【推荐1】Before we work on the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I would like to give two suggestions that will greatly add the value you will receive from this material (阅读材料).

First, I would recommend that you do not see this material as a book, in the sense that it is something just read once and put on a shelf.

You may choose to read it through once for a sense of the whole, but the material is designed to be a companion in the continual process of change and growth. As you progress to deeper levels of understanding and practice, you are supposed to go back time and again to the principles contained in each habit and work to expand your knowledge, skill, and desire.

Second, I would suggest that you change from the role of learner to that of a teacher while reading this material. Take an inside-out approach and read with the purpose in mind of sharing or discussing what you learn with someone else within 48 hours after you learn it. Read as though you are going to teach it to others, while it is still fresh, and notice the difference in your mental and emotional process.

I am sure if you approach the material in this way, you will not only better remember what you read, but your perspective will be expanded, your understanding deepened, and your motivation to apply the material increased.

In addition, as you openly, honestly share what you are learning with others, you will be surprised to find that negative labels (负面标签) or perceptions others may have had of you tend to disappear. Those you teach will see you as a changing, growing person and will be more likely to be helpful and supportive as you work, perhaps together to integrate the seven habits into your lives.

【推荐2】Recent discoveries published in Science Advances have revealed a native plant gene that enables researchers to more effortlessly control the attractive glow of bioluminescent (生物发光的) plants. This gene, which varies across different plant species, allows for the redirection of living energy into organic light, offering a natural source of lighting for homes, gardens, and beyond.

The study received support from Light Bio, a pioneer in the development of bioluminescent plants, which is dedicated to promoting greater connection and enjoyment of plants through the delightful appeal of living light. The latest research builds upon earlier findings. Prior approaches for creating bioluminescent plants involved including five genes obtained from fungi (菌类). In the new findings, a single gene native to plants can effectively replace two of the fungal genes. The plant gene’s smaller size and simpler biological requirements enhance its functionality for diverse applications. The smaller gene plays a vital role, acting as a bridge between plant metabolism (新陈代谢) and light production. This connection allows the plant’s inner dynamics to be translated into a constantly changing view of natural light.

Bioluminescent plants have gained huge popularity among the public. Light Bio recently began taking orders for a bioluminescent petunia (矮牵牛花) under the brand Firefly TM Petunia, which is selling fast. The company selected the petunia as its first offering due to its popularity as a decorative plant. It recently announced that their plants glow up to 100 times brighter than previously possible, with the petunia standing out as the brightest. Known for their ease of being planted and flowering, petunias make an ideal choice for this innovative enhancement.

In partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, Light Bio envisions future plants to be at least ten times brighter, with an expanded range of varieties and colors. Beyond the sheer delight these glowing plants provide, the foundational science offers great insights into plant molecular physiology (分子生理学). The cooperative teams are confident that discoveries from this research will lead to significant progress in essential fields such as crop development and disease resistance.

【推荐3】Any creature or person that has both organic (与有机体有关的) and non-organic body parts can technically be considered a cyborg. This means that anyone who has a pace-maker to control their heartbeat, or a cochlear implant (耳蜗移植) to restore their hearing, could technically be called one.

The above are examples of “restorative” cyborgs, because technology is restoring an ability that a healthy human would normally have. More recent advancements in this field include robotic arms and legs, which are controlled by sensors (传感器) to receive muscle signals. Recently, brain implants have allowed disabled people to perform simple computer tasks.

But with these rapid advances in technology, another variety of cyborg will soon become more common— ‘Advanced’ cyborgs. If it’s possible to make man-made body parts which are as good as their organic ones, then surely it will become possible to make ones that are even better.

Possible cyborg advancements that may exist in the future include man-made joints which increase your speed and strength. Advanced brain chips (芯片) which allow you to control machines with a thought. Or visual implants which improve your eyesight or allow you to see colors that can’t be seen previously to the human eye.

However, some people worry that this technology could be dangerous. New ways of exciting the pleasure centers of people’s brains could lead to new forms of addiction. Others worry that it could lead to inequality in healthcare, with the high cost of implants causing the wealthy to gain further advantages over the poor.

Implants which restore the abilities of those who are injured are a wonderful medical advancement. But as physical enhancements that allow people to do more and live longer become more common, the choice will be between combining with machines or being left behind.