【推荐2】Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are a unique ocean ecosystem consisting of rocky structures mainly formed by coral animals and some other ocean life. Despite only covering 0. 2 percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs support at least 25 percent of marine species, as well as providing food and economic security for hundreds of millions of people.

However, coral reefs across the world are under threat. Warmer oceans can cause the coral bleaching (漂白). It happens when the corals lose colored algae (海藻) living in their bodies and turn completely white. Without the algae, the corals lose their main food source and can die. In addition, as oceans become more acidic (酸性的) from absorbing CO2, corals in acidic conditions become weak in forming reefs.

In 2021, the United Nations reported a 14 percent loss of corals across the world largely from rising sea temperatures in the previous 13 years. Australia declared mass bleaching events in 2022 across large parts of the Great Barrier Reef, four times since 2016. Data from the Philippines showed higher than usual ocean temperatures between 2015 and 2017 had caused a serious three-year bleaching events in reefs across the planet.

Scientists have been cooperating to see how coral reefs can be protected. Thankfully, they find those coral reefs in the hot parts of the globe are the worst affected. They contain corals with better heat resistance. So their research focus on finding genes (基因) for heat tolerance so that they can be passed on to future generations. Biologists also mix corals that are more resilient to higher temperatures with those that are not and the resulting generation has a better chance of survival.

Ultimately, scientists add that without a serious reduction in greenhouse gas, 99 percent of the world’s coral reefs will be gone by the end of the century. There is a limit to how quickly corals can adapt warm climate, but if temperatures rise rapidly, then extinction is certain.

【推荐2】Having grown up in northern Arizona with the immortal Grand Canyon and the iron red plateaus of Sedona in my backyard, I believed that the southwestern state is home to the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. Towering mountain titans, a cozy valley and an infinite blue sky promised fantastic potential for exploration. For me, no newly discovered sights or foreign landscapes can compare with its beauty.

That is, until I was invited to explore Guizhou province by the China Storyteller Partnerships Tour. Had someone vividly described how beautiful Guizhou can be in poetic detail, they would not have done it exactly. There is no substitute for seeing with one’s own eyes. I will attempt to do so.

During my trip around the city of Xingyi, in Guizhou, I saw the artwork of the Bouyei ethnic group. They use dyes produced from local plants to make clothing of striking blues and greens. Local elders still practice weaving with artful wooden machines and pass that tradition on to their grandchildren.

My father used to drag my brothers and me on yearly fishing trips around Arizona. We would compete to catch the largest fish, and in the mornings, Dad would cook us a basic breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. I sat in a small boat in the middle of the lake, with fishing pole moving slowly in my impatient hands, and held my bored tongue while my father attempted to share with me the whispers of the wind, a fish dancing on the surface of the lake or the majesty of a hawk hunting for prey overhead. On my trip to Guizhou I had the opportunity to paddle on Wanfeng lake. At one point I rested, floating at the center of the lake, listening to the spaces between silence and taking in the surrounding karst (喀斯特) mountains. I thought about my childhood, and wished I had listened more closely to my father while fishing.

I’ve lived away from Arizona for 10 long years, carving my own destiny in China. I’ve managed to build myself a family, a career, a livelihood, and various projects. I feel as though I have everything that I need. For a moment, in Guizhou, I felt home.

【推荐3】Located in the southeast of Canada and with a population of approximately 6 million, Toronto is a big and beautiful city, which has developed from a relatively unknown place over the past half century to the center of culture, trade and communication in Canada.

With its colorful ethnic mix, rich history and breathtaking buildings. Toronto offers non-stop adventures to the tourists. To get a sense of how big, various and magical Toronto is, the best place to start is the CN Tower. From this point, visitors can get a bird's-eye view of the city's amazing scenery and unique geography.

In addition to being an important center of culture, trade and communication in Canada, Toronto is also a major muti-ethnic city. It is the most populous city in Canada and its citizens come from countries around the world and from different kinds of ethnic backgrounds. Every day, in most places of the city, a hundred different languages can be heard on the streets, from Hindi to Greek to French. This, perhaps, explains why former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once said that Canada is a mosaic（嵌合体）of cultures and languages rather than a melting pot.

Street signs in Toronto are mostly in English. Weekly and daily newspapers are published in various languages, and the city hosts the successful international film festival each September. It is also home to a popular baseball team the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto has something for everyone.

Moreover, Toronto has been rated one of the most livable cities in the world by United Nations Human Settlements Programme for many years. At the same time, Toronto is one of the safest, richest cities in the world with the highest standard of living.

【推荐1】Lizards that once resided in forests but now hang around urban areas of Puerto Rico have genetically morphed (变化) to survive life in the city, researchers have found.

The Puerto Rican crested anole, a brown lizard with a bright orange throat fan, has sprouted special scales (鳞片) to better cling to smooth surfaces such as walls and windows, scientists say. “We are watching evolution as it’s unfolding,” said Kristin Winchel, a biology professor. As urbanization intensifies around the world, it’s important to understand how organisms adapt and humans can design cities in ways that support all species, Winchell said.

The study analyzed 96 Anolis lizards, comparing the genetic makeup of forest-dwellers to those living in Puerto Rico’s capital. Scientists found that 33 genes within the lizard genome were repeatedly associated with urbanization.

“You can hardly get closer to a smoking gun,” said Wouter Halfwerk, an evolutionary ecologist who was not involved in the study. He said he was impressed that the scientists were able to detect such a clear genomic signature of adaptation: “The ultimate goal within the field of urban adaptive evolution is to find evidence for heritable traits and their genomic architecture.”

The changes in these lizards, whose life spans are roughly seven years, can occur quickly, within 30 to 80 generations, enabling them to escape from predators and survive in urban areas, Winchell added. The larger limbs, for example, enable them to run more quickly across a hot parking lot, and the special scales to hold onto surfaces far more smooth than trees.

The study focused on adult male lizards, so it’s unclear whether females are changing in the same way or at the same rate as males, and at which point in a lizard’s life the changes are occurring. Halfwerk, whose own research showed how one frog species changed its mating call in urban areas, said scientists should look next for possible constraints (限制) on the evolutionary response and how morphology relates to mating behavior.

【推荐2】Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada. Despite the mild weather, tourists should be prepared for rain, which is practically part of the city’s lifestyle.

With immigrants accounting for more than 40 percent of the population, Vancouver has a special multicultural charm of its own. The local Chinatown, for example, is the largest in Canada and is a real attraction that should not be missed. Asian cuisine is also particularly strong in Vancouver. Sushi lovers will find the restaurant established by the inventor of California rolls, Hidekazu Tojo, in the city center of Vancouver. The Marine Building is another attraction in the downtown area. It was built in 1930 and was the city’s largest building for nine years. Although it lost its reputation relatively quickly, it is still one of the most popular structures in Vancouver and is well-known around the world.

Tourists should not miss making a trip to one of the beautiful beaches in the evening. Sunset Beach is particularly worth mentioning and its name shows its charm in advance. The beach is primarily known for its beautiful sunsets among the residents of Vancouver. The Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival also takes place every July and the various beaches are the ideal place to experience it.

Even if they do not visit the aquarium (水族馆), tourists still have the opportunity to admire Canada’s sea life during a whale-watching tour. Wild killer whales or dolphins often do their rounds near the southern coast of Vancouver Island. It is easy to reach the island by boat, but it has more to offer than just a day’s trip, as it is almost 500 kilometers long. Tourists who are interested in the First Nations find particular satisfaction here. Guided tours explain the indigenous(土著的) culture to visitors, particularly near the coast.