It seems there's nowhere left to run from the microplastic (微塑料的) pollution. A small pilot study recently took microplastics from one of Europe's most distant places, the French Pyrenees mountains, and found as many microplastics in the soil as you might expect from a big city like Paris.
The reason? The wind. Researchers now fear that our planet's winds can pick up microplastics from about anywhere and transport them around the world, sometimes in large quantities. "We'd kind of expected it in a city getting blown around," said Steve Allen from the University of Strathclyde in the UK, one member of the team. "But way up there? We expected to find some," he said. "We didn't expect to find so many."
Microplastics are pieces smaller than a fifth of an inch that have broken down from larger pieces of plastic. The forces of nature don't distinguish (区分) between materials like stones and rocks, and plastics. Wind and waves hit plastics and break them down just the same, making them into dust that can then get swept up by the gentle wind and into the atmosphere. It's a continuing environmental concern, as more and more microplastics find their way into our food and air.
The fact that microplastics can be found in large numbers even in distant places is a sign that is has become a global pollution problem. Steve Allen and his team set up collectors 4,500 feet up in the mountains for five months to trap plastic particles (粒子) as they fell to the Earth. The team found that an average of 365 plastic particles fell on their square meter collector daily. This included bits from plastic bags, plastic film and packaging material, among other plastic sources. Many of these materials were small enough to be breathed in without even realizing it. They're in the air, and they're everywhere.
Virtual reality is quickly becoming the new technological frontier. Tech companies everywhere seem to be racing to get their foot in the VR door. However, virtual reality has a set of challenges and hurdles that it must overcome in order to work well. It should be noted that VR is heavily dependent on being very fast, very accurate and very good-looking. If it isn't, the viewer will feel motion sick or disconnected from the world that VR is trying to create.
Now that we can actually build VR headsets that begin to meet these requirements, we are seeing a rising interest in VR. As it rises, so does the interest in creating new media to be experienced in using virtual reality. Journalism is a medium built on relevance. Journalists should always be finding new ways to tell stories and deliver content. It is a goldmine for storytelling. What better ways to tell a story to someone than to put them right in the center of it?
Virtual reality is a powerful tool for journalists. The consumer isn't just reading or watching something play out; they're experiencing it. The immersive nature of VR allows for people to connect with the subject matter on a much deeper level than just reading about it. The experience is emotional, speaking more to our instinct than our intellect. The possibilities for storytelling here are legion, and any storyteller wanting to do something more interesting than their peers should surely be considering the sheer power of VR.
The question of virtual reality, though, is not how powerful it is. That is immediately apparent. The question of VR is one of viability and availability. Telling stories must be easy to do, and access to those stories must be readily available. This is the biggest challenge that VR faces. If the tools to tell a story with VR aren't easy to pick up and learn, VR will fail. If VR technology isn't both top-of-the-line and affordable, VR will fail.
Accessibility was one concern for Thomas Hallaq, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, who said that current VR technology, is pretty exclusive right now. Despite that, he said he doesn't think the exclusivity of this technology will be a problem in the long run.
"I think it's very promising," Hallaq said. "We're seeing more technology become accessible, and more people having access to that technology. Just look at smartphones." Like radio, TV and the Internet before it, virtual reality will change the way we tell stories.
Some songs tend to get stuck in our heads more easily than others. When a song becomes super popular, we say it's "gone viral". Those words might be more accurate than we ever imagined.
David Earn is an applied mathematician. One day, he talked with musician and scientist Matt Woolhouse. Woolhouse found some songs had been downloaded thousands of times over just a few weeks or months. Those patterns looked familiar to Earn, who studies disease epidemics. And those download data resembled the kind of data he saw with disease transmission(传播). They wondered whether that kind of spread from person to person could be how people decide that they like particular songs.
Earn had been working with a mathematical model to predict how diseases spread during an epidemic. His team now used the same model with the song data. They looked at the 1,000 most downloaded songs in the United Kingdom, dividing them by type.
For popular songs, downloads increased rapidly over time, much like a contagious(传染性的) disease infecting a group of susceptible people. Some types were more contagious than others, the team reported in 2023."The group of people who connect and like folk music isn't the same as the group of people who like heavy metal or dance music. They're different social groups," Earn says. "And some of those social groups are much more likely to share things quickly."
Surprisingly, pop music wasn't the most contagious. It spread, but not as quickly as some other types. Electronic music, on the other hand, was super contagious. Earn thinks these listeners are probably super connected on the web and share things more than people who prefer other types of music.
"We think of contagion as a strictly negative thing," Earn says. "But that same process of contagion functions for other things in life," he now concludes, "like sharing favorite songs with your closest friends."
Since 2001, robotic tools have revolutionized the practice of surgery. They have greatly reduced the stress and physical demands normally placed on surgeons and have made certain procedures possible.
One example is "keyhole surgery", or minimally invasive （微创） surgery, which normally requires surgeons to stand at awkward angles and make difficult movements with their hands to make a cut inside the patient. But in June 2022, surgeon James Ansell used 3D glasses and two joysticks （操纵杆） to control four robotic arms to perform a procedure to remove a cancerous tumor （肿瘤）. "My colleague said . that this feels like cheating, " Ansell said to The Guardian.
Another area of surgery that has had major technological breakthroughs in recent years is telesurgery. Telesurgery, or remote surgery, is the use of technology that allows a surgeon to perform a procedure on a patient not in the same physical location.
Normally, telesurgery relies on a wired connection due to concerns of harming the patient if a wireless connection were to drop during surgery, but China made several advancements in wireless telesurgery based on 5G technology.
China achieved the first 5G-based remote operation in March 2019 involving a brain surgery procedure between a surgeon in Sanya and a patient in Beijing, a distance totaling nearly 3, 000 kilometers, reported CGTN. More recently, a team of surgeons successfully completed remote micron-level eye surgery on rabbits located in a different city, reported China Daily. The rabbits were at the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, whereas the surgical team who operated on them via a 5G robot were at the Hainan Eye Hospital in Haikou, Hainan province.
Looking to the future, people hope that remote surgery could become commonplace to help heal injured soldiers on the battlefield while keeping surgeons at a safe distance. Some even believe that robotic systems, combined with AI, could one day surpass human surgeons. In 2022, engineers at Johns Hopkins University in the US used their Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot （STAR） to suture （缝合） the ends of a severed intestine （断肠） in four pigs, showing that certain procedures can be done autonomously by robots.
But, given current technological limitations and the high costs of these robots which can cost millions of dollars, the complete robot takeover of surgery may still be a while off.
Top-Rated Attractions in Australia
The Glasshouse
It makes a great first stop in Port Macquarie before you head out to tour the town. Wander into the building, and you'll find the Glasshouse Visitor Information Centre, with details about all the things to see and do in Port Macquarie. Then you can decide what you'd like to see and do there. So this centre is strongly recommended. After visiting the centre, you can admire exhibitions in the art gallery. It also hosts pop concerts and classical ballets.
Port Macquarie Beaches
Port Macquarie is famous for various great beaches. Town Beach is fantastic for surfing and has easy access to downtown shops. Lake Cathie Beach has slides and trampolines(蹦床), which have great appeal for little kids. Shelly Beach is a great pick for people enjoying good scenery. And there is also dog-friendly Nobbys Beach.
The Koala Hospital
The Koala Hospital holds sick and injured koalas and conducts research into saving koala populations. Wandering around the recovery yards is a great way to see the koalas clearly. It'll be your unforgettable experience in Port Macquarie. Entry to the Koala Hospital is free. But the donation is particularly expected, which will go directly back into helping the koalas.
Roto House
Next to the Koala Hospital, Roto House sits in a bushland setting and provides a view of early life in Port Macquarie. This beautifully restored late Victorian home was once the home of John Flynn, one of Port Macquarie's earliest settlers. And it's one of the few remaining 19th-century wood homes. All the rooms are set up as they would have been. This character is thought highly of by people.
It can be hard to be enthusiastic about your job after you've been at it for a while. This doesn't necessarily mean you need a new job. There are so many different things you can try to help make your present job feel a little more exciting.
Change your routine.The first thing in the morning for you to do is to check your emails. Do you think you really need to do so? Is there a reason why teams always meet at a certain time? Start by questioning the way you've gotten used to doing things.
Don't be serious with yourself. It's important to take your work seriously, but that doesn't mean you have to take yourself too seriously. Happiness matters.So, allow yourself to have some laughs and some fun with friends at work from time to time.
Take a vacation. Just because you feel bored at work, that doesn't mean you aren't also super busy and maybe even stressed. Routine tasks can be both dull and stressful. Stress and tension can affect feelings. Maybe you'd feel less bored at work after having a bit of time to relax yourself.
A really effective way to add a little freshness to your life is to devote yourself to learning something new every day. It doesn't have to be something big, or something hard. You could just watch a Ted Talk video about a topic that interests you, for example. It doesn't even have to relate directly to your job. Just learning one new thing each day should help bring a little excitement to your routine.
A. Then, change it up a bit.
B. Learn something new every day.
C. And, it's important to have fun at work.
D. Make more friends while working hard.
E. Maybe a vacation would do you some good.
F. You don't have to quit your old job to learn something difficult.
G. One of the first steps toward shaking things up is to look at your daily pattern.
Staying motivated is key to achieving personal and professional success. However, it's common to experience waves in motivation levels. To overcome these challenges and maintain a high level of motivation, we've compiled practical tips that can help you stay on track and achieve your goals.
＊Set clear and specific goals. Having clear and specific goals is essential for keeping motivated. Define what you want to achieve and break it down into smaller tasks. This way, you'll have a clear road map. .
＊Stay inspired with role models. The people you spend time with greatly affect your mindset. Get yourself close to individuals who are supportive, positive, and motivated themselves. . During challenging times, they can also help you maintain a positive outlook.
＊. Understanding the underlying reasons behind your goals can greatly inspire your motivation. Reflect on why you want to achieve something and how it agrees with your values and wishes. Having a strong sense of purpose will serve as a constant reminder and fuel your determination.
＊Break tasks into manageable parts. . Break them into manageable parts. And then, focus on one step at a time. This way, you'll experience a sense of progress, booming your motivation and making the task feel more achievable.
＊Celebrate milestones and progress. Acknowledging your achievements, no matter how small, is key to staying motivated. Celebrate milestones and progress along the way. . Or you can take a moment to reflect on how far you've come. The positive strengthening will keep your motivation levels high.
Staying motivated requires intentional effort and self-reflection. With the right strategies, you can overcome obstacles and maintain your drive towards success.
A.Find your why
B.Pay attention to people around you
C.Their energy and encouragement can inspire you
D.Overloaded tasks can quickly beat your motivation
E.It could be treating yourself to something you enjoy
F.Imagine the positive emotions and sense of accomplishment
G.It can fuel your motivation as you achieve each milestone
It's normal for friends to experience conflict, disagreements, and even fight. You can't always agree on everything. Most times conflict with a friend is easily solved. But in some cases, the disagreement and the conflict grow leading to anger, sadness and even the end of a friendship. Learning to handle the conflict with friends in a healthy way is beneficial for both sides. .
Calm down.
The first thing is to calm down. . Prevent further damage to the relationship by taking a moment to calm down. Get some alone time. Tell your friend that you need a moment to clear your head. You can either go for a walk or just take a warm bath.
.
It may feel as if it helps you explain your concerns more thoroughly if you bring in related examples from past events. Avoid this at all costs. Past issues for discussion only make things worse. Remember it's important to focus on the issue at hand not past events.
Work towards a compromise.
Unfortunately, some people believe that a compromise means a "lose/lose situation" because each person has to give up something. While this is true, every healthy relationship usually involves compromise and adjusting to others' needs or wants. . Just "give a little" to allow your friend to "get a little".
Be careful of unhealthy friendships.
It's generally a good idea to work through conflicts with friends. But it isn't in your best interest if the friendship causes more harm than good. , you need to re-evaluate if this friendship is worth keeping and consider when to walk away.
A. It takes two to make it work
B. In a heated situation, it's easy to say or do things we later regret
C. Avoid explaining your concerns repeatedly
D. Remain on the current matter
E. Here are some tips
F. It's important to surround yourself with people who positively influence your life
G. If you are in a friendship that is based more on conflict or you are the one always apologizing
Orange chicken, salt and pepper chips, fried rice... Max Burns lists several typical Western-style Chinese dishes that disappoint him. For Burns who 1 his childhood in China, those cuisines are far from genuine. They are invented to 2 Western preferences.
Actually, many Westerners regard that, 3 type of dishes as the whole of Chinese cuisine. The average Westerners are not as 4 and educated as they could be. That is why Burns 5 trying to show Chinese food by vlogging about making Chinese dishes at home.
The food adventure has 6 Burns grow into an influencer with over three million subscribers worldwide today and helped shift some people's ideas about Chinese food. His friends told him they were shocked by the 7 of Chinese cuisine and it took them a long time to figure out different categories of Chinese cuisine.
8 , when Burns first started vlogging in 2016 after returning to England, cooking Chinese food at home was a then "stupid idea", because he was never 9 of cooking. At the time, most of his 10 centered more on explaining aspects of Chinese culture. However, later, when Burns couldn't 11 outside, he had to learn to cook. The moment he tried to learn Chinese cooking, he 12 fell in love with it. "The more I learned about Chinese cooking, the 13 I got into it," he recalls.
The cooking journey also serves to 14 his connection with China, even though he has left China for years. Burns appreciates the experiences of living in China, 15 him to teach about Chinese cuisine and build a cross-cultural bridge between the East and the West.
The traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Jingzhe（惊蛰）, or Awakening of Insects, （fall）on March 5 and ends on March 20 this year.
The solar term signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall, （mark）the third solar term in the solar year. Its name alludes to （暗指）the awakening of animals （sleep）in winter and everything beginning to come back life.
Jingzhe is an extremely important time for farmers and （see）as the beginning of the busiest time for agricultural work. Old Chinese （say）such as "once Jingzhe comes, spring plowing（春耕）never rests" reveal the importance of this term to farmers. During this period, most parts of China experience a rapid increase in temperatures and a marked increase in sunshine, provide the ideal conditions for farming activities.
Eating pears around Awakening of Insects is widely practiced custom in China. One theory behind the practice is that as the Chinese word for "pear" sounds the same as the character meaning "to leave", consuming pears during this solar term showed people's wish to drive away pests from crops so that there would be a good harvest throughout the year. （additional）, according to theories of traditional Chinese medicine, the sweet, juicy and cold fruit can be good for the lungs （prevent） coughs as the weather warms up and the air becomes dry.
Trends popular among the youth such as "China chic" and the growing influence of young consumers have driven the development of hanfu industry in recent years. Among the various (style), the horse face skirt has emerged as the most popular item.
(combine) classical elegance with modern simplicity, the horse face skirt is said to perfectly suit the contemporary culture and lifestyle of young people, making a fashion icon (标志). This trend has gained popularity in Luoyang city, Central China's Henan province, numerous performers recently showcased these beautiful skirts in their acts, with many visitors alike (dress) in the elegant horse face skirts. In Caoxian county of Shandong province, one of the country's hanfu production and sales centers, the sales the horse face skirts during last Spring Festival holiday (increase) dozens of times compared to usual volumes. Actually, the skirt has become a very popular (choose) for gifts.
The current popularity of hanfu in the country is believed (indicate) more than a fashion trend; it (represent) a deeper connection to Chinese tradition and cultural identity.
Visitors who travel to jiayu county, Xianning city, in Central China's Hubei province for the first time are often impressed with its food offerings, especially the fish and lotus roots (莲藕). Almost every restaurant offers dishes (feature) these ingredients (原料).
Xiao Wo, a poet from Beijing, once remarked on how amazing it is that some restaurants can make an entire table of dishes either ingredient.
Located in the south of Hubei, (know) as a province of a thousand lakes, Jiayu covers an area of 1,017 square kilometers, and about one-third of that (cover) in water. It is home to 15 types of fish and produces 60, 000 tons of lotus roots a year.
Jiayu, literally means "good fish" in Chinese, is one of two counties named after the water creatures. other is Yutai in Shandong province.
Jiayu (get) its name from the following lines of the poem The South Produces Good Fish from The Book of Songs, the (old) existing collection of Chinese poetry, dating back to between the 11th and 6th century BC．
"The south produces good fish, and the fish swim and wag their tails. There is fine wine at the (gentlemen) large impressive meals, and guests feast and drink ⑩ (merry)."
Aside from its delicious dishes, Jiayu is also famous for its lotus roots, wudu (a clay instrument) and culture of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) period.
