【推荐2】Silence provides our mind and body with much-needed rest. It is also beneficial for the brain. If you want to know how to add the power of silence to your daily life, here are three ways.

Spend some time offline every day

From smartphones to laptops and music systems, we spend most of our time on electronic devices. Although technology has become an important part of our lives, the noise our smart devices generate can be harmful to our wellbeing.

    1     You can start with 10-15 minutes each day and increase it depending on your needs.

Go out into nature

Spending time in nature can help you get in touch with your inner self, reduce stress and comfort a troubled mind.     2     Head out to the nearest park or forest and spend time in nature. You can spend a least 15-30 minutes every day surrounding yourself with green spaces.

You can either do this early in the morning before starting your daily routine or in the evening after finishing your day. Don’t look at your smartphones while spending time in nature. Just be with yourself, and replace the noises of everyday life with the comforting sounds of birds.     3    .

    4    

We spend a lot of time talking every day.     5     But how can we stay silent and just listen? You can do that by being mindful of your thoughts. Do not speak for speaking, but because your speech has some value to a conversation. Allow yourself to listen carefully to others and respond appropriately.

【推荐3】Stay safe in the sun

Summer is the ideal time to be outside having fun in the fresh air and sunshine. Sunlight can boost your vitamin D levels, which keeps your bones, teeth and muscles healthy.     1     However, from late spring to early autumn, the sun’s rays are stronger and can damage skin and make you feel unwell.

It’s of vital importance to protect yourself from the sun’s powerful rays. Everyone needs to take caution in the sun.     2     In strong sunshine the body can heat up quickly, and this can mean you sweat and lose a lot of water. This can make your body lose water, which can cause headaches, a dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness and fainting.

    3     It’s wise to wear a hat and apply sunscreen with SPF50 (sun protection factor 50) while in the sun. However, sweat and swimming can wash off sunscreen. It’s advisable to apply more throughout the day repeatedly. Never look directly at the sun even though wearing sunglasses. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Sunburnt skin is red, hot to touch, can feel sore and itchy, and even may blister.     4     Don’t put ice on it, and try not to scratch peeling skin. It’s important to tell an adult straight away if you feel unwell.

It’s sensible to be careful but playing in the sun is also good for your mood and your health.     5    

When people talk of exploring the sea more, they usually mean exploiting it. Sea exploration has caused many problems and will continue to cause more.

More exploration means more pollution. The Deepwater Horizon spilled over 200 million gallons of oil into the sea in 2010. Plastic pollution is also bad, killing many birds and fish, and has even been found in our tap water.

Mining for resources is very damaging, especially in the Arctic. Because of climate change, there is less ice now, which means we can look for more fossil fuels further north.   But if we burn these, the ice will melt more and this negative cycle will continue. Climate change is warning us that something is very wrong.

Overfishing is another problem. Whales and dolphins are also hunted for their meat or for so­called research. Although this was banned in 1982, some countries are still “murdering” these intelligent creatures without mercy.

The sea is home to life, not human beings’ possessions. It is huge, but it is more sensitive than we think. If we do not protect it, future generations will not forgive us.

To truly understand our planet, we must explore the oceans which cover most of it. Opponents may be concerned, but sea exploration is important for our future. For example, scientific research ships can help address important issues such as climate change. We need to understand what is happening to our planet so that we can take action. Therefore, more research is necessary.

Understanding more about the sea will also help us manage its resources better. Logging new species will improve our understanding of life on the earth. It may help us discover new medicines, as well as new sources of food and energy. Accessing the deep ocean may also help us to predict events such as earthquakes.

The population of the world is growing and we need new resources for future development. There are probably vast amounts of resources under the sea and ice, not just oil and gas but also valuable minerals.

Of course, there are still environmental risks. However, these should be balanced with economic needs. Hopefully， as technology improves, we may have more options for managing this balance.

【推荐3】Paper straws, which are being pushed across the U.S. as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic versions, may contain “forever chemicals” that are harmful to both humans and the environment and were observed more often than in a sample of plastic straws, a new European study has found.

Belgian researchers tested 39 straw brands from restaurants and retailers for synthetic (人工合成的) chemicals known as poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The study found that the majority of straws contained those chemicals, but they were most common in those made from paper and bamboo. The chemicals are referred to as “forever chemicals” as they can remain for thousands of years in the environment. The chemicals have been associated with health issues like liver damage or kidney cancer and can harm the environment as well.

Of the brands tested, 90% of the paper straws contained PFAS, compared to 80% of bamboo straws, 75% of plastic straws and 40% of glass straws. None of the steel straws contained the chemicals. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants. Researchers stressed that PFAS concentration was low and posed a limited risk to health, given that people use such straws only occasionally. But they can remain in the body for years, and concentrations can build up, they said in a release.

“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” researcher Dr. Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp, said in a statement. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”

It wasn’t clear whether the chemicals were added by manufacturers or occurred due to contamination (污染) from soil and water during manufacturing. The study did not look into whether the straws could contaminate liquids.

“The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows that they are not necessarily biodegradable,” Groffen said. “We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw — or just avoid using straws at all.”

The study comes as European countries, and some parts of the U.S., have pushed to shift away from plastic straws to alternatives in efforts to be more environmentally friendly. States including California and New York have enforced bans on single-use plastic straws in restaurants.