1 . We are always seeking ways to make our events more inclusive and to find new ways to deliver value to you. For 2024 we have reduced the ticket prices and introduced a new ticket option “super early bird” for our Instant Expert events. All our events will still be held at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London. What doesn’t change is that each event will continue to feature six expert speakers sharing their knowledge and latest research on the event topic.

Anyone interested in genetics (遗传学) can attend, whatever your age or background. Whether you’re a scientist, a student or simply a fascinated human being, Instant Expert: The Genetics Revolution offers the chance to learn directly from the experts at our one-day masterclass. At this Instant Expert, you’ll learn about:

●Gene editing with CRISPR

●Whether DNA is destiny, Nature vs Nurture

●Genome sequencing and consumer DNA testing

●The ethics of creating new life

●In-depth and engaging talks from six leading scientists

●Ask-an-expert Question Time session

●Your chance to meet our six speakers and New Scientist host

●Exclusive on-the-day New Scientist subscription deal, book and merchandise offers

Doors will open at 9 a. m. on Saturday, May 25th, with talks starting an hour later. The event will finish at 5 p. m. Lunch will NOT be provided at this event, but the agenda includes a one-hour lunch break... Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, or purchase lunch at one of the many establishments around Red Lion Square and the surrounding area.

Tickets are non-transferable to any other New Scientist event. All tickets are non-refundable.

2 . After months of deliberation, we can finally reveal the shortlist for our beloved 100-word-story competition. Now it’s up to you to vote for your winners in the under-12 category.

“The Shelf” by Li v Packer, 11, London

I have sat on this dusty shelf for decades—33 years to be exact. Everyday, people enter the library, hoping to find a book to occupy themselves with. No one seems to want me though. Young children walk across the aisles ignoring me and running to their favorites. Considering I haven’t been touched for at least 20 years, I’m shocked that I haven’t been moved to the back yet. That’s where the forgotten books go. Oh! I spoke too soon!

“Moon Land” by Amelia Jacobs-Moronta, 6, Kent

I wanted to get to the moon so I decided to jump, but that didn’t work so I used the tallest ladder but it reached even higher so I slid down the ladder and jumped onto the moon. The moon was bumpy and hard. I did space cartwheels and jumped around. The moon was made of every single food you can imagine so I ate a bit but I can’t eat too much because if I eat too much the moon will disappear.

“The Mysterious Duck with A Moustache” by Jana Ramsey, 9, Angus

There once was a duck who had a moustache. He had a secret that he was lonely. Days went by, the duck decided to explore. He went from California to Egypt to Columbia and Scotland. The duck made many friends. He was happy and that’s all that matters.

Voting will close on April 29 and the winning entries will be published in our May 2024 print issue. Good luck to all of our shortlisters, and thank you for your entries and votes!

3 . Besides getting out into nature yourself, the next best thing is to take it all in through the pages of a book. But where to start? Check out our natural history book recommendations.

Have you ever wanted to get down to the level of plants and see the world through their “eyes”? Living as a Naturalist invites you into this world. This book makes natural history accessible and attractive. It interprets ancient Chinese educational and philosophical ideas of knowing about nature from a natural history perspective. It also introduces key figures in the West’s approach to the subject. This is all done with a humorous and engaging writing style while featuring beautiful images of plants and animals.

In the summer of 1869, John Muir, a 31-year-old Scottish immigrant, joined a group of shepherds in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range for an adventure that proved life-changing for him. During those four months, he kept a diary while following a flock of sheep, painting a glorious picture of idyllic forests and majestic mountain peaks. This diary was titled My First Summer in the Sierra, which inspired thousands of Americans to visit the area. It later became the well-known Yosemite National Park.

In 1965, John A.Baker gave up his work and lived on his earnings, devoting all his time to observing the peregrine falcon(游隼). From autumn to spring, Baker tracked the comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons in eastern England by bicycle and on foot, documenting their lives and the environment they live in. Like the bird itself, Baker has a keen eye for detail. The bird’s most exciting moments, like fast flying and hunting prey, are brought to life by Baker. In his eyes, the most important aspects of natural history and its documentation are patience, passion and observation.

4 . MINIBOSS & BIGBOSS SUMMER BUSINESS CAMP

Join us at our award-winning International Summer Business Camp! Together with students from all over the world, you will dive into experiencing life and culture. We’ve served over 9,000 students from 27countries since 2000!

The camp is located 10 miles from Oxford, not far from London and Cambridge.

The camp provides full board. You will live in shared rooms in the boarding Thornton High School or Thornton College. Delicious English dishes are prepared by chefs.

Miniboss groups: 9-11,12-15                    Bigboss groups: 15-18

This course provides you with a broad introduction to business, human full potential and self-realization. It equips you with the skills to successfully launch and manage your own business. Most importantly, you will develop the mindset to become a groundbreaking entrepreneur (企业家).

Immerse (使沉浸于) yourself in the exciting business world through case studies of world-famous companies. In addition to training, the camp has many recreational activities and sports, which alternate with business games and daily evening reflection. On this course, you will;

● Identify how to unlock your full potential and manage your own potential;

● Strengthen your problem-solving abilities;

● Develop cooperation skills;

● Examine how leading entrepreneurs achieve their goals;

● Learn to think like an entrepreneur.

5 . The Best Brand Awards

The Best Brand Awards is an international competition that recognizes the concept and design of brands from around the globe. Designers, agencies and companies compete every year to present their best work. It has a total of four categories: Logo New, Logo Redesign, Brand Identity and Brand Identity Redesign.

Participation is easy, as one registers and uploads the work via the website. Brands created between January 2023 and March 2024 are welcome to participate.

Formats: jpeg, jpg, png or. Tiff (not bigger than 2MB).

Coloured areas in the background are not allowed.

Only digital submissions are allowed, no printouts.

Logo New: A single logo centred on a white background.

Logo Redesign: The old logo is on the left, and the new one on the right on a white area. Brand Identity and Brand Identity Redesign：Four examples of the application of the logo on a white area are shown.

	Logo categories	Identity categories
Early bird submission ( 1 January—29 February, 2024)	£50 per piece	£100 per piece
Regular submission ( 1 March—31 March, 2024)	£75 per piece	£150 per piece
Late submission (1Apil—15May, 2024)	£100 per piece	£200 per piece

Each winner will receive a certificate in PDF format. This certificate is free of charge. You can print it out on your own. You will also receive a set of award logos free of charge.

The awards a represented in Gold, Silver, Bronze, Award of Excellence and Runner Up. A trophy (奖杯) can be ordered for a fee of 110 euros. Each trophy is individually produced and the text is agreed with the respective prizewinner.

The order can be placed simply by email: hello@bestbrandawards.com.

6 . Investors are attracted to municipal bonds (市政债券) for three reasons: safety of the original money, regular predictable income and the tax-free benefits. Together, these three elements can make municipal bonds a convincing case in your investment.

When investing in municipal bonds, investors are paid back the full face value of their investment when the due date comes or earlier if called. This is why many investors, particularly those nearing retirement or in retirement are fond of investing municipal bonds, who are concerned about protecting their money. It could be the smartest retirement investment you make.

Municipal bonds typically pay interest every six months unless they get called. That means that you can count on a regular, predictable income stream. Because most bonds have call options, which means you get your money back before the due date, then the next municipal bonds you purchase can earn more or less interest than the called bond.

Income from municipal bonds is not subject to federal income tax and, depending on where you live, may also be free from state and local taxes. Tax-free can be a big attraction for many investors.

We’re sure you’ll want to know more about the benefits of Municipal Bonds. So our specialists have written a helpful Bond Guide for investors.

In the Bond Guide, you’ll learn:

·The benefits and risks of municipal bonds

·Strategies for smart bond investing

·Municipal bond facts every investor should know

Call (800)316-1846 or visit www. MunicipalBonds.com to get one for free.

9 . Here are four underground attractions, which will certainly take your breath away.

Under

Under, a restaurant, is five and a half metres, below the surface. Diners eat their meals as icy North Sea currents swirl (旋动) outside the windows. Despite the storminess of the surrounding seas, there’s stillness in Under.

Kristiansand, Norway || https://live.under.no/

Derinkuyu Underground City

The underground city dates back thousands of years. It’s the largest of its kind in the region, with winding passages over eight levels, reaching a depth of around 85 underground allowed its citizens to avoid extreme temperatures and more easily defend against enemies. Though no one lives there today, the site features the remains of schools and shops.

Cappadocia, Turkey || uchisarcappadocia.org

Ajanta Caves

Considering that they’re cut deep into a rock face, the 30 or so caves of Ajanta are surprisingly well lit. All that light makes it much easier to admire this remarkable series of Buddhist temples that date from the first and second centuries BC. They contain some of the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian wall painting.

Aurangabad, India || ajanta-caves.com

Thrihnukagigur

Sometimes viewing a volcano from far away just isn’t enough. Some people need to go that step further and explore inside a volcano. It sounds crazy, but you can do exactly that at Thrihnukagigur. A lift takes visitors about 200 metres down into the volcano’s magma chamber (岩浆库). Thrihnukagigur is a dormant (休眠的) volcano, but it still takes a lot of courage to get close to it.

Near Reykjavik, Iceland || visitreykjavik.is/thrihnukagigur

For more information, please click here.