【推荐3】Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for thousands of years, allowing an ecosystem to develop independently. However, since the 1990s, the last wild land on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a study newly conducted shows the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could destroy that area’s bird population.

We mainly hear about zoonoses（动物传染病）— diseases like Ebola and pig flu — that are spread from animals to humans, yet humans can also infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that Antarctic animals, which had no recorded reverse（反向的）cases of zoonoses, were not affected by the danger due to the extreme environment. But microbiologists Marta Cerda-Cuellar at the Research Center for Animal Health, was not convinced this was true.

So she and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves. This was no easy task. It took the scientists four years to collect waste samples of 666 adult birds from 24 local species. However, it was well worth the effort. The results of their study showed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste.

“The bacteria, which are a common cause for infections in humans, don’t usually cause death in wild animals,” says Cerda-Cuellar. “However, the pathogens（病原体）that arrive to highly sensitive populations could cause extinction of some populations and destroy the local ecosystem.” The researcher also fears the presence of these bacteria could foresee the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of people visiting the area increases. While the best solution would be to prevent tourism, Cerda-Cuellar, who believes it is because of efforts from tourist and scientific groups that Antarctica remains largely protected, says that’s impossible. “While we should do as much as possible to reduce the spread, it’s hard to believe we’ll stop tourism and science at these sites, and so it is hard to believe that humans won’t continue to pass on pathogens.”

【推荐1】In the year 2000, as usual, my family were coming back from a T-ball game at the weekend. However, little did we know that a surprise was waiting for us in our driveway — two adult geese and a small goose. Obviously startled by our return, the adult flew away in panic, with their baby left behind.

Hours passed before night eventually fell. It was clear that the small goose needed protection, warmth and food to make it to the morning. We brought him to our backyard. Each morning, we would try to drive the small goose away to his parents, who kept coming back to our yard. He wouldn’t go to them, though, and neither would the adult geese come close enough to take him back. Realizing the young goose had apparently decided we were his family then, we gave him a name, calling the little guy Peeper.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. The little creature had grown into a big bird with two powerful wings before we knew it. One day, when my dad threw Peeper in the air, he just flew away and didn’t come back. With night falling, all of us became increasingly worried. We looked for him, called his name and anxiously expected his return. But he never appeared again. It took a long time before we accepted the fact that he was missing. We could only pray he found his parents and went off on his natural way.

So I was thrilled to see when, in 2019, an adult goose made his way back to my family home. He did all of the same things Peeper used to do! Much to my amazement, he even responded to the name Peeper. It became clear to me that my old best friend had returned many years later.

This experience has been as meaningful to me as anything in my life. Looking beyond our reach high in the sky, birds have feelings like human beings, so do many other living things. We human beings should learn to get along with them. We need each other’s care and protection for a better world.

【推荐3】A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below16℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.

In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources: land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example, a lot of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.

Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.

【推荐1】Samsung Electronics America announced that Galaxy device owners can make their own repairs to the Galaxy S20 and S21 family of products, as well as the Galaxy Tab S7+, starting August 2^nd.

Samsung is cooperating with iFixit, the leading online repair community, to deliver their Self-Repair program. This program adds to Samsung’s continued expansions for convenient repair for consumers and helps them with sustainable solutions to support a more circular economy by extending the life of their devices, as well as minimizing e-waste.

Samsung consumers who wish to make their own repairs can now purchase real device parts and convenient, easy-to-use repair tools, available through iFixit, Samsung retail (零售) and service locations, at the same pricing offered to our repair providers. In addition, Galaxy device owners will have full access to online repair guides that provide both visual and written step-by-step instructions, and best of all, at no cost.

“Making replacement parts available is a key sustainability strategy. We’re excited to be working directly with Samsung and their customers to extend the lifetime of their phones,” said CEO of iFixit.

Starting today, Galaxy device owners can replace the phone screen, back glass, and charging ports. In the future, Samsung plans to expand self-repair to include more devices and repair options from our extensive product portfolio (档案).

Furthermore, the program makes it easy for consumers to return their thrown-away parts for responsible recycling, as the new display kit s will come with a return label to ship thrown-away parts back to Samsung—at no cost to the consumer.

In addition to the convenience of these new self-repair options, Galaxy smartphone owners have a choice on how they can extend the life of their devices across Samsung’s expansive care options, including: Through Samsung’s perfect care network, customers have access to over 11,000 Samsung Mobile certified repair technicians in the U. S.

【推荐3】Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy (有泡沫的) drinks kills pests.

Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals — although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. “We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground,” he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed: they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. “We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, ”he says.

Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was “no scientific basis” for this practice. But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. “For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases (each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases,” he said. “We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues (残 留) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers,” he said.

In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe.