【推荐1】I was lucky on the first night of the trip, because I had an empty seat next to me. But I found out this wasn’t the best solution for sleeping. I woke up early and kept a journal.

I was excited to see Chicago. I had never been there before and didn't really know what to expect. l was also looking forward to finding somewhere to take a shower. I wouldn't recommend trying to shave (刮胡子) on the train, Even holding a toothbrush by your face could be dangerous with the constant movement of the train, let alone a razor(剃刀).

We had one last stop before Chicago, and I remembered hopping（跳跃）on the platform for a few minutes. It was cold! I was on my way to Cali, and figured I wouldn't need too many warm clothes. Brilliant. I had one hoodie (连帽上衣) and was wearing it for most of the trip. We got on the train and soon things changed from the scenery along the Great Lakes, into a more urban area. On the train, you aren’t presented with “Welcome to...” signs for different cities and towns. You get to see parts of them that aren’t cleaned up and beautified for your view. You get to go to the areas that aren't so pretty, and that’s another reason why I loved the experience.

We rolled past alleys, streets, and soon enough, a lot of other trains. Chicago seems to be quite busy. The amount of tracks and signals was amazing. The sun was rising when we rolled into Union Station's platform. The entire platform is inside a big “garage” for the trains. I grabbed my luggage and made my way inside the station. The architecture of Union Station was really amazing.

【推荐2】If you have a long holiday to spend, where can you go?

Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Less than 85 km – but somehow a whole world away – from Singapore’s shining skyline lies Nikoi Island. Surrounded by white sandy shorelines and vivid coral reefs, Nikoi’s centre is hidden in rainforest, resulting in amazing biodiversity seen in its native plants, animals and bird life. Marrying traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with contemporary design, Nikoi boasts just 15 stilted（建于支柱上的）beach houses, all with breathtaking sea views, guaranteeing privacy and total escape from the daily grind.

Amanpulo, Philippines

The only property on Pamalican Island, the luxurious Amanpulo resort offers extremely impressive accommodation, with only access to over five kilometres of clean coral sand beach. Designed to resemble indigenous Bahay Kubo homes, Amanpulo’s beachside, treetop and hillside villas all feature comfortable decks with hammocks（吊床）from which to enjoy the spectacular views of the greenish-blue sea below. Fill your schedule with Amanpulo’s signature aquatic adventures (including diving, windsurfing and sailing), recharge in the award-winning spa or feast upon locally caught seafood – the choice is yours.

Song Saa, Cambodia

Song Saa’s incredible ocean views, and breathtaking sunsets are a very typical example of pure paradise. Its 24 villas – each with their own sea-view private plunge pool – are designed to reflect the natural beauty of Cambodia’s coastline; built from recycled wood with straw roofs and driftwood furnishings, these presences are stylish proof of Song Saa’s admirable commitment to sustainability（持续）and conservation. You can choose to do as much or as little as you want here, with rainforest tours, island safaris and reef snorkelling just some of the activities on offer that showcase this spectacular destination.

【推荐3】London, with countless famous sites and all manner of food, drink, shopping, history, and culture, is definitely a wonderful city to visit.

Time Zone

Greenwich Mean Time during the winter, British Summer Time during the rest of the year(starting at Daylight Saving Time).

Best Time to Go

The best time to visit London overall is in spring, when the temperatures have warmed up, the sun has started to shine and London’s gardens and parks are looking their best. However, the reality is that the best time to travel to London depends a lot on what you’re looking for. If you’re all about taking a look inside Queen Liz’s palace, you’d better make it in summer, while winter is beautiful and festive for those looking to get their fill of Christmas markets and traditional cheer.

Things to Know

Londoners, and English people in general, have a much different manner of interacting with one another than Americans do--while an American might think nothing of smiling at a stranger they pass on the sidewalk or asking about work in the first few minutes of a conversation, Londoners might consider it impolite or strange. Don’t mistake this for unfriendliness； it’s just a cultural difference. Instead, talk about things like movies, TV shows, books, your travels, and the like, instead of work or family.

How to Get Around

Getting around London is unbelievably easy thanks to the well-maintained and extensive Underground. The Underground, unlike American transportation systems which often pay per ride or pay per length of trip, is paid in zones. Fare also varies based on time of day and the method you use to pay. It’s worth getting an Oyster card to make your life that much simpler.

【推荐2】We use robots for tasks like building cars and sorting mails, but can we use them as stand-up comedians(单口相声演员) in the future? One robot called Rob Thespian has been trying out some jokes.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London organized Rob Thespian’s performances to test whether it could be as funny as a human.

The electronic comedian went on stage for a show with British comedians Andrew O’Neill and Tierney Dourer, performing the same jokes as Dourer but with a few changes—it is a robot after all. The robot has some advantages over human comedians, too.

“We used computer vision and audio software to notice the response of each audience member, something a human comedian cannot do,” said Kalsomines Kate, the robot’s programmer. “The machine used this information to decide who to look at and which gestures to use.”

The robot also has other advantages over human comedians. Impressions of other people and sounds are very popular ways for performers to get laughs, and according to New Scientist reporter Celeste Beaver, the robot can perform recorded sound by simply playing it back. It can also act out programmed pieces from Shakespeare or just about anything else.

“Another of the robot’s advantages is more surprising. Because I feel less empathy(同感) for Rob Thespian than for the human comedians, I feel more relaxed during his performances,” Beaver added. And of course, Rob Thespian is unlikely to feel as nervous as other comedians, or be affected too badly by an audience member shouting at it.

The Queen Mary researchers say they’re most interested in how audiences can be part of live performances. So in the future, we may be watching robots performing exactly the show we want to see. Do you think it’s time for the robot to write some more jokes?

【推荐3】As is known to us all, the stories we share with one another are significant, which shows our wisdom, providing our inspiration and attaching importance to our development. But occasionally people choose not to tell.

Consider the negative effects of not sharing a story in the news: People are wondering if public health officials are holding back too much information about the recent outbreak of Ebola.

There is a danger in holding back stories that ought to be told. Bobette Buster said it was like this, “The fact is, history has shown us that stories not told can become like a dangerous genie (妖怪) left in a bottle. When they are finally uncorked, their power to destroy is set free.”

There are a number of reasons why we hide parts of our story: they often show our weaknesses or expose our disadvantages; they require courage and strength to share, and of course, there are some stories that should be kept secret—especially those that embarrass someone else.

Most of us have two selves: the one we display on the outside and the one we actually are on the inside. And the better we get at hiding the stories that show our true selves, the more damage we may be causing to ourselves and to others.

Honesty and openness is important. It proves we are trustworthy. It displays we are human. We are not perfect or better. It highlights the importance of hard work and personal development. Hard work may not allow us to overcome our disadvantages completely. But with hard work, we do not have to be restricted to our mistakes.

Does this mean we admit every weakness, every disadvantage, and every secret regret to everybody we meet? No, of course not. There is a time and a place and a certain level of relationship necessary for some stories to be told in an appropriate manner.

【推荐1】Pandas are not only a national treasure, but are loved around the world.

Recently, a giant panda cub born in August at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, US, was given the name Xiao Qi Ji, which is translated into English as “little miracle”. The choice was the result of a five-day online vote that drew nearly 135,000 voters in the US. Interestingly, National Public Radio said that in a nod to Chinese tradition, the name was not chosen until 100 days after the birth.

This cub's birth proved to be quite inspiring - and at a time when inspiration was truly needed.

“Xiao Qi Ji's birth is a true miracle that has been so uplifting to all of us during the pandemic(疫情), ”Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said in a video congratulatory message. “We are connected again in the growth of our little ambassador, and in our shared joy and friendship.”

The furry black-and-white animals have played an important role in the country's diplomacy, known as “panda diplomacy (外交)”.

According to the Japanese Royal Annual, the practice dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian sent a pair of pandas to the Japanese emperor.

China revived panda diplomacy in the 1950s when China sent two pandas to the Moscow Zoo. By 1982, China had given 23 pandas to nine different countries. However, most of them have died. China stopped giving away pandas in the early 1980s. Instead, the animals are loaned to other countries. In general, they are to be returned to China after 10 years.

But why do these cute “diplomats” find it hard to survive in other countries? According to Xinhua, their dietary habit is one significant reason. Their nutrition mostly comes from bamboo shoots. Adult giant pandas consume about 40 kilograms of bamboo daily. Pandas can also be quite picky. They refuse to eat bamboo shoots after they have blossomed.

It takes 10 years for a new crop of bamboo to mature, and many countries do not have an environment suitable for bamboo growth. This means that food has to be imported. In August, Calgary Zoo in Canada announced that due to pandemic-related changes in its import laws and quarantine methods, they couldn't provide enough fresh bamboo for pandas. This meant that they had to send two giant pandas back to China.

But countries are still trying their best to facilitate this special type of diplomacy. “We don't own the pandas, but the whole world wants to help save the panda, and we do that through our knowledge exchange,” Steven Monfort, director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, told China Daily.

【推荐2】In the mid­1950s, I was a somewhat bored early­adolescent male student who believed that doing any more than necessary was wasted effort. One day, this approach threw me into embarrassment.

In Mrs Totten's eighth­grade maths class at Central Avenue School in Anderson, Indiana, we were learning to add and subtract decimals (小数)．

Our teacher typically assigned daily homework, which would be recited in class the following day. On most days, our grades were based on our oral answers to homework questions.

Mrs Totten usually walked up and down the rows of desks requesting answers from student after student in the order the questions had appeared on our homework sheets. She would start either at the front or the back of the classroom and work towards the other end.

Since I was seated near the middle of about 35 students, it was easy to figure out which questions I might have to answer. This particular time, I had completed my usual two or three problems according to my calculations.

What I failed to expect was that several students were absent, which threw off my estimate. As Mrs Totten made her way from the beginning of the class, I desperately tried to determine which maths problem I would get. I tried to work it out before she got to me, but I had brain freeze and couldn't function.

When Mrs Totten reached my desk, she asked what answer I'd got for problem No. 14. “I…I didn't get anything，”I answered, and my face felt warm.

“Correct，” she said.

It turned out that the correct answer was zero.

What did I learn that day? First, always do all your homework. Second, in real life it isn't always what you say but how you say it that matters. Third，I would never make it as a mathematician.

If I could choose one school day that taught me the most, it would be that one.

【推荐3】Universal Studios Singapore is Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, featuring 24 rides, shows and attractions in seven themed zones.

Off-Peak: Mon-Thu, except Gazetted School & Public Holidays.

Peak: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays, June, December.

Fun for the Family

Your little ones will be delighted to catch their favourite cartoon characters up-close. Get ready to strike a pose with Elmo, shake hands with the cast from Madagascar or get close to your favourite Minions for the family album. Don’t forget to enjoy exciting shows and have an exciting time on the rides.

Fun for Thrill-Seekers

Don’t miss the world’s tallest roller coasters Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs. CYLON.

Indoor coaster: Revenge of the Mummy and TRANSFORMERS.

The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle.

Enjoy 365 Days of Thrills with an Annual Pass!

Sign up for 365 days of thrills at Universal Studios Singapore and get into the heart of the action in an unimaginable range of movie-themed attractions. Enjoy priority （优先权） access to the park, special events like Halloween Horror Nights, privileges on dining, retail and more!

【推荐1】Thomas Wallin at Cornell University in New York and his colleagues have created soft robotic grippers(机械爪）that are capable of sweating to cool down.

The grippers are capable of a cooling capacity of 107 watts per kilogram,making them more efficient sweaters than mammals.By comparison,humans and horses have a maximum cooling capacity around 35 watts per kilogram.

Each gripper consists of three finger-like parts that bend simultaneously(同步地）to grasp small objects.The 3D-printed grippers are made from hydrogels -materials which can store large amounts of water.Each finger is made from an underlayer with an internal channel to let fluid flow and is capped with a surface layer containing micropores(微孔）。

At cold temperatures,the pores close.At temperatures higher than 30C,the surface layer expands,enabling pressurised fluid from the underlayer to sweat out.The material responds simultaneously to temperature changes without the need for external sensors.

＂Sweating takes advantage of evaporative water loss to rapidly dissipate(使消散）heat,”said Wallin in a press briefing yesterday.Unlike convection or radiation,sweating lowers the temperature of a body below that of its environment,he said.

＂When the local temperature rose above the transition,the pores would simply open on their own,"said Wallin.

When blown by wind from a fan,the sweating robots cooled at a rate of 39.1C per minute, about six times faster than similar devices that are unable to sweat.The technique could be used to help robots operate for long periods of time without overheating,said team-member Robert Shepherd,also at Cornwell.

However,there is currently no means for the robot to replenish(补充）its fluid stores after sweating.This means"the robots that operate via the autonomous sweating that we've created would have to also be able to drink",said Shepherd.

【推荐2】Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father's wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loved experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.

“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you've been playing with his new computer.” said, “He told us not to touch it.”

“He won't find out,” Mark said, “I'll just have a quick look and shut it down.”

Mark had been scolded before for touching his father's equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.

It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It's an experimental model.” his father had explained, “so don't touch it under any circumstances.” But his father's warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later the screen turned into colours, shifting and changing, and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: "SPACE TRANSPORTER."

“Yes!” Mark cried excitedly. “It's a computer game. I knew it! Dad's only been pretending to work. He's really been playing games instead!” A new message appeared on the screen:

“ENTER NAMES

VOYAGER 1:…

VOYAGER 2:…

Mark's fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.

“INPUT ACCEPTED. START TRANSPORT PROGRAM. AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED.”

The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.

“I think we'd better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled, reaching for the power switch. He was really frightened.

But his hand never reached the switch. A single beam of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow, until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed:

“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL. DESTINATION: MARS. RETRIEVE DATE: 2025.”

【推荐3】The exact work of ancient astronomers has led to a modern observation --- our days are longer than they used to be. Not that you’d noticed: The new research in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A shows that it takes the Earth a tiny bit longer these days to complete a single rotation (转动) than it did millions of years ago. It’s the kind of stuff that’s measured in milliseconds per century, but those milliseconds add up. Over the last thousands of years, they’d totaled several hours, which the Los Angeles Times puts this way, “If humanity had been measuring time with an atomic clock that started running back in 700 BC, today that clock would read 7 p.m. when the sun is directly overhead rather than noon. The atomic clock won’t lose a second for 15 billion years.” Maybe more remarkable is that the work is the result of a tireless 40-year research into ancient timekeeping records dating back 2,700 years.

Scientists led by Richard Stephenson of the UK’s Durham University have been studying Babylonian clay tablets, Chinese observations made through the use of water clocks, and Arab astronomical records that tracked solar and lunar eclipses(日/月食). “The most astonishing thing about this study is the fact that we have this information at all,” said a geographer not involved in the study. Researchers are still hoping to find observations from the Incas and the Maya, and to fill in their largest hole between 200 and 600 AD, but they’ve measured the Earth’s deceleration at 1.8 milliseconds per day per century. Given the moon’s gravitational effect on our oceans, the discovery that Earth is decelerating isn’t a surprise, notes the Christian Science Monitor, though astronomers had previously estimated a higher rate.