Space junk is a danger to the satellites and may hurt astronauts. There are tens of millions of pieces of rubbish in space. Some of the pieces are from passing comets, but most of them are from large broken satellites and rockets after they stopped working.

Though satellite technology offers some advantages to people, the increasing use of it could make large areas of Earth’s orbit into bad condition. The space closely around our planet is becoming increasingly crowded with over 9,000 satellites in orbit today, and the Eastern Southern Observatory (ESO) shows that this number may grow to 75,000 by 2030.

As Space.com reported in October 2022, the International Space Station (ISS) had to think about how to keep clear of a piece of space junk from a broken Russian satellite in 2021. In November 2021, astronauts in the ISS had to stay inside their spaceship when the space station passed close to space junk.

NASA scientists have called for an agreement to make sure “space junk” doesn’t make the activities in Earth’s orbit into trouble and they are working on it. “Satellites are important to the people and Earth itself. However, using too much space will put our planet into a dangerous situation,” said Melissa Quinn, Head of Space port Cornwall. “I hope all countries need to pay attention, to understand the importance of the next step, and to work together, to keep the problem under control.”

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The way people see movies may soon change completely, as the age of VR movies is coming. When you go to a cinema, the 3D glasses may not be clean. The people behind you may keep talking. But with VR, you don’t need to suffer all of these things. Movies will become more exciting and interesting. The “watch-it-alone”experience is also much better. Of course, the VR headset is what you need.

In big cities like Shanghai, you can already find lots of VR experience centres. People can watch VR movies or play VR games there. Online video sites are entering the age of VR too.

There are plenty of VR movies to enjoy. Now your home is the entertainment place for you. The VR headset can also help you keep your attention fully on what you are watching. That habit of checking your social media as you watch will be a thing of the past. Now you will not miss any part of a movie.

Some Chinese companies believe VR will pull viewers away from cinemas soon. China is home to a large number of smartphone users. Many of them are used to watching videos on their phones. This means it will be easy for them to accept VR movies.

Western companies think so too. A Canadian producer, has expressed his worries. “VR may not take place of traditional movies,” he says. “But it will really cause a big change.”

The producer, however, thinks that the movie industry needs more great stories. “The technology is already there,” he says. “What we still need more is good content.”

Space tour is not all about rockets—large space balloons can do it too! The company HALO Space in Spain completed the first test flight of its balloon in December, 2022. This means another company joined the competition of making space tour a reality.

During the test flight, the balloon reached an altitude of 37 kilometers where passengers would be able to look at the Earth from the blackness of space, according to Daily Mail. When the flights are available, the company aims to carry 3,000 passengers on 400 trips every year.

How does a space balloon work? The balloon is usually filled with helium or hydrogen, which are both much lighter than air, and it flies up.

According to NASA, the balloon is filled with the amount of gas that will give it enough lift to get off the ground and rise. As it rises, the gas inside the balloon grows larger.

The balloon stops when the density of the gas inside and the air outside is about the same, it begins to fall down as gas goes out slowly.

So the whole trip is not intense. The Space Perspective in US says that the trips are about relaxation. The balloon rises slowly at 12 miles (about 18.3 kilometers) an hour, and it takes about two hours to get to the 37 km altitude. It also takes another two hours to go back to the land.

Since its successful test flight in June 2022, Space Perspective Company started selling tickets for spaceflights in 2024—and it has already sold out. The company now buys ships to turn them into “floating spaceports”, reported Daily Mail. By lifting the balloon from ships on the sea, there will be more chances to enjoy the tour, such as flights at sunrise and sunset.

If eating more healthily is one of your New Year’s decisions, maybe you should try the Mediterranean diet. In January, US News&World Report regarded the Mediterranean diet as the best diet of 2023. This is the fourth year the diet has been thought to be the top one.

According to USA Today, the Mediterranean diet is based on the eating habits in areas of southern Italy, parts of Greece, Spain and Morocco. It mainly includes plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grain: and seeds, and even puts more extra virgin olive oil. Fish and chicken are more common than red meat in this diet. That means the diet is rich in tastes but low in fat. In addition to helping people keep weight off, experts believe that the diet can make people take less risks of heart trouble and high blood pressure.

Besides, the Mediterranean diet is not only a diet, but also a kind of lifestyle. Living the Mediterranean way also means being active and sharing meals with loved ones. “Compared with others, the Mediterranean diet pays much attention to the value of friendliness and neighborliness,” said the UNESCO. “Eating together has become a very common cultural activity around the Mediterranean areas.” In Mediterranean tradition, it is natural for family and friends to eat at big tables, talking about their lives and experiences while eating together. Usually the meals can last for several hours. It’s a good time for them to be with each other as well as the enjoyable food.

If you are interested in trying the Mediterranean diet, you can start with these tips:

·Build meals around vegetables, beans and whole grains.

·Eat fish at least twice a week.

·Use olive oil instead of butter in preparing food.

·Serve fresh fruit for dessert.

Ever feel sleepy when it’s time to get up for school? If you think school shouldn’t start so early, you’re not alone. Lots of scientists and doctors agree. That’s why some groups are pushing for later start times.

There’s good news for some students who like to snooze*. California passed a new law. It sets rules. High schools will start at 8:30 am or later. Middle schools will start at 8 am or later. So students might get more minutes of California dreaming.

Research shows that most adolescents need about nine hours of sleep a night. They usually get their best sleep between 11 pm and 8 am. So if students get up at 5 or 6 am, they miss some good sleeping time. Students who don’t get enough sleep can have health problems. They have trouble learning, too. It’s hard to learn when you’re nodding off at your desk!

But some people think starting schools later isn’t so smart. They argue there’s no way to be sure students will get more sleep. After all, the law can’t make students go to bed! And schools that start later finish later. That leaves students with less free time. Like what? Sports, jobs, chores, and homework. And let’s not forget fun!

Maybe another problem is buses! If all schools start near the same time, a district* has to pay for more buses and drivers. That’s one reason so many high schools start very early.

In fact, several schools outside California have a ready set later start times. Seattle Public Schools is an example. High schools there start no earlier than 8:45 am. A new law may soon be passed in Ohio. It would push back start times in that state.

How about you? Like to start school bright and early? Or would you rather snooze till the sun is high in the sky?

It has been more than 50 years since anyone set foot on the moon. And those old suits were hard to move in and didn’t fit every astronaut. As part of NASA’s Artemis III, astronauts will wear new for the first time in 40 years.

The new spacesuit is easier to wear and is a better fit for women too. It also allows to see more things in a better way with built-in lights and even a camera for catching things more easily. Now it is just a black spacesuit. When it reaches the moon, it will be white. This helps astronauts being noticed on the moon. The new spacesuits “will not only allow the first woman to walk on the moon, but also allow astronauts to do more researches on the moon.”

On the moon, daytime lasts for around 14 earth days and temperatures can reach 120°C! But the nights last just as long and temperatures can drop to -130°C! The spacesuits can help astronauts in these environment. _____▲_____. For example on the moon, radiation levels can be 200 times more than those on earth! Astronauts will get hurt without the spacesuits. And in space, there is mo air. Spacesuits also have to offer enough oxygen to astronauts.

The Artemis I successfully returned to Earth last year. Artemis II is set for 2024. It will take further from Earth than anyone has gone before. Artemis III is set for 2025 and will see astronauts moon walking for the first time in half a century. NASA also plans to build a new space station on the moon. The station will move around the moon and help NASA finish more plans in deeper space—like sending people to Mars! The plans are ready, and the spacesuits are ready as well.

It is known that China is the first country to grow, produce and drink tea. In 2022, it was on the UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Let’s know more about it.

Although there are hundreds of kinds of Chinese tea, we can find several basic kinds. For example, green tea has the longest history with the largest production, such as longjing and maofeng. But too much green tea is bad for sleeping. Black tea is named for its special tea leaves. It tastes sweet and is good for health. Oolong tea which is mainly produced in Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan, is most famous for dahongpao. This orange-red tea comes with an unusual smell.

Tea is important in Chinese people’s daily life. They drink tea everywhere. It’s also the tradition in China to make tea for friends, which means respecting as well as sharing something enjoyable. Recently, taking a break for “stone-boiled” tea with friends is a fashion, which shows tea is more popular for Chinese young people.

Tea has a great influence for the world, too. More and more foreigners love Chinese tea. “What Chinese tea has brought to me means a lot to me.” As a Chinese tea lover, Sang, an American man, has taught about tea since 2012. “As I teach my friends, most of them get the art of tea and love it. I want to share Chinese tea with more people, and at the same time share the friendly Chinese friends and the colorful Chinese culture.”

So you see, a cup of tea connects different places, connects you and me, connects the West and China, and shows the character and life of Chinese people.

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