________________________________

Japanese Satellite Surprise

Manmade satellites go around the Earth. Some take pictures of things in
space. Some take pictures of the Earth. Some help us know how to go
somewhere. Some help us know about the weather. Some send phone calls to
different places. Satellites are important!
人造衛星繞著地球轉，它們有很多任務！像是拍攝太空跟地球的照片、把電話轉接到世界各地、幫助我們做天氣預報等等。

Satellites work in very hot sunlight and very cold darkness. So they are made
of metal and other strong things.
因為衛星要在很強的太陽光裡，或是非常低的溫度中工作，所以它們通常是金屬或是其他比較堅固的東西做的。

But now Japanese scientists have made one of … wood!
但是現在日本科學家竟然用木頭做了衛星！

Wood won't burn in space. Fire needs oxygen. Space has no oxygen.
因為太空中沒有氧氣，所以木頭不會燒起來。

Wood won't rot in space. Wood rots from water. Space has no water.
木頭遇到水才會腐爛，太空裡也沒有水。

The scientists used a very strong wood. This wood was also used to hold
samurai swords! Two woodworkers made the wood parts.
科學家說這種木頭非常堅固，它也被用來做成日本武士刀的刀柄。

Now this wooden satellite is going around the Earth for six months. The
scientists want to see what happens.
現在這個衛星已經環繞地球六個月了，科學家們都很好奇之後會發生甚麼事。

One day people will live on the moon. The Japanese scientists wanted to grow
trees there. Maybe people will make wooden satellites there too!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vocabulary
木頭做成的衛星，已經環繞地球好幾個月了。

1. weather 天氣。
Wow, your backpack is heavy! 你的背包好重!
It's because of my umbrella. 都是因為我的傘。
You won't need your umbrella if you listen to the weather reports.
你假如聽氣象預報就不用帶傘了。

2. Earth 地球。
But weather reports are often wrong. 但是天氣預報常常錯。
How could scientists be wrong? 科學家怎麼會錯?
They have satellites to watch the Earth. 他們有衛星注意著地球。

3. space 太空。
Well, satellites are in space. That's too far away. 衛星在太空中，隔得太遠了。

4. hot 熱的。
Okay, I get it. You just love your umbrella. 好吧，我懂了，你就是喜歡你的傘。
Yeah, rain or shine, hot or cold, an umbrella is useful.
不論下雨天晴，熱或是冷，傘都有用。

來讀讀單字吧。
weather天氣 Earth地球 space太空 hot熱的
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quiz

1. What do some satellites do?
a. Make metal and other things
b. Rot in space
c. Send phone calls to different places

2. What did Japanese scientists use to make a satellite?
a. Paper
b. Wood
c. Metal

3. How long will the Japanese satellite go around the Earth?
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months

Answers:
1. c
2. b
3. b
 

________________________________

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: Microplastics, and a rare whale mystery.

And for today's Tasty Tidbit: The biggest animal in the world.

Stay tuned for those stories.
________________________________

塑膠微粒破壞珊瑚結構 中山大學新研究登國際期刊
Taiwan Researchers Document Microplastics' Threat to Coral Reefs

Let's dive into an important story about the ocean and its coral reefs.

It's no secret that microplastics (塑膠微粒) are bad for the environment.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long.

Sometimes they are so small that you can't even see them!

Scientists from National Sun Yat-sen University (國立中山大學) discovered how
microplastics are harming coral reefs.

They explained that microplastics change the structure of coral skeletons.

Coral skeletons?!!
珊瑚骷髏?!!

Is that like the coral undead or something?

是不是跟殭屍有關係？

No, silly!

Coral skeletons are basically the hard, outer structures of coral reefs.
珊瑚骨骼基本上是珊瑚礁堅硬的外在結構。

Think of them as bones of the reef.

So anyway, the research shows that microplastics are changing the structure
of coral skeletons, making them weaker and more likely to dissolve or break.
他們的研究顯示，塑膠微粒正在改變珊瑚骨骼的結構，使它們變得更脆弱，更容易溶解或是斷裂。

Why is this a problem?

Well, coral reefs are not just beautiful-they are essential to life
underwater and on land.

They provide homes for many sea creatures and protect coastlines from waves
and storms.

If weakened coral skeletons break apart or dissolve, it could destroy the
reef's marine ecosystem.
有可能會破壞海洋生態系。

The study warns that more coral reefs could face this kind of damage in the
future.

That's why it's so important to reduce plastic pollution (塑膠汙染).

Let's all do our part to keep our oceans clean and healthy.
________________________________

科學家解剖神秘鯨魚
Scientists Hope to Decode Rare Whale Mystery

This next story is about one of the rarest whales in the world: the
spade-toothed whale (鏟齒鯨).

Only seven of these mysterious creatures have ever been found, and none have
been seen alive in the ocean.

Recently, scientists in New Zealand began studying a spade-toothed whale for
the first time.

The whale, a 5-meter-long male, washed up on a beach (被沖到海灘上) in July
and was kept refrigerated (被冷藏起來) until now.

Spade-toothed whales are so rare that almost nothing is known about them.

For instance, scientists don't know: Where they live in the ocean; how they
eat or process food; what their brains look like; or how this one even died.
科學家目前仍然不清楚鏟齒鯨的棲息地，牠們如何消化食物、腦部的樣貌，以及這隻個體的死亡原因。

One of the scientists who studied whales for 35 years said he has never
worked with this species (種類) before!

The dissection (解剖) is happening at a research center near Dunedin, New
Zealand.

Scientists are hoping to learn about the whale's sound production, diet, and
whether it carries any new parasites (寄生蟲).

This whale is being studied carefully and respectfully, with guidance from
the Maori people (毛利人).

They are the indigenous people of New Zealand.
毛利人是紐西蘭的原住民。

The Maori view whales as 'taonga', or precious treasures (珍貴的財寶).

They believe the whale is a gift from Tangaroa, the ocean deity (海洋神).

Before the dissection began, the Maori said a special prayer to honor the
whale.

Why is this whale so rare?

It's thought that spade-toothed whales live in the deep waters of the
Southern Pacific Ocean, diving far below the surface for food.
這種鯨魚住在南太平洋，會潛入深海尋找食物。

This might explain why they are so rarely seen.

The species was first identified in 2002 using DNA (去氧核糖核酸) from bones
found in New Zealand and Chile.

In 2010, two spade-toothed whales washed up on a New Zealand beach.

But they were buried (埋葬) before they could be studied.

The discovery of this whale is a rare opportunity to unlock the secrets of
the ocean.
________________________________

So in today's News Bites:

Scientists in Taiwan have discovered that microplastic pollution is weakening
coral skeletons.

Microplastics make coral skeletons weaker and more likely to dissolve or
break.

This is bad, because coral reefs are important to marine ecosystems.

So reducing plastic pollution is essential to protect coral reefs and marine
life.
________________________________

And...

A rare spade-toothed whale washed up on a New Zealand beach.

Scientists are studying this unique whale to learn about its life, diet, and
potential diseases.

This research could provide valuable insights into the mysteries of the deep
ocean and its inhabitants.
_______________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

And in today's Tasty Tidbit:

Whales are the biggest animals in the world!

They can be very big, like a bus!

Specifically, the blue whale holds the title of the largest animal ever to
have existed, surpassing even the largest dinosaurs.

Whales are mammals, not fish.

They breathe air and have babies.
________________________________

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
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, 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!