A: Hey there, any news from the ocean world lately?
B: Not much, what's up?
A: Did you hear about our little buddy URASHIMA? It went deeper than ever before!
B: No way! How deep did it go this time?
A: All the way down to 8,000 meters! That's pretty amazing, right?
B: Absolutely! But wait, it stayed there for over a day?
A: Yep! It was a trial in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench. Before the upgrade, it only mapped up to 3,500 meters deep.
B: Wow, that's some major update! What can it do now?
A: Now it can handle greater pressure and explore even deeper parts of the Japan Trench. That's where scientists expect a big quake.
B: Incredible! I can't wait to see what they find. When will it start regular operations?
A: As early as next fiscal year, 2026. Can't wait either! It's a giant leap for quake research and deep-sea science.
B: Definitely! Deep sea exploration never gets old, does it?
----------------
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology says its unmanned deep-sea probe reached a depth of as low as 8,000 meters.
Agency officials say the URASHIMA stayed more than 24 hours at a depth of 7,200 to 7,500 meters during a trial in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench this month.
The probe had been used to map the seafloor down to 3,500 meters deep. After being upgraded to withstand greater pressure, it is able to go deeper.
The new capability will allow the URASHIMA to check the Japan Trench, where a massive earthquake is expected to strike, and most of deepest waters within the country's exclusive economic zone.
The agency plans to begin full operation of the vehicle as early as fiscal 2026.
An agency official says it is a great step forward in research on quakes and deep-sea science.
----------------
Quiz 1:
What was the original depth limit for the URASHIMA probe?
A. 8,000 meters
B. 3,500 meters
C. 7,200 to 7,500 meters
D. Unknown
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2:
What upgrade allowed the URASHIMA probe to go deeper?
A. Mapping the seafloor
B. The ability to withstand greater pressure
C. Full operation as early as fiscal 2026
D. Research on quakes and deep-sea science
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3:
Where will the URASHIMA probe be able to check with its new capability?
A. The Izu-Ogasawara Trench
B. Japan Trench and most of deepest waters within the country's exclusive economic zone
C. The seafloor down to 3,500 meters deep
D. Unknown
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 3: B
B: Not much, what's up?
A: Did you hear about our little buddy URASHIMA? It went deeper than ever before!
B: No way! How deep did it go this time?
A: All the way down to 8,000 meters! That's pretty amazing, right?
B: Absolutely! But wait, it stayed there for over a day?
A: Yep! It was a trial in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench. Before the upgrade, it only mapped up to 3,500 meters deep.
B: Wow, that's some major update! What can it do now?
A: Now it can handle greater pressure and explore even deeper parts of the Japan Trench. That's where scientists expect a big quake.
B: Incredible! I can't wait to see what they find. When will it start regular operations?
A: As early as next fiscal year, 2026. Can't wait either! It's a giant leap for quake research and deep-sea science.
B: Definitely! Deep sea exploration never gets old, does it?
----------------
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology says its unmanned deep-sea probe reached a depth of as low as 8,000 meters.
Agency officials say the URASHIMA stayed more than 24 hours at a depth of 7,200 to 7,500 meters during a trial in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench this month.
The probe had been used to map the seafloor down to 3,500 meters deep. After being upgraded to withstand greater pressure, it is able to go deeper.
The new capability will allow the URASHIMA to check the Japan Trench, where a massive earthquake is expected to strike, and most of deepest waters within the country's exclusive economic zone.
The agency plans to begin full operation of the vehicle as early as fiscal 2026.
An agency official says it is a great step forward in research on quakes and deep-sea science.
----------------
Quiz 1:
What was the original depth limit for the URASHIMA probe?
A. 8,000 meters
B. 3,500 meters
C. 7,200 to 7,500 meters
D. Unknown
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2:
What upgrade allowed the URASHIMA probe to go deeper?
A. Mapping the seafloor
B. The ability to withstand greater pressure
C. Full operation as early as fiscal 2026
D. Research on quakes and deep-sea science
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3:
Where will the URASHIMA probe be able to check with its new capability?
A. The Izu-Ogasawara Trench
B. Japan Trench and most of deepest waters within the country's exclusive economic zone
C. The seafloor down to 3,500 meters deep
D. Unknown
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 3: B
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Summary
Japan Agency's unmanned probe URASHIMA reached a depth of 8,000 meters during a trial in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench. Previously, it could only map up to 3,500 meters deep. The upgrade allows it to withstand greater pressure and explore deeper parts of the Japan Trench, particularly where a massive
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ID: b62dad53-5c30-402b-a4fc-3d9a0db4983d
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250730_12/
Date: July 30, 2025
Created: 2025/07/31 07:02
Updated: 2025/12/08 03:09
Last Read: 2025/07/31 07:44