Allegedly, Anthony Tu, Renowned Toxicologist, Passes Away in Hawaii

According to a recent report, Anthony Tu, a celebrated Taiwan-born toxicologist, has reportedly died in Hawaii at the age of 94. His family shared the news this Wednesday, leading many to reflect on his significant contributions to science and crisis management. Tu was not just any toxicologist; he played a crucial role in investigating the infamous sarin gas attacks attributed to the AUM Shinrikyo cult in Japan during the 1990s.

Tu was a professor emeritus at Colorado State University and was instrumental in helping Japanese authorities analyze the deadly nerve gas used in the Matsumoto incident in 1994 and the notorious Tokyo subway attack in 1995. His expertise in chemical and biological weapons made him a go-to figure for crucial investigations. Born in 1930 in Taiwan, then under Japanese colonial rule, he later earned his doctorate from Stanford University in 1961, positioning himself as a leading expert in his field.

In a notable twist, Tu had ongoing discussions with Tomomasa Nakagawa, a former senior member of AUM, who was executed in 2018 for his involvement in the sarin attacks. The two even co-authored a research paper focusing on the VX nerve agent, which drew attention after the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in 2017.

Tu was fluent in Japanese and even served as a visiting professor at the Chiba Institute of Science. His contributions to crisis management studies in Japan were recognized when he received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun in 2009. His legacy continues to inspire many in the fields of toxicology and public safety.