【推荐1】Many people catch a cold in spring or fall. It makes us think why scientists can’t find a cure (治疗) for the cold. The answer is easy. But there are hundreds of kinds of cold viruses (病毒) out there. You never know which one you will get, so there isn’t a cure for each one.

When a virus attacks your body, your body works hard to get rid of (摆脱) it. You get a fever, but the heat (热度) of your body is killing the virus. You also have a runny nose to stop the virus from getting to your body. You may feel terrible, but actually your wonderful body is doing everything it can to kill the cold.

Different people have different ways of curing colds. In the United States, for example, people might drink chicken soup to feel better. Some take hot baths and drink warm water. Others take medicine to stop the fever and runny nose.

There is one interesting thing to add: some scientists say taking medicine when you have a cold is actually bad for you. The virus stays in you longer because your body doesn’t have a way to fight and kill it. Bodies can do an amazing job on their own.

【推荐2】When we think of famous inventors, we usually think of men like Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison.     1    

Let’s take the dishwasher(洗碗机) as an example.     2     She was a rich American who gave a lot of dinner parties. But she was mad that her servants used to break plates and glasses when they were washing the dishes after a party. So, Josephine decided to try and invent a machine which could wash a lot of plates and glasses safely. She said, “    3    ” She designed the machine, and then she found a company to make it. At first only hotels and restaurants bought Josephine’s new machine, but today the dishwasher is used by millions of people all over the world.

The car was invented by a man.     4     Her name was Mary Anderson. Before her invention appeared, it was impossible for drivers to see where they were going when it was raining or snowing.     5     So what’s the name of Mary’s invention? Windshield wipers(雨刷).

【推荐3】In many people’s eyes, plants are quiet. They can’t talk. They can’t walk. And they can’t think like us.

Or can they? A new TV show gives us a new look at plants. Shown on Jan. 10 on Bilibili, it tells the secret lives of plants, and the wonderful and unbelievable ways that plants work.

Plants compete against each other to live. In the rainforests, different kinds of plants race for sunlight. The forest floor is described as a “battlefield”. Only two percent of the sunlight gets through it. Some plants spread their big leaves to reach light. But other plants may catch them up and get a lift. Finally, they are both overtaken (超过) by a fast-growing tree. Similarly, some trees may give out something to protect themselves.

Plants also help each other and even communicate. In deserts, if a tree finds water, it will share it with others. Studies also show that plants use fungus (真菌) in the soil as a way to “talk” to each other. It’s kind of like how Wi-Fi works. If a tomato plant gets a leaf disease, it can tell nearby plants about it.

The TV show not only makes us amazed at the plant world but pushes us to understand that plants are important. “Plants are the needs of all life, including ourselves. We depend upon them for every mouth of food that we eat and every lungful of air that we breathe.”, said David, the director of the show. It’s time to look after wild plants just as carefully as our houseplants.

Have you ever imagined an AI restaurant? Have you ever dreamed to be served by robots in a restaurant?     1     In July, 2021, a smart restaurant has caught everyone’s eyes. The restaurant lies in Hongqiao community, Changning district in Shanghai and it covers 133 square meters.     2     There are no staffs (工作人员) in the restaurant, all we can see are robots and electric machines. The robots work as cooks and waiters or waitresses.     3     That largely increases the efficiency (效率) comparing with a traditional restaurant. The restaurant not only has self-service food areas and online booking centers, but also snack machines. The restaurant opens 24 hours.     4         5     The most expensive meat dishes, such as big chicken legs, cost only 8 yuan. While usual vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage, cost only 3.5 yuan. There is no doubt that the AI restaurant takes a leading position in the field of new dining.

【推荐3】A 15-year-old student who invented a flashlight getting power from the holder’s body heat is going home today from California with a big prize and a chance to do further research.

Ann Makosinski was the only Canadian among the four winners at Google’s international science competition. Thousands of young scientists from around the world took part in the competition.

Winning the science and technology competition was “a surprise”. Ann said, “I think it will have a great influence on my future.”

Ann thanked her family for encouraging her interest in science and said that her first toy was a box of transistors (晶体管).

Ann’s prize includes $25,000 and a “once in a-lifetime experience” from Google for her Hollow Flashlight, which has no moving parts or batteries.

The idea for the invention came from seeing unwanted batteries and her friend’s experience. When Ann visited a friend in the Philippines, she saw her friend couldn’t study when it became dark because there was no electricity or light. She saw the need for a flashlight that has no batteries—Hollow Flashlight.

In her project, Ann wrote “I made two flashlights that do not use any batteries or harmful materials. They do not create any noise and will always work. The flashlight needs at least a 5℃ temperature difference between the holder’s body and the environment around to produce light.”

A video of Ann explaining how she created the flashlight has been watched more than 1.4 million times on the Internet.

Though Ann was successful, she has not made a decision about her career path. Ann hopes that she can find a way to join her love of film and science together.

The four winners were chosen from 15 final competitors from eight countries. The competition attracted thousands of students in 120 countries.

【推荐2】Hover Camera(无人相机)

Wang Mengqiu, the inventor of Hover Camera, was born in Hangzhou in 1982. He once studied at Stanford University in the United States. He became famous overnight(一夜成名) because of the invention.

Forget selfie sticks(自拍杆)! Compared to other cameras, Hover Camera has many advantages.

*It can fly and stay in mid­air, track your face and even follow you to make sure it gets the perfect picture.

*It can be controlled by using a smartphone(智能手机)．

*It records movements with a 13MP camera and takes 4K video.

*It is the best choice for weddings, sports games and holidays.

Mr. Wang also said, “The main design consideration is easy and safe to take for the users. It’s very light and small. It can be folded(折叠) in two, so it can be easily put into a bag. When the power is low, it can land on the ground safely on its own.”

It’s reported that the company has raised $25 million to produce it. As it is still being tested(测试), Hover Camera can be bought later this year.

The price has not yet been decided. But a spokesman says the company hopes to sell it for less than $600.

【推荐3】The Spring Festival is the biggest festival for Chinese people all around the world.The celebration usually last(持续) for 15 days. On the eve of the Spring Festival, family members get together and have a big dinner. The most popular food on this day is dumplings.

Days before the Spring Festival, families will clean their homes. People think cleaning sweeps away bad luck. It makes the house ready for good luck.

The colour red is everywhere during the Spring Festival. People think red is a happy colour and will bring them a bright future. People wear red, too. They decorate(装饰)their homes with pieces of red paper. Kids get a lot of “Hongbao”. It is a red paper bag with money in it. Usually, older people give younger ones Hongbao. They think it brings good luck.

The Spring Festival is the time to make everybody happy. So don't say any bad words or do anything that will bring unhappiness to other people. You should not say any bad words like “death”(死亡).Don't break(打破) anything. People think that it means your luck is running out.