ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」
長期宇宙飛行での食料調達を競うコンテスト
9月6日(金)
What is the name of the competition?
-The Deep Space Food Challenge
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NASA SEEKS BEST MARS FOOD
The U.S. space agency NASA and its Canadian counterpart have held a competition for ideas on how to produce food for a long stay on Mars. Seven teams from universities and companies competed in the finals of the so-called Deep Space Food Challenge in the U.S. state of Ohio. One of the contenders produced a hot pizza in about 20 minutes in an oven that's heated using centrifugal force from a fast-spinning cylinder.
(Participant) “I honestly like this better than any average pizza that I could get at a takeout. I think the astronauts are very lucky.”
The winning team developed a system with automatic temperature and humidity control to raise vegetables and edible insects. They took home 750,000 dollars in prize money.
（2024年8月17日のニュース）
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centrifugal
[ˈsɛntrɪˌfjuɡəl]
In American English we say [ˈsɛn trɪfjuɡəl]? but as you might have noticed in today's news story, the pronounciation in news story is [ˈsɛntrɪˌfjuɡəl]?
- counterpartは「違う組織にいる同じ役割や立場の人、同等の相手・組織」などに用います。diplomatic counterpartなら「外交の相手方」
- 太陽系のplanet「惑星」太陽に近い順にMercury「水星」、Venus「金星」、Earth「地球」、Mars「火星」、Jupiter「木星」、Saturn「土星」、Uranus「天王星」、Neptune「海王星」、Pluto「冥王星」
- undergraduate「学部課程」/ postgraduate「大学院」
- deep space「はるか彼方の宇宙」
- food challengeは、このニュースでは食べ物を確保する技術を競い合うイベント一般的には食べ物に関する競争（大食い、早食い、激辛選手権など）を指す「（競技としての）大食い、早食い」=> competitive eating
- centrifugal forceは「遠心力」
centripetal forceなら「求心力」=>「人を引きつける力、人をまとめて一体感を生み出すもの」 - fast-spinningは「高速で回転する」
- better than any average pizzaは「どんな普通のピザよりもおいしい」最高の
- astronautは「宇宙飛行士」star「星」> astro + sailor「船員」> naut
- the winning teamは「優勝チーム」
- edibleは「食べることのできる、食用の」edible insectは「食用昆虫」
This is edible.「これは食べられます」
counterpart「同等の機能をもつ組織、（違う組織にいる）同じような立場にいる人」
average「普通の」
long-duration habitation in space「宇宙での長期滞在」
In the interview from today's news story, the woman used the word “average.”
And there's a slight difference between “average” and “normal” in this sense. “The food is average” means the food quality wasn't particularly bad or particularly good either. “The food is normal” doesn't have to do with quality.
「金額＋in＋お金の目的や意味」
- take … home「家に～を持って帰る」ここでは比喩的に「獲得する」
- 「金額＋in＋お金の目的や意味」で、ある目的を持つお金の金額
So, here are some more examples, you could say,
- 10 million yen in retirement allowance「１０００万円の退職金」、
- 5,000 dollars in unpaid overtime
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 腸内細菌移植でがん治療薬の効果高まるか
9月5日(木)
TRIAL STARTS IN JAPAN ON USING GUT BACTERIA IN CANCER TREATMENT
Researchers in Japan are running a clinical trial to see if immunotherapy for cancer patients can be improved by intestinal bacteria. Researchers from the National Cancer Center Japan and Juntendo University are working on treatments for stomach and esophageal cancer. Studies overseas have shown that patients unresponsive to immunotherapy drugs have unbalanced intestinal bacteria. The team will transplant bacteria from healthy people into patients before they're given immunotherapy drugs. They say the goal is to verify the safety and efficacy of the method with 45 patients over the next three years.
(Shoji Hirokazu / National Cancer Center Hospital) “We hope the trial shows us what kind of intestinal bacteria patients need to benefit from drug treatment. I hope patients will have more options.”
（2024年8月18日のニュース）
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- immunotherapyは「免疫療法」
- immune checkpoint inhibitor「免疫チェックポイント阻害薬」
- inhibitor「阻害薬」
- intestinalは「腸の」->、intestinal bacteriaは「腸内細菌」
- gutは通常は複数形のgutsで胃や腸などを含む「内臓、はらわた」
- stomach cancerは「胃がん」=>gastric cance
- esophagealは「食道の」=> esophageal cancerは「食道がん」
- unresponsive to …は「～に反応しない」
intestinal
[ɪnˈtɛstənəl]
intestinal bacteria / gut bacteria「腸内細菌」
And gut(s with an S can also mean courage, determination and toughness.
For example, do you have the guts to go swiming with sharks?
intestinal「腸の」
intestine「腸」
guts「（胃や腸などを含む）はらわた」「度胸、ガッツ」
dietary fiber / fiber「食物繊維」
---
Speaking of “bacteria,” let me just share a little information that some listeners might already know — but some might not. “Bacteria” is technically a plural word. The singular form is “bacterium.”
The singular form ends with the letters “um” — and “bacteria” and “bacterium” aren't the only words that follow that pattern. Other examples include “data” and “datum,” “media” and “medium,” “agenda” and “agendum.” But don't worry too much about remembering the singular forms for the words I just mentioned. We don't use them very much in those meanings.
腸内細菌
Daimon: While medical treatment is necessary, I think daily lifestyle habits are also very important for the prevention of diseases. The news story we discussed today talked about intestinal bacteria, or gut bacteria, which is more commonly used in daily conversation. Tom, do you pay attention to gut bacteria?
Tom: Not really, no, but I do know that yogurt is good for your gut. I try to have some a few times a week.
Daimon: Good for you! Gut bacteria live off the food we eat. To increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in our bodies, I've heard we should eat food that is rich in soluble fiber.
Tom, what do you think of when you hear the word “fiber”?
Tom: Personally, the first thing that comes to mind is “dietary fiber” — the stuff in food. “Fiber” also means a thread that forms something, but I think of it more as a food word.
Well, soluble fiber isn't all that familliar to me. Naomi, do you have any ideal what kinds of food contain a lot of soluble fiber?
-I always try to eat soluble fiver first like seaweeds, ...mozuku, mekabu I eat those every day. And I also heard that natto contains soluble fiver a lot, right? --You just mentioned the food that I don't like very much. I don't think I have the guts to eat natto.
-You don't like natto.
-It's not my favorite..
-Um, others include mashrooms, ptatoes and burdock root. They are also considered good for improving the balance of good bacteria.
-Oh thank goodness. I like a lot of those. If I eat moure of those foods, sounds like my gut is going to be happy, huh?
the kind of seaweed
I wouldn't be able to think of it off the top of my head.
burdock root
*butter fruit = Avocado
soluble
[ˈsɑljəbəl]
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 ノルドストリーム爆発 ウクライナ人に逮捕状
9月4日(水)
REPORTS: UKRAINIAN SOUGHT OVER NORD STREAM ATTACK
Prosecutors in Germany have spent nearly two years investigating an act of underwater sabotage. They've been trying to figure out who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Media reports say Germany has now issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national. The pipelines were built to carry natural gas from Russia to Europe. The attack was thought to be an attempt to cut off a source of revenue for the Kremlin. That led many to speculate Ukrainian forces were responsible. The reported suspect has worked as a diving instructor. He's believed to have lived in neighboring Poland but has left the country. German authorities have reportedly identified two other suspects. They say the pair may have been responsible for attaching the explosives to the pipelines. It remains unclear to what extent officials in Ukraine may have been involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
（2024年8月15日のニュース）
execution
[ˌɛksəˈkjuʃən]
sabotage
[ˈsæbəˌtɑʒ]
- 「東京地方検察庁（東京地検）」の英語名は、Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
- sabotageは「破壊行為、破壊活動、妨害行為」
- an act of underwater sabotage ある水中（海中）での破壊行為
- blew up <- blow up「爆破する、爆発する」
- issued an arrest warrant for
arrest warrantは「逮捕状」= a warrant for the arrest of …
search warrant「捜索令状」/ death warrant「死刑執行令状」
seek an arrest warrant「逮捕状を取る、取得する」「（警察などが）逮捕状を請求する」
serve an arrest warrant「逮捕状を執行する」 - Kremlin「クレムリン」はロシアの首都モスクワにある宮殿
-> 「ロシア大統領府、ロシア政府」としても用いられます。 - source of revenueは「収入源、財源」
- That led many to speculate 憶測を呼びました
- lived in neighboring Poland
- attaching the explosives to the pipelines.
- It remains unclear to what extent officials in Ukraine may have been involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
---
Russia pointed the finger at Ukraine.
Ukraine denied involvement.
---
- media reports say
- The attack was thought to be an attempt to cut off a source of revenue for the Kremlin.
be thought to be …「～であると考えられている」 - That led many to speculate 憶測を呼びました
- The reported suspect has worked as a diving instructor.
The key word here is reported. In this case, you can think of it as the adjective version of the adverb reportedly. The reported suspect basically means the suspect who has been reported in the media. You come across both reportedly and reported a lot in news stories. - He's believed to have lived in neighboring Poland but has left the country.
be believed to …「～と考えられている」 - It remains unclear to what extent officials in Ukraine may have been involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
This might be hard to understand if you don't know how people normally use “extent.” The basic pattern in a normal sentence is: “to” plus a word or words that describe a degree plus “extent.” “To a great extent,” “to a small extent,” and “to some extent” are three common examples.
Here's how it works in a sentence:
The situation has changed to a great extent.
The sentence from today's story was explaining that they don't know the extent of Ukrainian involvement in the incident — in other words, “what extent” is unknown. That's why the sentence used “to what extent.”
So let's go back to the short sentence I used as an example. If you don't know how much the “situation has changed," you could say, “I don't know to what extent the situation has changed.”
point the finger at …「～を公然と非難する」
media reports say …「複数の報道によると～」
be thought to be …「～であると考えられている」
speculate「推測する」
reportedly「伝えられているところによると、報道によると」
reported …「報道されている～」
be believed to …「～と考えられている」
extent「程度」
conspiracy theory「陰謀論」
conspiracy
[kənˈspɪrəsi]
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TRIAL STARTS IN JAPAN ON USING GUT BACTERIA IN CANCER TREATMENT
Researchers in Japan are running a clinical trial to see if immunotherapy for cancer patients can be improved by intestinal bacteria. Researchers from the National Cancer Center Japan and Juntendo University are working on treatments for stomach and esophageal cancer. Studies overseas have shown that patients unresponsive to immunotherapy drugs have unbalanced intestinal bacteria. The team will transplant bacteria from healthy people into patients before they're given immunotherapy drugs. They say the goal is to verify the safety and efficacy of the method with 45 patients over the next three years.
(Shoji Hirokazu / National Cancer Center Hospital) “We hope the trial shows us what kind of intestinal bacteria patients need to benefit from drug treatment. I hope patients will have more options.”
（2024年8月18日のニュース）
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 京都 伝統の五山送り火
9月3日(火)
In today's news, let's bid farewell to the Bon holidays with a fiery festival. Then we have another interesting question from one of our listners.
MOUNTAINS OF KYOTO SET ABLAZE FOR SPECTACULAR FESTIVAL
Now for a spectacular, spiritual, and crowd-pleasing festival right in the heart of Japan's ancient capital. Gozan Okuribi is said to date back more than 300 years. Five mountains surrounding Kyoto serve as a grand stage. The bonfires form shapes such as kanji characters and a boat. People in Japan believe deceased relatives come home during the annual Bon holidays. And this festival is like a farewell before they head back to the spirit world.
(Festivalgoer) “My father will have returned for the first time since he died. I'm glad my family and I could give him a send-off together.”
Police say Friday's festival attracted a crowd of about 47,000. That's up more than 20,000 from last year.
（2024年8月17日のニュース）
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- grandは「壮大な、雄大な」
- deceasedは「死んだ、亡くなった」
- farewellは「別れ、別れの会」
- give A a send-offは「Ａを見送る」
to date back
more than 300 years.
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★teamなどの集合名詞は単数形であっても複数として扱われることがある
A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo say they appear to have found living microbes in geological strata dating back 2 billion years.
team
-> 単数としても複数としても扱われることがある主な単語
club、committee、company, crowd、family、firm、government、group、team
イギリス英語
the government says …という単数扱いだけでなく、the government say …という複数扱いの言い方もします。
My family is important to me.
My family are important to me. イギリス英語
I would say, My family is important to me because I think of my family as one unit or one team.
A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo say they appear to have found living microbes in geological strata dating back 2 billion years.
Gozan okuribi is a spectacular sight. My family is fond of nature and festivals. So I want to go with them someday to see it. I hope everyone else can enjoy some festivals with their family and friends too.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 岸田首相 退任へ
9月2日(月)
This time, we will use lots of words related to politics and elections. It may be difficult, but let's try our best going forward!
I hope everyone can work hard for the things they atnt in life, whether it is studying for an exam or practicing for an pucoming event. I wish everyone the best.
KISHIDA DECIDES NOT TO RUN IN NEXT LDP LEADERSHIP ELECTION
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced that he will not run in the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election next month. It means Japan will soon have a new prime minister.
(Kishida Fumio / Japanese Prime Minister) “The first and clearest step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step down. I will not run for the LDP's leadership election.”
Kishida's Cabinet has recently struggled with low approval ratings. LDP factions were involved in a fundraising scandal. Kishida has worked to regain public trust in politics by trying to reform the party. He decided to disband its factions and punished lawmakers linked to the scandal. Kishida also revised the political funds control law. But his reforms didn't stem growing public criticism of the government. Kishida assumed the premiership in October 2021. He becomes the eighth longest-serving prime minister in Japan's postwar period.
（2024年8月14日のニュース）
- fundraisingは「資金集め」>> fundraiser
raise「持ち上げる、（寝ているものを）起こす」「（資金を）集める、工面する」 - disbandは「解散する」
- faction 党派
- revise a lawは「法律を改正する」
- stemは「食い止める」>「止血する」stem bleeding
名詞のstem「（植物の）茎」 - assume「推察する、決めてかかる」「（職に）就く、（役目・任務を）引き受ける、引き継ぐ」
名詞形はassumption「就任、任務の引き継ぎ」
assumption of office as …「～としての就任」…の部分には役職名assumption of the presidency「大統領就任」 - premiership「首相・総理大臣の地位（職）」
名詞 premierは「首相、総理大臣」
prime ministerより文字数が少ない>新聞の見出しなどでたびたび使われます。
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The first and clearest step to show that this party will change is for me to step down.
The first and clearest step
to show that this party will change
is for me to step down.
The first and clearest step to show that this party will change is for me to step down. I will not run for its leadership election.
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★前置詞forは主語を示す
The first and clearest step to show that this party will change is for me to step down.
>for me to step down -> for ->> step downの主語が「私」であることを示
I will not run for its leadership election. forが「目標を示す」用法
That's a good way to put it. I sometimes think of for as a path to a finish line, but I think reaching is a better example for showing the direction.
run for ->> run in
he will not run in the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election
Run for an election has the goal at the finish line of winning the election while I fee that run in an election has the goal of just being in the election process.
run for an electionもrun in an electionもほぼ同じ意味
ニュアンスの違い
・for: 当選という「目標」の方向へ向かって走る、「立候補する」
・in: 選挙という「場の中で」ほかの候補たちと競争しながら走る、「出馬する
★
KISHIDA DECIDES NOT TO RUN IN NEXT LDP LEADERSHIP ELECTION
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced that he will not run in the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election next month. It means Japan will soon have a new prime minister.
(Kishida Fumio / Japanese Prime Minister) “The first and clearest step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step down. I will not run for the LDP's leadership election.”
Kishida's Cabinet has recently struggled with low approval ratings. LDP factions were involved in a fundraising scandal. Kishida has worked to regain public trust in politics by trying to reform the party. He decided to disband its factions and punished lawmakers linked to the scandal. Kishida also revised the political funds control law. But his reforms didn't stem growing public criticism of the government. Kishida assumed the premiership in October 2021. He becomes the eighth longest-serving prime minister in Japan's postwar period.
（2024年8月14日のニュース）
MOUNTAINS OF KYOTO SET ABLAZE FOR SPECTACULAR FESTIVAL
Now for a spectacular, spiritual, and crowd-pleasing festival right in the heart of Japan's ancient capital. Gozan Okuribi is said to date back more than 300 years. Five mountains surrounding Kyoto serve as a grand stage. The bonfires form shapes such as kanji characters and a boat. People in Japan believe deceased relatives come home during the annual Bon holidays. And this festival is like a farewell before they head back to the spirit world.
(Festivalgoer) “My father will have returned for the first time since he died. I'm glad my family and I could give him a send-off together.”
Police say Friday's festival attracted a crowd of about 47,000. That's up more than 20,000 from last year.
（2024年8月17日のニュース）
REPORTS: UKRAINIAN SOUGHT OVER NORD STREAM ATTACK
Prosecutors in Germany have spent nearly two years investigating an act of underwater sabotage. They've been trying to figure out who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Media reports say Germany has now issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national. The pipelines were built to carry natural gas from Russia to Europe. The attack was thought to be an attempt to cut off a source of revenue for the Kremlin. That led many to speculate Ukrainian forces were responsible. The reported suspect has worked as a diving instructor. He's believed to have lived in neighboring Poland but has left the country. German authorities have reportedly identified two other suspects. They say the pair may have been responsible for attaching the explosives to the pipelines. It remains unclear to what extent officials in Ukraine may have been involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
（2024年8月15日のニュース）
TRIAL STARTS IN JAPAN ON USING GUT BACTERIA IN CANCER TREATMENT
Researchers in Japan are running a clinical trial to see if immunotherapy for cancer patients can be improved by intestinal bacteria. Researchers from the National Cancer Center Japan and Juntendo University are working on treatments for stomach and esophageal cancer. Studies overseas have shown that patients unresponsive to immunotherapy drugs have unbalanced intestinal bacteria. The team will transplant bacteria from healthy people into patients before they're given immunotherapy drugs. They say the goal is to verify the safety and efficacy of the method with 45 patients over the next three years.
(Shoji Hirokazu / National Cancer Center Hospital) “We hope the trial shows us what kind of intestinal bacteria patients need to benefit from drug treatment. I hope patients will have more options.”
（2024年8月18日のニュース）
NASA SEEKS BEST MARS FOOD
The U.S. space agency NASA and its Canadian counterpart have held a competition for ideas on how to produce food for a long stay on Mars. Seven teams from universities and companies competed in the finals of the so-called Deep Space Food Challenge in the U.S. state of Ohio. One of the contenders produced a hot pizza in about 20 minutes in an oven that's heated using centrifugal force from a fast-spinning cylinder.
(Participant) “I honestly like this better than any average pizza that I could get at a takeout. I think the astronauts are very lucky.”
The winning team developed a system with automatic temperature and humidity control to raise vegetables and edible insects. They took home 750,000 dollars in prize money.
（2024年8月17日のニュース）