【推荐2】Ask bacteria where they’d like to live, and they’ll answer: a kitchen sponge (海绵), please.

Sponges are the best place for bacteria, capable of housing 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter. In addition to being damp, airy and loaded with food remains, sponges provide a perfect physical environment for bacteria.

Just like humans, bacteria prefer different levels of interactions with their peers. Some bacteria are more social, while others prefer staying alone. Researchers found that middling levels of separation—similar to that found in a sponge—maximize the diversity of the community.

Scientists separated different bacterial strains(菌株), which had been engineered to give light, into compartments(隔间). The work showed that an environment with a middling number of compartments promotes the most diversity.

Kitchen sponge, with all kinds of large and small holes, not only offer an ideal number of compartments for bacteria, but also provide a range of varying-sized parties that can suit more of the bacteria’s needs. In experiments with a kitchen sponge, the researchers found that the resulting bacterial community was more diverse than those produced in liquid cultures, a common method of growing bacteria in a laboratory.

Fortunately, the bacteria partying in your sponge are mostly nonpathogenic. But if dangerous bacteria do show up, the sponge’s special structure will probably help them thrive.

“Sponges are not really well-suited for kitchen,” says Markus Egert, a microbiologist, who did not take part in the study.“There is hardly any surface without bacteria at home, but the kitchen sponge is probably the most populated item at home.”

The good news is that it’s easy to solve the problem. Brushes are a much safer alternative. And if you love your sponge, don’t use it for meat juices. No need to invite bad bacteria to the party.

【推荐3】In an age filled with texting and messaging apps, phone calls seem to be becoming a relic of the past, particularly among younger generations. A recent survey by Sky highlights the change, suggesting that avoiding phone calls isn’t just a preference; it’s a reflection of anxiety.

This anxiety is not entirely new. Traditional forms of speaking can cause a release of oxytocin (催产素), which helps reduce social anxiety. However, in the absence of physical gestures and the comfort of a known audience, phone calls can increase these anxieties, making the experience feel more serious.

Phone conversations can be embarrassing due to the lack of body language. In face-to-face communications, we rely heavily on gestures, facial expressions, and body language to understand messages, which are absent in phone conversations. This can lead to misunderstandings and a feeling of disconnection. Besides, the pressure to respond immediately without the time to think, as afforded by messaging apps, can increase the anxiety connected with phone calls.

Although they may cause discomfort, phone conversations are an important skill. In the professional world, the ability to communicate effectively over the phone remains a skill of great value. Therefore, it’s a must to teach younger generations, including Gen Z, the art of phone conversation, not just for professional success but also for developing personal relationships.

Moreover, adding emotions to communications improves memorability. Phone conversations, with their immediate and personal nature, can produce a deeper emotional connection than text-based communication.

While it’s understandable why phone calls can feel uncomfortable in today’s digital age, it’s important to recognize the value they hold in effective communication and relationship building. As we reduce this “phone anxiety”, it matters to encourage and learn the art of phone conversation, balancing the ease of messaging with the depth of a real-time voice call. This balance is key to keeping healthy, meaningful relationships and ensuring personal and professional growth in an increasingly digital world.

【推荐2】Researchers in Norway say they have found what they believe is the world’s oldest runestone (符文石)—a stone with ancient writing on it.

Runes are the characters in several Germanic letters. These characters were used in northern Europe from ancient times until the change to the Latin letters. The origin of runic writing is unclear. The Norwegian researchers say the writing on the runestone could be up to 2,000 years old.

The runestone is square and flat. The runes carved into it may show the earliest example of recorded words in Scandinavia, the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo said. It said it was “among the oldest runic writings ever found” and “the oldest runestone ever found in the world”.

Kristel Zilmer is a professor at University of Oslo, of which the museum is part. Zilmer said, “This find will give us a lot of knowledge about the use of runes in the early Iron Age. This may be one of the first attempts to use runes in Norway and Scandinavia on stone.”

Runes have been found on stones and on home goods. Older runes have been found on other objects, also, but not on stones. The oldest known runic writing is on a hair tool made from bone. Zilmer said that the ancient writer might have used a knife or needle to make the runes.

Measuring 31 centimeters by 32 centimeters, the stone has several kinds of writings. Not all of them make sense. Eight runes on the front of the stone read “idiberug”—which could be the name of a person or family but not sure.

There is still a lot of research to be done on the rock, named Svingerud stone after where it was found.

The Museum of Cultural History is going to hold a public showing of the runestone for a month. The museum holds Norway’s largest collection of historical objects, from ancient times to the modern day.

【推荐3】Being connected to the Internet has become a necessary part of modern life. Some people actually need it as they cannot do their jobs without it, and others simply feel they need it as they cannot imagine life without it.

To think that something that did not even exist 50 years ago has come to play a crucial role in our lives like this in just about 15 years makes one wonder–just what will the future bring?

In 2004, a survey was conducted in the US asking a group of technology experts their opinions on the Internet in the next ten years. 57% of them agreed that virtual classes will be more widely adopted in schools, allowing students to learn with those at the same level and with interests in the same subjects. It’s quite possible that, by the year 2030, every child in every school will do all their schoolwork on their own laptop with all their textbooks available (现成可使用的) on the Internet. No more heavy books to carry around and no more pens and paper!

At work, we already use email to deal with people both inside and outside our offices and video conferencing (电话会议) is occurring more frequently. This means that meetings can be held between offices in different countries without the trouble caused by business travel. Business travel will stop to exist in the future, and so will offices as people all start to work from home.

It has also become a trend for people to use pocket computers such as Blackberries. With this helpful equipment, people can send and receive emails, surf the Web, and read multimedia files from absolutely anywhere even if we are on a beach holiday.

The Internet will have a revolutionary (突破性的) effect on entertainment in the future. Already we can buy and download music and movies from the Internet but it is still possible for us to buy a CD or go to the DVD stores to rent the latest movies. However, it’s quite possible that in the future, CD shops and DVD rental stores will close and cinemas will no longer exist. Entertainment will become completely virtual although hopefully people will still want to get outside to play sports and entertain themselves in more healthy ways.

With the Internet we need only relax in the rocking chair. The Internet, however, has problems to be solved.