【推荐1】Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees. The young oranges are growing well in Florida’s weather. Warm sunshine and gentle rains，along with Ed Rawlings’ expert care，they will produce a good crop of oranges this year.

But Ed has to fight against Florida’s changeable winter weather. In January and February，temperatures can destroy Ed’s entire orange crop. Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years，Ed Rawlings is prepared for the frosts. When temperatures drop below freezing，Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees. The water freezes and forms a thin layer of ice on the trees. Strange as it may sound，this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.

What happens is simple. When the trees are watered，the water loses heat and becomes ice. The warmth of the heat it loses is sucked in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level. Ed Rawlings has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.

But Ed still faces some difficulties. The trees should be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point. Also，just the right quantity of water must be used. Too much water can form a thick layer of ice that will break the trees’ branches. Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat. So Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered，and how much water should be used.

Computer technology may help Ed Rawlings with some of these worries. With equipment，air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured. The information is fed into a computer which can tell when temperatures drop to freezing. The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently the trees should be watered. Ed Rawlings will find looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer，and we’ll all have the benefits of computer­age oranges.

【推荐2】“He almost didn’t see the old lady, stranded(困在) on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front her Mercedes and got out.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt.

He said, “I am here to help you, ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.”

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened, had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were many people who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, “And think of me.”

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

【推荐1】It was dawn of March 21, 2018. Gary Messina was on his morning run along New York City’s East River. Suddenly something caught his eye – a large 60-year-old man balancing on the four-foot-high fence that guarded the path from the water. As Messina got closer to the scene, the man took a step forward and slipped into the dark river below.

When Messina reached nearer, the man was struggling in the water, clearly unable to swim. Other joggers also heard the man’s cry. David Blauzvern and John Green dropped their phones and keys on land and jumped in. “People had called the police, but it was unclear when they’d get there.” says Green. “We just reacted.” Messina joined them in the river. Just as the jumper was losing strength, Blauzvern take hold of him. The pair were about 30 yards from the seawall when Messina and Green caught up to them. They seized the man, with Blauzvern supporting his back and Messina and Green holding him up from either side. As the men made their toward the concrete seawall that stretched (延伸) for blocks in each direction, Blauzvern had an awful realization: there was no way out of the river.

By now, a crowd had gathered on land. “A rescue boat is on its way,” someone yelled to them. Swimming forward was getting tougher by the minute. The jumper, who was six foot two and weighed around 260 pounds, was heavy in his rescuers’ arms. After ten minutes, they managed to get to the river’s edge. “I’ve never been so out of breath,” says Blauzvern.

Fifteen minutes after the men had jumped into the river, the two-man rescue boat appeared. But because it couldn’t risk getting too close to the seawall, the men had to swim out to it. “I was completely out of energy at this point,” says Blauzvern. The men in the water pushed the jumper while the men in the boat pulled him up and, finally, to safety. The man they had saved was taken to the hospital for evaluation(评估). Details on his condition have not been known. As for the rescuers, each of them was at work by 10:30 a.m. “I was a bit late,” admits Blauzvern, smiling. “But I had a good excuse.”

【推荐3】One of the most important things that has happened to me occurred long before I was aware of it. As the story goes, I was three days old and Mom was singing “The Name Game” song to me: “Christine- Bo-Bean-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Feen.” By day four, I was given a new name — Christine-Bo-Bean, or just Bo-Bean to my mother. Now, I am Bo to her and close friends.

Why is this nickname so important to me? I once read a book with a passage about True Names which explains that when a person’s true name is spoken, she has a distinct aura (光环) around her. Although I have been Bo to my mother all my life, I recently discovered that my true name is not on my birth certificate; it’s the name that is as unique and memorable as I am.

People usually know me as Christine. They still see me as a quiet, bookish child. They don’t know who I am now. My most recent hopes, fears, goals, dreams and opinions escape their notice; it is easier to think of me as I was. In their minds, they have a box labeled “Christine” in which I fit neatly, and as Christine, I was content with the perfect packaging.

Those who call me Bo or Bo-Bean really know me. They remember who I was and realize I have changed. Bo is a tight squeeze in the old “Christine” boxes. The Bo I am is ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-learning.

When I was Christine, I was quiet, and easily scared. I feared groups, meeting new people and sharing my opinions. I was more comfortable with a book than my best friend. As Christine, I thought everyone was better than I was.

As Bo, I still love my books, but I want to discuss them. As Bo, my dream is to live where I can experience new things and meet new people. I dream about being alone on a stage lit by a single spotlight; I have that confidence now. I am equal to those I once saw as better than me.

A name shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes, when a person finds his or her True Name, they develop a new shine visible to friends, family and especially themselves.

I can’t always be Bo. Sometimes exposing myself is still scary and I feel too nervous; I want to hide in those old boxes. Mostly, however, I am ready for the world. So, just call me Bo.

【推荐2】Navigation(导航)in unfamiliar places is a major problem in large cities.Therefore,the popularity of mobile GPS facilities has greatly risen.However,it is sometimes difficult for users to understand where to go.In addition,they have to regularly look at the screen to follow the route,thus increasing risks on the road.

Luckily,preuniversity students from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI in Moscow have created sneakers that can give directions,count a person's steps and measure the calories burned.The smart sneakers can lead users to their destination.The idea is simple.When moving towards a turn,the right or left shoe vibrates(震动)according to the directions.

“We've developed a facility that goes well with a special mobile app via Bluetooth and receives information about a route.The facility performs all the necessary functions without affecting walking and can be joined to the laces(鞋带)of ordinary sneakers.The user only needs to run the app once,and then puts the phone away and enjoys the walk.In addition to navigation,the system can also keep track of the distance traveled.This information can be found in the mobile app,”said Alexander Pinchuk and Maxim Levkin,the authors of the project.

The team plans to continue developing the project because the smart clothing market is growing every year.According to the creators,it is likely that in a few years,smart sneakers will become popular like smart watches.

This is not the first original project of preuniversity students from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Valentin Klimov,deputy director of the Institute of Cyber Intelligent Systems of MEPhI,says,“Our preuniversity students have created rather original projects before.For example,last year,our students developed a useful system for people with poor eyesight and won an international children's competition;then they won the Junior competition and took part in the largest international competition:Intel ISEF.Now these guys are our first year students,and this shows the high level of our applicants.”

【推荐3】Stress in middle age can make your brain shrink and make your memory worse, scientists have discovered. The brain-reducing effects of stress, identified in people in their 40s free from dementia - a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, were found to be caused by cortisol(皮质醇). The high levels of the stress hormone may be an early warning “sign that someone may end up with dementia, the research suggests.

Stress also made people's thinking skills worse, which the Harvard Medical School study, published in the journal Neurology found. For the research, scientists led by Dr. Justin B. Echouffo-Tcheugui studied 2,231 people with an average of 49 and free of dementia. He said." Our research detected memory loss and brain shrinkage in middle-aged people before symptoms started to show. So it's important for people to find ways to reduce stress, such as getting enough sleep, taking part in moderate exercise, making relaxation techniques part of their daily lives or asking their doctor about their cortisol levels and taking a cortisol-reducing medication if needed. "He also added, "It's important for physicians to give professional advice to all people with high cortisol levels."

Researchers found lower scores on tests of memory and thinking in people with higher levels of cortisol than those with average levels. In addition, people with higher cortisol levels had a smaller brain volume, with those with high cortisol levels having brains that were 88.5 per cent of the total cranial(颅骨的) volume. This was compared to 88. 7 percent of the total cranial volume for people with normal levels of the hormone. No links were found between low levels of cortisol and brain size.

Cortisol helps the body respond to stress and when we are stressed, cortisol levels increase because that is our fight - or - flight(战或逃) response. It can also help reduce inflammation(发炎) and control blood sugar and blood pressure. High cortisol levels can be caused by stress, medical conditions or medications.

“Cortisol affects many different functions so it is important to fully investigate how high levels of the hormone may affect the brain," Dr Echouffo-Tcheugui said, “While other studies have examined cortisol and memory, we believe our large, community-based study is the first to explore, in middle-aged people, cortisol levels and brain volume, as well as memory and thinking skills. ”

【推荐1】I had a teacher who used to wake up in class by shouting: “The early bird gets the worm!” I say “let him have the worm”. I hate food that doesn’t stay still, and avoid Japanese restaurants for that very reason. Anyway, I stopped eating worms at the age of three, switching to regular breakfasts of cereal(谷物), to which I would add extra sugar.

Recently I was thinking about early birds and the competitive spirit after receiving a letter from a reader in Malaysia: ”My son deliberately throws away marks because he doesn’t like to be top of the class. What shall I do?” Give him a round of “applause” for being smart! Actually many children in Asia tend to be the focus by performing better.

Placed into a very competitive class when I was 11, I quickly learned the ideal position was second to last. The top three performers and the very last person are highlighted; the second-to-last contestant is INVISIBLE. And it’s an easy position to get—just deliberately underperform at every test. I could do that. I once came second to last in eight straight sports day races. No one suspected anything. I was so invisible that I could have robbed a bank in my street and no one would have noticed.

At the London Olympics a few months ago, badminton pairs from three Asian countries deliberately tried to lost matches to draw good lots in later rounds. It was funny to watch, but they were all thrown out for poor sportsmanship. What they really needed were acting lessons, their moves were so unconvincing. “Oops, I hit the ball in entirely the wrong direction.”

The other day, I took the children out and they raced for the car. “I’m first,” said one. The second said: “First is worst, second is best.” Together they sang at the last one: “And third’s the one with a hairy chest.”

It struck me that the organizers of sports matches could use this song when people deliberately lost matches. “I lost,” the delighted loser will say. The judges could still declare them winners, pointing to a new, optional regulation: “First is worst, second is best, third’s the one with a hairy chest.”

【推荐2】Nine-year-old Patches the Dachshund was saved by a 3D-printed skull she received after the removal of an orange-sized tumor (肿瘤).

Patches had a small bump on her head for years. Her owner took her to see vets before ending up in the hands of Dr. Michelle Oblak.

Dr. Oblak had been researching 3D-printing uses for dogs. According to Oblak, a dog in Patches’ situation would need an expensive operation where the animal’s tumor and skull would be removed and then replaced. However, Oblak believed Patches was the ideal candidate to receive it.

Dymeck, Patches’ owner, said that she was hesitant (犹豫的), but the potential to help others convinced her. “They felt she could recover from this,” Dymeck said. “And to be part of research was a big thing for me – if they can learn something from animals to help humans, that’s important.”

The brand new method used to save Patches’ life started with a CT scan of her tumor. Then, Oblak and her team digitally removed the tumor in Patches’ skull. After that, they mapped out what the 3D-printed skull piece would look like and where it would fit on the dog. “There’s little room for error,” Oblak explained. “We’re talking less than two millimeters or else the plate wouldn’t fit.”

After everything was drawn out, Oblak sent the designs over to the 3D-printing company and just two weeks later Patches’ customized skull (定制的头骨) was ready. Then Patches went under the knife. After a four-hour operation, the dog was back to herself. Patches is now cancer-free. She has a scar on her head but it seems like a small price to pay for the life-saving operation.

“Our hope is this is something that could be more widely available on a broad scale,” Oblak said. “It went very well.”

【推荐3】If you thought pilots dimmed（调暗）the lights before takeoff to give you some shuteye, think again. Believe it or not, the dim lighting could actually help save your life in case of a plane emergency.

The dimmed lights before taking off the runway and landing are a flight precaution used to help passengers’ eyes adjust quicker during an emergency escape. “Going from a brightly lit environment to one that’s completely dark would require some time for our eyes to focus and see the escape slide,” Alice Theriault, service director for Air Canada wrote in a press statement. “Since we need to have all the seconds on our side in the event of an emergency, dimming the lights is one of many steps we take to ensure the safety of our customers.”

The phenomenon that your eyes see those strange speckles (小斑点) as your sight adjusts to a dark place after being in a light place is called dark adaptation. It normally takes our eyes about 20 to 30 seconds to see best in a dark room. The brighter the lights, the longer it takes for our eyes to adjust, which is why dimming the plane lights could shorten your “dark adaptation” time since you haven’t been sitting under fluorescent bulbs (荧光灯) all flight.

Not only does dimming lights add valuable time to the escape process, but it reduces the tension on your eyes if you need to look outside, or see the emergency lighting along the passage. “It helps keep you in the right direction.” Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Cockpit Confidential told The Telegraph. “It also makes it easier for flight attendants to assess any outside risks, such as fire or debris, that might affect an escape.” So next time a pilot dims the lights, just know it’s for your safety, even though it creates a gentle atmosphere for your takeoff into the sky.