Plastics sustainability has come a long way in recent years in large part thanks to scientific advances. But even as plastics become more and more environmentally friendly, the world continues to be polluted as many industries rely on them for their widely-used products.
The latest research from Dr. Junpeng Wang, assistant professor in UA's School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, has a method to reduce such waste and clear a scientific pathway to a more sustainable future that can appeal to the rubber, tyre, automobile and electronics industries.
The problem at hand: Synthetic polymers, including rubber and plastics, are used in nearly every aspect of daily life. The advantage of synthetic polymers lies largely in their excellent stability and various mechanical qualities. However, due to their high durability, waste materials made of these polymers have accumulated in the land and oceans, causing serious concerns for the ecosystem.
A promising method to tackle the challenges in plastics sustainability is to replace current polymers with recyclable ones in order to achieve a circular use of materials.
The key in the design of chemically recyclable polymers is to identify the right monomer. Through careful computational calculation, the researchers identified a targeting monomer. They then prepared the monomer and polymers through chemical synthesis, using abundantly available starting materials.
Wang's research group, including polymer science graduate students and a postdoctoral scientist, aims to develop polymers that can be broken down into their components. When the element for breaking them down is absent or removed, the polymers will be highly stable and their thermal and mechanical qualities can be tuned to meet the needs of various applications.
"The chemically recyclable polymers we developed show excellent thermal stability and mechanical qualities and can be used to prepare both rubber and plastics," says Wang. "We expect this material to be an attractive candidate to replace current polymers.”
1. What do we know about Dr. Junpeng Wang’s research?| A．It helps improve the level of plastics stability. |
| B．It shows plastics are more environmentally friendly |
| C．It offers more widely-used products to many industries. |
| D．It tries to develop a way to recycle plastics scientifically. |
| A．Objective. | B．Favorable. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Talk about. | B．Deal with. | C．Figure out. | D．Write down. |
| A．A study conducted to make plastics last a longer period of time. |
| B．A quality for plastics to satisfy the needs of various industries. |
| C．A new method developed to solve the plastics sustainability problem. |
| D．A research group devoted to plastics sustainability for the ecosystem. |
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【推荐1】According to a recent report, in the US alone, 27 million tons of plastic ended up in landfills in 2018, but only 3.1 million tons were recycled. Worldwide the numbers are similarly bad, with just 9% of plastic being recycled. The statistics (统计数字) are even worse for certain types of plastic. For example, out of 80,000 tons of polystyrene (聚苯乙烯) containers produced in the United States, only a small amount (less than 5,000 tons) was recycled.
Now, researchers at The University of Queensland have found a species of worm with a taste for polystyrene could be the key to plastic recycling. The superworm can eat through polystyrene, thanks to a bacterial enzyme in their gut. To study how superworms react to purely plastic food, researchers broke up 135 of the creatures into three teams: one was fed only wheat bran, another was fed only plastics, and the third was given nothing.
“We found the bran-fed worms have been significantly healthier than the plastic-fed or hungry worms, more than doubling their weight over the three weeks they have been observed. Though the plastic-fed worms made less impressive gains, they still put on more weight than the hungry worms,” Dr. Rinke said. “This suggests the worms can get energy from plastics, most likely with the help of their gut microbes (微生物).”
Researchers used a technique called metagenomics to find several encoded enzymes with the ability to reduce polystyrene. The long-term goal is to engineer enzymes to reduce plastic waste in recycling plants.
“Superworms are like mini recycling plants, eating the polystyrene and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut,” Dr. Rinke said. It’s hoped this bio-upcycling will promote plastic waste recycling and reduce landfills. Researchers said they aim to grow the gut bacteria in the lab and further test its ability to reduce polystyrene. Then they can look into how to improve this process to a level required for an entire recycling plant.
1. What problem do the statistics in paragraph 1 indicate?| A．Landfills are poorly managed. |
| B．Plastics are recycled at a very low rate. |
| C．Many plastic containers are of poor quality. |
| D．It takes a long time for plastic waste to break up. |
| A．By collecting data. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By introducing a concept. | D．By referring to a previous study. |
| A．Plastic-fed worms had a decline in weight. |
| B．Superworms showed little interest in wheat bran. |
| C．Superworms could survive on only eating polystyrene. |
| D．Bran-fed worms had a longer lifespan than plastic-fed worms. |
| A．Conduct experiments on other worm species. |
| B．Improve gut bacteria’s ability to reduce plastics. |
| C．Apply the bio-upcycling technology to recycling plants. |
| D．Raise superworms in a big way to solve plastic pollution. |
【推荐2】Cerebral palsy(脑瘫)is the most common motor disability in children. The condition,which affects about 1 in 345 children, can make daily activities like walking, eating, or even lifting a cup difficult. A team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) hopes to reduce the daily struggles with robotic clothing that will allow kids with cerebral palsy to better control their arm movements.
Wearable robotic units to help people with mobility issues have been around for many years. However, they are rigid and uncomfortable to wear. The UCR team plans to use light-weight materials to create a robotic sleeve that is cheap, durable, and, most importantly, comfortable to wear on a daily basis.
“Hard materials don’t interact well with humans,” said Jonathan Realmuto, UCR assistant professor of mechanical engineering and project lead. “What we’re going for by using materials like nylon and elastic are essentially robotic clothing.”
The scientists envision the robotic sleeves to have sealed areas that can be inflated. When filled with air,they would become temporarily rigid and provide the force needed for movement. The clothing will be fitted with sensors to detect small muscle contractions and anticipate what the wearer wants to do. The inflated bladders(气囊) will then help move the arm to complete the intended action.
“If we can help kids brush their own teeth, pour water or open doors, actions that others take for granted, it’s a huge win for them,” Realmuto said. “And it’s also a huge win for their families and caretakers.”
The UCR engineers are not the only ones working on soft robotic clothing to help those with motor disabilities. San Francisco-based startup CIONIC is on a similar mission. The company’s first product, the CIONIC Neural Sleeve, is designed to improve mobility for people with conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Jeremiah Robison, the founder of CIONIC, was inspired to develop the product after seeing his daughter struggle with cerebral palsy.
1. What is the disadvantage of previous robotic clothing?| A．They are uncomfortable to wear. |
| B．They are not easy to carry around. |
| C．They aren’t environmentally friendly. |
| D．They aren’t affordable for most families. |
| A．Easy operation. | B．Adjustable design. |
| C．Soft material. | D．Simple structure. |
| A．Why bladders are needed in the new unit. |
| B．How the improved robotic clothing works. |
| C．What material is used in the robotic sleeves. |
| D．What difficulty cerebral palsy patients have. |
| A．The UCR is teaming up with the CIONIC. |
| B．Soft robotic clothing is an emerging industry. |
| C．The CIONIC Neural Sleeve is quite popular. |
| D．Robison made robotic clothing for his family first. |
【推荐3】A burger shop called the No Brand Burger in the South Korean capital is a bit different from typical fast-food restaurants: Its key staff are robots. From order to pick-up, customers don’t need a single face-to-face interaction. All they need to do is to click the menu they want on a kiosk (售货亭) touchscreen, pay and wait for a serving robot to bring their takeout bag to the pick-up spot.
While waiting for their food, customers take photos or stare with curiosity at the capsule-shaped robots, which remind people of the popular characters from the animated film “Despicable Me.” The yellow and black colors of the No Brand Burger restaurant also give the place the look of a toy shop. “This is the first time I’ve actually seen such robots, so they are really amazing and fun,” said Shin Hyun Soo, a 31-year-old office worker trying out the service.
The human staff do have a role to play, the restaurant’s manager Bae explained, adding toppings to the cooked ingredients before wrapping them and passing them over to a robot to serve. “The customer can take the food without any direct contact with the staff,” Bae said.
Before Monday, South Korea had for the last few weeks allowed restaurants to provide only deliveries and takeout meals after 9 p.m. In August, takeout orders accounted for 58% of No Brand Burger’s total sales, up by 16% from July, according to Shinsegae Food, the South Korean food company that operates No Brand Burger.
No Brand Burger isn’t the only local restaurant using robots to serve customers. South Korea’s major IT company KT has partnered with the family restaurant chain Mad for Garlic to provide Al serving robots.
Using 3-D space mapping and other technology, the robot can freely move through the narrow lanes between tables and avoid obstacles to reach its destination, said Lee Youngjin, team leader of AI Platform Business Team at KT. The robot can serve up to four tables per trip. “Children customers often like to see the robot. Also, customers in general feel it is fresher to receive their food through the robot because of the COVID-19,” said Lee Young-ho, the manager of one Mad for Garlic restaurant using the robots.
1. Why is the No Brand Burger restaurant so special?| A．Because most staff are robots. |
| B．Because it employs no human staff. |
| C．Because its colors are yellow and white. |
| D．Because it is also a toy shop. |
| A．Uninterested. | B．Positive. | C．Negative. | D．Neutral |
| A．Most restaurants use robots to serve customers now. |
| B．It is no use having human staff in the restaurant. |
| C．Most customers show no interest in serving robots. |
| D．Robots brings greater profits for No Brand Burger. |
| A．New technology helps change the world. |
| B．Serving robots bring a lot of advantages. |
| C．AI robots serve restaurants in South Korea. |
| D．Restaurants use robots to attract customers. |
【推荐1】A recent study has found that using wood for construction instead of concrete and steel can reduce emissions. But Tim Searchinger at Princeton University says many of these studies are based on the false foundation that harvesting wood is carbon neutral (碳中和). “Only a small percentage of the wood gets into a timber (木料) product, and a part of that gets into a timber product that can replace concrete and steel in a building,” he says. Efficiencies vary in different countries, but large amounts of a harvested tree are left to be divided into parts, used in short-lived products like paper or burned for energy, all of which generate emissions.
In a report for the World Resources Institute, Searchinger and his colleagues have modelled how using more wood for construction would affect emissions between 2010 and 2050, accounting for the emissions from harvesting the wood. They considered various types of forests and parts of wood going towards construction. They also factored in the emissions savings from replacing concrete and steel.
Under some circumstances, the researchers found significant emissions reductions. But each case required what they considered an unrealistically high portion of the wood going towards construction, as well as rapid growth only seen in warmer places, like Brazil. In general, they found a large increase in global demand for wood would probably lead to rising emissions for decades. Accounting for emissions in this way, the researchers reported in a related paper that increasing forest harvests between 2010 and 2050 would add emissions equal to roughly 10 percent of total annual emissions.
Ali Amiri at Aalto University in Finland says the report’s conclusions about emissions from rising demand are probably correct, but the story is different for wood we already harvest. “Boosting the efficiency of current harvests and using more wood for longer lived purposes than paper would cut emissions,” he says. “We cannot just say we should stop using wood.”
1. What is wrong with previous researches according to Searchinger?| A．They got wrong statistics. | B．They included too many factors. |
| C．They used an incorrect concept. | D．They were applied in limited countries. |
| A．The process of the new research. | B．The background of the new study. |
| C．The challenge of the new research. | D．The achievements of the new study. |
| A．When wood grows slowly. | B．When wood is used to make paper. |
| C．When wood is used to build a house. | D．When wood is harvested in countries like Brazil. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Objective. |
【推荐2】Fishers remove more than 77 billion kilograms of wildlife from the sea each year. Scientists fear that continuing to fish at this rate may soon result in a collapse of the world’s fisheries.
Consider the example of the bluefin tuna (蓝鳍金枪鱼), which is known for its delicious meat. High demand for this fish has threatened its population, Today, there are only around one-quarter as many bluefin tuna as there were in 1970.
Since about that time, commercial fishers have caught bluefin tuna using purse seining and longlining. Purse seine fishing uses a net to bring fish together and then trap them by pulling the net’s drawstring. Longlining is a type of fishing in which a very long line of up to 100 kilometers is set and dragged behind a boat. These lines have thousands of baited hooks (诱饵) attached to smaller lines stretching downward.
For fishers, catching so many at once is very profitable. However, over time this type of fishing leaves few fish of a particular species left in the ocean. If a fish population becomes too small, it cannot easily replenish itself, or grow back to or close to its original size.
There are ways to fish sustainably. In many traditional cultures, people have fished sustainably for thousands of years. In the Philippines, for example, the Tagbanua people have traditionally used fishing practices that maintain fish populations. They continue to do so today. They set aside certain areas as protected spots in which fishing is forbidden, When they do fish, these traditional fishers primarily use hook-and-line methods.
Another way to prevent overfishing is to simply stop eating fish and other seafood. Dr. Sylvia Earle, a famous and well-respected marine (海洋的) scientist, has taken that step. She suggests people need to take a break from eating seafood until we learn to maintain healthy fish populations.
“I personally have stop ped eating seafood,” Earle says. “I know that every fish counts at this point.” Fish, she says, are critical to maintaining the health of ocean systems, which in turn “make the planet work.”
1. What is the advantage of purse seining and longlining?| A．They can catch a large number of fish at one time. |
| B．They trap target species easily. |
| C．They can be used in rivers and seas. |
| D．They require very few fishers. |
| A．Fill up again. | B．Enjoy very much | C．Show up soon. | D．Change as before. |
| A．To recommend their lifestyles. | B．To introduce their traditional cultures. |
| C．To reveal efficient fishing methods. | D．To explain eco-friendly fishing practices. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Unclear. | C．Disapproving. | D．Forgiving. |
【推荐3】Reptiles, like snakes, lizards, and crocodiles are egg-laying animals. The species are cold-blooded, which means their bodies have the same temperature as the area around them. A recent report says that more than one-fifth of the world’s reptiles are at risk of going extinct.
The study, written by 52 scientists, is the first worldwide measurement of how threatened different species of reptiles are. For 15 years, between 2004 and 2019, researchers collected information on over 10,000 different kinds of reptiles. They gathered details from over 900 reptile experts around the world.
The report has revealed some unhappy news — 21% of all reptile species are in danger of extinction. That’s over 1,800 species in all. The study reported that at least 31 species of reptiles have already gone extinct. The main reason these reptiles are faced with extinction is that humans are taking over more and more of their natural habitats. More land continues to be cleared to make room for cities and towns. Large areas of land are also being cleared so that they can be used as farmland. Logging is another big threat to reptile habitats.
But even if reptiles aren’t considered lovely, they play a very important part in nature’s food chains. One service performed by reptiles humans should appreciate is that they are natural enemies to certain pests, like insects and rats, and therefore helping control their numbers.
Scientists say the good news is that we know what must be done to protect reptiles. Bruce Young, one of the leaders of the research, says, “We have all the tools we need. Protecting natural areas, especially rainforests, is at the top of the list. Studies show that saving natural areas doesn’t just protect mammals or birds, but all kinds of animals, including reptiles.”
1. What can we know about reptiles from the report?| A．There are over 10,000 different kinds of reptiles worldwide. |
| B．Reptiles are cold-blooded egg-laying animals. |
| C．Over 20% of reptile species are at risk of dying out. |
| D．Temperature rising poses the greatest threat to reptiles. |
| A．Loss of habitats. | B．Human hunting. |
| C．More natural enemies. | D．Environmental pollution. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Intelligent. |
| C．Beneficial. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．Improving breeding methods. | B．Developing new rainforests. |
| C．Strengthening cooperation. | D．Saving their natural habitats. |
【推荐1】Weather forecasters in the Philippines got the warning in the second week of November 2020. A forecast that went further into the future than usual warned that the islands faced fierce rains more than three weeks away. The meteorologists(气象学家) reminded local and national governments to spring into action. The governments responded by sending mobile phone messages and broadcast alarms to advise people to prepare to move away from dangerous places to other ones.
By the time the Category 4 Typhoon Kammuri struck the Philippines with heavy rains in early December, the damage was much less than it could have been. “Having so much time to prepare was key,” says Andrew Robertson, a climate scientist at Columbia University. “It’s a great example of how far we’ve come in weather forecasting. But it’s just not enough. We still need to go further,” he says.
Such efforts, known as “subseasonal(次季节的) forecasting”, aim to fill a critical gap in weather prediction. The approach fits between short-term forecasts that are good out to about 10 days in the future and seasonal forecasts that look months ahead.
A subseasonal forecast predicts average weather conditions three to four weeks away. Each day of additional warning gives emergency managers much more time to prepare for incoming heat waves, cold currents, tornadoes or other wild weather. Groups such as the Red Cross are starting to use subseasonal forecasts to strategize for weather disasters, such as figuring out where to move emergency supplies when it looks like a tropical cyclone(气旋) might hit a region. Farmers look to subseasonal forecasts to better plan when to plant and irrigate crops. And operators of dams and the power station could use the information to get ready for extra water that may be soon taxed on the systems.
Subseasonal forecasting is improving slowly but steadily, thanks to better computer models and new insights about the atmospheric and oceanic patterns that drive weather over the long term.
1. What did the Philippine government try to do before fierce rains?| A．Persuade citizens to stay at home. | B．Warn citizens against walking around. |
| C．Advise citizens to move to some safer places. | D．Warn citizens to focus on the weather forecast. |
| A．It is always timely. | B．It still needs improving. |
| C．It has caused damage to crops. | D．It shows the perfection of the technology. |
| A．Its origin. | B．Its cost. | C．Its warning. | D．Its application. |
| A．Subseasonal Forecasting Has Its Disadvantages |
| B．Subseasonal Forecasting Could Improve Lifestyle |
| C．Subseasonal Forecasting Could Save Lives from Disasters |
| D．Subseasonal Forecasting Has an Effect on Farming |
【推荐2】Many of us have memories of spending weeks at camps learning new things, making new friends and exploring new possibilities. Camp No Limits (CNL), a non-profit (非营利的) organization in America, provides the camp experience for the kids whose differences can feel like a barrier in average camp settings. CNL proves that there is no reason that limb (肢) differences should take away the fun!
Built in 2004, CNL provides sleep-away camps for children with limb differences at 11 locations in America. “When I was in school, we really had very limited time that was spent discussing individuals with limb differences,” said the founder Mary.
CNL has now reached over 1,400 children in 1,200 families. The families are an important part of the camp. Kids are often accompanied (陪伴) by family members who stay at the camp. These members of support systems are able to form relationships with other families. One of the greatest impacts of the camp is that the families are closely connected and can depend on one another.
“There are other kids out there, you just can’t see them that often,” says Rosanne, who accompanied her 12-year-old daughter to camp. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for her to meet some kids, and talk about what they’re going through. It’s good for her mental health.” With the assistance of passionate instructors, campers often leave CNL, with new skills. 8-year-old Anya, for example, left the camp being able to ride a bike again, which she hadn’t done since losing her left leg because of cancer.
CNL is making a great impact on every individual that it hosts. From the instructors who are developing skills to the campers who are feeling inspiration, the camp achieves its mission to connect individuals affected by limb differences.
1. What do we know about Camp No Limits?| A．Its founder is disabled herself. |
| B．It focuses on campers’ independence in activities. |
| C．It was established to compete with average camps. |
| D．It’s mainly targeted at children with limb problems. |
| A．Bringing the families alike closer. |
| B．Giving poor families fund support. |
| C．Providing the children with free medical treatment. |
| D．Instructing parents to communicate properly with their kids. |
| A．It’s challenging for campers. |
| B．It’s beneficial to her kid’s mind. |
| C．It’s short of experienced coaches. |
| D．It improves campers’ school grades. |
| A．To introduce a public organization. | B．To tell an adventurous story. |
| C．To show ways of aiding the disabled. | D．To warn of the risks of camping. |
【推荐3】An early night can work wonders for kids with new research showing sleep can reduce Body Mass Index (BMI) just as well as exercise.
Australian scientists have discovered that while physical exercise gives great all-round health and wellbeing, children can achieve the same 7.4 per cent reduction in BMI by either exercising 17 minutes more a day, sleeping an extra 52 minutes or reducing their sitting time by an extra 56 minutes.
The study, from the University of South Australia, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, assessed (评估)1,179 children aged 11 and 12.
“International guidelines suggest that children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep, 60 minutes of physical exercise and no more than two hours of relaxing screen time per day, yet only 7 per cent of children can meet these goals,” said lead researcher Dr. Dot Dumuid, from the University of South Australia.
Queensland sleep expert Amanda Bude said sleep had an influence on children’s physical and mental (心理的) health. “Sleep health is not just about the physical characteristics (特征) of health but also the mental health and safety of our teens. Not getting enough of sleep can have a bad influence on emotional development and even cause some mental health problems. It is so important that parents are able to help their children deal with the over scheduling of their busy lives and keep healthy as well. As a child enters the teenage years their circadian clock (生物钟) starts to set later and later and finding a balance is important,” she said.
Sunshine Coast mum Cindy Buswell said keeping her four children active during the day helped them get a good night’s sleep. “Good sleep and exercise should go hand-in-hand not one or the other,” she said.
Sandringham mum Maxine Thomson also thought that sleep was important for her two daughters. “They have always had pretty good habits. At 8 p.m. we do reading and wind down.” she said.
1. How long do the international guidelines suggest for children’s screen time?| A．Only one hour. | B．Just two hours. |
| C．Not more than one hour. | D．Less than two hours. |
| A．By giving explanations. | B．By following time order. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By showing cause and effect. |
| A．Relax slowly. | B．Suddenly stop. |
| C．Fall asleep. | D．Get recovered. |
| A．Do the right amount of sleep and never overdo it |
| B．Sleep is just as good as exercise to keep kids healthy |
| C．Sleeping too much can be bad for your mental health |
| D．Health and wellness are dependent on sleep and exercise |
