4 . Emma Gatewood — called “Grandma Gatewood” by the world — was one of the early thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), the longest walking-only footpath in the world. She was not the first person — or even the first woman — to hike the trail (路线). Her hike was notable because she was the first woman ever to complete the trail alone at an advanced age.

When Gatewood did her first thru-hike in 1955, there were few hikers and it was hard to follow the trail. There were also many fewer resources for hikers — fewer stores near the trail and much less information available about the trail. But still, Gatewood hiked it alone, carrying only a bag and a hiking stick. She ate a lot of sausages and trail mix. Sometimes she ran out of food and ate berries she recognized in the forest.

After her hike, Gatewood had this to say about the trail in an interview: I thought it would be a nice lark. It wasn’t. There were terrible burnt-over areas and sand washouts, and most of the shelters were blown down, burned down or so dirty I chose to sleep out of doors. This was no trail. This was a nightmare. I would never have started this trip if I had known how tough it was, but I couldn’t and I wouldn’t quit.

All things considered, the only thing more improbable than Emma Gatewood’s completing the trail at the age of 67, is that she turned around and did it again. Twice — once in 1957 and again in 1964, at the age of 76, but this time in sections.

“Gatewood inspired many hikers over the years,” says Luxenberg, president of the Appalachian Trail Museum, “People think, ‘if this elderly woman could do the trail by herself, then I should be able to.’”

5 . For millions of people sitting in a traffic jam or standing on a crowded train, the daily commute (通勤) probably isn’t the best part of their day. But cars and trains aren’t the only travel options.

For those who have a short commute, you could consider getting an electric bike or scooter. An electric scooter has the advantage of being highly portable (轻便的): small and light enough to carry to your office. You’ll just need to check if they are allowed to be used in your area.

Take RYNO for example. It’s a single-wheel electric scooter, whose highest speed is about that of a bicycle. And like other electric vehicles, it can be charged anywhere.

If you want transportation for short distances, the WalkCar might be perfect for you.

The WalkCar looks like a laptop and only weighs three kilograms. It’s also incredibly easy to use — stand on it and it will start to move; move your weight to one side and it will change direction. The WalkCar will take you at a speed of up to 10 kilometers per hour and can travel 12 kilometers on one charge.

Weighing around 200 kilograms, jetpacks aren’t exactly portable, but they’re sure to have a lot of fun and attract a lot of attention. Running on petrol, the jet engines allow the user to lift off the ground and fly in the air.

The world’s first jetpack is the Martin Jetpack. Once you’ve attached this tiny personal jet plane onto your back, you’ll be able to travel up to 50 kilometers at a height of 1,000 meters. With a price tag of about $150,000, this is probably the most expensive option, but it will almost certainly be the coolest!

7 . There are some great winter sports that are just waiting to be explored. Some or more extreme than others, but still definitely worth a try...

Invented more than 4000 years ago by the Finnish, it remains loved by so many all over the world. People of all ages can take advantage of this fun sport, as it is a great way to be outdoors and get a bit of exercise. Experts say that the more you practice, the belter your balance, co-coordination, and flexibility will become. So put on a pair of skates and get moving on the rink.

Snowcross is a sport suitable for people who are a bit more adventurous. Over the last several years, snowcross has increased in popularity and is one of the most sought-after forms of snowmobile races and a really trendy winter sport. Snowcross is popular in the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. Sound fun? Why not give it a try?

Ice hockey is not just one of the most popular winter Olympic sports but has also recently become a common international sport. Ice hockey is fast passed and full of energy that also involved numerous intricate (复杂精细的) tricks and movements. It doesn’t only have a competitive side, it also is super fun!

Snowboarding is another really fun snow sport that is definitely worth trying this winter. It’s not the same as skiing, the main difference between snowboarding and skiing is that snowboarding does not use poles and most people use softer boots for flexibility. Snowboarding has only recently been added to the winter Olympics. There are hundreds of different resorts around the world that allow you to experience this popular sport.

8 . Earth could be home to 9,000 more species of trees than previously believed, according to scientists. The latest estimate of the number of tree species in the world shows there are about 73,000 different types of trees in existence. It took academics three years to count them all. In all, 150 scientists working with the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative are behind the study.

The team collected an extensive database of forest tree species around the world and then mapped them. Then they used artificial intelligence and a supercomputer to do complex calculations, which discovered there are in fact 73,000 tree species.

Before the research was conducted, scientists’ knowledge of trees in many parts of the world was patchy as data was only collected by observation or making lists of trees in different areas. Of the newly found species, 40 percent of them could be in grasslands and tropical (热带的) forests in South America.

Study author Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, a professor from the University of Bologna, said: “We combined individual datasets, coming from someone going out to a forest stand and measuring every single tree, into one massive global dataset of tree-level data. Counting the number of tree species worldwide is like a puzzle with pieces spreading all over the world. We, the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative, solved it together as a team, each sharing our own piece.”

Researchers say their findings highlight how delicate biodiversity is and how weak it is to changes caused by humans, such as the climate crisis and unsustainable land use, with rare species being at the greatest risk. Extensive knowledge of tree richness and diversity is key to preserving the stability and functionality of the ecosystem.

9 . A crash helmet is a protective helmet which is designed to prevent head injuries in a crash. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that wearing a crash helmet in a crash greatly reduces the risk of injuries.     1     In areas where such helmets are not required, they are often in common use among cyclists, motorcyclists, and other individuals who are vulnerable to injuries in crashes.

Helmets have not always looked like the modern, encased units we are used to in today’s world. They were actually fairly simple.     2     Whether in professional sports or in daily circumstances, the sole purpose of wearing helmets is to make brain injuries less serious.

Typically, a crash helmet has a hard outer shell which is designed to resist penetration, and a thick foam inner lining. As a general rule, once a crash helmet has been involved in an accident, even if it appears to be in good shape, the integrity of the helmet may have been damaged.     3    

While crash helmets can have a number of different styles, all of them are designed to cover the head and at least part of the face. It is important to fit a crash helmet properly, so that it does not wiggle or move on the head.     4    

    5     In addition to bicyclists and motorcyclists, test pilots, stunt drivers, horseback riders, race car drivers, and people who engage in various motocross sports should all wear crash helmets for protection. The use of helmets is also strongly recommended for many sports such as American football and hockey.

10 . In recent years, science fictions are becoming increasingly popular. Science fiction writers using their magical imagination create imaginary worlds that attract a great number of readers especially teenagers. But how can they make it so believable?     1    

The way things work in your imaginary worlds will be based on actual science. So you must be familiar with the scientific laws related to your creation. If you’re writing about humans living on a planet with zero gravity, then you need to know the effects of zero gravity on the human body.     2     Only in this way can you gain the readers’ trust.

Then the rules in your creation can be different from our daily life, so you have to figure out the exact rules of your imaginary worlds.     3     For example, if humans in your creation are able to breathe underwater in Chapter 1, your characters can’t drown (溺水) in a swimming pool or river in Chapter 3.

    4     You should decide the following issues: the history of the world, the geography, what possibilities it offers, how everything works in this new reality, as well as how all of these factors affect the way your characters think, feel, and react. You don’t have to tell your readers all the rules in the first chapter. But you have to let readers know enough to understand what’s going on.

When you are writing, remember to make it feel real. You are creating a new real world for the readers.     5     They are able to see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste what it’s like in the new world. Whether your novel is about a world without disease or an undiscovered planet, help your readers feel like they’ re actually there.