Topic Reading-Vol.5049-2/19/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

This year’s Olympic medals are worth more than ever

The 2026 Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina 2026, is taking place at sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy. When the event ends on the 22^nd, more than 700 medals will have been awarded to the winners of the winter sports events. These medals are more economically valuable than ever because of the skyrocketing price of gold and silver, which have doubled and tripled, respectively, since the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The medals use quite a lot of these precious materials. For example, the gold medal weighs about 500 grams and is composed at 92.5% of silver and plated with six grams of gold. The silver medal weighs 420 grams and consists of 92.5% silver, and the rest is copper for durability. Even though the core value of the Olympic medals has been and will most likely be unchanged, the 2026 Olympic medals are financially the most valuable, at least so far.

Read the article and learn about how valuable Olympic medals are now.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/05/business/medals-winter-olympics-gold-silver-prices-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5048-2/18/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Europe distrusts — but depends on — America. Can it afford to walk away?

Until recently, the USA and Europe had long enjoyed a close relationship, collectively called the West, sharing core values, such as individual liberty, the rule of law, and market capitalism. For example, their trade represents nearly 30% of the global total. The USA was one of the leading founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was created in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. However, the recent Trump administration’s attempt to capture Greenland, a sovereign territory of Denmark, either by money or force, has made its European allies lose trust in the USA. For energy security, it’s a big blow to European countries because they have increased the import of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from the USA as an alternative to Russia since 2022. Also, Europe depends heavily on US tech enterprises for digital services, cloud infrastructure, and data centers. Even though it is unclear if the recent absurd US moves will continue under future administrations, the mindsets of Europeans seem to have changed considerably.

Read the article and learn how much Europe depends on the USA.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/05/business/europe-economic-independence-united-states-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5047-2/17/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Your phone edits all your photos with AI - is it changing your view of reality?

High-tech smartphones that are equipped with multiple lenses, high megapixel sensors, and versatile zoom capabilities offer superior low-light performance, cinematic video, and AI-powered editing tools. In many cases, you might have been surprised to see how beautiful the object looks and how “precisely” details emerge in the photo you took. But are they authentic? After all, they are all digital cameras, which capture images, convert the light into electrical signals, and then into digital data. During the process, the “real” image was digitally processed, and this is where AI plays a substantial role. Instead of you editing digital images, today’s smartphones are doing it autonomously to make them look more appealing. They not only reduce noise, correct color, or despise blurry, but also fill in details that were not captured by the phone. If you want to see more “realistic” photos, you can opt out of such AI processing tools that run in the background. Which way would you prefer, with or without AI editing/enhancement? After all, doctoring is a slippery concept, and photographic truth might be an illusion.

Read the article and learn about what is going on in your smartphone camera.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260203-the-ai-that-quietly-edits-all-of-your-photos

Topic Reading-Vol.5046-2/16/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Have you got what it takes to go to the Moon?

It was 1972 when the last crewed mission, Apollo 17, sent men to the Moon. As early as next month, a lunar spaceflight mission, Artemis II, is planned to send four crew members to orbit the Moon. During the 10-day mission, the four crew members will live in a pressurized nine-cubic-meter capsule that houses a seating area, a hygiene compartment, and a small exercise space. There is no privacy whatsoever for 240 hours. In future lunar missions, humans will land on the Moon, about 384,000 km away from the Earth, construct a base, and live there for months, like astronauts have been doing in the International Space Station or Chinese taikonauts in their space station, Tiangong. They all need to be not only physically qualified but also mentally capable of coping with stress, isolation, and confinement. In addition, they all need to be good team members to accomplish the missions together, like members in research facilities in Antarctica. Cognitive abilities and psychological suitability are essential to live in extreme environments for months.

Read the article and learn about what it takes for space missions.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260202-the-skills-that-could-take-you-to-the-moon

Topic Reading-Vol.5045-2/15/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Bangladesh Nationalist Party sweeps to victory in first election since Gen Z uprising

Bangladesh is a country of South Asia located in the delta of the Ganges river where the Indian subcontinent meets mainland Southeast Asia. The Muslim-majority country lies between Hindu-majority India and predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. It was the eastern province of Pakistan until 1971, when it became independent as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. With a population exceeding 173 million in a 130,000 km² land area, similar in size to Greece, its population density is one of the highest in the world.

The unitary parliamentary republic was served by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2009 to 2024. Her second premiership was marked not only by significant economic development but also by authoritative ruling, corruption, and suppression. When the July Mass Uprising, or Gen Z Revolution, occurred last year, the government carried out the mass killing of protesters, which further escalated the movement. As a result, Hasina was ousted from the premiership and fled to India. Earlier this month, general elections were held, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, secured two-thirds of the parliament’s 299 seats. How will he govern the young, developing country, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, particularly with rising sea levels, floods, and extreme weather conditions?

Read the article and learn about Myanmar’s general elections and new challenges.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrzwn4yg7jo

Topic Reading-Vol.5044-2/14/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

These nets used to catch fish. Now they’re catching Russian drones

Last year, more than 2,000 Russian drones attacked the southern city of Kherson every week and killed over 100 people. While shooting down every drone is nearly impossible, there is an innovative and practical tool that helps protect people and infrastructures on the ground, nets. Tulip nets can thwart small drones, and fishing nets can protect tanks and electricity utilities from deadly kamikaze drones, which carry heavy explosives. These nets are donated by farmers and fishermen from many parts of Europe, and are being trucked to Ukraine by a variety of volunteer groups. They now protect hospital courtyards, power generators, shopping streets, and even open roads. Just like mosquito nets prevent mosquito bites and diseases such as malaria in tropical and subtropical regions, tulip nets and fishing nets are now protecting lives in Ukraine from Russian drones.

Read the article and learn how conventional nets are being used in Ukraine.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/01/europe/ukraine-fishing-farming-nets-drones-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5043-2/13/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, Protein is so last year. 

Why fiber is the next big thing

Fiber is a carbohydrate in plant food, such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. It passes through the body undigested, promotes bowel regularity, helps control blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol. Also, because fiber-rich foods are filling, they help you control your appetite and thus reduce overeating. You should get enough fiber, say 25g to 30g+ daily, with a healthy diet. For example, eat whole grains instead of refined grains, keep the skin on potatoes, cucumbers, apples, and pears, or add berries and nuts to your breakfast cereal. These days, younger consumers in the USA are getting obsessed with their digestive health to improve their skin health and cognitive function. Food companies are then launching fiber-enriched food, snacks, and even drinks to capitalize on the trend. But why do they need highly processed, packaged products to get enough fiber, which is naturally included in real foods?

Read the article and learn what American consumers are keen on after protein.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/25/food/fiber-food-trends-2026