【推荐1】Cell phones：Is there a cancer link?

Could your cell phone give you cancer? Whether it could or not, some people are worrying about the possibility that phones, power lines and Wi-Fi could be responsible for a range of illnesses, from rashes to brain tumors.

Some say there is evidence to support the growing anxieties. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the university at Albany, in New York, thinks there’s a greater than 95 percent chance that power lines can cause childhood leukemia (白血病). Also there’s a greater than 90 percent chance that cell phones can cause brain tumors. “It’s apparent now that there’s a real risk, ”said Carpenter.

But others believe these concerns are not justified. Dr Martha Linet, head of radiation epidemiology (流行病学) at the US National Cancer Institute, has looked at the same research as Carpenter but has reached a different conclusion. “I don’t support warning labels for cell phones, ”said Linet. “We don’t have the evidence that there’s much danger.”

Studies so far suggest a weak connection between EMFs (电磁场) and illness—so weak that it might not exist at all. A multinational investigation of cell phones and brain cancer, in 13 countries outside the US, has been underway for several years. It’s funded in part by the European Union, in part by a cell phone industry group. The final report should come out later this year, but data so far don’t suggest a strong link between cell phone use and cancer risk.

【推荐2】When you turn on the lights in your house, plug in your smartphone charger,or even charge your electric car, do you know where your power is coming from?

In the United States.there are a number of different sources of energy.The biggest sources of energy are fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.    1    Nuclear power, which is the third biggest source, accounts for almost 20%

And at the smaller end of the scale, hydropower(水力发电), which comes.from things like the Hoover Dam, is responsible for 7% of power generation.    2    .

We don’t just use electricity at home.    3     When they - have cheap electricity,it results in lower costs on products we buy and the boost can help create more jobs.

    4    .If you live in the Midwest, you probably get more than 65% of your electricity from coal.If you live in the northwest, the biggest source of electricity is hydropower.And if you live in the northeast, you get most of your electricity from natural gas and nuclear.

So when you hear that people want to raise the cost of using fossils fuels to make electricity and force people to switch to even more expensive options like renewable sources wind and solar, realize that it will have a very real effect on your pocketbook and the economy    5    

【推荐1】There has been a bitter argument within the Australian community over a horse racing event advertised on the Sydney Opera House. While some believe the Opera House is Australia’s “biggest billboard (大幅广告牌)” and should be used for economic gain, others are shocked that the government has allowed the national landmark to be polluted with branding.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sydney Opera House is an important Australian building recognized all over the world and one of the country’s most frequently visited tourist attractions. In the past, the Opera House has been used to promote a handful of charities, cultural festivals, etc. However, these have aimed to highlight events that bring advantage to ordinary people, not a single profiting brand.

Some have argued that promoting brands on the sails of the Opera House is just like advertising on any other billboard or marketing space with the power to significantly encourage tourism and growth. While this may be true, if advertising continues to happen, the Opera House could risk losing its reputation, which could devalue the landmark and actually damage its tourism appeal.

Although landmarks around the world such as the Eiffel Tower and Moscow’s Red Square have been used for advertising, they also caused some arguments among the public. For instance, a major fashion brand placed a giant branded suitcase in the center of Moscow’s Red Square; however, it was removed shortly afterwards as tourists complained it was so big that it blocked views of major landmark sites. The advertisement caused arguments among the public and finally failed to leave a positive impact.

So what will advertising on the Opera House look like to international tourists? Will they be amazed and drawn to a wonderful country, or will they see advertising as something reducing the cultural value of a national symbol? We think it’s clear that our national treasures deserve the respect and admiration that come with them, and advertising should be limited to important causes, not campaigns for commercial gain.

【推荐3】How to stop technology addiction

Research suggests that at least 64% of people now spend up to four hours daily of spare time in front of a screen. Just as TV watching has been linked to higher chances of being fat and getting diseases, this extra sedentary(久坐不动的) time is bad news for our health.    1    

Choose outdoor activities over technology

When you’re at home, make it a rule that you can’t be online if the sun is shining.     2    Then, after taking these healthy physical activities, you can take out your phone or laptop, or take a seat at the computer. This rule should be fit for everyone in your family.

Limit social media use

According to some experts, the effect of technology on human relationships is worrying as technology has become a substitute for face-to-face human relationships. And social networks have changed computer and mobile use for people of all ages.     3    Avoid aimless browsing(浏览) and give your time online a purpose: research holidays or catch up on the news of the day. Then log off.    4    

Challenge yourself to read at least 30 pages of a great book before you check your computer or mobile phone. Pick the right reading material and you’ll soon find you’ve discovered an enjoyable pastime.

Create projects for yourself

It’s amazing how much you can achieve when you’re not glued to(全神贯注地看) a screen.    5     Some suggestions are organizing the book shelf and cleaning your bedroom. Then try to do one each evening.

【推荐2】For centuries, humans have explored the Earth’s mountains, jungles and deserts. But despite covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is still relatively a mystery. In fact, we know more about the surface of the Mars than the seafloor. However, getting a fuller picture of the ocean will enable us to pilot ships more safely, create more accurate climate models, build offshore wind farms and protect ocean species — all part of what’s known as the “blue economy”.

Underwater robotic vehicles equipped with sensors are helping gather that data more quickly and more cheaply than ever before. But many of these vehicles rely on batteries with a limited lifespan, and need to return to a boat or the shore to recharge, making it difficult for them to map remoter parts of the sea.

A company called Seatrec is rising to the challenge, founded by oceanographer Yi Chao. While working at NASA, he found a way to power ocean robots by making use of the naturally occurring temperature disparity of the sea. As the robot moves between colder and warmer parts of the ocean, the material inside the power module either becomes solid or melts, causing pressure that in turn creates energy and powers the robot’s generator. “The ocean robots can get charged by the sea, so they can extend their lifetime almost indefinitely,” Chao said.

The power module can be placed in existing data-gathering robots. The robot dives a kilometer down to examine the chemistry and the shape of the seabed, using sonar to create a map of the surrounding area. Then the robot returns to the surface to send back its findings via satellite.

The technology can extend the reach of data-gathering devices, according to Jamie McMichael-Phillips, director of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. “One of the huge challenges we have is simply physics: unlike mapping the Earth’s surface where we can use cameras or satellites, at sea, the light can’t go through the water column. So we’re much limited to using sonar systems. Therefore, this technology can help deal with the problem well,” said Jamie.