Topic Reading-Vol.3429/8/31/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

New species of ancient four-legged whale discovered in Egypt

The whale is the largest mammal on earth. Whales roam throughout all of the world's oceans, communicating with complex and mysterious sounds. About 50 million years ago, whales evolved from dear-like land-living mammals. Although they are now fully aquatic, open-ocean creatures and they can feed, mate, give birth, suckle and raise their young all at sea, they still need to regularly surface to breathe air. They are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment.

Recently, scientists in Egypt identified a new species of four-legged whale that is estimated to have lived around 40 million years ago. Though it was not the first time that the fossil of a four-legged whale was discovered, interestingly, the skull looks like that of the god of the Egyptian jackal-headed god. Is this just a coincidence?

Enjoy reading the article about an interesting scientific discovery.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58340807

Topic Reading-Vol.3428/8/30/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Study shows how sitting for 8 hours a day can affect your stroke risk

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. If that happens, brain cells begin to die in minutes. Indeed, a stroke is a medical emergency, and swift treatment is crucial to reduce brain damage and other complications. A common type of stroke happens when the brain's blood vessels become clogged, causing severely reduced blood flow to the brain, which are often caused by fatty deposits that build up in blood vessels or by blood clots that travel through your bloodstream and stuck in the blood vessels in your brain. A new study of 143,000 adults in Canada found that adults under 60 whose lifestyles are sedentary, like sitting eight hours or longer a day, have a seven-times higher risk of stroke compared to those who are physically active. That is quite high enough to warn couch potatoes or desk workers who spend most of the day sitting on a sofa or chair. Is watching a smartphone while standing better than sitting at a desk all day? You may also keep in mind that food, nutrition, and smoking all matter to the risk of stroke.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what could increase the risk of stroke.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/23/health/stroke-risk-increase-sedentary-time-study-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3427/8/29/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

New Delhi opens first ‘smog tower’; expert says ‘absolute waste’

According to the World Health Organization, 14 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities are in India. A study attributed 1.67 million deaths in 2019 to air pollution. One, and the best way to clean the air is to reduce the sources of the smog, such as vehicle exhaust, heavy and small-scale industry, construction activity, the combustion of waste and fuel and, the burning of crops in winter. Another way, though neither ideal nor efficient, is to clean the dirty air with machines. New Delhi, the capital of the country and one of the most badly polluted cities, decided to try the latter solution. They recently built a 25-meter-high smog tower that is designed to halve the number of harmful particulates within one square kilometer radius. The city’s Chief Minister said if they find it effective to clean the air, they would build more across Delhi while critics say it is an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money. Does the smog tower itself produce more smog to run?

Enjoy reading the article about India’s smog tower to clean the air.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/23/india-capital-new-delhi-smog-tower-air-pollution

Topic Reading-Vol.3426/8/28/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

McDonald's has run out of milkshakes in the UK

Brexit and Covid combined gave a significant blow to the UK’s economy, especially in the supply chain. Foreign laborers aren’t as easily available as they used to be because of Brexit. There aren’t enough truck drivers or warehouse workers to get the things moving and distributed. Farmworkers and restaurant staff are also short to provide and serve food. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK badly. As so many workers are quarantined or self-isolated, employers are screaming for help. Dairy and chicken products are especially in short supply, forcing MacDonald’s to remove its signature milkshake from the menu and chicken restaurant chains to close doors. You may find it quite inconvenient, if you aren’t a vegan, if either chicken or milk is off the menu or store shelves. So, what if neither becomes unavailable? The first and most practical solution might be a facemask mandate.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the double impact the UK is facing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/24/business/mcdonalds-milkshake-shortage-uk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3425/8/27/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What should you do if you get a breakthrough infection? Our expert weighs in

A breakthrough infection is a COVID case that occurs in someone who is fully vaccinated, which means 14 or more days after completing the recommended doses of an authorized vaccine because it takes time for your immune system to build protective antibodies against COVID. If vaccination doesn’t protect us 100%, why do we need to get vaccinated? That’s because it reduces not only the chance of infection but also the severity of illness. Those who are vaccinated show much milder symptoms even if they contract coronavirus. For example, instead of having breathing trouble that requires oxygen or a ventilator, they may get just body aches, fatigue, and sniffles. As for the protection, vaccination isn’t 100% bulletproof for any situation. If you are exposed to coronavirus too much and for too long, you could get infected. That’s why everyone should be vaccinated. Also, basic protective measures like wearing a facemask, keeping a social distance, and getting fresh air are all important for everyone to avoid contracting the coronavirus.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what vaccination does to you.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/21/health/vaccinated-breakthrough-infections-covid-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3424/8/26/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What is Sharia law? What does it mean for women in Afghanistan?

Sharia is Islam's legal system that is derived from the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. It is basically a code of ethical conduct, worship, and charity as well as the punishment of crimes. The interpretation of Sharia is complex like other legal systems, and the practice greatly relies on experts and varies by the influence of local culture, customs, and legal system. Also, Sharia affects Muslims’ daily lives, family law, finance, and business. For example, lending money to earn interest is prohibited. Instead, Islamic banks make a profit through equity participation, which requires a borrower to give the bank a share in their profits rather than paying interest.

How the Taliban practice Sharia waits to be seen.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about Sharia law.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249

Topic Reading-Vol.3423/8/25/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Elon Musk just added a robot to his list of things always coming 'next year.' For now he's got a guy in a suit

Founded in 2003, Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that designs and manufactures electric cars, battery energy storage, solar panels, and related products and services. The company produced over one million electric cars in 2020 alone. Now, the game-changer of the auto industry is developing a humanoid robot that will perform the work that people would least like to do. The humanoid robot is said to stand 170 cm high, weigh 57 kilos, can o carry 20 kilograms, and move as fast as 8 kilometers per hour. The company claims that the robot is an extension of the company’s self-driving vehicles as it uses the same computer chip with eight cameras, just like its vehicles. Though AI technology has improved rapidly taking a lot of human tasks, its application to robotics has been still limited to simple tasks, such as carrying goods in a factory or warehouse.

But what is the work that people would least like to do? Unpaid care or housework might be their target but some people hate grocery shopping but others love doing it.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what a humanoid robot might be like.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/20/tech/tesla-ai-day-robot/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3422/8/24/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Travel to the North Pole on board a luxury airship

The airship, or lighter-than-air (LTA), has been replaced by aircraft as a means of air transportation since the 1930s. But there are people who are trying to bring back the adventure of airship exploration with the 21^st century’s comfort, safety, and technologies. The idea is to use a gigantic airship to fly passengers over the Arctic sea and to the North Pole. Since airships move very slowly, as slow as a bicycle, the passengers onboard can enjoy seeing things on the ice very closely during the 36-hour trip. Weather permitting, they can also walk around the most northern point on earth. The airship will eventually be powered by all-electric propulsion so that it won’t add any more heat to the polar region. The experience of airship travel could be compared to that of a yacht trip.

Enjoy reading the article and seeing the photos of this luxurious airship travel to the North Pole.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/oceansky-airship-north-pole-expeditions-cmd/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3421/8/23/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Rain fell at the normally snowy summit of Greenland for the first time on record

It rained for several hours at the summit of Greenland's ice sheet on August 14, marking the first time in recorded history the area has experienced rain. You may think it’s not unusual to have rain in Greenland because it’s summer there, too. But the spot is over 3,000 meters above sea level where summer temperatures usually stay below zero degrees Celsius. When it rained, the temperature was above the freezing point for over nine hours, only the fourth time in history, but the third time since 2012. Indeed, Greenland is surely warming. As a result of the record rainfall, the amount of ice mass lost on the following day was seven times higher than the usual days of the month. In fact, in 2019, Greenland lost a substantial amount of ice into the sea, raising the global sea level by 1.5 millimeters permanently. As such warm weather events are occurring more frequently, they are no longer considered weather events but climate change. Soon, Eskimos may need rainboots instead of snow boots.  

Read the article and learn what this rare rainfall in Greenland means to the planet.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/19/weather/greenland-summit-rain-climate-change/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3420/8/22/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What happens to your brain when you give up sugar

Are you addicted to sugar? Knowingly or unknowingly, people in economically developed, or even developing countries take more sugar than they think because it is added to many processed and prepared foods, such as cereals, bread, and junk food. Also, many drinks are rich in sugar, such as sodas, teas, and café latte. Sugar has a rewarding stimulus to your brain, which tends to drive you to take it repeatedly. That’s why many people find it difficult to resist sweet temptations, or even causing depression, anxiety, brain fog, and cravings, alongside headaches, fatigue and dizziness if they try to reduce sugar intake too much. In fact, sugar is not only just a rewarding chemical but also a kind of carbohydrate that is needed for your body and brain. But taking it too much could cause weight problems and/or diabetes. So, when you want to reduce sugar intake, do it properly because it is needed for your physical and mental health.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how sugar works in your body and brain.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210818-what-happens-when-you-quit-sugar

Topic Reading-Vol.3419/8/21/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Colorado River: First-ever shortage declared amid record US drought

Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, around 40 km east of Las Vegas in the United States. Formed by Hoover Dam on September 30, 1935, it is the largest reservoir in the United States in terms of water capacity, supplying water to nearly 20 million people and large areas of farmland in Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. As the lake has been below full capacity since 1983, and the water level dropped down to 35% of the capacity last month. Now, for the first time ever, a water shortage on the Colorado River was declared and the supply cuts were ordered due to the historic drought in the region.

Though not all droughts are caused by climate change, excess heat in the atmosphere is drawing more moisture out of the earth and making droughts worse. In fact, as the planet warms, droughts are growing more frequent and intense recently, especially in Southwestern America. Will California soon need to desalinate seawater like the Gulf states?

Read the article and learn about another evidence of climate change.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58248634

Topic Reading-Vol.3418/8/20/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Who are the Taliban and how did they take control of Afghanistan so swiftly?

On August 15, Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban. It took just a little over a month for Taliban forces to seize much of the country from the begging of US troops’ withdrawal. Even though the Afghan troops, consisting of over 300,000 personnel, were well funded and equipped by the US, they showed little or no resistance against Taliban forces. Then Afghan president fled the country in a hurry and the presidential palace was captured more quickly than anyone but the Taliban thought of. Why did the Afghan regime, which had been tightly guided and assisted by the US for the last two decades, collapsed so fast?

The US and UK had to send troops to evacuate their people but showed little or no mercy on Afghans who had been working with and for them, such as interpreters and government personnel. Now the insurgence has become the ruling force of the landlocked country with a population of 38 million. The US had no choice but to flee from the country just like they did from Saigon, Vietnam 46 years ago. They didn’t seem to have learned from the costly and painful lesson.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about who the Taliban is and how they seized Afghanistan so fast. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/16/middleeast/taliban-control-afghanistan-explained-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3417/8/19/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Younger generation less enthusiastic about marriage

Young Chinese aren’t so eager to get married. They seem to prefer to wait until they find a qualifying partner rather than settling just by a romance, or not to marry at all. In fact, the nation’s marriage rate has been continuously declining, and only about eight million couples got married last year, which is 12% fewer than the previous year. The figure was over 13 million back in 2013. Also, back in 2005, almost half of the newlyweds were made by the group aged between 20 and 24, but now, only about 20% of the age group get married. The high price of housing and the future cost of education for children is mainly to blame. Also, today’s young Chinese seem to have high expectations for potential partners such as education and income while having an unsociable character. Indeed, marriage is different from just having a romantic relationship. Young Chinese seem to be pragmatic about marriage.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how young Chinese think about marriage.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/14/WS6117036aa310efa1bd668bbd.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3416/8/18/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Innovation to drive early cancer screening industry in China

Cancer screening means looking for cancer before symptoms appear, when cancer may be easier to treat. Several screening tests have been used to detect cancer early and to reduce the chance of dying from that cancer, such as physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging tests, and biopsy (remove and examine sample tissue, cells, or fluid from the body). In China, about 10,000 cancer patients are diagnosed each day. Even though early detection and intervention are critical to treat cancers effectively and reduce mortality, roughly 70% of those who are diagnosed for the first time are already in the middle or late stage. Now, the Chinese authorities and finance market are both trying to support high-tech startups that are developing cancer screening technologies to detect certain cancers earlier and more easily than traditional testing methods. With China’s innovative technologies and forward-looking mindsets along with lucrative financing, the early cancer screening industry is expected to grow fast to save more lives.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about another new technology drive in China.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/14/WS61170f10a310efa1bd668c09.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3415/8/17/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Census release shows America is more diverse and more multiracial than ever

America is found to be more diverse. According to the 2020 Census data, the US population is much more multiracial, and more racially and ethnically diverse than ever before. The share of non-Hispanic White in the US population fell 6% to 57% in 2020 from 2010 while the population of Hispanic, Asian, and mixed races increased to take the share. This increase of the non-white population is more apparent in the under-18 population in the last decade, which went up from 47% to 53%. The Hispanic or Latino population grew more than other races again in the last decade. In fact, they became the largest racial or ethnic group in the state of California for the first time, representing nearly 40% of the most populous state.

The overall population grew just by 7% to 331 million, the slowest growth since the Great Depression era, and the growth was seen mainly in the metro areas. Now, each state starts to adjust its congressional and state legislature district lines based on the new Census data before the 2022 midterm elections.

Enjoy studying the latest population mix data of one of the most diverse countries in the world.

https://us.cnn.com/2021/08/12/politics/us-census-2020-data/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3414/8/16/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Should we all be tucking into fake cheese?

While dairy products are good sources of protein and calcium, they are blamed for producing a higher carbon footprint. In fact, the daily consumption of 30 grams of cheese contributes over 350 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions a year. That is one reason some people go vegan. Other people eat vegan foods to minimize their use of animals in all facets of life. As more people become vegans or prefer eating vegan foods, plant-based substitutes for milk, yogurt, and cheese become popular. But how are they produced? For example, base ingredients of plant-based or non-dairy cheese usually include coconut, soy, nut or seed oils with added starches, gums to improve texture, flavorings and colorings. How does it taste? While many people are open to trying animal-free cheese, only15% of those who tried agreed it tastes as good as standard cheese, according to a survey in the UK. Also, plant-based cheese often includes coconut oil, which is high in saturated fats and low in protein compared with dairy cheese. Furthermore, producing coconut oil is blamed for deforestation. So, is vegan cheese any good?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about animal-free dairy foods.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/vegan_cheese

Topic Reading-Vol.3413/8/15/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

As new COVID variants emerge, is herd immunity impossible?

The pandemic and race for vaccination have shown health inequalities around the world. While wealthy countries are accelerating vaccination and even a booster shot to protect their citizens against coronavirus, poorer countries are struggling to get essential workers vaccinated. Vaccines offer better protection than natural infection, with antibodies lasting longer and being more effective against serious illness. In fact, they have controlled contagious diseases like smallpox, polio, diphtheria, and pertussis effectively. But in order to contain an infectious disease like the coronavirus, it is necessary to achieve herd immunity, which occurs when a large proportion of a population becomes protected against or immune to infection. Once achieved, herd immunity can significantly reduce the spread of infections among both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. However, as for Covid-19, it is not clear how effective antibodies acquired through natural infection are, how long they last, or if people catch the coronavirus more than once. Also, as more new variants appear, the efficacy of the current vaccination or the level of herd immunity needs to be reviewed. Indeed, there are various aspects to maintain the efficacy of the vaccination.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what makes the vaccination effective against the novel virus.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/8/11/as-new-covid-variants-emerge-is-herd-immunity-impossible

Topic Reading-Vol.3412/8/14/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Ultra-processed foods now account for two-thirds of calories in the diets of children and teens

Ultra-processed foods, such as frozen pizza, microwave meals, and packaged snacks, are very popular, especially in the US. They can be kept fresh longer, enriched with vitamins, and palatable especially for children. Also, they are very economical and convenient as they are ready to eat or heat. However, many of such ultra-processed foods aren’t as healthy as minimally or not processed foods because they tend to contain more sugar and salt but less fiber. The problem is that they are palatable and appealing to children and their parents. They make kids filled and satisfied instantly and inexpensively. As parents become busier with their work and smartphones, such ultra-processes foods were given to their children more in the last two decades. According to a recent study, while the proportion of ultra-processed foods increased from 61% to 67%, the consumption of minimally or less processed foods declined from 29% to 23%. The problem is that when children get used to the taste of such over-processed foods in their youth, they tend to stick with the same type of foods in their adolescence, which could trigger overweight and diabetes. Since they are cheap, tasty, easy, and appealing, it’s becoming harder to resist over-processed foods in America.

Enjoy reading the article and think about how much of your daily diet consists of unhealthily processed foods.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/10/health/ultra-processed-food-kids-teens-diet-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3411/8/13/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Photos: Bangladesh’s free kitchens running out of food for poor

With a population of over 160 million, Bangladesh is the eighth-most populous and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Nearly all the citizens are Bengali and most of them are believers in Islam. Unfortunately, their GDP per capita is only around $2,000, ranked around 150^th in the world. So, when the coronavirus pandemic occurred last year, this densely populated country was hit badly, which made lots of people lose their jobs, become homeless, and beg for food on the streets. Many Bengalis were generous and sympathetic during the first wave of coronavirus outbreaks and made a lot of donations to help those who are in need of help. But as the shutdowns continued and businesses suffered, more people became helpless while the donations declined. In the meantime, some people continued or started to help feed those hungry people and children on the street, for some, the only meal for the day.

Read the article and see the photos to learn about how free meals help people in Bangladesh.

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2021/8/5/bangladesh-street-kitchens-free-food-covid-pandemic-poverty

Topic Reading-Vol.3410-8/12/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Japan's incredible convenience stores thrust into the Olympic spotlight

There are about 56,000 convenience stores in Japan whose population is just over 123 million. So, there is one convenience store for every 2,200 people on average. They are an essential feature of society, just like smartphones. For urban dwellers and office workers, convenience stores are just like their refrigerators and stock rooms. They keep what people need for their daily activities, from sandwiches and milk to facemasks and umbrellas. For those who live in remote areas where the nearest supermarket is tens of kilometers away, convenience stores are their lifeline. They provide most of the daily necessities for local residents, including toilet rolls, soaps, and detergent as well as vegetables, fruits, and even rice. One of the most popular items at Japanese convenience stores is rice balls or onigiri in Japanese. Onigiri is a traditional Japanese fast food yet healthy and tasty. When foreign visitors, athletes, coaches, and journalists for the Olympic games were stuck in their accommodation facilities, the only option for them to enjoy the local street food is to get packaged foods at convenience stores, like rice balls. The trouble was that those rice balls were carefully engineered to keep the freshness until they are eaten so that they are wrapped in a way that first-time eaters have trouble unwrapping them properly. But the hosting country’s hospitality didn’t neglect such troubles posted on Instagram. They immediately posted how to unwrap onigiri on Instagram.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how people at a convenience store could be helped by Instagram.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/convenience-stores-konbini-tokyo-olympics/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3409-8/11/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is water always the best choice on a hot day?

What to drink and how to drink makes a significant difference to keep our body hydrated properly. If you keep working outside at a hot temperature, your body needs a constant supply of not just water but also salt. If you keep just drinking water, your body tries to get rid of water by producing urine to keep the water-salt balance. In that case, a sports drink or even milk is recommended. But if you’re sitting in an air-conditioned space and don’t get sweat so much, you should avoid taking unnecessary ingredients or calories with fluid. Also, drinking fluid at once may simply produce more urine because the water simply passes through the body without hydrating it. So, the key to stay hydrated properly is to keep taking an adequate amount of suitable fluid for your body during the day. But make sure to avoid sugary drinks as we tend to have too much sugar in processed foods nowadays.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the hydration mechanism of our body.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210802-is-water-always-the-best-choice-on-a-hot-day

Topic Reading-Vol.3408-8/10/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Curbing climate change is auto mechanics, not rocket science
There are CEOs in the government and enterprises who seek only the next election or the profit per share. What they prioritize is nothing but a good performance appraisal during their terms, not the commitment for the successors or next generations, especially in the US. The last administration scrapped the ambitious yet necessary goals to reduce tailpipe emissions from cars, SUVs, and trucks to curb global warming, which is one of the existential threats to all the creatures and environment of the planet. Unlike other anthropogenic risks, such as abuse of AI, bio and cyber terrorism, world war, and pandemic, global warming is a clear and present danger yet still manageable. And it doesn’t need rocket science to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transit to cleaner and greener energy production and consumption. However, compared to more environmentally conscious European nations and shareholders, US political and business leaders seem too slow and indecisive to make the necessary transition. Their attitude seems like enjoy today and worry about tomorrow when the sun rises. But there may be more extreme weather events like heatwaves, rainstorms, and floods, as well as rising sea levels and temperatures when you wake up.
Read the article and learn about how US leaders have been dealing with the global problem.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/01/opinions/greenhouse-gas-emissions-automaker-industry-climate-change-becker/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3407-8/9/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The truth about processed foods' environmental impact

Food factories may sometimes be greener than farms when it comes to environmental impact. Even though processed food, either heavily or lightly, isn’t as healthy as unprocessed food, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, they might cause less carbon footprint. Thanks to ingredients added to prolong the shelf life, processed foods last longer and create less waste even though energies are consumed for processing, storing, preserving, and refrigerating them. In fact, measuring the total carbon footprint of any food is complicated. As you know animal meat produces a large carbon footprint because animals need to be fed. Also, those animals emit greenhouse gasses until they are slaughtered. On the other hand, it takes a much smaller environmental impact to grow vegetables and fruits even though they leave quite a huge amount of waste when they are transported, stored, and prepared. It is in fact very complicated to measure the total carbon footprint of any type of food because it is inclusive of producing, processing, packaging, transporting, storing, and consuming, as well as the impact of health.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how to assess the life cycle of environmental impact by food type.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210617-the-truth-about-processed-foods-environmental-impact

Topic Reading-Vol.3406-8/8/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

These are the new UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. Once listed, the site gains international recognition and legal protection, and can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund to facilitate its conservation. In July, UNESCO voted to add 34 new spots, 29 cultural and 5 natural sites, on the list, making the total to 1,120. In the meantime, they decided to remove Liverpool, an English city, from the list because of the impact of new building development. Once listed, the country is obliged to conserve the value of the site.

As soon as the Covid pandemic over, these newly inscribed sites will be visited by tourists from the world. Fortunately, or unfortunately, those hosting countries and communities seem to have enough time for planning and preparation.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the newly selected World Heritage sites.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/unesco-world-heritage-list-2021/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3405-8/7/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why New Yorkers pay $15 for 'sad desk salads'

New Yorkers seem to have diverse tastes. While some people are willing to pay $200 for a bowl of French fries (Topic Reading-Vol.3404-8/6/2021) at a restaurant, others are lining up to buy a take-out salad to eat at the desk. The former is for experience and the latter for performance. Nowadays, many hardworking New Yorkers are both ambitious and health-conscious. If they eat lunch while tackling the computer, they could signal dedication to their job. But why salad? It’s healthy, of course, so it’s good for the person. Also, it isn’t offensive to coworkers who do not eat a certain food, like vegans and believers of certain religions. Another reason take-out salad is preferred is that it usually doesn’t smell so much, like Chinese fried rice. All in all, take-out salad seems like a convenient choice for New Yorkers for their health, career, and office environment.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about why take-out salad is so popular among New Yorkers.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210728-why-new-yorkers-pay-15-for-sad-desk-salads

Topic Reading-Vol.3404-8/6/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

New York City restaurant unveils $200 french fries

Just for experience? Some people spend an extraordinary amount of money just to experience something ordinary, such as going on a luxurious cruise trip or even going to space. On the ground, there is a coffee shop that serves a cup of coffee at $64, not including the cup. It uses a specially procured premium coffee and is brewed by an expert. But it may not be that too expensive compared to an ordinary coffee served at the Savoy Hotel. Then how about a premium burger at $295, French fries at $200, and ice cream sundae at $1,000? (No typos. Not $29.50, $100.00, or $20.00!) If you mistakenly order these three popular menu items at Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York for lunch, the bill may exceed the limit of your credit. The restaurant claims these are the world's most expensive menu items served at a restaurant. In fact, the $200 fries are certified by Guinness World Records as the most expensive on Earth.

How special are the fries?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the $200 French fries.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/serendipity-new-york-city-french-fries-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3403-8/5/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Amazon is everywhere. Here's how the US could break it up

Some financial institutions or large employers are too big to fail, and they could be rescued by the government when they are in trouble. Banks and insurance companies during the financial crisis, automotive companies during a recession, and airlines during the pandemic are examples of private businesses that have been rescued by the government. On the other hand, when private enterprises become too large, influential, and dominant to the market, the government tries to intervene trying to keep the market mechanism and prohibit unfair trade practices. Even Chinese regulators recently cracked down on a number of tech giants for their anticompetitive practices. Now, US regulators are targeting tech giants, especially Amazon, whose businesses include cloud division Amazon Web Services; Whole Foods; advertising; gaming; entertainment and streaming; logistics, warehousing and delivery; smart devices; payment services and, of course, e-commerce. Servicing over 300 million active customer accounts and employing over 1.3 million workers, Amazon is too large and influential to the economy. Also, Amazon is used by small sellers that depend on its web platform, warehousing, and even delivery services. How are regulators going to attack Amazon’s dominant power?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the dominant power of the tech, infrastructure, and service giant.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/28/tech/amazon-antitrust-house-bills-issues/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3402-8/4/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Shamook: Star Wars effects company ILM hires Mandalorian deepfaker
Shamook is a popular deepfake artist known for creating a variety of Deepfake videos on YouTube. The deepfaker was recently hired by an effect division of Lucasfilm, which has been producing Star Wars films. While the original actors and actresses age, the franchise has been exploring the past and creating side stories. So, here comes the aid of deepfake technologies to revive and create the movie characters that were performed by the original actors and actresses. Deep fake technology has been used widely to create funny videos on YouTube, some of which were criticized for being too offensive or immoral. But it has been steadily used in creating films just like other special visual and audio effects.
Will we soon see more or just fake characters or avatars in films?
Enjoy reading the article and watching the video to learn about how deepfake technologies are being used in popular movies.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57996094

Topic Reading-Vol.3401-8/3/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How much do I need to sleep? It depends on your age

Babies sleep or take a nap most of the day. As they grow, they stay awake longer and sleep fewer hours. Average grown-ups should sleep seven to nine hours a day to be healthy and productive. Do you sleep enough? But even if you’ve had a good-night sleep, you may sometimes feel sleepy or tired. Why? You may know that having a sound sleep during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage helps cognition, memory, and productivity. But you can hardly control the sleeping cycle. Then, what should you do to improve your sleep quality? There are common tips that are easy-to-say but hard-to-do, such as keeping regular hours, turning off the smartphone, doing yoga/meditation, and keeping a healthier lifestyle with good food and moderate exercise. The quality and amount of your sleeping time seem to matter your health and life more than anything. Why not improving it?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about sleeping time in your life.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/27/health/how-much-do-i-need-to-sleep-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3400-8/2/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Shares in Chinese online tutoring firms slump after shake-up

The number of newborns in China plummeted 15%, or 1.8 million fewer, in 2020 to 10 million from a year earlier. Even after China decided to abandon the decades-long one-child policy in 2016, many Chinese couples, most of who were born as the only child, have been reluctant to have more than one child at best due to the rising cost of housing, health care, and education. Many Chinese parents are so eager to give their only child the best possible education for their future career that they spend an unlimited amount of energy and money on off-school tutorings like cram schools and online tutoring. But this in turn makes them too costly to have another child. The ruling party and the government of China are quick to move. They surprised the parents, students, teachers, and education service providers by announcing new guidelines to regulate tutoring businesses. They also announced the limitation to daily homework so that students and parents don’t have to rely on tutors to finish the task. Will the education competition be eased enough to have another child?

Also, the same situations are seen in Korea and Japan. What will they do with the same problem?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57966027

Topic Reading-Vol.3399-8/1/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why getting things wrong is good for science

Does a fact change? Yes. For example, Pluto had been a planet until it was downgraded to a dwarf planet in 2006 based on the new definition for the term “planet”. The definition was agreed upon after having found more bodies in the solar system.

Questioning established fact is at the heart of the scientific method. When a new hypothesis is formulated through experiments and observations, it then goes through a rigorous process of checks and reviews by other experts. But from time to time as new tools, technologies, and methodologies emerge, existing facts can be challenged. In fact, uncertainty in science isn’t enough if all the perspectives are the same. Sometimes, a lack of diversity in the system can skew the results. In science, outdated ideas are replaced when new information becomes available. 100 years have passed since Einstein’s general relativity took over Isaac Newton’s theory for a more general interpretation of gravity. When will a new theory update the theory of relativity?

Enjoy watching the video and learn about what science is about.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/why-getting-things-wrong-is-good-for-science/p09mb351