2 . Some of the greatest discoveries in science have been completely accidental. Then again, maybe science had a little help...

Ice Candy

One of America’s favorite summertime treats came about thanks to a particularly cold night in the San Francisco Bay area in 1905. That’s when 11-year-old Frank Epperson forgot a glass containing powdered soda mix, water and a wooden stick out at the doorway overnight. The next morning, Frank discovered the mixture had frozen around the stick. He popped it out of the cup, licked it…and summers were never the same!

Safety Glass

In 1903, French chemist Édouard Bénédictus accidentally dropped a glass bottle. To his surprise, the glass cracked but wasn’t broken into pieces. Out of curiosity, he checked it carefully. As it turned out, the bottle hadn’t been cleaned properly and was coated with a thin film of a kind of liquid plastic. A happy accident led to the discovery of safety glass.

YInMn Blue

In 2009, Mas Subramanian, a professor of materials science at Oregon State University, was testing out new materials for electronics in his lab with graduate students. A mixture of metals went into the furnace. What came out was a striking blue mixture. The first new blue since cobalt (深蓝) was discovered in 1802, is called “YInMn Blue.”

Penicillin

In 1928, Scottish researcher Alexander Fleming returned to his lab after a two-week vacation only to discover that mold (霉菌) from an open window had made an uncovered dish of bacteria dirty. Strangely enough, the mold stopped the bacteria from growing, giving the world its first antibiotic.

4 . Across the world, humans purchase around 1.3 billion single-use plastic water bottles a day. Because only about 9% of plastic is recycled, the vast majority of those bottles wind up in landfills, the ocean, or elsewhere in nature.

When beach-loving Madison noticed those plastic bottles during her family’s trips to California, the 12-year-old “just felt like this needed to change,” she told Smithsonian Magazine.

So as she began thinking about what to do for her school science fair back in 2021, the idea of a project centered on reducing plastic pollution quickly came to her mind: she would design an eatable water bottle called the Eco-Hero.

“One of my biggest ambitions for my project was wanting to help the world,” the confident young inventor said in a video on the website.

To bring her idea to life, Madison built upon the already established method by experimenting with common food materials. She also took inspiration from previous versions of eatable water bottles, though she focused on making hers bigger and more durable. She found that the combination of water, lemon juice, natural gum, and Alginic acid (褐藻酸) resulted in a gel pouch that wouldn’t break, could hold up to 3/4 cup of water, and would last in the fridge for three weeks.

Though she’d like to improve the Eco-Hero by making it able to hold more water, she believes her current version would work well as a replacement for the paper cups used by runners in races. All one needs to do is bite a hole in the water ball, drink the water, and then eat the pouch or throw it away to biodegrade.

Madison hopes the Eco-Hero inspires others to take better care of the planet. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a big way,” she told Smithsonian. “People can still make a difference in the world, even if it’s just in a small way.”

In September, UNESCO Director-General Audrey visited Zhoukoudian in Beijing. She was full of praise     1     a special structure which     2     (successful) protected Yuanrendong Cave from an unusual rainstorm in July. The karst cave     3     (reveal) the fossilized remains of 40 individuals so far.

The structure protects the site from the extreme weather, secretary-general Qin Changwei said at the 2nd World Cultural and Natural Heritage Forum. “    4     provides a reference for the protection of cultural relics, and suggests     5     (measure) for helping heritage sites respond to the influence of climate change.”

Organized by various organizations,     6     forum brought together some 50 professionals to discuss the protection and     7     (sustain) development of heritage sites.

“Climate change has been the subject of in-depth discussion by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Questions like how to balance humans and nature, how to respond to natural disasters     8     what new challenges this brings to World Heritage Sites are worth     9     (consider),” says Qin.

“Addressing the issue requires multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation, making full use of cutting-edge technology and jointly     10     (develop) risk prevention and response plans,” he adds.

In the gentle winter sunlight, Gulangyu Island lies like a pearl in the ocean, quietly revealing     1     (it) unique charm. This small island is a witness     2     history. Every brick seems to tell stories of the past.     3     (original) named “Yuanshazhou” and also known as “Yuanzhouzi”, it     4     (refer) to as “Wulongyu” during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, due to the sound resembling a drum, it was renamed “Gulangyu.” Famous for its natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gulangyu boasts     5     (attraction) such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and more. Figures like Ba Jin and Lin Yutang found inspiration here,     6     (enrich) the island’s intellectual heritage.

During the winter, life here seems to slow down. In the early morning, it’s preferable to walk through the alleys     7     (surround) by European-style buildings. Breathing in the air filled with the smell of the sea     8     (bring) an extraordinary sense of freshness and joy.     9     walk to Sunlight Rock on the island offers a view of the entire city of Xiamen. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a rich cup of coffee in a café by the sea,     10     feels like being in a moving painting with the occasional fishing boat passing by. As the sun sets, the entire island is enveloped in a golden sunset. At this moment, Gulangyu becomes even more gentle and romantic.

9 . Amazonian natives are facing home destruction. To arouse people’s awareness of protecting them, Thomas, an American documentarian, decided to record the lives of the Awa, a ________ and isolated Amazonian community. For the sake of gaining their trust, Thomas had to mix himself with the natives. When ________ their unknown personal daily routine, he tried to remain as ________ as possible. ________ , he failed. As a tall man ________ over the natives at 1.93 meters, Thomas couldn’t fit in ________ . It wasn’t just a white guy walking in, but a massive large one.

Thomas ________ something else —making friends. With the help of a silly application in his smartphone, Thomas soon ________ the children, filling the forest with hearty laughter. After all, the kids didn’t have the ________ as adults. Unexpectedly, the adults also burst into laughter, a symbol of trust that ensured Thomas he was ________ .

The rainforest is amazing, but it was challenging to work in it. Heat, rain, and various unwanted souvenirs from Amazonian ________ complicated Thomas’ job. The bites and poison got him to stir up a love-hate relationship, once pushing him in a dilemma. Despite the ________ , Thomas insisted on his mission.

To make audience better understand the Awa, Thomas focused on something ________ , like the universal affection for homes and families. With the common topics, viewers can ________ the feelings and better realize the Awa’s current problem.

With tireless efforts, Thomas presented the ________ life of the Awa to the world, fostering a better understanding and support for protecting the Awa’s home.