3 . Whenever he can, 15-year-old Elliot Morgan practices basketball in his backyard. He says it’s a good stress-reliever. But it wasn’t that long ago that he didn’t have time for this new hobby. “There were times in the summer when I would spend four or five hours a day on my phone,” he says. When school started in the fall, Morgan found himself scrolling (划屏) as soon as he woke up. “I realize I start to avoid workouts because I’m on my phone,” he says. “It’s affecting my focus.”

It has become clear that social media is a key player in many drivers of unhealthy habits. Social media apps are designed to encourage overuse, and teenagers are more likely to be influenced because their brains are at an important period of development that makes it harder to be free from temptation (诱惑). All of this makes limiting use more challenging — even for families who set rules.

“It’s a really big problem,” says Elliot’s mom, Alyssa. She was shocked when she discovered Elliot had bypassed parental controls and was spending five hours a day on social media. “I asked him, ‘Can you just take a look and see? Just tell me what you think. Does this feel good to you?’” she says.

Elliot hadn’t realized how many hours he was on social media. And he was at a loss. With his mother’s help, he tried to start cutting back. After several months, he decided to delete (删除) social media apps altogether. “After that, I actually sleep enough and feel better,” he says. He’s now closer with his friends because they spend more time talking instead of scrolling. And joining school clubs has also helped him reduce time on his phone.

4 . For many visitors to Peru, Machu Picchu is the No.1 attraction. But it'd be a waste without spending an extra day or two to appreciate some of the country's other wonders.

The Andes

The area near Machu Picchu is perfect for mountain biking. Some of the best trips include the peaceful Lares Valley, the popular Sacred Valley and Abra Malaga Pass. All these biking trips are within shouting distance of Machu Picchu.

The Colca Canyon

No one's entirely sure how deep the Colca Canyo n is, but scientists have determined that the distance from its edge to its bottom measures more than 10,000 feet — twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. The huge space within those towering walls in the canyon is filled with some of South America's prettiest scenery: untouched valleys, pre-Columbian agricultural lands still in use and dead volcanoes.

The Manu National Park

The park is well known for diverse ecosystems. Most travel within the park is done by boat, which allows for eye-level views of more than 15,000 species of plants in one of the world's greatest preserved rain forests. Manu is best known, though, for its variety of animal life: at least a million different insect species.

The Nasca Lines

A trip to Machu Picchu almost always requires connections in Lima, Peru's coastal capital, while arriving and departing. While there, a short flight can be easily arranged to view the Nasca Lines, which rival (与······相匹敌) Machu Picchu as Peru's greatest ancient wonder. Why the need for a view from planes? Because of the huge size of the geoglyphs (地质遗迹) that have been carved into the desert: spiders, fish, monkeys, and more. Some of them stretch more than 600 feet across.

5 . For any little girl of energy and spirit, to be ladylike is painful. To sit up straight, wear gloves and speak only when spoken to is pure torture. Fortunately, that was not a difficulty Jane Withers faced. From the age of six she was paid to talk loud, walk awkwardly and answer back directly. She could blow out her cheeks until her eyes disappeared almost into her head.

Her films had titles like Always in Trouble, Arizona Wildcat, The Holy Terror and Rascals. She played characters called Ginger, Pepper. Corky and Peg Gurgle, usually orphans (孤儿), who were forced into over-fancy schools, criminals’ hideouts or desert islands, but would take charge and, after a struggle, come up winning. Her mother worried that people would hate her for playing such bad-mannered characters.

But the opposite happened. She became wildly popular. Shops were filled with Jane Withers shoes, dresses and dolls. Like many child stars, she made far more from such goods than from her 38 films.

She might not be as pretty as Nancy Drew, the top girl detective of the age, but like her she could ride a horse, ice skate and speak French. And, better than her, she could mimic (模仿) anyone. Another pleasant surprise she gave the studio was that away from filming she was very well behaved. If she liked a role, she went for it politely, and said thank you.

She was expected to be an actress even in the womb and was sent to the Atlanta radio shows at the age of three. She was just given $5 a week as pocket money. For every two dolls she was sent, one had to be given to a needy child. Her parents insisted that they should live only on the money they brought home.

Of course, the Hollywood dream didn’t last long. She got so sick of playing child parts that at 15 she published her own story, Small Tor um Deb and retired completely from Hollywood in 1947 at 21.

6 . Recently a report was made public by NatureServe, a Virginia-based environmental group, which said 40 percent of animals and 34 percent of plants in the United States are at risk of disappearing.

The group examined data from over 1,000 scientists in the United States and Canada, using 50 years of information on the health of animals, plants and ecosystems. The report provided pictures and maps of areas that are unprotected and where animals and plants are most threatened.

Sean O’Brien, president of NatureServe, said what the report showed was dreadful. For example, among the species (物种) at risk of extinction is the Venus flytrap, a plant that “eats” insects. The report said it is only found in the wild in a few places in the states of North and South Carolina. The report also said 200 species of trees might die out and that America’s large northern grasslands are among the ecosystems most threatened. The main threats to plants, animals and ecosystems include environmental destruction (破坏), land-use change, river pollution, and climate change, according to the report.

California, Texas and the southeastern United States are where the highest percentages of plants, animals and ecosystems are at risk. Those areas have many different forms of life. Wesley Knapp, head plant scientist at NatureServe, said those parts of America haven’t seen much population growth in recent years. Knapp said lawmakers usually do not provide as much money for protecting plants as they do for animals. He hoped the data could guide state and area officials in creating effective State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) to protect endangered species.

Now $50 million nationwide is shared among all states to carry out their SWAP. If the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was passed, it would increase that amount to $ 1.4 billion. Knapp said the bill would have better served the protection of plants and animals.

7 . Experts continue to learn new things about the 600-year-old Machu Picchu. Last year, researchers discovered that the ancient Incan city is at least 30 years older than previously thought. Now, it turns out that we may be calling it by the wrong name.

A recent paper by Amado Gonzalez and Brian Bauer concludes that the Incas who built the city in the clouds actually called it Huayna Picchu — or simply just Picchu — the name of a mountain overlooking the ruins.

When Hiram Bingham first discovered the place in 1911 and asked what it was called, the report found, he was initially told it was known as Huayna Picchu. But days later, he was told by a different guide that the site was called Machu Picchu. It appears that’s the name that stuck.

“It’s true that at the time it was not so well-known to people, but there is a lot of evidence suggesting that those who did know it did not call it Machu Picchu,” said Amado Gonzalez. “Even more importantly, the research is based on centuries of documents, including some of the region’s first maps, land records, and even Bingham’s own notes and letters. An official record dating back to 1539 refers to the area as Picchu. Another, dated 1568, specifically mentions a city of the same name. We also have a clear reference to the ancient Inca town of Huayna Picchu’ from a 1715 document.”

But that doesn’t mean that there are any plans in the report to change the name of one of South America’s most popular tourist destinations. More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, the UNESCO World Heritage site has drawn about 1 million visitors every year.

“It may not have been Machu Picchu to the Incas but now it’s Machu Picchu to the world,” Amado Gonzalez said.

8 . Internet Explorer (IE) is nearing the end of its long and slow death, Microsoft announced this week. In the browser’s (浏览器) death notice, the company said, “The future of IE on Windows is in Microsoft Edge, which is faster and more secure.”

Though it might seem strange to young people who are not familiar with the blue “e” icon, IE was once seen as the most successful browser in the world. When Windows introduced IE in 1995, it killed off the earlier and once-leading Netscape Navigator in less than three years. At its height in the early 2000s, IE controlled 95% of the browser market.

But Microsoft failed to keep pace with the later comers, losing respect among users for its poor security and speed. Disappointed users began turning to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Google Chrome is now the leading browser, holding a 64% share of the global market, while IE sits at under 4%.

“The brand is so damaged,” wrote Adriana Figueroa who is very familiar with IE. “When you think of IE, the first thing that comes to your mind is its speed. It will be very easy for Microsoft Edge, even though it’s new, to be stuck with the brand, so Microsoft has to work extra hard to prove that Microsoft Edge is really different. It shouldn’t give people the impression that it is just putting lipstick on the pig.”

But another user Kim Song, who runs a small business in China, said, “It’s all I have used and I’m used to it!”

Even though IE will still be available to him for some time, Kim said it will take a little time for him to mourn (哀悼) IE’s death. “I’m thinking that a cup of Shaojiu will be appropriate. I’ll hang on to my old friend, as long as possible,” he said. “I’ll put off upgrading software or buying new devices, if it means I can keep my IE.”

9 . A possible treatment for Florida’s disastrous red tides (赤潮) took another step toward widespread use after successful testing in Sarasota Bay.

This study, led by UCF Assistant Professor of Biology Kristy Lewis, is the first successful test of any red tide treatment technology in open water using large water containers (容器). These containers — about six feet in diameter — extend from the waters’ surface to the ocean floor, allowing scientists to test real ocean conditions within a controlled setting. Four containers were treated with a clay (黏土) solution, while the other four served as a control.

The clay along with the Karenia brevis algae (海藻), which is responsible for Florida red tide, is put on the ocean floor. Lewis has spent the last three years carefully testing the impact of introducing this clay into the ocean ecosystem. She not only looks for changes in the water’s quality, but also wants to know how the clay affects the health of sea life. “We want to make sure the treatment is not worse than the disease,” she says.

At first, the test was simply to measure the influence of the clay on the ecosystem, but an unexpected red tide event caused Lewis to make the test practical. The results suggest the clay performed as expected, but there’s still a question of whether the bad effects of algae remain active on the ocean floor. Water collected during the test should provide an answer. Next steps depend on the test results, but there are already plans to survey what happened to the clay-coated algae when it’s used near seagrass beds.

Visiting Sarasota. Florida, in the middle of a red tide event reminded Lewis just how important the research is to keep the state’s coast healthy. Lewis says she’s prepared to go another three years if that’s what it takes to find an acceptable solution to red tides.

10 . Magical Towns and Cities at Christmas

Hallstatt, Austria

On the banks of Hallstätter See, the town of Hallstatt and its amazing landscape enjoy UNESCO protection. The 16th-century townhouses, arid snow o£ winter make this the perfect place for getting into the festive atmosphere. Picture brightly lit trees and stands selling decorations, and you’re halfway to imagining just how special this town is.

Colmar, France

There are plenty of wonderful Christmas markets to be found all over Europe. But few catch the imagination in a fairytale setting quite like that of Colmar. More than six themed markets can be found in the center, linked by lit streets, where wooden houses are packed tightly together. At around 5:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a children’s band will be on stage, providing even more holiday cheer.

Rudesheim, Germany

Located in the heart of the Rhine Valley’s wine-making country, Rudesheim is a top destination throughout the year. However, once the night draws in and Christmas comes into view, the town takes on a special atmosphere. Those arriving by riverboat can go to the Christmas Market of Nations, which is filled with stores selling gifts and traditional festive dishes from all over the world.

Tromso, Norway

Tromso has been a cultural center with its Arctic Cathedral, the home of regular concerts and events. It’s over the festive season, when there is no daylight, that the city, located high above the Arctic Circle, becomes a must-see. Visitors can taste a hot chocolate before taking the cable car (缆车) above the city to catch sight of the northern lights.