Topic Reading-Vol.3078-9/14/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Wildlife in 'catastrophic decline' due to human destruction, scientists warn

The earth is a shared community among humans, animals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, plants, fish, and insects. So, the planet's ecosystem is like a collective living organism and operates very much like the human body. If any part of the planet loses balance, it affects the whole body. However, we humans have been acting as the sole ruler of the planet and overwhelming the other creatures and territories. According to the latest study by the conservation group WWF, wildlife populations have been declining at an unprecedented pace, nearly 70% fall over 20,000 populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish in the last half-century.

It seems that humans are driving in the wrong direction at a very high speed. Thus, slowing down isn’t enough to stop the destruction of the ecosystems. Deforestation, over-fishing, greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste, and food supply and consumption are all to blame.

If reversing is unrealistic, we seem to need to change the direction, at least.

Along with global warming, ecosystem destruction is a clear and ongoing danger to all creatures of the planet.

Read the article and learn about the impact humans are causing on earth’s ecosystem.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54091048

Topic Reading-Vol.3077-9/13/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Champagne makers are throwing out grapes. Here's why

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne wine region of France. It is produced from specific types of grapes, such as Pinot noir and Chardonnay harvested only in the region, which keeps the value of this particular wine. Champagne is a premium drink that is usually enjoyed as part of a celebration or as an aperitif before the beginning of a meal. So, at a time when events, celebrations, and social dining occasions are rarely seen due to the coronavirus pandemic, demands for Champagne have significantly declined. What are the producers of this premium wine doing to cope with this difficult time?

Unfortunately, there is only one way to keep the value when the demand declines.

Enjoy watching the video and learn about the impact of the pandemic on Champagne.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2020/08/31/france-champagne-mareuil-sur-ay-coronavirus-covid-19-bell-pkg-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn

Topic Reading-Vol.3076-9/12/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Vibrating suit allows deaf people to 'feel' music

Music is an audible sensation or experience. You listen to or hear music through your ears, except for those who read the score and recreate the music in their brains. But what if you can’t hear anything? Is there any way for deaf people to experience music?

Yes, there is not. Though they may not experience the full content of the music, they could enjoy some part of the music through vibrations. There is a tech company in California that developed a vibrating suit for deaf people to feel music through their skin. The suit consists of 24 contact points to vibrate the pulses that were translated from audio. Though it doesn’t reproduce the music in the same way as we hear, it provides musical experience to those who can’t hear. Also, the device could be used to enhance audio, like the ones in movies.

So, someday, there will be another digital track that enables the audience to feel the movie.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about this vibrational music experience.

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/chase-burton-vibrating-suit-spc-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3075-9/11/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Secrets of male elephant society revealed in the wild

The roles of male elephants aren’t limited only to breeding. A new study found that they do enjoy social lives like females. Also, male elephants seem to learn from older ones within their herd, like a matriarch leads a female-and-calf society. For example, a more mature bull seems to lead a group when they are in a move from place to place, which suggests that he possesses valuable ecological knowledge for their survival. If that is the case, hunting or poaching old male elephants could impair their learning cycle. Elephants do remember.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how male elephants live.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54018133

Topic Reading-Vol.3074-9/10/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The companies that help people vanish

Where there is a need for help, there always are businesses that provide solutions. One such example is a Japanese company that provides assistance to those who want to disappear from their lives. The company provides lodging for their customers in an unknown place and helps its clients withdraw money from ATMs without being identified or tracked. Sounds like a safehouse that hides persons from the law, hostile actors, or actions, doesn’t it?

Why do some people want to vanish and erase the trace? In fact, some people want to stats a new life, and others want to escape from their lives. Whatever the motive might be, each reason is serious enough for the person to vanish secretly and suddenly.

Read the article and learn about this unusual business to help people in need.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200903-the-companies-that-help-people-vanish

Topic Reading-Vol.3073-9/9/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Ex-World Bank head Robert Zoellick: ‘The world could look like 1900 again

Robert Zoellick is an American public official and a republican. He served various positions to support both GW and HW Bush administrations, as deputy secretary of state, US trade representative, and White House deputy chief of staff. He was also the president of the World Bank between 2007 and 2012 when the world suffered from the global financial and economic crisis. You can tell that he is a man of wisdom and a trusted republican.

He now warns that the world could look like it did before World War I when major powers tried to compete with each other. If the US, or the Trump administration, keeps its hostile stance in its foreign policy especially against China, and undermines the benefits of the international system, he fears that the world will not get over with the current crisis.

Enjoy learning what this wise man says about the current US foreign policies.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54023163

Topic Reading-Vol.3072-9/8/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Baby boom for Uganda's endangered mountain gorillas

Gorilla beringei beringei, more popular as mountain gorillas live in forests in the mountains over 2,000-meter high. They have thicker fur that helps them to survive in a habitat where temperatures often drop below freezing. However, human intrusions into their territory forced them to move higher up in the mountains, which made them endure to live in severer and more dangerous conditions. Despite human invasion, conflict, and poaching, the population of mountain gorillas has increased to over 1,000.

On average, only two births of this endangered species are recorded in Uganda each year. However, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has already seen seven so far this year. What a baby boom!

Did the coronavirus pandemic affect their breeding habit? Have there been fewer visitors or hunters who could have bothered their habitats?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the baby boom for one of our closest cousins.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/gorilla-baby-boom-uganda-scli-intl/index.html