The story behind the production of the "that earthquake model" that is a hot topic on the Internet

A model that explains the mechanism of an earthquake that is currently on display at a museum in Osaka City is attracting a great deal of attention.

The tweet introducing the model received more than 70,000 likes, and the video has been viewed more than 3 million times.

We received comments from all over the world saying, "Easy to understand!" and "Great Model!"

This is the secret story of making such a model.

model, buzz

“ This

is the model.

So he introduced me to the model.

The model expresses the mechanism of earthquakes that occur at plate boundaries (the Nankai Trough earthquake, which is predicted to occur with a probability of 70 to 80% within the next 30 years, is also of this type).

You can see how the landward plate pushed by the seaward plate is strained and bounces back, causing an earthquake.

What's more, tape is affixed here and there to the part where the plate touches, and by being caught or not caught, the same movement is not repeated, but the magnitude of the shaking is scattered.

You can learn that there are various ways that real earthquakes occur.

Some of the visitors also commented that it was easy to understand.

A woman on the tour said,

“This is interesting.

There was also a child staring at the model crazy.

Professor Takashi Furumura of the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo, who is familiar with the mechanism of earthquakes, has given his seal of approval to the model's success.

Professor Komura

: It's easy to imagine the phenomenon of an earthquake because it's a model. The degree of repulsion of the land plate, the amount of friction between the land and sea plates, the amount of rotation of the motor, etc. I think it's full of good ideas."

The model was handmade by the curator

A curator at the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural History created this topical model.

Naoko Koizumi, who specializes in earth science, and Shigetomi Matsuno, who specializes in insects.

The impetus for this was a special exhibition on the theme of earthquakes, which was held four years ago in 2019.

I decided to make a model so that many people could understand the mechanism of earthquakes.

Since the budget is limited, the two decided to make it by hand using readily available materials.

Mr. Koizumi, who specializes in earth science, gathered information and materials and came up with ideas, and Mr. Matsuno, who was in charge of insects and had nothing to do with earthquakes, was in charge of shaping the model by making use of his specialty.

However, the production was more difficult than expected.

Mr. Matsuno, an insect expert

, "When I asked, 'Is this part a straight line?', 'No, I want it to be curved.' As we received various orders, the amount of work became unbelievable." In

fact, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Nature and Science has a tradition of handcrafting the necessary tools and devices by curators.

I have made nets, bamboo tweezers, and aquarium filters.

This time as well, there were no blueprints, so we first made a prototype and repeated trial and error, such as checking the image.

I arrived at the "lid of the aquarium"

The most difficult part was the material for the landward plate, which rebounds and causes earthquakes.

What should I use to reproduce realistic shaking?

After experimenting with various materials, I ended up with lids for the frog and newt aquariums on display at the museum.

By slightly processing the same material as the lid of the aquarium, we have achieved the ideal degree of flexibility.

The model was completed the night before the exhibition.

It took half a year to make.

Mr. Matsuno, an insect specialist,

"I used it only for the special exhibition in 2019, and I didn't think about anything after that. Just coming here and receiving such a favorable reception, I am overwhelmed as a creator."

Earth Science Specialist Mr. Koizumi

"Now, in this way, I would like to see the light of day unexpectedly again, including the phenomena associated with earthquakes that cannot be understood in two dimensions.

" We are proceeding with the production of a more compact model, and in the future, we aim to have it used in school classes.

An opportunity to prepare for an earthquake

A model filled with their thoughts.

Mr. Nakajo, who is in charge of the exhibition at the Osaka City Museum of Natural History, hopes that it will be an opportunity for many people to think about earthquakes.

Mr. Nakajo

: I think that earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided as long as you live in Japan. want"

The model I introduced is on display until February 26th at the "Osaka Underground Exhibition" at the Osaka City Museum of Natural History in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka.