【推荐2】Wind power is one of the most powerful tools for reducing carbon emissions(排放) that cause climate change. Turbines(涡轮机), however, can be a threat to birds, which is why experts are looking for ways to prevent the danger.

A Boulder, Colorado company has produced a camera- and AI-based technology that can recognize eagles as they approach in enough time to shut off turbines in their flight path. Their tool, called IdentiFlight, can detect 5.62 times more bird flights than human observers alone with an accuracy rate of 94 percent. Using high-precision sensors, the system calculates a bird’s speed and flight path, and if it is on a crash path with a turbine, a signal is sent to shut that turbine down.

Winning an award for its performance in Australia, the tracking system was set up in 2018 at a Tasmanian facility and was found to cut eagle deaths at the Cattle Hill Wind Farm by more than four fifths. Each day, signals have shut down their movement an average of 400 times—across the field of 48 turbines—for 2 to 3 minutes each time.

Across the globe, Duke Energy in Wyoming is employing the same technology with impressive results at its Top of the World Windpower Project. Top of the World was the first wind site to use the technology. In 2014, IdentiFlight’s maker, Boulder Imaging, used Top of the World for testing after eagles were killed by the turbine, which left Duke Energy in violation(违反) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 47 units made of eight wide-angle cameras now constantly scan(扫掠) the sky to monitor all 110 turbines. The camera unit is mounted to the top of a 30-foot pole and powered by software that learns and improves with each photo taken.

Bird lover Garry George admits, “IdentiFlight makes it possible to protect the birds we love in the process of reducing the worst effects of climate change.”

【推荐1】In recent studies, doctors are employing feature films to motivate their patients to open up about their issues. Supporters of “film therapy (疗法)” say that discussing characters and plotlines from a proper film can help people to understand their feelings better.

One of those using the method is Dr. Zhang, a doctor from Shanghai, who charges ¥250 for a one-hour “film therapy” session. He said, “I was treating a woman who had been badly heartbroken in a relationship, and who was experiencing such strong feelings that it was difficult for her to speak about them. I told her that her situation reminded me of On the Waterfront, where the hero realizes his brother is dishonest and he feels a great sense of betrayal (背叛). My patient identified so easily with him that she started to cry. Watching and discussing the film unlocked all the feelings she had buried. Each time she watched and cried, she felt better.”

Dr. Zhang admits that film therapy isn’t effective for everyone, but he has successfully used it with around a third of his patients. He believes that through the characters, plots, and even the music of films, people can face their problems. For instance, he mentioned the movie Falling Down, in which Michael Douglas plays the part of an unemployed man who is so depressed that he uses violence, was an example of the dangerous results of not letting anger go. “I used this film with a patient who was very upset because he was holding back a lot of the anger he felt towards people who had hurt him,” said Dr. Zhang. “We talked about Michael Douglas’s character and the violent path he takes, and my patient then realized that he needed to let go of his feelings more regularly so as not to burst out like a time bomb.”

【推荐2】The sky is large place, and though it has been carefully examined for centuries, new features still turn up. Last March it was the rule of Uranus (天王星), and last week astronomers announced what may turn out to be a new planet, though a very small one, in the solar system.

The object was first sighted last month by Charles Kowal, an astronomer at the Hale Observatories in Pasadena, Calif. Mr. Kowal observed a faint trail of light on photographic plates, indicating that something was moving in relation to the background of stars. Other observers have confirmed the discovery.

The “mini-planet”, identified for the time being as “Object-Kowal”, appears to be about 1.5 billion miles away, between the orbit of Saturn and Uranus, and its diameter (直径) has been estimated at between 100 and 400 miles. Its orbit has not been determined yet, but if the orbit proves to be roughly circular, like that of the major planets, the new object would probably take 66 to 70 years to make a circuit of the sun.

Some astronomers have speculated that Mr. Kowal’s discovery may be the first indication of an asteroid (小行星) belt beyond Saturn.

【推荐1】Businesses are now in cost-cutting mode. Title inflation (通胀) has crept into the workplace. Layoffs, hiring freezes and concerns about a recession (经济衰退) are plaguing employers.

To balance this unique economic environment, employers have figured out a way to comfort employees and job applicants without spending more money. They are offering impressive titles to soften the blow of not providing a raise to internal employees or big compensation to job candidates.

An employee’s title is their identity. It gives them credibility in the office and makes them feel more powerful. In this sense, the policy is a sensible way to help keep staff and attract top candidates.

But if you don’t really deserve the new title, it could come back and trouble you. Recruiters will be pleased to find a candidate who is a perfect fit for a significant, well-paying position in terms of skills, background, and previous experience. However, a stumbling block arises when they notice the candidate has a higher title than the client offers. Since a recruiter wants to make a placement and earn a fee, they won’t waste time and will seek out other candidates who are a better fit.

Even if the recruiters decide to contact the candidate, there’s a good chance the candidate won’t accept. Because most people aren’t aware that their title was inflated and believe it was a reward for their outstanding performance. Understandably, they would be offended if they received a lower-level post. Now that you are at a certain level, you don’t want to go backward.

What’s more, if your current title is too high, it raises red flags. For example, when searching for a new job, if your title is “director,” but the new role is under that level, the interviewer will curiously inquire, “why do you want to go down in title?” There will be an assumption from the hiring manager that something isn’t right. They may feel that the job seeker is leaving before being fired and willing to downgrade. Rather than trying to figure out the motivations of the candidate, they’ll move on to others who have a cleaner story without any baggage.

【推荐2】When it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes, which should come first—changing your diet or becoming more physically active?

Previous studies suggested that providing people with too much information about nutrition and physical activity at once tends (趋向)to be discouraging. That has led to the popularity of advising people to make changes gradually, and set smaller goals.

So the scientists divided 200 inactive participants who were 45 or older into four groups. One group was instructed in making diet and fitness changes at the same time; the second group was taught about diet changes first, and then fitness changes four months later; the third group changed their exercise habits first and made changes in their eating habits four months later; and the final, control group was not instructed in either diet or fitness changes but in how to manage their stress.

The researchers followed the groups for a full year. Compared to the control group, the three intervention (干预) groups made healthy changes in their diet. Those who changed their fitness habits first significantly increased the amount of exercise they received daily compared to the other groups after four months. However, at the end of the year, the group that changed both diet and exercise at the same time was the only one that met the nationally recommended targets for both exercise and nutrition levels, while those who worked on improving their nutrition first were unable to meet the recommended levels of fitness after a year. The researchers suspect that changes to diet are easier to make than changes to physical activity.

The findings show, however, that pairing diet and exercise changes may help to overcome some of the barriers people face in adding more physical activity into their lives. If folks change diet and exercise orderly, the scientists say, they may end up placing more importance on the first set of behavior changes and feel less pressured to address the second set.