Topic Reading-Vol.3040-8/7/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A massive asteroid shower hit Earth and the moon 800 million years ago, study says

When was the last time you took a shower? Unless you’ve been hospitalized for some time, it probably was hours or a day before. Then, when do you think our planet and the moon took an asteroid shower? It is believed that about 66 million years ago, a meteor the size of a mountain slammed into Earth, filling the atmosphere with gas, dust, and debris that drastically altered the climate, which made dinosaurs went extinct while some mammals, birds, small reptiles, fish, and amphibians survived. You probably have known this presumption, haven’t you?

But some scientists now believe that our planet and the moon were hit by a massive asteroid shower about 800 million years ago and it might have initiated the ice age by the massive impact. How do they find such traces? Those researchers study the moon and asteroid to find what happened so long ago because they hold a more original state than the earth, where volcanic activities, geologic processes like erosion, and weathering erase the trace of the past incident. That’s one of the reasons rockets are sent to the moon and asteroid to bring back the sample of the ancient trace.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how the earth was impacted by asteroids.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/world/moon-earth-asteroid-shower-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3039-8/6/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hackers post fake stories on real news sites 'to discredit Nato'

In Florida, a teenager was charged for hijacking the Twitter accounts of multiple high-profile figures, including former President Barack Obama, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, entrepreneur Elon Musk, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. The 17-year-old hacker put false tweets on their accounts requesting for Bitcoin donations.

In Europe, hackers broke into real new websites and posted fake stories for their cause to stir up the anti-NATO sentiment. It is suspected that Russian interests are behind the hacking to stop NATO to deploy its forces in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, each of whom was a former member or ally of the Soviet Union.

If such popular and trusted accounts or websites are hijacked so easily, what can be trusted, especially before elections or polls? Since anything could go viral so quickly and widely, readers and viewers seem to be required to judge what is authentic or not.

Enjoy reading the article and think if you keep a critical eye on what’s shown on the web.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53594440

Topic Reading-Vol.3038-8/5/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How Covid-19 could destroy indigenous communities

According to a UN factsheet, there are over 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries in the world. Indigenous peoples and communities that still keep their historical continuities that were developed in the pre-invasion and pre-colonial era. They practice unique cultures, lifestyles, traditions, languages, and beliefs of their own that are distinct from the surrounding societies. Among the indigenous peoples are those of the Americas, such as the Navaho in the USA, the Mayas in Guatemala or the Aymaras in Bolivia, the Inuit, and Aleutians of the circumpolar region, the Aborigines of Australia and the Maori of New Zealand. They are more isolated than those in the same country in many ways such as jobs, income, education, information, and access to medical services. So, when the whole world has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, indigenous people are actually more vulnerable. How are they trying to survive such a difficult time?

Read the article and learn about how peoples of indigenous descent are coping with the outbreak of Covid-19.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200727-how-covid-19-could-destroy-indigenous-communities

Topic Reading-Vol.3037-8/4/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A landmark study shows what makes a successful relationship

What makes a good and lasting partner relationship? Does it depend on what your personal qualities are and who your partner is? The answers seem to change after a year, a relatively short period for married couples, from what they predict the quality of relationships before the study to what measures they would best predict that. A study in Canada found that how the couple perceives and values each other and their relationship as a whole seems to attribute more than an individual’s characteristics. In other words, it is the dynamics of the relationship that is built by many parts. If that is the case, relying on apps that find an ideal partner is just an illusion? Neither love at first sight nor a perfect couple guarantees a lasting relationship?

Maybe an arranged marriage is as practical and endurable as a marriage for love because it is based on the assumption of a forever lasting relationship.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how couples predict what makes them united.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/29/us/what-makes-a-relationship-successful-study-wellness-trnd/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3036-8/3/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Virgin Galactic's rocket plane will use 16 cameras to capture space tourists' every move

A space trip is surely an exceptionally extraordinary experience. Even if the time duration could be just a few minutes to a few days, pretravel research, planning, and inspiration are invaluable. Also, post-trip memories are irreplaceable, not to mention the time you enjoy experiencing micro-to-zero gravity and a spectacular view of Earth and space. So, all-in-all, the $250,000 ticket price for a 2.5-hour space trip on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, from liftoff until the touchdown including a six-minute weightlessness time, may not be overly expensive for some people. Each of the six passengers will sit in a custom-designed seat, enjoy the magnificent view through round-shaped windows, and see themselves floating in microgravity. Want to check the interior of the spaceship now?

Enjoy watching the video about the experience worth more than a quarter-million dollars.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/28/tech/virgin-galactic-space-ship-interior-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3035-8/2/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'I was too fat,' Boris Johnson says in UK launch to tackle obesity

Born in 1964, he was 55 when he was hospitalized for Covid-19 infection this past April, where he learned a lifelong lesson. He had been overweight. Now the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wants others to follow his suit to lose weight. This is a 180-degree turn from his previous criticism on previous governments’ proposal to similar moves. However, having spent in an intensive care unit for a few days wandering between life and death, he is now determined to promote healthier Britain. Indeed, over 60% of British adults are either overweight or obese. Also, 20% of children aged 10-11 are obese, which could pose a higher risk of diabetes and heart diseases in the future.

So, in order to endorse the government’s action to encourage people to lose weight, he posted a video to his Twitter account about his own determination and action.

Yes, anyone can change his or her mind, but it’s not easy to change others’.

Enjoy reading the article and watch the video to learn about once overweighed and coronavirus-infected prime minister’s message.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/27/uk/boris-johnson-weight-obesity-uk-gbr-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3034-8/1/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Beethoven 250: The ultimate song of health after illness

This is supposedly a big year for Western music history. Beethoven’s 250^th anniversary. Indeed, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. He was taught composition when he was ten and published his first work in 1783. He moved to Vienna in 1792 and was acquainted with famous composers like Joseph Haydn, a renowned violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh, and Beethoven’s life-long financial supporter, Prince Lobkowitz, all of whom gave their part of the influence on Beethoven’s works. He wrote most of his famed works before 1812 despite his deafness and The French invasion of Vienna. Then he went into a difficult emotional period until 1822. During his final years between 1823 and 1826, he composed his most acclaimed works, including the ninth symphony and his late string quartettes, one of which is Opus 132, string quartet #15 in A minor. The third movement of the quartet, Molto adagio – Andante (F Lydian), is accompanied by his note, "Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der Lydischen Tonart" (Holy song of thanksgiving of a convalescent to the Deity, in the Lydian mode. What kind of music is it?

Enjoy reading the article about what this holy song of thanksgiving by Beethoven is.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200720-beethoven-250-the-ultimate-song-of-health-after-illness

For those who aren’t familiar with this movement, try this first; Eschner String Quartet