3 . Intelligence (AI) is showing promise in earthquake prediction, challenging the long-held belief that it is impossible. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, have developed an AI algorithm (算法) that correctly predicted 70% of earthquakes a week in advance during a trial in China and provided accurate strength calculations for the predicted earthquakes.

The research team believes their method succeeded because they stuck with a relatively simple machine learning approach. The AI was provided with a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics, and then instructed to train itself using a five-year database of earthquake recordings. Once trained, the AI provided its prediction by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes within the background rumblings (隆隆声) in the Earth.

This work is clearly a milestone in research for AI-driven earthquake prediction. “You don’t see earthquakes coming,” explains Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the Texas Seismological Network Program (TexNet). “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with the 70% accuracy, that’s a huge result and could help minimize economic and human losses and has the potential to remarkably improve earthquake preparation worldwide.”

While it is unknown whether the same approach will work at other locations, the researchers are confident that their AI algorithm could produce more accurate predictions if used in areas with reliable earthquake tracking networks. The next step is to test artificial intelligence in Texas, since UT’s Bureau TexNet has 300 earthquake stations and over six years worth of continuous records, making it an ideal location for these purposes.

Eventually, the authors hope to combine the system with physics-based models. This strategy could prove especially important where data is poor or lacking. “That may be a long way off, but many advances such as this one, taken together, are what moves science forward,” concludes Scott Tinker, the bureau’s director.

4 . Have you ever had the feeling that you can’t think when there is too much noise around? Did you ever think a fish could experience that feeling too? A recent paper published in Science titled “Soundscape (声景) of the Anthropocene Oceans”, combined over 10,000 scientific papers, confirming that undersea life knows that exact same feeling, more often than not. Anthropogenic (人为的) ocean noise, also known as underwater noise pollution, has created a dramatic impact on marine life due to “human-caused” activity within and neighboring our oceans.

Disney Pixar’s animated film Finding Nemo educated us about the ocean, and specifically within the ordinary world of a clown fish. A fact many may not know is that clown fish spend the first part of their lives as larvae, drifting with the current of the ocean until they become strong enough to swim against it. Once they are powerful and strong, they head home in sheltered coral reefs. There is only one drawback — the fish can’t physically see the reef, but they can hear it. The only problem is, if they can’t hear it, will they ever make it home?

Our anthropogenic ocean noise, such as cargo ships, ship and boat propellers, surfing, deep sea mining, etc. are causing destruction of marine life. According to Time, sound is the sensory signal that travels the farthest through the ocean. Anthropogenic noise drowns out the natural soundscapes, putting marine life under immense stress. Altogether, this stress then affects their general health, disrupts their behavior, physiology, reproduction and, in extreme cases, causes death. Marine life can adapt to noise pollution, however, only if they can escape it. This only renders further complications of straying (使偏离) species from their traditional breeding regions or separating them from their families.

Now, what if we told you there is already a solution? Multiple remedies, ideas and designs are currently in the works or already exist to eliminate and reverse the damage of anthropogenic ocean noise. As Time explains, from wind-powered ships to noise-reducing propellers, floating wind turbines and “bubble curtains” that muffle construction noise, the solutions are already available and in some cases, cost-effective. The authors of the paper hope it will catch the attention of policymakers, who historically speaking, have ignored the matter still to this day.

Of all the challenges ocean creatures are battling, luckily sound pollution is the easiest compromise humans can make. Once the noise has decreased, marine life will be able to better manage everything else it is up against.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Li Hua

Qiang embroidery(羌绣)is a peculiar flower in China’s folk handicrafts and reflect the wisdom of the Qiang people. It dates back to the Han Dynasty     1     it was adopted for use on clothing. The Qiang people adore nature,     2     flowers, grasses, fruits, vegetables, and animals are used as inspiration for the embroidery’s most common patterns. This type of embroidery     3     (feature) a bold use of brilliant colors.

Chen Yunzhen, from Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County in Sichuan Province, is a master of Qiang embroidery. As part of her efforts to stop the endangered technique from disappearing, Chen began visiting the     4     (surround) regions to teach embroidery. In 2014, she established a Qiang embroidery workshop. Since then, it     5     (provide) free training to over 20,000 people. Over 500     6     (local) make a living through the workshop.

To breathe new life into Qiang embroidery, Chen has continued to keep an open mind, introducing new products     7     personal accessories(配饰), notebooks and bags in addition to the traditional clothes. With her two daughters participating, who have youthful sense of innovation, Chen’s products become     8     (popular) than before among young consumers.

According to Chen, the Qiang people do not have a     9     (write) language, so Qiang embroidery must be well preserved and developed as part of efforts to sustain its culture. For Chen, Qiang embroidery is much more than a piece of art     10     (appreciate). “If you allow it to convey its real value, it will improve more people’s lives and drive rural revitalization,” she said.

9 . For rescued dogs to get adopted, they need to stand out from the pack. One teenage boy, Darius Brown, has made it his mission to make sure they do —and he does it by providing these dogs with many adorable bow ties (领结) that he sews himself.

Darius Brown’s sister, Dazhai, taught him to sew when he was 8. The youngster’s first project, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-themed bow tie, proved popular with his peers.

According to his mom, Joy, her son’s new passion was something of a godsend. Diagnosed at an early age with speech and fine-motor skill disorders, she noticed Darius’s abilities steadily improve as he painstakingly pursued his new craft. “He was so determined. He sat and watched Dazhai for months and took it all in,” Joy told The Washington Post. “He started out cutting fabric and pretty soon, he was running the sewing machine by himself.”

When Darius learned about all the family pets left homeless by Hurricane Irma in 2017, he was inspired to use his emerging talent in helping them get adopted. He soon delivered his first batch of 25 rescue bow ties to New York City’s ASPCA animal shelter, which had become a refuge (避难所) for large numbers of dogs and cats displaced by Irma.

“I saw how happy the people at the shelter were to get the bow ties and how much the dogs liked them, and I decided to make more,” he said. “I came up with a goal to give bow ties to an animal shelter in every state.”

With a little help from his mom, Darius brought his Beaux and Paws brand to life on Facebook and Instagram. The Browns also set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for Darius’s sewing supplies. As demand for his “collarful” wares grew, Darius also broadened his operations by starting up his own entrepreneurial website, Sir Darius Brown.