Have you ever wondered just how dangerous natural disasters can be? And if you were ever faced by such a catastrophe, would you know how to protect yourself?

You can find out at the National Science and Technology Fair.

The country's largest exhibition of its kind is on now at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) and runs until August 22. In Hall 105, visitors will find realistic simulations of earthquakes, fires and explosions, as well as a fierce storm, where they can experience lifelike situations and understand the immense power of natural phenomena.

Not only will fairgoers see what makes the earth quiver, they can also feel how strong temblors can get, as the simulator ramps up from three to seven on the Richter scale. They will also learn how to prepare for a major earthquake.

Equipped with a large screen showing a Holovision movie, the fire and explosion zone subjects viewers to the disorienting sensations of fire, smoke and heat. Here they can find out how to survive these trying circumstances.

A fierce storm is another highlight of this year's exhibition. A three-dimensional theatre creates the illusion of walking into a tempest with debris flying all around.

We cannot control natural phenomena, but can use technology to give advance warning of approaching threats. One system devised in China almost 2,000 years ago shows ancient scientific wisdom in such predictions.

Called a seismograph, the earthquake-measuring instrument was developed by Zhang Heng during the Han Dynasty. Made of bronze, the vase-shape device was used to detect the intensity and direction of ground movements. A long metal pendulum hangs inside the vase and eight dragon heads mounted around it each hold a small ball in their open mouths. The pendulum swings in the direction of an earthquake and hits one of the eight rods inside the vase.

The rod knocks a ball out of a dragon's mouth, which then falls into a toad's mouth and shows the direction of the quake.

Another ancient technological wonder on show is a resonant basin in a dragon pattern called a longxi. It has two hollow handles which create a distinct sound and regular capillary wave patterns along the edge of the water's surface when rubbed with clean, wet hands. With more rubbing, water droplets start to dance like in a fountain.

Various advanced technologies are on display this year. In the "New Wave of Technology" zone, visitors can familiarise themselves with the upcoming radio frequency identification system that will be used to enhance their shopping lifestyle in the future.

They can also try their own experiments with cloning technology to learn how to remove a cell's nucleus with a cloning simulator.

To make studying science more fun, this fair offers children a chance to produce their own solar cell to generate alternative energy and apply their own creation to build a solar-cell boat for a contest.

Like last year, youngsters can fold paper planes and enter their handiwork in a competition. The event is meant to encourage an interest in aerodynamics.

And kids can make friends and play with a variety of robots, developed with state-of-the-art technology.

They can also see and touch the world's lowest-density solid, called aerogel, which was placed on a Nasa spacecraft to capture comet samples and interstellar dust.

Pongpen Sutharoj,

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation