レアジョブ英会話 Daily News Article Podcast

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レアジョブオリジナルの英会話ニュース教材です。世界の時事ネタを中心に、ビジネスから科学やスポーツまで、幅広いトピックのニュースを毎日更新しています。本教材を通して、ビジネスで使える実用的な英会話表現や英単語を身に付けることができます。

  1. 28M AGO

    Could underwater tsunamis beneath Antarctica’s glaciers be speeding up ice melt

    A major international research mission, led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is underway to investigate a newly discovered phenomenon: powerful underwater tsunamis triggered by collapsing Antarctic glaciers. These hidden waves are created when icebergs calve (shed and collapse) from the fronts of glaciers, and they can reach several meters in height beneath the ocean surface. They create bursts of mixing that churn together different layers of seawater. This process is now understood to be a critical driver in redistributing heat, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the polar oceans, with profound implications for marine life and global climate regulation. Previously, ocean mixing in the region was thought to be primarily caused by wind, tides, and surface cooling. However, early data suggest the force of these calving-generated tsunamis rivals wind-driven mixing in certain areas and exceeds tidal influences in moving ocean heat. The discovery was made when researchers on a previous BAS expedition collected ocean data immediately before and after a calving event. Now, scientists based at Rothera Research Station and aboard the polar ship RRS Sir David Attenborough are conducting a targeted study. The team is deploying a suite of advanced technology, including satellites, drones, underwater robots, and moorings, to capture data from dangerous, inaccessible glacier fronts. The latest technology and underwater imaging are helping scientists, as Dr. Alex Brearley, an oceanographer from the British Antarctic Survey, explains, “At the moment we're waiting for confirmation that our controller back in Cambridge can actually see this. What I always think is really cool about one of these things is I can be sitting in the office in Cambridge, which is 10,000 km away; it's kind of remarkable.” The research aims to determine how different calving events generate tsunamis and how the resulting mixing affects polar ecosystems and climate. Studying deep ice cores is one way scientists can monitor climate change over centuries. There seems to be clearer evidence that human activity has accelerated climate change in the 20th century. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    3 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Luxury supercars raise cash for charity at Detroit Auto Show

    Sparkling Porsches and Jaguars are just some of the sports cars and luxury vehicles that are helping to raise money for a local Detroit charity. About 500 guests spent $250 per person to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s most exclusive cars. The Gallery, a fundraising event for a local food bank, took place in January on the eve of the annual Detroit Auto Show. Attendees got the chance to see dozens of ultra-luxury vehicles, including from Bentley, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Pagani and Pininfarina. Sam Klemet, Detroit Auto Show's executive director, says, “We're at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, and this evening we're hosting a special event that we call The Gallery fundraiser. And we're doing it in support of Forgotten Harvest, which helps fight food insecurity in Metro Detroit.” Forgotten Harvest delivers 65,000 kg of surplus food per day to local charities five days a week, providing families in need with fresh and nutritious food free of charge. Visitors strolled through the showroom, pausing every so often to pose for a selfie or grab a bite to eat. Sam Klemet adds, “We have more than 40 different vehicles that are on display as a part of our Gallery, and that includes nameplates like Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Pininfarina. And so, we have all these kinds of brands. They're so special, because you don't see these cars on the street every day. A lot of these are one of 50 that we've seen in The Gallery, and they're very special. They're rare, they're expensive, and it's not something you get to see up close and personal every day. So, to give people close access really makes for a unique night.” It's all for a good cause, but for petrol heads attending the Gallery it's a great chance to get up close to some of their dream cars. Max Muncey, an attendee, says, “It's really exciting. I mean, we're surrounded by multi-million-dollar vehicles, great energy in the room, and it's just the kick-off for a great auto show week.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  3. 2D AGO

    Average US long-term mortgage rate hits the lowest point in more than 3 years

    The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate is now down to its lowest level in more than three years. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage eased to 6.06%, down from 6.16%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said. One year ago, the rate averaged 7.04%. The last time the average rate was lower was September 15, 2022, when it was at 6.02%. Meanwhile, borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell, dropping to 5.38% from 5.46% last month. A year ago, that average rate was at 6.27%, Freddie Mac said. Lower mortgage rates boost homebuyers' purchasing power, good news for home shoppers at a time when the housing market remains in a deep slump after years of soaring prices and elevated mortgage rates have shut out many aspiring homeowners. Uncertainty over the economy and job market is also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines. Mortgage rates began easing in July in anticipation of a series of Fed rate cuts, which began in September and continued last December. The Fed doesn't set mortgage rates, but when it cuts its short-term rate, that can signal lower inflation or slower economic growth ahead, which can drive investors to buy U.S. government bonds. That can help lower yields on long-term U.S. Treasurys, which can result in lower mortgage rates. The pullback in mortgage rates helped drive sales of previously occupied U.S. homes higher on a monthly basis for the last four months of 2025. Even so, home sales remained stuck at a 30-year low last year, extending the housing market's slump into its fourth year. Lower mortgage rates have been helpful for home shoppers who can afford to buy at current rates. The median U.S. monthly housing payment fell to $2,413 in the four weeks ending January 11, according to Redfin. That's a 5.5% drop from the same period a year earlier and near the lowest level in two years. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  4. 3D AGO

    Trump administration funding threats set child care providers and parents on edge

    Without federal subsidies, Breyanna Rodriguez's child care bill for her four children would run $4,400 a month, which would eat up most of her husband's paycheck. With child care assistance, Rodriguez, who lives in Cortland, Illinois, is able to work part-time and take community college classes while she prepares for nursing school. Now, citing concerns about fraud, the Trump administration has said it will withhold frozen federal child care funding for Illinois and other states while it conducts an extensive review. If she loses her subsidy, Rodriguez said, "I'll have to drop out of work. I'll have to drop out of school." “I just wish this administration didn't make such a drastic leap,” she said. “If families can't get child care subsidies, that's going to impact so many people in so many horrible ways that I don't think they're grasping.” The Trump administration's crackdown on the $12 billion Child Care and Development Fund, which subsidizes care for 1.4 million children from low-income households, has rattled child care providers and families that rely on the aid money. Citing unspecified allegations of fraud, Trump administration officials are requiring states to provide extra documentation before receiving the money. It's unclear if or when child care providers and families like Rodriguez's would feel the pinch. The administration announced that state officials will be required to provide additional information to receive the federal child care money. In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would freeze the funding for child care subsidies until state officials provided even more exhaustive documentation. The department said it also would withhold other federal safety net money for those states—California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York—including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which supports low-income parents with children under 18 with direct payments and by providing them with child care. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  5. 4D AGO

    Apple calls on Google to help smarten up Siri and bring other AI features to the iPhone

    Apple will rely on Google to help finish its efforts to smarten up its virtual assistant Siri and bring other artificial intelligence features to the iPhone as the trendsetting company plays catch-up in technology's latest craze. The deal allowing Apple to tap into Google's AI technology was disclosed in a joint statement from the Silicon Valley powerhouses. The partnership will draw upon Google's Gemini technology to customize a suite of AI features dubbed "Apple Intelligence" on the iPhone and other products. After Google and others took the early lead in the AI race, Apple promised to plant its first big stake in the field with an array of new features that were supposed to be coming to the iPhone in 2024 as part of a ballyhooed software upgrade. But many of Apple's AI features remain in the development phase, while Google and Samsung have been rolling out more of the technology on their own devices. One of the most glaring AI omissions on the iPhone has been a promised overhaul of Siri that was supposed to transform the often-confused assistant into a more conversational and versatile multitasker. Google even subtly mocked the iPhone's AI shortcomings in ads promoting the release of its latest Pixel phone last summer. Apple's AI missteps prompted the Cupertino, California, company to acknowledge last year that its Siri upgrade wouldn't happen until some point during 2026. Getting Apple to endorse its AI implicitly represents a coup for Google, which has been steadily releasing more features built on its Gemini technology in its search engine and Gmail. The progress has intensified Google's competition with OpenAI and its ChatGPT chatbot, which already has a deal with Apple that makes it an option on the iPhone. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  6. 5D AGO

    Mattel adds an autistic Barbie to doll line devoted to showcasing diversity and inclusion

    Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie as the newest member of its line, intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive. Mattel said it developed the autistic doll over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and better media representation of people with autism. The goal: to create a Barbie that reflected some of the ways autistic people may experience and process the world around them, according to a Mattel news release. That was a challenge because autism encompasses a broad range of behaviors and difficulties that vary widely in degree, and many of the traits associated with the disorder are not immediately visible, according to Noor Pervez, who is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's community engagement manager and worked closely with Mattel on the Barbie prototype. Like many disabilities, “autism doesn’t look any one way,” Pervez said. “But we can try and show some of the ways that autism expresses itself.” For example, the eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact, he said. The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping, and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel. The development team debated whether to dress the doll in a tight or a loose-fitting outfit, Pervez said. Some autistic people wear loose clothes because they are sensitive to the feel of fabric seams, while others wear figure-hugging garments to give them a sense of where their bodies are, he said. The team ended up choosing an A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact. The doll also wears flat shoes to promote stability and ease of movement, according to Mattel. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  7. 6D AGO

    Letter writing enjoys a revival as fans seek connection and a break from screen time

    At a time when productivity means optimizing every second and screens blur the line between work and home, some people are slowing down and disconnecting by looking at communication devices from the past. Tactile activities ranging from writing letters and typewriter clubs to TikTok communities showcasing calligraphy skills and wax seals are giving retro writing instruments a resurgence. More than quaint throwbacks, the pursuits provide their enthusiasts with opportunities to reduce their technology use, be more intentional with time, and build meaningful connections with others. "I feel as though my pen pals are my friends. I don't think of them much differently than if I were chatting with a friend on the phone, in a coffee shop, or at another person's house," said Melissa Bobbitt, 42, a devoted letter-writer who corresponds with about a dozen people from her home in Claremont, California, and has had up to 40 pen pals at one time. "Focusing on one person and really reading what they are saying, and sharing what's on your heart is almost like a therapy session." In a society shaped by constant availability, hands-on hobbies like writing letters and scrapbooking require focus and patience. The act of picking up a pen, sealing an envelope with wax, and laying out pages may yield aesthetically pleasing results, but it also creates a space for reflection. Stephania Kontopanos, a 21-year-old student in Chicago, said it can be hard to put her phone and computer away, especially when it seems all of her friends and peers are on social media and her classes and personal life revolve around being online. "There are times when I'm with my friends and at dinner, I'll realize we are all on our phones," Kontopanos said, adding that she tries to put her phone down at those moments. Writing and sending letters is nostalgic for KiKi Klassen, who lives in Ontario, Canada. In October 2024, Klassen launched the Lucky Duck Mail Club, a subscription-based monthly mail service that sends participants a piece of her art, an inspiring quote, and a message. She says her membership includes more than 1,000 people across, at most, 36 countries. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    2 min

  8. FEB 10

    Jellyfish sleep similar to humans despite having no brain, study finds

    Sleep is usually associated with complex animals with brains and nervous systems. But new research suggests it may be far older and far more basic than previously thought. Scientists at Bar Ilan University in Israel studying jellyfish and sea anemones have found evidence of sleep-like states in animals without brains, helping explain why sleep may have evolved in the first place. Unlike humans and other mammals, jellyfish have no brain and no eyes. Instead, it has a simple nerve net, a loose network of neurons distributed throughout its body. Despite this basic anatomy, scientists have found that jellyfish follow regular cycles of activity and rest that meet the biological criteria used to define sleep. To study this behavior, researchers monitored jellyfish and sea anemones continuously using infrared video, allowing them to observe movement during both day and night without disturbing natural light conditions. “The key finding is that you have a very basic organism, doesn’t have a brain or eyes. They still can sleep,” says Oren Levy, a life sciences professor at Bar Ilan University. The researchers found that jellyfish sleep for roughly eight hours a day, mostly at night, with short rest periods around midday. Sea anemones, another simple marine animal, also showed clear sleep patterns, though their rest occurred mainly during the day. To confirm these were true sleep states rather than simple inactivity, scientists tested how the animals responded to stimulation. The most significant findings came when researchers examined what was happening inside the animals’ nerve cells. Using specialized imaging techniques, they measured DNA damage within neurons during wakefulness and sleep. DNA carries the genetic instructions that allow cells to function. Damage to DNA can occur as a result of normal metabolic activity, environmental stress, or prolonged cellular activity. If that damage is not repaired, it can impair cell function or lead to cell death. In both jellyfish and sea anemones, DNA damage in neurons increased while the animals were awake. During sleep, levels of damage decreased, suggesting that sleep allows time for cellular repair processes to take place. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

    3 min
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レアジョブオリジナルの英会話ニュース教材です。世界の時事ネタを中心に、ビジネスから科学やスポーツまで、幅広いトピックのニュースを毎日更新しています。本教材を通して、ビジネスで使える実用的な英会話表現や英単語を身に付けることができます。

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