the past eight years, the president (總統) has been a woman.
Tsai Ing-wen was the first woman to lead the country.
It was a big deal.
After all, many countries have never elected a female leader…
…even big countries like the United States and Japan.
甚至美國、日本等一些大國也從未選出女性領導人。
What about the new leader?
Tsai’s former Vice President Lai Ching-te is becoming the new president.
He’s a man, but his Vice President (副總統) Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) is a woman.
That means Hsiao is now the top representative (代表) for women in Taiwan.
What are her goals?
Hsiao wants to increase the number of lawmakers who are women.
蕭美琴希望增加女性立法委員的數量。
She says her goal is to reach 50% female representation in the Legislative Yuan (立法院).
That means she wants at least half of the lawmakers to be women.
There are 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan .
Let’s do the math… about half of 113 is 57…
So, her goal is to get that many women lawmakers.
Taiwan already has 47.
That’s more than 40% of lawmakers, which is the highest proportion in all of Asia (全亞洲比例最高).
Still, Vice President Hsiao thinks we can do better.
Why is it important to have women in government?
One reason is equality (平等).
Men and women should have equal chances to be leaders and decision-makers.
Another reason is different perspectives (視角不同).
Women might have different ideas than men because of their unique experiences (獨特的經歷).
So a government with more women will think about more viewpoints when it makes new laws.
A third reason is to have role models (榜樣).
When girls see women with power, it shows them that they can achieve anything.
These are three big reasons, but I’m sure you can think of some more.
Let’s hope the Vice President’s goal becomes a reality.
________________________________
2024全球大選年
2024 Big Election Year Worldwide
When is the big election (大選) this year?
That depends on where in the world you go.
Taiwan had elections in January, but other countries are voting (投票) throughout the year.
Let’s check the calendar.
我們來檢查一下世界選舉年曆。
On January 13th, Taiwan elected (選了) President Lai and Vice President Hsiao.
The same month, Taiwan’s ally (邦交國家) Tuvalu chose a new leader.
The leader said he would keep a good relationship with Taiwan, which is great for us.
In February, two of Asia’s most populous (人口最多) countries, Pakistan and Indonesia, both chose new leaders.
Russia had elections in March, but people question if they were fair…
…as the winner, Vladimir Putin, has already been leader for 25 years.
There was also a vote in India.
It’s the biggest election in the world, with nearly a billion voters joining in.
這是全世界最大的選舉，近十億選民參加。
Wow, it’s only spring and there have already been so many elections.
What about later this year?
Next month is the election in Mexico.
The two main candidates (候選人) are both women.
That’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez.
That means Mexico will likely get its first female president this year.
Then in November, there are big elections in the United States.
It’s Donald Trump versus Joe Biden again.
Some Americans are not happy with these two.
Both men are around eighty years old, but some want a younger leader.
許多美國人認為川普和拜登都太老了。
Plus, they are also going to choose a new leader in the UK.
When is that?
The government has not announced the election date, but it should be this year.
Wow. Is that all?
Not even close.
There are also elections through the year in many other countries, such as Iceland, South Africa, Mongolia, and…
Okay, that’s enough, we get it!
好吧，夠了，我們明白了！
2024 is an important year for voters around the world.
No matter where you go, people hope to use their vote to make a change.
________________________________
So, in today’s News Bites…
Taiwan’s new Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim wants more women in government.
Her goal is to have 50% women lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan.
________________________________
And
Countries around the world are holding elections in 2024.
Taiwan voted in January, and India votes this month.
The US will vote in November.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
In today's Tasty Tidbit…
Did you know that sound travels much faster through water than air?
In fact, it's about four times faster! But in water, it does take more energy to get that sound going.
So, next time you're swimming, imagine a dolphin talking to its friend - the message would zip right by you!
And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!
If you have a fun fact, a joke or an interesting news story you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites! -
Hey there! Let's chow down on this all new episode of News Bites…
I'm Paz Bueno.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
In today's news:
Descendants of last Dutch governor of Taiwan pay respects, an orangutan uses a medicinal plant, and…how many atoms does it take to make a person?
Stay tuned for more on these, coming up next.
________________________________
荷蘭台灣末代總督後代來台向鄭成功致敬
Descendants of last Dutch Governor in Taiwan Pay Respects
Our first story has to do with Taiwan's history.
From 1624 to 1662, the Dutch East India Company occupied Taiwan, which was called Formosa back then.
During the occupation, they built Fort Zeelandia (熱蘭遮堡) in Tainan, now known as Anping Fort (安平古堡).
Then in 1662, Koxinga (國姓爺，鄭成功) came and drove the Dutch away.
Fredrick Coyett was the Dutch governor who suffered defeat during the battle.
He was also the last governor of the Dutch occupation.
He led over a thousand soldiers and endured a siege (圍城) from Koxinga's forces for 9 months.
After the battle, Koxinga allowed the governor and his family to return to their country unharmed, and with all their possessions (財產).
For this, the governor praised Koxinga.
He told his family and descendants to never forget Koxinga's leniency (寬容).
2024 marks the 400 years since the Dutch founded Tainan.
The 14th and 15th generation descendants (後代) of the governor came to Taiwan to pay their respects at the Koxinga Shrine in Tainan.
They acknowledge that Koxinga's generosity (延平郡王祠) led to their family's prosperity (繁榮).
Cheng, a deputy secretary general (副秘書長) of the shrine and descendant of Koxinga, greeted them with a warm welcome.
The two parties shared a "historical handshake," given their family histories.
During the press conference, the 15th generation descendant shared some insights about his ancestor.
He said, "He was a very stubborn man who wanted to stand his ground and did not want to be defeated.
So, I can imagine that negotiation (談判) must have been quite difficult for him.
He had to let go of his stubbornness and show humility towards his opponent."
At that time, the Dutch East India Company never officially represented the Dutch Republic.
Therefore, both sides are happy to leave the past alone and maintain a good relationship.
往日的敵人，在四百年之後，兩邊再次締造了歷史佳話。
It looks like the legacy (遺產) will be passed on to future generations.
________________________________
科學家發現 紅毛猩猩會用自製草藥
Orangutan Discovered Using Medicinal Plant
Did you know that animals can heal themselves when they are ill?
For example, cats and dogs nibble (啃) on grass when they are sick.
Many animals also ingest (攝取) plants that have medicinal abilities.
They also rub insects or plants to relieve (舒緩) themselves of other symptoms.
However, researchers have observed a behavior that has never been seen in the animal world.
A Sumatran Orangutan (蘇門答臘紅毛猩猩) self-treated its injury using a medicinal plant!
Why is this special?
That's because the orangutan was doing the treatment (治療) like a human being!
The plant was not part of the orangutan's diet.
Usually, animals just eat or rub the plants on themselves.
But Rakus, the orangutan, chewed the plant and applied the juice to a wound on its face.
Scientist continued monitoring Rakus for a month and the wound showed no signs of infection (感染).
It repeated this process and the wound was healed.
Research on the plant shows that it has antibacterial (抗菌), anti-inflammatory (消炎) and pain-killing (止痛) properties.
Locals use the plant to treat conditions such as diabetes (糖尿病) and malaria (瘧疾).
It is still unclear how the orangutan learned to treat a wound.
It may have touched its wound while feeding on the plant and felt the effects.
Or it might have learned the behavior from other orangutans.
Whatever the reason, scientists agreed that the discovery offers new insights (見解) into natural medicinal practices.
It also shows that orangutans and humans share knowledge.
Scientists will continue monitoring the primates (靈長類) to see if the behavior is repeated.
或許，我們的祖先就是透過觀察靈長類，而發現了某些植物的藥性。
________________________________
So, in today's News Bites:
Descendants of last Dutch governor in Taiwan visited Taiwan to pay respect to Koxinga.
The descendants thanked Koxinga for letting their ancestors return home safely.
________________________________
And,
In a first, an Orangutan healed his own wound using a known medicinal plant.
It chewed the plant and applied its juice to the wound on its face.
The wound healed after a month.
________________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
A person who weighs about 70 kilograms has nearly 7 followed by 27 zeros atom.
(7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000)
That's seven octillion atoms!
To understand how big that number is, here are the large numbers leading up to it: million (10^6), billion (10^9), trillion (10^12), quadrillion (10^15), quintillion (10^18), sextillion (10^21), septillion (10^24), and then octillion (10^27).
Most of these atoms are hydrogen, making up about two-thirds.
One-fourth are oxygen, and one-tenth are carbon.
That's a lot of tiny pieces making up every one of us!
If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
- Visa fler
