【推荐2】Although we're surrounded by millions of them every day, most of us don't think about bricks too often. For thousands of years,the humble clay-fired brick hasn't changed.

They're made from natural materials,but there are problems with bricks at every step of their production. Bricks are made from clay-a type of soil found all over the world.Clay mining harms plant growth.In conventional brick production,the clay is shaped and baked in kilns(窑）heated by fossil fuels,which contributes to climate change.Once made,bricks must be transported to construction sites,generating more carbon emissions.With so many bricks produced globally,their impact adds up.

Gabriela Medero,a professor at Scotland's Heriot-Watt University,decided to find solutions to that.With her university's support,Medero set up Kenoteq in 2009.The company's signature product is the K-Briq.Made from more than 90% construction waste,Medero says the K-Briq- which does not need to be fired in a kiln-produces less than a tenth of the carbon emissions of conventional bricks.With the company testing new machinery to start manufacturing,Medero hopes her bricks will help to build a more sustainable world.

The K-Briq will be comparably priced to old bricks.Additionally,as a new product,the K-Briq has been subjected to strict assessment and authoritative certification.Reusing old bricks is an expensive process and there is no standardized way to check the strength,safety or durability(耐久性）of recycled bricks.Medero says that K-Briqs could solve both these problems.She claims that K-Briqs are stronger and more durable than fired clay bricks.

Over the next 18 months,Medero plans to get K-Briq machinery on-site at recycling plants.＂This will reduce transport-related emissions because trucks can collect K-Briqs when they drop off construction waste,"says Medero.

【推荐1】Children are excited to find brightly wrapped(包装的) presents under the tree on Christmas morning. They can’t wait to open the wrapping and get the toys that were on their wish lists such as toy cars. But after the excitement wears off, those toys are usually left to the corner of the toy box and the kids are searching for something else to do. But it doesn't have to be that way.

A study from the University of Toronto found that giving your child experiences as a gift, instead of toys, improves your child’s intelligence and makes stronger parent-child bonds. “Often the focus is only on whether someone likes a gift rather than focusing on a main purpose of gift giving. Knowing that will foster(培养) relationships between the giver and the receiver,” said lead researcher Cindy Chan.

Chan suggested that when you are buying a holiday gift or birthday gift, you should buy something that kids can experience with you. This can be movie or concert tickets, a CD from a performance you already saw to keep the memory alive. For example, for Kids, a trip to a museum, going ice-skating or a book that the family can read together over and over again are valuable gifts.

It is found that giving your kids too many toys can be counterproductive(适得其反) and make kids at a loss. The best way to make kids happy is to spend time together.

So, if you want happy and intelligent kids, spending time with them and making memories are the best you can give them. That's not to say that there shouldn’t be any toys but change the focus from getting things to making lasting memories.

【推荐2】The excitement of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is truly ongoing. It’s the world’s biggest international soccer tournament(比赛)and also the most-watched sporting event in the world. There are 32 teams competing for championship. The tournament of 2022 looks to be particularly unique. What makes it different from the ones before?

For starters, it’s the first time the tournament has been held in the Middle East after Qatar beat other host competitors − the US, South Korea, Japan and Australia back in 2010. It’s also the first time in history the tournament has happened during the Northern Hemisphere(北半球)winter months, from Nov 20 to Dec 18.

That’s because Qatar is a desert country, and in summer the temperature can be as high as 42 ℃. That’s too hot to play outdoor sports. But it will still be pretty warm in winter. The temperature in the stadium is expected to be around 20 ℃ to 30 ℃. Air conditioning will help to keep it cooler.

Qatar is also the smallest nation by area hosting the cup. They play the first match of the tournament, facing Ecuador. It’s Qatar’s first-ever FIFV World Cup game. This makes them the first to perform their debut(首秀)game since Italy in 1934!

There are some new challenges for many players too. Apart from the hot weather, for European teams like England, France, Germany and Spain, it’s only just over a year since their last big international tournament, the UEFA Champions League.

According to FIFA’s rankings, the favorites to win the tournament this year are Brazil, followed by Argentina and France. Do you know who has had the last laugh?

【推荐3】I often find myself running late on the edge of missing appointments. It’s not that I enjoy being late, but somehow, it keeps happening. A delayed train, a miscalculation in time, a wrong turn, the reasons for my lateness are many. I dislike being late, and yet, I frequently find myself in a rush or arriving behind schedule.

Michaela Thomas, a Swedish psychologist, calls people like me “time optimists” or “tidsoptimists”. We underestimate how long tasks will take and overestimate the time we have. As a result, we often find ourselves rushing, causing stress for both ourselves and those around us. It creates a domino effect of chaos, annoyance, and inconvenience for everyone involved. It can even have severe consequences.

The causes of standing lateness are complex. People, according to Jung, fall into two categories: “timekeepers” and “time enders”. Timekeepers work methodically, stay organized, and usually finish tasks ahead of schedule. In contrast, time enders, like me, push things to the last minute, feeling most energized and creative when under pressure.

Many see procrastination (拖延) as a key reason for lateness, but it’s not simply a time management issue. Fuschia Sirois, a professor of social and health psychology, believes procrastination often arises from mood management. People put off tasks to avoid dealing with emotions like anxiety, fear, or frustration. It can also be a form of rebellion when faced with boring or uncontrollable tasks.

Is there a solution for latecomers? Researchers suggest creating pre-event deadlines for important occasions like a wedding or catching a flight, so that the extra time can help you avoid being late when unforeseen circumstances arise. You can inform friends, family, and colleagues about your commitment to punctuality and ask for their support in helping you stay on time. For everyday improvement, setting alerts on phones for getting ready instead of departure time, breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts and prioritizing time-flexible tasks can be helpful.