【推荐2】Human activity is changing the surface and temperature of the planet. But new research shows it is also changing the sound of the Earth’s oceans and seas.

Scientists say the changes in the sounds of our oceans and seas affect many marine(海洋) animals—from very small fish to huge whales. Sound travels “very far underwater,” Francis Juanes told the reporter. Juanes is an ecologist at the University of Victoria and co-writer of the recent research published in a magazine. “For fish,” he explained, “sound is probably a better way to sense their environment than light.”

Sounds help fish and other marine animals survive. They use sounds to communicate with each other. Sounds also help some ocean animals find food and avoid their hunters. Many ocean animals use sounds to find good places to give birth. However, increased noise from humans is making it harder for these animals to hear each other. The noise comes from shipping traffic, underwater oil and gas exploration, offshore construction, and other noisy human activity.

“For many marine species, their attempts to communicate are being masked by sounds that humans have produced,” said Duarte. The marine ecologist at the Red Sea Research Center co-wrote the paper with Juanes. The Red Sea, Duarte said, is one of the world’s most important shipping passages. It is full of large ships traveling to Asia, Europe, and Africa. Some fish and other animals, he said, now avoid the noisiest areas. Also, the overall number of marine animals has gone down by about half since 1970. In some parts of the ocean, scientists now record “fewer animals singing and calling than in the past—those voices are gone,” said Duarte.

Juanes and Duarte examined studies and research articles about changes in noise volume(音量) and frequency in the world’s oceans. Then they put together a detailed picture of how the ocean soundscape is changing and how marine life is affected.

Climate change, the researchers found, also affects physical processes that shape ocean sounds. These include such things as wind, waves, and melting ice.

Some studies suggest that noise may cause hearing loss of marine animals. Besides, many marine animals are showing higher levels of stress due to noise, which might also affect the immune(免疫) system.

Scientist Juanes says sound pollution may be easier to deal with than other ocean threats. “In theory,” he said, “you can turn down or turn off the sound immediately. It’s not like plastics or climate change, which are much harder to undo.”

【推荐1】When my kids were young, we bought them two pet parrots. These beautiful, white birds would whistle all through the day. We had a big cage for them with toys, and a mirror, plus food and water dishes. We couldn’t let them fly in the house because of our cats, but they didn’t seem to be content in their cage or so, I thought.

One day when the air had turned warm, I opened the window to let the wind in. The songs of lots of different birds filled the air and our two parrots sang with excitement. I went over to their cage to replace their water, but as soon as I opened the door, one of them flew out and headed for the window. He crashed into the glass, fell over onto the sofa, fell back up and then started to fly around the living room. The cats ran after him, hoping for a quick meal. The kids screamed (尖叫) and I rushed to save him. It took several minutes to stop the cats from catching the bird, and get him safely back in his cage. After that day, however, I always felt a bit sorry for my parrots. I knew that no matter how comfortable their cage was, they still wanted to fly.

Many of us live in cages of our own making. We close our minds, lock away our hearts, and limit our lives. We refuse to see the love that lies within us. We sit in our cages day after day and never dare to once open the door.

I don’t want to waste my days sitting bored in a cage. I want to go fast through the sky on wings of kindness and joy. I want to ride on the winds of love and help everyone to do the same. Don’t stay stuck in your own cage then. Let yourself fly!

【推荐3】My friend never did well in school but always had a sharp eye for beauty. One day I was busy arranging some flowers in a vase but just couldn’t get them to look right. She came along, and with a few skillful waves of her hand, transformed them into a stunning bouquet. When praised for having this amazing ability, she shrugged off the compliment. She simply didn’t view her creativity as anything special.

Too often we underestimate our own talents in this way. Maybe it’s because we’ve become used to believing that only abilities like a high I.Q., a gift for mathematics or a large vocabulary have cognitive (认知的) value. I was fortunate to learn otherwise at a young age.

When I entered high school, a guidance counselor told my mother I wasn’t college material because I had performed miserably on the spelling section of a standardized test. Thankfully my mother recognized my other intellectual (智力的) gifts and stood up for me, insisting I be put into the college-track curriculum. This experience literally defined the course of my life. It showed me how important it is not to accept a label someone else put on me and it allowed me to realize my full potential.

In the early 1980’s, Howard Gardner, a prominent Harvard researcher, pioneered a concept of “multiple intelligences”. In his book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he suggested that intelligence is not limited to a traditional interpretation but instead includes a wide range of cognitive abilities.

What I love about the multiple intelligences theory is that it allows you to reframe your own abilities and talents, especially those that don’t necessarily fit into neat academic boxes. While it’s true one must meet a basic level of intelligence for achievement, the analytical skills measured by I.Q. do not tell the whole story. This is why we should celebrate all of our talents and abilities. They’re part of what makes your individual brain so wonderful and unique.