【推荐1】A group of wandering wild elephants have become an overnight Internet sensation in China and globally.

While the original group is made up of 16 elephants, two decided to return home after a week. The rest have continued their journey northward, stopping only for a short break in November 2020 to allow a newly-born elephant and its mother to recover.

Since leaving the reserve, the elephants have walked over 500 kilometers. Along the way, they have entered farms for food and water, walked through urban streets, and even paid a visit to a car dealership and a retirement home. No animals or people have been hurt. However, they have destroyed more than $1 million worth of crops.

Researchers are not sure why the elephants decided to leave or where they are headed. While they are known to leave their habitats in search of food, this is the longest migration of wild elephants recorded in China. Because of the extreme distance traveled, some guess that the elephants may be lost. Elephant expert Chen Mingyong said that the herd's leader possibly "lacks experience and has led the whole group off track."

However, other scientists think the elephants were forced to move due to deforestation（砍伐森林）, Successful conservation efforts have almost doubled the elephant population in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and the surrounding regions. However, their natural habitat has been greatly reduced to make room for agricultural development.

"As their populations increase, they search for more food for the growing herd," Becky Shu Chen said. "You could say that the increase in agricultural land and plantations in their region is, for elephants, like finding a big sweet shop, right on their doorstep.”

The wandering herd's search for a suitable home has not gone unnoticed by the millions of locals That eagerly follow their daily movements on social media. Adam Chang, assigned to deliver food to the elephants, says, "Before this meeting, I just felt curious about animals. Now. I think I would volunteer in animal rights groups to preserve those giant creatures."

【推荐2】The 5-year-old mountain lion, P-45, has managed to cross busy roads safely, has avoided rat poison and has successfully claimed his territory (领地) under all challenges that have hindered other members of the mountain lion population in the Santa Monica Mountain. His deadly mistake, however, was doing what mountain lions naturally do so well: killing and eating.

Over the weekend, P-45 apparently broke into two farms, killing 10 alpacas(羊驼) at one property and a goat and an alpaca at the other. P-45 was identified as the criminal by a tracking device he wears.

It’s illegal to hunt mountain lions in California thanks to 1990’s Proposition 117, but the rule included an exception for residents whose livestock is killed by a lion. And on Nov. 28, the owner of the 10 dead alpacas requested and received a special “depredation permit” (掠夺许可)to hire a hunter to kill P-45. The 10-day permit allows the hunter to cover a 10-mile range around the farm in search of the lion. Hunters often attract the lion with a deer.

The farmer owner is within her legal rights to have the lion killed. But killing P-45 is not the answer, especially when he is one of the few adult male mountain lions in an isolated population that is at risk of extinction.

Of course, people should be allowed to protect themselves and their children if a mountain lion attacks. But the law that allows the issuance of the depredation permit essentially gives the livestock owner the right to decide whether the lion should live or die. There is no evaluation by wildlife official as to whether the lion poses a further threat to humans or animals.

Los Angeles residents are lucky to live near wild, open spaces large enough to sustain mountain lions. Surely there is a better way to manage the conflicts that arise when humans and their domestic animals move into areas that have long served as habitat for wildlife.

【推荐1】Scientists from around the world examined whether supplements marketed are good for brain health, particularly in those aged over 50. Despite the claims of some supplements that they could improve cognitive （认知的）skills, no clear evidence was found to back this up.

The report said, "For the handful that have been researched, several well-designed studies of supplements for brain health found no benefit in people with normal nutrient levels. It's unclear whether people who lack nutrition can benefit their brains by taking a supplement. The pills failed to protect against dementia （痴呆）and did not slow the process or improve the symptoms of the disease and the report said that a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, being physically active and getting sufficient sleep were linked to better brain function. ”

The value of the food supplement market in Britain is expected to reach more than £1 billion by 2012 and supplements sold on the high street for brain performance cost up to £26 for 60 pills. And Caroline Abrahams, the charity director at Age UK said that people were better off spending money to improve diets.

The report did find evidence suggesting that supplements could benefit people diagnosed with lacking vitamin. It added that these should only be taken if advised by a doctor because some supplements could interact with medicines or contain high levels of nutrients, which could be deadly. Supplements were not strictly controlled in the way that medicines were and may not contain high-quality ingredients or what was on the label, the report said.

The Health Food Manufacturers' Association, which represents the British supplement industry, said that the report was based on the American market. In Britain products could only make claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority, such as the zinc （锌）contributed to normal cognitive functions, a spokesman said.

【推荐2】Optimism (乐观) doesn’t mean paying no attention to things that cause stress. But when bad things happen, optimistic people are less likely to be unhappy about themselves and more likely to see the bad things as something that lasts a short time.

A new research has found a direct connection between optimism and healthier diet and exercise behaviors, as well as better heart health, a stronger immune system (免疫系统), better lung function, and lower death risk. “Optimistic people, regardless of sex, often have goals and the confidence to reach them,” Lee said. “Those goals could include healthy habits that contribute to a longer life.”

Studies find only about 25% of our optimism is controlled by our genes (基因), and the rest is up to us. It turns out we can actually train our brain to be more positive. Researchers studied the brains of monks (僧侣) and found surprising results: Tens of thousands of hours of meditation(冥思) had changed the function (机能) of their brains, which support positive qualities. And that may be key in producing the effect on the body.

There are simple mental exercises to develop an optimistic attitude. One of the most effective ways to increase optimism is called the “Best Possible Self” method. That is to imagine ourselves in a future in which we have achieved all our life goals. And keeping a diary in which we list the positive experiences we had can also help shape our attitude. Taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes us thankful can improve our view on life, too.

【推荐1】We are what we eat. From calorie-inducing meals to low-fat lunches, much of our health depends on what we eat. We know about the benefits of eating properly for our physical well-being, but food-and cooking it-is proving to be good for our mental well-being as well.

Many professionals are now advocating the therapeutic value of cooking food. It’s not just about the end result but the experience someone goes through. Dr Mark Salter, a consultant psychiatrist, said, “Baking and cooking are good therapies that help patients develop planning skills, short-term memory and social skills, all of which suffer in mental illness.”

TV chef and author Nadiya Hussain agrees that cooking is great for helping our mind. She loves to bake and became the champion of the TV show, The Great British Bake Off. She says that “Baking’s always been about therapy. It’s never really been about the cake. ” And she thinks that baking is an important tool for our socialization and mental health.

Certainly, creating some delicious food has helped us get through the recent lockdown. People have said that kneading dough (揉面团) to make bread, for example, has given them a sense of calm and control when they feel lonely and depressed. Research has shown that doing creative tasks, like cooking, makes us feel happier. Nicole Farmer, who studies how food impacts our biology, behavior and mental health, said, “cooking represents the shared human experience of food, and nurturing people through food, so I think that’s where it incorporates opportunities for immediate positive emotions.”

Of course, cooking can be a very sociable activity and sharing the end result can be a rewarding experience. We can enjoy its benefits and let go of anxiety and depression.