Topic Reading-Vol.5296-10/24/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Bigger than Manhattan: The record-breaking airport megahub that conquered the world

While mega hub airports in the Middle East have been affected by the US-Iran war, Istanbul International Airport is handling more international flights and passengers, taking advantage of its geographical position and capacity. According to a global travel data provider, Istanbul Airport (IST) served more international connections and destinations on seemingly the busiest day of the year, August 2, than London Heathrow (LHR), the previous year’s top. IST operates 24/7 with one massive main passenger terminal under a single roof. It has three runways and will soon add another one, which will provide more capacity and better punctuality. Currently, over 84 million passengers pass through IST each year, and the airport plans to increase its capacity to 200 million passengers per year with six active runways. The airport sits about 40 km from the city center and is connected by metro (though it requires a gruesome transfer), so transit passengers may choose to visit the world-famous tourist sites. While airspace over Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East is disrupted by the ongoing wars, Istanbul Airport is gaining momentum as the main hub between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Read the article and learn about Istanbul’s mega airport.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/istanbul-airport-connectivity

Topic Reading-Vol.5295-10/23/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The radical idea that temperature sets when we sleep

We know the ambience affects how deeply we sleep and how refreshed we feel after sleep. The darker and quieter the place we sleep in is, the better our sleep quality tends to be. That’s because light exposure affects melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates the body’s circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle. Also, a regular wake-up and sleep cycle helps us sleep better because our circadian rhythms, cycles of mental, physical, and behavioural changes, occur in a 24-hour period. Another factor for better sleep is temperature. Since our core body temperature falls by about 1C from its daytime high to nighttime low, warmer ambience won’t help our sleep. When the bedroom is too warm, you tend to have difficulty falling asleep. When the sun sets, the ambience becomes darker, quieter, and cooler in the natural environment. Today’s environment, especially in towns, seems quite different from the one humans have evolved for.

Read the article and learn about the factors that affect our sleep.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20261007-how-does-temperature-affect-your-sleep

Topic Reading-Vol.5294-10/22/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Scientists identify two of the world’s noisiest birds – and they’re as loud as a jackhammer

A volume of 100 decibels (dB) measured at one meter is extremely loud, almost equivalent to a car horn, a gas-powered lawn mower, a motorcycle engine, or a live rock concert. Then how much louder is 120 dB? Every 10 dB increase represents a 10-fold increase in sound intensity or energy, so going from 100 dB to 120 dB is 100 times more intense energy-wise. Since human brains perceive every 10 dB increase as roughly doubling in loudness, 120 dB sounds roughly four times louder to the human ear than 100 dB. Surprisingly, this is how loud some of the South American bird species sing. The bare-throated bellbird is only about 27 cm long but has a large mouth opening and a wide beak to amplify sound to call females. The red-legged seriema is a large bird species, about 75 to 90 cm long, with bulky throat and chest muscles to create large calls for territorial defence. Recently, these two species were found to create songs louder than 120 decibels. Since both species live in Atlantic forests around Brazil, their loud songs won’t bother you anytime soon.

Read the article and learn about the noisiest bird species.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/science/two-loudest-bird-study-intl-scli

Topic Reading-Vol.5293-10/21/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
How much should you actually tip on a 'free' walking tour?
There are quite a few travel websites that list “free walking tours” for popular tourist destinations, such as Rome, New York, or Tokyo. In reality, these tours are not really free of charge, but tip-based. It’s a pay-what-you-wish model where you can book for free online and tip your guide at the end of the tour based on what you feel the tour was worth for you within your budget. For travelers, it is appealing because there are no upfront booking fees or financial commitment. For freelance tour guides, the tour not only eats up other income opportunities but also costs them booking fees to the online platform. Some platforms show a suggested tipping range, but it depends on where, when, and how satisfactory the tour was to the individual. In reality, those tour guides aren’t really volunteers but freelance guides who make their living from tips. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Read the article and learn about how free walking tours work.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260924-how-much-should-you-actually-pay-on-a-free-walking-tour

Topic Reading-Vol.5292-10/20/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

This city is on track to run out of water by 2030. For many residents, that day is already here

Kabul is the capital of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. It sits in an east-central mountain valley of Afghanistan along the Kabul River. Kabul’s population increased rapidly from 2.4 million in 2000 to over five million today, one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. Unfortunately, however, Kabul’s water supply has been declining in recent years. The Kabul River is fed by melting snow and glacial ice, both of which are diminishing, and aquifers aren’t replenished for pumping and wells. Also, it is estimated that as much as 80% of the city’s groundwater is contaminated by sewage and naturally occurring substances. Kabul’s residents are now facing water bankruptcy because its water resource is not recoverable. Those who can afford to dig their wells deeper or buy water from private water tankers, but others walk long distances to fetch water from community wells. Continuous droughts, declining snowfall, melting glaciers, and increasing water demand from homes, agriculture, and businesses all contributed to Kabul’s water bankruptcy, and there is no immediate solution to the crisis. Bombs are no longer falling onto Kabul, but neither is the rain. What choices are left for Kabul’s residents?

Read the article and learn how serious Kabul’s water shortage is.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/climate/water-crisis-city-day-zero-kabul-afghanistan

Topic Reading-Vol.5291-10/19/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Post-Assad Syria is facing its biggest stress test yet. Here’s why that matters

Surrounded by Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan, and also bordered by Israel and Lebanon, Syria is an Arab republic in West Asia. Most of its 26 million population are Arabs and Sunni muslims, and about 10% are Kurds. The republic was established in 1953 and was ruled by the notorious Assad family until its collapse in 2024, when the nation’s capital, Damascus, fell to its opposing coalition. The country is now ruled by a transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander. After decades of international isolation and sanctions because of the former regime’s repression of civilians and support for terrorism, the interim government has been trying to bring the country back onto the global stage and invite foreign investment. Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the EU have invested handsomely so far, which has helped Syria rebuild key infrastructure from a nearly bankrupt state. However, despite the government’s ambitious long-term plans, ordinary citizens' daily lives haven’t improved much, and people are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. Economic strain, especially in food and fuel, leads to social unrest. How will Syria’s transitional government manage the nation until the next presidential election that is supposed to take place before December 2029?

Read the article and learn about Syria’s status.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/middleeast/syria-post-assad-what-comes-next-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5290-10/18/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Inside the ‘Americanization’ of French dining

When people visit other places, their cultures tend to influence others, and vice versa. Each year, over 1.5 million French people visit the US, and around five million Americans visit France. With these exchanges and interactions, along with entertainment and technological influences, Americanized dining experiences are emerging in France, where gastronomy is regarded as a core of life. For example, various kinds of Americanized menus are appearing in some restaurants with American-flavored interiors. Also, some restaurants accommodate early-hour diners, like 6:30 pm, as opposed to traditional French dinner time that starts around 7:30 pm. Another American custom emerging in France is tipping. Tipping isn’t usually expected in France because a 15% service charge is already included in menu prices. Diners may leave the change or €1 to €2 as appreciation for good service. But as digital tipping options on card machines and QR codes have become more common in the last few years, a 5-15% tipping option is shown to diners in addition to the already-included service charge. More smiles and engaging service might become very expensive in some restaurants in France.

Read the article and learn about the American influence on French dining.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/04/travel/french-restaurants-american-influence