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IPFS News Link • Japan - Earthquake Tsunami Radiation

Citizen science takes on Japan's nuclear establishment

• latimes.com

Hunched over a circuit board, the 37-year-old practiced his soldering technique as Joe Moross, a former L.A. resident with a background in radiation detection, explained how to fit together about $500 worth of components – including a sensor, circuit board, digital display, GPS module, battery and case. 

"My family has a house near a nuclear power plant," Matsushita said, explaining his motivation. "I want to take this there and collect data, and contribute to this pool of information."

"This pool" is a stunning set of data – 50 million readings and counting, all logged and mapped on a website anyone can see – collected by volunteers with self-built equipment. Known as Safecast, the group was founded just days after the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown that shocked Japan in March 2011.

Though the immediate threat of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has waned, interest in Safecast's data has not. The organization, which takes no position on nuclear power, is supported by foundations, grants and individual donations.


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