Topic Reading-Vol.5201-7/21/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling

Excluding schoolwork, US teenagers spend as long as eight hours a day on entertainment and social screentime, and about half of them spend four hours or more on social media, such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. That’s way too long for growing kids who should be engaged in real, face-to-face social activities, such as playing sports and hanging out with friends. But they want to keep up with rapidly changing fads and trends on social media. Also, auto-play and infinite scrolling glue their eyes to the display. Last December, Australia banned under-16s from using major social media services. Also, the EU is advancing region-wide legislation to restrict social media use for minors. Instead of just banning or restricting the use of social media help kids reduce gazing at and scrolling on smartphones, experts suggest some tips for parents to help their children reduce their screentime. The question is whether parents guide their children on how to use the smartphones they have grown up with?

Read the article and think about how long is too long for children to use smartphones.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86e3q5j992o

Topic Reading-Vol.5200-7/20/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What happens to your brain in space?

In space where gravity is close to none, our body functions deteriorate. Muscles quickly weaken and shrink because they no longer have to fight Earth’s gravity to maintain posture or move around. Bones quickly lose density without the mechanical stress of weight-bearing. That’s why astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) need to exercise rigorously for two hours each day to maintain their body functions. Still, their faces get rounder in space without gravity to pull blood and other bodily fluids downward. Then what will happen to the brain in microgravity if you stay for months? Research shows that the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and body awareness physically adapt to microgravity, just as other parts of the body do. For a round-trip to Mars, it takes six to nine months for each one-way journey in microgravity and over a year in one-third gravity to wait for a launch window for Earth. For astronauts, it’ll be quite a challenge physically, cognitively, and mentally to live without gravity for a long time.

Read the article and learn how extraordinary a long stay in space is.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260707-what-happens-to-your-brain-in-space

Topic Reading-Vol.5199-7/19/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Japan is running out of royals. So why won’t it let women become emperor?

Before the current 126th emperor Naruhito took the throne in 2019, there were eight empresses in Japan’s 27-century-old imperial family. But in 1989, the Imperial House Law banned female emperors. Then in 1947, the imperial family was downsized to the immediate relatives of then Emperor Hirohito, abandoning 11 collateral branches. The current shortage of successors began from there because he had only two sons, one of whom had no children. Now, Emperor Naruhito is 66 years old and has just one daughter. His only brother is 60 and has two daughters and one son, who will turn 20 this September. Japan’s royal family members perform a variety of duties, such as attending state functions, public activities, and court ceremonies, but now they are done by fewer members because female members leave the royal family once they get married. Another serious issue is succession. There is only one male in the next generation of the current royal family. While the emperor's only child, Princess Aiko, is widely popular among Japanese citizens, conservative politicians and scholars dismiss the chance of creating an empress. So, how will the world’s longest royal family survive?

Read the article and learn about the existential problem of Japan’s royal family.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/13/asia/japan-royal-crisis-women-emperor-ban-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.5198-7/18/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

'Once it's gone, it's gone': How to future-proof your hearing

You know how noisy electrified music concerts and sporting events are. Also, a gasoline-powered leafblower, lawnmower, and buzzsaw are too noisy for unprotected ears. Surprisingly, fresh air from the car window on a highway is noisier than you might think. In addition, many people listen to music through headphones all the time without realizing how loud it is to their ears. All these unnaturally loud sounds bend or break tiny hairs in the ear, whose motion is translated into electrical impulses that our brain interprets as sound. Unfortunately, once these hairs are damaged, they cannot be fixed or reborn, and therefore, the loss becomes permanent. That’s why listening to music through headphones for a prolonged period of time, and every day, would impair hearing ability without realizing it until later in life. It’s not just your eyes but your ears, too, that could be damaged by the screen and headphones.

Read the article and learn how hearing can be affected by loud sounds.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260709-how-to-future-proof-your-ears

Topic Reading-Vol.5197-7/17/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

See if you can spot an AI deepfake with our test

Nowadays, photos taken by smartphones are usually edited or enhanced to some extent through intelligent systems to make them look clearer or more vibrant. AI deepfake technology can replace faces, manipulate facial expressions, and synthesize faces of individuals whose images have been shown on the web or shared online. The technology has become so advanced that deepfake photos are now hardly distinguishable. However, trained eyes can tell whether the images shown are real or fake in most cases, according to an international study conducted by Australian researchers. In the meantime, as AI is being trained with more data, it'll create more realistic deepfake images over time. Maybe only AI can distinguish real images from fake images.

Read the article and learn if and how humans identify AI deepfakes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d2wgvg55jo

Topic Reading-Vol.5196-7/16/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Seven things you shouldn't do when eating in Italy

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, especially when it comes to what to eat and how to eat it.

Just like any other national or regional food, the culinary practices of Italian food are deeply tied to geography, history, and culture, and reflect the local environment and ingredients. Also, it is designed to be enjoyed in an orchestrated manner, starting with antipasto, followed by pasta, a main dish with seasonal vegetable side dishes, and dolce. Another important tip you want to know is that not all Italian food goes well together. For example, you do not want to sprinkle mountain-produced permesian over seafood. You also want to avoid ordering a rich, creamy cappuccino after lunch or dinner. Finally, expect your lunch or dinner at a restaurant to take hours because it is a social ritual. After all, you want to enjoy a meal rather than simply filling your stomach.

Read the article and learn how to avoid mistakes when you eat real Italian food.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260709-seven-things-you-shouldnt-do-when-eating-in-italy

Topic Reading-Vol.5195-7/15/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Sick of Earth? NASA is recruiting volunteers for a yearlong Moon and Mars simulation

Though it is not quite like flying to, living on, and returning from the red planet, you’ll experience what they are going to be like in the same space and environment. NASA is now recruiting volunteers who are willing to commit themselves to spending 14 months in a simulator with three others. The participants will spend several months inside a mock 60-square-meter spacecraft unit, move into a one-story, 84-square-meter facility to do on-Mars duties, and then go back to the spacecraft unit for the return journey. The mission crew will live on a Martian day, about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth. Also, their diet is limited to space food and a few vegetables they grow in the simulator. They are expected to perform all scheduled tasks, exercises, and rests. What the participants will miss is Mars's gravity, which is only 38% of Earth’s, and the hundreds of days the mission will require to stay on Mars before the return journey. Can you maintain physical, mental, and emotional health in a confined environment with only three co-participants?

Read the article and learn what NASA’s yearlong simulation program is like.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/09/science/nasa-moon-mars-simulation-scli-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5194-7/14/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Most popular baby names for boys and girls in 2025 revealed

Nearly 90% of the UK’s 69.5 million population lives in England and Wales. There, 585,000 live babies were born last year. Some people might assume their popular names are like Charles, William, Harry, Edward, George, Tony, Gordon, or David for boys, and Camilla, Catherine, Sophie, Charlotte, Theresa, or Mary for girls, just like the UK’s royal families and PMs. In fact, Muhammad, Noa, and Leo are the top names for boys, and Olivia, Lily, and Amelia for girls, last year. Muhammad, also spelled Mohammed or Mohammad, is an Islamic name and a direct tribute to the founder of Islam. This Islamic name is so popular in the UK because the Muslim fertility rate is about twice as high as that of other Britons. Would you like a popular, familiar name or a unique, iconic name for your baby?

Read the article and learn the most popular baby names in the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevlw4wnlmxo

Topic Reading-Vol.5193-7/13/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why 'Asia's cleanest village' bans tourists on Sundays

Mawlynnong is a small village in the north-east of India near the border with Bangladesh. The village with a population of just 600 became famous for its cleanliness after it was named Asia’s cleanest village in 2003. It features flower-lined pathways, bamboo dustbins, and is free from single-use plastic. The village is maintained by its predominantly Christian villagers, young and old, many of whom do business with visitors. But on Sundays, they keep the village only for themselves to attend church and enjoy a peaceful day. Because it is a day off for everyone, they can also plan a family gathering, personal meeting, or community event without schedule conflicts. Do they lose a day of business every week? Since the Sunday closure is well-known, most visitors come on other days of the week. The cleanliness of the village seems to be sustained longer with the welfare of the villagers.

Read the article and learn about how a small village in India maintains its cleanliness.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260625-why-asias-cleanest-village-bans-tourists-on-sundays

Topic Reading-Vol.5192-7/12/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Ford rehires human engineers after AI fails to match quality checks

Founded in 1903, the Ford Motor Company is the second-largest American-based automaker, producing popular vehicles including the F-150 pickup, Explorer SUV, and iconic Mustang. In the last few years, the legendary automaker has introduced AI across its operations, including the quality-checking process. However, the company didn’t seem to have planned a smooth human-to-AI transition well, and the AI quality checker failed to live up to expectations. The management has learned that AI needs to learn sufficiently to perform its duties. The automaker has then rehired veteran technicians to train the machines that had taken over their jobs earlier. What will happen to them when the machines have learned enough knowledge and skills from them? When humanoid robots are deployed to human environments where safety is the #1 priority, they surely need to be trained properly and sufficiently before their introduction.

Read the article and learn how essential training is for a smooth transition to AI operations.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrkd41n2v9o

Topic Reading-Vol.5191-7/11/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

AI glasses are aiding cheating in exams. Test-obsessed Asia is ground zero

Ever since students started using AI tools like ChatGPT for academic writing, teachers have been struggling to find the right way for assessment. In the meantime, high-tech wearable tools like AI glasses have been found at exam sites in countries where test scores make or break the chance for college admissions or job qualifications. As smartglasses’ appearances become more ordinary and their functions improve rapidly, they are threatening the fairness and integrity of exams. For example, if you just look at the exam paper through the glasses, they would transmit the information, find the answers, and display them on the lenses. To combat high-tech cheating, proctors of China’s national entrance exams manually or digitally check frames for built-in cameras, internet connectivity, or AI features. It seems to be the time for assessors to rethink how to evaluate the competence and potential of the test takers. Should humanoid robots take place for human proctors?

Read the article and learn how high-tech wearables are threatening the testing authenticity.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/26/asia/ai-glasses-cheating-exams-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.5190-7/10/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The sites fighting to be removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List

UNESCO’s World Heritage List was brought forth to protect culturally and environmentally significant places in 1978. Since 12 sites were first inscribed on the list in 1978, it has grown to over 1,200 in 170 countries. In the beginning, the sites inscribed were monuments, archaeological sites, and buildings, but newly inscribed sites overlap with places where locals live, such as Vlkolínec in Slovakia and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Once inscribed on the list and posted on SNSs, world heritage sites become popular tourist destinations, which helps the local economy and raises funds for conservation. However, when a site is overvisited by tourists and overinvested by businesses, its original value might be lost, and residents’ lives are disrupted. Some of them are now even calling for the removal of the site from the heritage list. The World Heritage List certainly authenticates the significance of the site, and SNSs amplify its popularity. Which affects local communities more?

Read the article and learn how the UNESCO World Heritage List could affect local communities and residents’ lives.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260611-the-sites-fighting-to-be-removed-from-unesco

Topic Reading-Vol.5189-7/9/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Bored at work? Let AI do the heavy lifting

As AI takes over entry-level tasks in many workplaces, requirements for entry positions, and even for veterans, are rapidly changing. While many entry-level jobs and repetitive tasks are being replaced by AI, humans are doing more productive, creative, or managerial tasks. They are now expected to undertake greater responsibilities faster and better by using AI, which is improving and evolving continuously and rapidly. Therefore, all workers, including newcomers or job starters, need to be competent in using AI and keep upskilling to be valuable office workers. One valued skill in today’s work environment is the ability to integrate AI into real work processes to produce better solutions. Another is the ability to use AI as an agent to improve the work quality and efficiency. For example, the effectiveness of an ad can be analyzed and summarized, and suggestions for improvement can be proposed by AI. Humans then give new directions and make judgments as to how to reach and move the target audience more. AI is indeed reshaping job requirements, but it is still humans who finally exercise soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and face-to-face interaction, to be valuable in the workplace and for customers and clients.

Read the article and learn how things are changing with AI in China’s workplaces.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202606/26/WS6a3dbb4ea310986e2b461f61.html

Topic Reading-Vol.5188-7/8/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Droughts are transforming the Turkish landscape with massive sinkholes

Located on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, Konya was once the capital of the Seljuk Empire. It is now the agricultural capital of Turkey, producing about 10% of the country’s agricultural production, including water-thirsty crops like sugar beets and maize. Konya is located in a closed basin, and its water supply relies heavily on rapidly depleting groundwater due to excess extraction for farming. Approximately two-thirds of the 100,000 wells in the region are illegally created. Because of the drought, farmers are pumping more groundwater than it is naturally replenished. As a result, many hazardous sinkholes have appeared rapidly in recent years in the area, some are as large as more than 200 meters in diameter and 170 meters deep. Unless current farming practices are changed, more sinkholes will appear as a clear sign of depleting groundwater. Borrowing from the future for today’s needs is an acceptable practice as long as the debt is payable. Can they expect to have more rain?

Read the article and learn about sinkholes appearing in the agricultural capital of Turkey.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260624-droughts-are-transforming-the-turkish-landscape-with-massive-sinkholes

Topic Reading-Vol.5187-7/7/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Café Terrace at Night: Five details that unlock the genius of Van Gogh's original 'starry night'

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who created about 2,100 artworks before he took his own life in 1890 at the age of 37. To enjoy the sun and colors of Southeastern France, he arrived in Arles in February 1888 and stayed there for nearly 15 months. Seven months later, he created Café Terrace at Night with his first starry background. The iconic post-impressionist nocturnal art uses bold yellows, warm oranges, and deep cobalt blues but not black, evoking the vibrant, inviting energy of a bustling public gathering under the stars. The color contrast of the brilliant yellow light from the café and the dark blue sky appeals to viewers' eyes and impresses their minds. And there are other details that Van Gogh recreated an ordinary city square into a dreamlike mirage, including the colorful cobblestones, columns, chairs, the tower, and the stars.

Read the article and explore Van Gogh’s masterpiece.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260618-five-details-that-unlock-the-genius-of-van-goghs-original-starry-night

Topic Reading-Vol.5186-7/6/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, E

uropean summers are getting brutally hot. So why is air conditioning so rare?

Under the searing and prolonged heat waves in June, temperatures reached or exceeded 40 degrees in many parts of Europe. France recorded its hottest day, with the highest temperature reaching 44 degrees, leaving dozens who sought relief in rivers and lakes drowned. While homes and buildings in southern European countries are heat-resistant with thick walls and small windows, those in northern Europe are built without heat in mind. Then why don’t they install air conditioners? Economically, ACs are expensive to run for Europeans whose electricity bills are relatively high. Also, while ACs make the rooms comfortable, their compressors outside make the building look ugly. Environmentally, ACs increase planet-heating pollution because they exhaust heated air to the outside. And if more fossil fuels are burned to run ACs, it will make it harder for Europe to reach the 2050 climate-neutral goal. However, as heatwaves become more frequent and prolonged, air conditioners may soon become a must-have home appliance in Europe, too.

Read the article and learn why air conditioning isn’t so popular in Europe.

https://edition.cnn.com/climate/europe-heat-air-conditioning

Topic Reading-Vol.5185-7/5/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How to exercise safely in hot weather

A sweat-inducing heat dome over 40 degrees covered much of Western Europe last month, forcing France to ban public Alcohol consumption. FIFA introduced a mandatory three-minute hydration break into each half during the 2026 World Cup held in North America. As this summer in the Northern Hemisphere isn’t going to be much cooler than last year, how should you keep exercising outdoors? In hot conditions, your body tries to cool itself by sweating and diverting blood towards the skin, which puts extra strain on your heart and could lead to heat exhaustion, or, in the worst case, heat stroke. Since quitting exercise could put your long-term health at risk, you need to adopt practical methods to maintain physical activity, such as choosing the time and place to exercise, adjusting the menu depending on the temperature and humidity, pre-cooling or cooling down smartly, and consulting your body when to rest or stop. One thing you want to avoid is pushing yourself to the limit in the heat. After all, you’re exercising for your long-term health.

Read the article and learn how you should keep exercising in summer.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260618-how-keep-exercising-when-its-really-hot

Topic Reading-Vol.5184-7/4/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Rivers set free: Why countries are tearing down hundreds of dams

Rivers naturally experience seasonal fluctuations, flooding during heavy rain or melting snow, and drying up during droughts. Dams are built to prevent floods, generate hydropower, and manage water flow and supply for farming, daily life, and navigation. In Europe, there are as many as 1.2 million water barriers, such as dams and weirs, but many of them have been removed recently to restore the environment and ecosystems. In fact, Sweden, Finland, and Spain each removed more than 100 barriers in 2025 alone. If a river is blocked, some fish species, such as salmon, face difficulty reaching upstream habitats for reproduction, and ecosystems are fragmented by barriers. Also, water in reservoirs can be lost faster through evaporation. But removing such barriers is no easy task, as it takes years of environmental assessments, engineering studies, and public consensus. In the meantime, are they prepared for more extreme rains, severe drought, and rising temperatures that will melt ice and snow faster without dams?

Read the article and learn why dams are removed in Europe.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/27/world/why-countries-are-tearing-down-hundreds-of-dams-spc-c2e

Topic Reading-Vol.5183-7/3/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Qantas locks in launch date for Sydney-London nonstop flights as it debuts the custom jet designed for the trip

Opened in 1920, Sydney Airport (SYD) is the busiest airport in Australia, serving more than 40 million passengers, and the main hub for Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier. Since Australia sits on an isolated continent in the southern hemisphere, flight distances from SYD to major cities in other continents are quite extensive: 6,300 km to Singapore, 10,400 km to Delhi, 16,000 km to New York, and 17,000 to London.  In 1947, Qantas's first direct flight service from Sydney to London, the Kangaroo route, carried 29 passengers with stops in Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Tripoli, and Rome, flying 55 hours in four days. Today, it takes more than 24 hours to reach London with a stopover in Singapore. Now, starting from October next year, the airline is set to start a non-stop service between the two cities, and also to New York. The Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long-Range) will fly 22 hours with 238 passengers on board in 3 first-class suites, 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats. The flight will save a stopover and about two hours, but will probably cost more because it’s a non-stop service. Special seats, services, and amenities will be provided for the passengers to survive this day-long flight from gate to gate. Also, crew members will have to work and rest even longer on the aircraft. Since there are several one-stop flights between the two cities, the choice is yours.

Read the article and learn about the new day-long, non-stop service for the Kangaroo route.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/19/travel/qantas-project-sunrise-airbus-a350-1000ulr-date

Topic Reading-Vol.5182-7/2/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

'This could only exist in America': What are foreign football fans finding in the US?

Of the 104 FIFA World Cup matches, 60 are played in 11 cities in the USA, including all knockout matches from the quarter-finals onward. Though the hosting country hasn’t been so friendly to foreign visitors recently in terms of visa applications and entry procedures, many enthusiastic fans have come to America to watch and feel the exciting games. While staying, they also have a chance to experience America’s unique food, customs, and practices. Places like fast food and chain restaurants, gigantic supermarkets, and self-service gas stations, and the size of the portions and servings, plates and bowls, and cups and glasses are all eye-opening and stomach-filling. While tortilla chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants and refills of served drinks are mostly free, sales tax and tips aren’t included in the menu prices. For example, if you order a $100 meal at a restaurant in New York, you’ll be charged 9% sales tax and expected to leave a 20% tip, making the total $130. Also, football is the most popular team sport in the US, but it means American football. Another confusing thing in the US is the temperature scale, the Fahrenheit. Don’t be surprised by a 100° forecast because it’s approximately 38°C. 

Whatever differences you’ll find or encounter, they are part of your travel experiences. If you go to America, enjoy America!

Read the article and learn what foreign football fans are finding unique in the US.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgj731r38xo

Topic Reading-Vol.5181-7/1/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Thousands of baby seals died on two remote sub-Antarctic islands. Scientists now think they know why

On remote sub-Antarctic islands about 4,000 kilometers southwest of Australia, thousands of carcasses of seal pups, penguins, and seabirds were left. In one area, nearly all seal pups were dead. It was found that the cause of the devastating deaths of the sea mammals and birds was H5 bird flu, which had likely been transferred through migratory birds from other sub-Antarctic islands 1,800 km away. The H5 bird flu, specifically the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, is a contagious, deadly disease currently widespread among wild birds, commercial poultry, and dairy cattle. While the public health risk to humans remains low, infected birds and animals display severe symptoms and then die. When H5 bird flu is detected on a chicken farm, it is put under strict quarantine, its entire flock is culled, and the farm undergoes extensive cleaning and disinfection. Last month, a wild migratory brown skua was found positive for the H5 bird flu in Western Australia, the first case on the continent. People in Australia are now advised not to touch sick or dead birds or animals. Watch out not only for sharks but also for seabirds on Australian shores.

Read the article and learn about how contagious and deadly the bird flu is.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/19/australia/bird-flu-seal-pups-dead-heard-and-mcdonald-islands-intl-hnk