Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why high temperatures can make planes too heavy to take off
As global warming heats airports, airplanes need longer runways or lighter
payloads to take off. In some cases, some of the passengers were forced to give
up their flights, or flights were canceled altogether when the temperature went
too high for takeoff. In fact, a study found that the maximum takeoff weight at
10 airports in Greece has been reduced by 127 kilograms each year since the
1970s because of the rise in temperatures. That’s because aircraft get 1% less
lift with every 3 degrees of temperature rise. For example, if an airplane
needs a 2,000-meter runway for takeoff at 20 degrees Celsius, it’ll require
2,500 meters at 40 degrees. This difference in temperature is just like the one
in the morning and the one in a sizzling afternoon at the same airport. Why does
the temperature matter so much for aircraft to take off? How are airlines
dealing with the rising temperatures?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about how aircraft take off a
runway.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/climate-change-airplane-takeoff-scn/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Grocery prices are soaring. But this food favorite is getting cheaper
The avocado is a type of berry that grows in warm climates. Avocados
provide a substantial amount of monounsaturated fatty acids and are rich in man
vitamins and minerals. Incorporating them into a varied, healthy diet can
provide a number of benefits, such as being rich in nutrients like vitamins C,
E, K, and B6, healthy for the heart, and great for vision. Moreover, with their
smooth, buttery, and golden-green flesh, avocados are becoming popular in many
cultures and menus. Avocados are cultivated in the tropical and Mediterranean
climates of many countries. Mexico is the world's leading producer of avocados,
providing nearly 30% of the global harvest. Earlier this year, the price of
avocados shot up mainly due to logistic restrictions from Mexico. But when the
clogged pipelines were cleared, an oversupply of Avocados flushed into the US
market, pushing the retail prices lower. That’s great news during a time of soaring
inflation of everything from food to energy. Also, next year’s avocado supply
is expected to be abundant. So, it may be a good time to add this healthy and budget-friendly
fruit to your menu.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the mystery of avocado prices.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/02/business/avocados-surplus-inflation-price-relief/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
‘Planet killer’ asteroid spotted hiding in the sun’s glare
There are over 27,000 known near-earth asteroids that orbit within 48
million kilometers from Earth. Fortunately, none of them has been found to pose
a threat to Earth, yet. But it is quite difficult to observe those space
objects, especially the ones that orbit within the inner solar system, which
includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and the main asteroid belt, because of
the harsh light of the sun. So, astronomers use ground-based telescopes during
the brief period of twilight. Recently, they found two large near-Earth asteroids
that are larger than 1 kilometer, which could cause a devastating impact on
Earth should they hit our planet. The impact would create dust and pollutants to
fill the atmosphere for many years and cool the planet significantly. One of
them orbits within Earth’s path and could hit Earth in an unknown future, though
not within centuries from now. That’s good news for the time being. But we
still haven’t found all the asteroids that could pose a threat to our planet,
yet. That’s why space agencies are trying to detect asteroids and alter their
course to avoid a catastrophic impact that once made most of the species extinct,
including dinosaurs.
Enjoy reading the article and learn about the threats that near-Earth
objects pose.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/31/world/potentially-hazardous-near-earth-asteroid-scn/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Are microcars the smaller, greener future of urban driving?
Cities are often congested and air-polluted. Conventional
fossil-fuel-burning cars are too large, heavy, and air-polluting. Most of the
time, people drive only by themselves or with another for a relatively short
distance and time no faster than a bicycle-plus speed. Even a popular electric
car still takes up the same space to drive and park as other cars. So, what
about an electric minicar that can accommodate most of your needs without emitting
CO? It’ll serve most of your transport needs while saving space and expenses.
You may also be able to enjoy getting a tax break and a preferential driving lane
or parking space. Also, as technologies and manufacturing techniques have
recently improved, minicars are now more stylish and affordable than their
predecessors. For example, some of them are tricycles that allow you to enjoy motorcycle-like
corning. Others have classic or futuristic designs that make you feel proud when
you get in and off the vehicle. Minicars seem greener and friendlier transporter
to the environment.
Enjoy reading the article and seeing the photos of new city
transporters.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/microcars-future-urban-driving-spc-intl/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Antarctica’s emperor penguins at risk of extinction due to the climate
crisis
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species. They weigh up to 40
kilograms and stand as tall as one meter. They live and breed on ice in
Antarctica and forage seafood like squid and small fish around the ice sheet. If
the ice on and around Antarctica melt, Emperor penguins lose their habitat and
face their predators like seals and whales more openly. There are about 270,000 to 280,000 breeding
pairs of emperor penguins in 60 breeding colonies along the coastline of Antarctica.
As parts of the Antarctic Peninsula’s sea ice have melted by over 60% in 30
years and the global temperatures continue to rise, research suggests that the penguin
population could decrease by 26% up to 47% by the middle of the century. In
order to stop the population decline, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has
recently categorized the species as threatened just like it did for polar bears
in 2008, which seems to have helped stabilize the bear’s population. What
actions are going to be taken and how soon and fast?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the danger emperor
penguins are facing.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/29/world/emperor-penguins-threatened-species-climate-scn/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
World's largest duty-free complex opens in Hainan
Haikou is the capital of Hainan (south of the sea), reflecting the
island's position south of the Qiongzhou Strait. Haikou, also known as the “Coconut
city”, is a popular tourist destination. Before the pandemic, the city received
nearly 84 million tourists and generated over 360 million US dollars in 2019. Situated
on the west coast of the city, the Haikou International Duty Free City Shopping
Complex opened on October 28. The world's largest stand-alone duty-free complex
boasts a cavernous area of 930,000sq meters comprised of six plots, including
duty and tax-free shops, offices, and hotels. In fragrances alone, a dedicated
single floor of 30,000sqm offers consumers virtual makeup applications,
interactive experiences and customization, and fragrance tutorials. Chanel,
Dior, Estée Lauder, La Mer, Clé de Peau Beauté, and other top beauty and
skincare brands reside here, plus 10 duty-free CDFG-exclusive fragrance areas
from the likes of Sulwhasoo, Laneige, and Hera. Duty-free sales account for approximately
half of the province’s tourism revenue or about a quarter of the total retail
sales of consumer goods in Hainan. With this new, gigantic DF complex, the city
and province are expecting to boost the tourism and retail business after the
pandemic. Of the 100,000-yuan annual quota per person for duty-free purchases,
how much will consumers spend in this new shopping facility?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the bold business initiative
in Hainan.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202210/29/WS635c6403a310fd2b29e7f2f9.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
India GST: The ‘cheesy’ row over pizza toppings tax in India
After a historic session of both of the houses of parliament until midnight,
India’s Goods and Services Tax, GST, was launched on July 1, 2017. Even though the
prime minister described it as a “good and simple tax”, it is practically complicated
because of the multiple tax rates, zero, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% depending on the
item. For example, unpacked food is not taxed. The rate of GST is 18% for soaps
but 28% for washing detergents. For movie tickets, the GST is 18% but 28% on tickets
over 1000 rupees. But what’s more complicated is the GST on foods. For
instance, while there is no GST on conventional milk, 12% GST is taxed on
flavored milk products even though most of the ingredient is milk. Also, in a
recent court ruling, a pizza company’s mozzarella topping is taxed at 28% even
though the GST on cheese is 18% just because the cheese topping contained vegetable
oil to enhance the texture and flavor of the pizza. There are so many other cases
like these in India. There seems to be a conflict between the logic and
practice in India’s GST.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about India’s long-and-still disputed
good and simple tax.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63281037
