Topic Reading-Vol.4299-1/31/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Desk-bound workers need additional exercise to counter health impacts of sitting, new study says

How long do you usually keep sitting at a desk working or on a sofa watching TV at a time? Prolonged sitting is known to increase the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular death. But how much? A new study that involved nearly half a million participants found that those who keep sitting for a long time have a 16% higher mortality from all causes and a 34% higher mortality from cardiovascular disease. More or higher-intensity exercise has better effects to reduce such risk for diseases, but any physical activity is better than nothing, which is known as “exercise snacks.” For example, if you just stand up and walk around the office or up and down the stairs, both your body and mind will feel and function better. It’s like free medication without any prescription or side effects but with positive results. The key seems to be frequency rather than intensity.

Read the article and learn about how frequent exercises could help you improve your health.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/25/health/effects-of-sitting-on-mortality-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4298-1/30/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Billions of people rely on a valuable underground resource that’s rapidly declining in certain areas, study says

An aquifer is a geological formation that can store and transmit water underground. Aquifers play a crucial role in providing a sustainable source of groundwater for various human activities, including drinking water supply, agriculture, and industrial processes. Wells can be drilled into the aquifers and water can be pumped out. Precipitation and melted ice and snow eventually add water recharge into the porous rock of the aquifer. However, over-extraction of aquifers can lead to the depletion of groundwater resources. As we’ve been experiencing global warming and more extreme weather conditions, has the world's groundwater been replenished enough for increasing population, agricultural needs, and industrialization? According to new research that analyzed millions of groundwater levels in 40 countries, rapid depletion of groundwater levels has been measured. Because of global warming, some places haven’t had sufficient water supply from snow or ice, just like Kashmir’s snowless winter (Vol.4295-1/27/2024). If there isn’t enough precipitation in the rainy season, there will be water shortages in those areas unless water usage is properly managed. Groundwater is a crucial water resource in many parts of the world.

Read the article and learn about the invisible water reservoir under the ground.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/24/climate/groundwater-global-study-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4297-1/29/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Turkey parliament ratifies Sweden's NATO membership

Established in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a collective security system to defend each other against attacks by third parties, namely the Soviet Union and its ally the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War. It was originally formed by 12 founding members, such as the US, UK, France, Norway, and Canada. Soon, it was joined by Turkey, West Germany, and two others. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, 15 states joined the treaty, including all former Warsaw Pact states like Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia but not Russia. Having lost its allies, Russia felt its Western front line severely threatened by NATO, which might have been one of the reasons Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The invasion, however, pushed the remaining two Scandinavian states, Finland and Sweden, to submit applications to join NATO in May 2022. While Finland was approved to join the organization a year later, Sweden’s application hasn’t earned the required unanimous approval because Turkey and Hungary haven’t ratified it yet. But now, as Turkey’s parliament voted in favor of Sweden’s bid recently, only Hungary’s ratification is needed to add the 32^nd state to NATO. Will this move bring about more peace in Europe and the North Atlantic?

Read the article and learn about NATO and why Turkey had been reluctant to ratify Sweden’s application to join NATO.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68076829

Topic Reading-Vol.4296-1/28/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Number of North Korean defectors nearly triples in 2023

Ruled by the Kim family since its establishment in 1948, North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a highly secretive and isolated country. The authoritarian regime has been led by Supreme Leader Kin Jong-un since 2011. The government tightly controls information and interaction coming in from abroad and among citizens. Also, economically, North Korea has been struggling, and the majority of its population faces poverty and limited access to basic necessities. There have been quite a few North Koreans who successfully made political or economic defections to South Korea, as many as over 1,000 in 2019. Most of those defectors crossed the border to China and stayed there for months or years to find the chance to move to Laos or Thailand where they would run into the South Korean embassy. Other defectors were those who lived, worked, or studied abroad and chose not to return to their homeland when they were supposed to. Last year, the number of such defectors increased though not as many as pre-pandemic levels. Among those who succeeded in defection, the number of high-profile defectors, such as diplomats and officials increased. Is it worth taking a risk of defection instead of living as an elite in North Korea? In the meantime, there are quite a few North Koreans who have been caught in China deported back to North Korea. What their fate might be?

Read the article and learn about North Korean defectors.  

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/19/asia/north-korea-defectors-elite-covid-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4295-1/27/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Kashmir's rare snowless winter sets off alarm bells

Kashmir is the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. The average elevation of Kashmir Valley is around 1,800 meters above sea level and the mountain part rises over 8,000 meters. Depending on the altitude, Kashmir has a distinct climate for every region but in winter, it is cold and receives heavy snowfall, which adds to its picturesque charm and brings tourists, skiers, and other winter sports enthusiasts. Many people and businesses rely on snow for their winter earnings. Also, snowfall and glaciers are both essential for water supply in and around the region, which affects hydroelectricity, fisheries, and farming. However, the region has very little snow in this winter season. Normally snow-covered ground has been barren and brown since December. Tourists have canceled their reservations and no skiers are seen on the slopes. Those who depend on winter tourism are begging for snow. Also, farmers and experts are concerned about water shortages in the coming spring if underground water is not sufficiently replenished by melting snow and glaciers. Although people in Kashmir have done little to the environment, they seem to suffer a lot from climate change.

Read the article and learn about the snow shortage in the Himalayan region.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68015106

Topic Reading-Vol.4294-1/26/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

The winner of a prestigious Japanese literary award has confirmed AI helped write her book

The Akutagawa Prize is a prestigious biannual Japanese literacy award. On January 17, the winner of the 170^th award was given to a work by a 33-year-old Japanese writer. The committee members praised the work as practically flawless. After the award was given, the writer admitted that she had done her work with help from ChatGPT, and around 5% of the work was taken straight from the generative AI. This might please Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI but worry other writers as their previous works might have contributed to the award without their consent. In fact, many written works have been used to train Large Language Models (LLM), very large deep learning models that are pre-trained on vast amounts of data. Nowadays, most writers of any field get help from artificial intelligence, but using generative AI’s response word-for-word is not widely regarded as one’s own creative work, at least in academic writing. Also, if the judges of the award had known that some part of the work had been taken straight from generative AI, would they have awarded the work? Such arguments could be brought up only when the creator admitted how much they used AI for their work. Whichever the case might be, her award-winning work “The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy” is going to be a million-seller book. Will readers care who or what wrote the work?

Read the article and learn about how generative AI helped win a prestigious literary award.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/19/style/rie-kudan-akutagawa-prize-chatgpt/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4293-1/25/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why Teslas and other electric vehicles have problems in cold weather — and how EV owners can prevent issues

Electric Vehicle sales have been increasing rapidly. In 2023, over 20% of new car sales in Europe and China were EVs. Even in the US, a slower adopter of EVs among developed countries, the EV market share grew by 50% to around 6%. However, those who drove EVs in the US struggled with fast-draining batteries when temperatures went down to sub-zero temperatures. Also, it took much longer to charge up their vehicles. As a result, there were long lines in charging poles and many dead EVs whose batteries ran out on the road. Why aren’t EVs cold-resistant as much as conventional vehicles? Under cold temperatures, EV batteries need a longer time for chemical and physical reactions. Also, unlike conventional vehicles, EVs use battery power to warm a vehicle's interior. Furthermore, battery temperatures need to be boosted under cold temperatures for charging, which not only consumes battery power but also takes longer charging time. All these factors use up battery power and reduce the range. However, there are some tips to drive EVs in cold places such as warming up the vehicle while being charged. Remember. Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, whose winter is no less severe than Chicago, are the top three EV adopters.

Read the article and learn about how to keep and drive an EV under cold temperatures.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teslas-electric-vehicles-cold-weather/

Topic Reading-Vol.4292-1/24/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Google unveils a new way to search

Search engines allow you to find information about the things you type on the device. Nowadays, when you use Search by Voice by Google, you can have your Android smartphone search for data by speaking on it. You can also search for things you’ve seen on your screen without leaving the app by Lens tool. Now, with the help of AI, you can get more information or ask questions about the things or images on the app by simply circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping it on your smartphone or tablet. For example, if you want to identify a few items a creator wore in a YouTube video, you simply circle the item, then you can quickly find similar, shoppable options from retailers across the web on your Android phone without leaving the app. This new feature is called “Circle to Search” and will be available on some Android phones. Your smartphone is becoming even smarter like your personal agent.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about another advancement in AI application.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/18/tech/google-search-ai-android-phones/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4291-1/23/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Remote work isn't killing business travel – it's transforming it

With the help of online meetings, project management, and interactions, more desk workers get their jobs done without meeting their coworkers, suppliers, or clients in person. Indeed, you don’t have to spend time and money traveling to meet face-to-face to make a presentation or negotiate a deal. This certainly is the trend, especially after the pandemic, and as a result, there is a significant downfall in typical business trips. In the meantime, many companies are now having their employees come to the offices or travel for in-person meetings, interactions, and events to boost their spirits. The money and time to bring people together are regarded as an investment in human resources and team performance rather than the cost of traveling. While remote work and AI are becoming common tools today and beyond, in-person meetings and gatherings seem more valuable than ever in improving human creativity, morale, and performance.

Read the article and learn about the change in business travels.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240103-remote-work-business-travel

Topic Reading-Vol.4290-1/22/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Our fingerprints may not be unique, claims AI

The stripe patterns on zebras are believed to be unique to each individual. The specific arrangement and pattern of these strips can vary between individuals, which helps them recognize each other within a herd. Then how about our fingerprints? They are formed before birth and thought to be unique to each individual like zebra’s stripe patterns. However, a new study by a US university that trained an AI tool to examine 60,000 fingerprints identified only with 75%-90% accuracy. The researchers aren’t sure how the AI they trained did it. To your surprise, we know that no two individuals have demonstrated the same fingerprints but we aren’t sure that fingerprints are unique to each individual. Interestingly, a grandmother in England said her identical twin granddaughters can open each other’s iPhones with their fingers. These could pose a question to the validity of using fingerprints as identification in forensics science and security. More studies are needed to find if we can rely on fingerprints to identify individuals.

Read the article and learn if fingerprints are really unique to individuals.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67944537

Topic Reading-Vol.4289-1/21/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

How portable X-ray machines are helping remote patients

Medical X-rays penetrate issues and create detailed images of the internal structures of the body. They are widely used in the medical field for diagnostic purposes, such as visualizing bones and joints, detecting fractures, identifying infections, and locating foreign objects. Since conventional X-ray machines are huge and heavy, and fixed in dedicated environments to minimize radiation exposure. But there are people in remote areas who don’t have easy access to hospitals. Also, there are wounded people in battlefields, traffic accidents, or disaster zones who need to be diagnosed on the site ASAP. For such situations, portable X-ray machines are of great help. Nowadays, there are ultra-portable hand-held X-ray machines that weigh just 3.5 kilograms and can be carried by one person. They are equipped with AI software that processes the images quickly and accurately like the ones in hospitals. When portable X-ray machines become even more portable and affordable, better screening, particularly for TBs, field diagnosis, and first-aid will be implemented.

Read the article and learn about what portable X-ray machines offer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67871981

Topic Reading-Vol.4288-1/20/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Pets suffer from the cold, too. Here’s what to do

You may think dogs like running around on snow like sled dogs. However, not all dogs are the same, even among sled dog species like Sakhalin Husky. Real sled dogs live outside and they gradually get used to the cold as winter approaches by changing their coat, fat, muscle layers, and even metabolism. However nowadays in developed countries, most pet dogs live with humans in houses that are heated comfortably in winter. When they go out, they also feel cold like humans even with their coats because they are unaccustomed to the cold surface and air, especially their bare legs and the tips of their ears and tails. Outside in cold temperatures, their skin gets pale and their ears might start bending or curling as their tissues get damaged. Also, there could be salt and antifreeze on the road, which are harmful to animals. When they walk on, touch, or lick metal bowls, windows, and doors, their paws or tongues might stick to ice crystals. So, there are quite a few things to consider and prepare for when you walk your dogs in cold winter.

Read the article and learn about the dangers and tips to care for pets in winter.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/10/health/pets-cold-weather-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4287-1/19/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

South Korea passes law banning dog meat trade

Though the consumption of dog meat has never been a key part of the Korean diet, there still are around 1,600 dog meat restaurants and over 1,000 dog farms. It has been considered a delicacy among some older South Koreans but consumption has been declining over the past decades as more people become more conscious of animal welfare. Also, an increasing number of pet dog owners, including the President and First Lady, regard dogs as their family not as meat. According to a poll last year, less than 10% of the respondents said they had eaten dog meat in the past 12 months, down from 27% in 2015. Now, you can see how politicians would react to the change. Recently, the South Korean government passed a law banning the sale and production of dog meat, which will be enforced in 2027 following a three-year grace period. Now, dog meat farmers, butchers, and restaurants have to find new ways to make their living. This is a challenge for them because most of them are elderly people like dog meat consumers. Good news for dogs and dog lovers. In the meantime, it will be sad if there is a last-minute spike in the production and consumption of dog meat in the next three years.

Read the article and learn about how South Korea is going to ban dog meat businesses.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67920167

Topic Reading-Vol.4286-1/18/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Will reusable cups become as common as grocery totes?

As more shoppers bring their own shopping bags, most stores now don’t simply give away free plastic bags. This move seems to have occurred by increasing public awareness of the environment as well as financial incentives. Will the same shift happen to the container of takeout drinks? Plastic cups and lids are single-use plastics that are harmful to the environment. Paper cups and straws are also used just once and wasted. If customers bring their own reusable cups and bottles, no waste is produced. Now, Starbucks will encourage its customers to bring their favorite reusable cups for takeaway drinks at its 17,800 stores in the US and Canada. Although customers will have to bring their own cups with them when they go out and wash them after finishing their drinks, they don’t have to find a place to trash the paper or plastic cups. Also, they may feel proud of their attitude toward the environment. Indeed, those who don’t bring their shopping bags look inactive and unconscious of the environment nowadays. If other fast-food chains follow suit, consumers will be more encouraged to bring their own cups.

Read the article and learn about Starbucks’s new attempt to reduce waste.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240109-will-reusable-cups-become-as-common-as-grocery-totes

Topic Reading-Vol.4285-1/17/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Bottled water contains thousands of nanoplastics so small they can invade the body’s cells, study says

The world is no longer free from plastic containers, especially plastic bottles. But those bottles contain tiny plastic particles that came out of the bottle or broke off the cap. Such tiny plastic particles called microplastics have been known as a major environmental concern. Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than five millimeters in length. Nanoplastics are even smaller than microplastics, ranging from one nanometer to 100 nanometers. For reference, a human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide. They are so tiny that they can migrate through the tissues of the digestive tract or lungs to the bloodstream or invade individual cells and tissues in major organs and even the brain. How much nanoplastics are contained in a plastic container hadn’t been measured until recently because of the size. Now, new research found as many as 240,000 particles of diverse types of plastics, of which 90% were identified as nanoplastics, were contained in a liter of bottled water. Since many kinds of chemicals are used to manufacture plastic bottles, when those nanoplastics invade our bodies, they also carry those chemicals with them. Long-term effects on our health of these nanoplastics remain to be seen but drinking tap water with a glass seems safer where running water is safe to drink.

Read the article and learn about these tiny plastic particles that cannot be seen by a microscope.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/08/health/bottled-water-nanoplastics-study-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4284-1/16/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Electric vehicles: Can 'lightweighting' combat range anxiety?

Electric car sales, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), exceeded 10 million in 2022, up 55% relative to 2021. The number grew to around 14 million in 2023, but the growth rate slowed down to around 34%. China drove the EV market and sold nearly nine million EVs, or around 40% of new car sales last year. However, the shift to EVs isn’t occurring as fast as the industry people expected even though the price gap between electric and gas-powered vehicles has been narrowing. Besides the sticker price, those who are reluctant to switch to EVs are concerned about the lack of charging infrastructure, longer charging time, and shorter driving range compared with the ones of conventional vehicles. One way to extend the driving distance per charge is to put a larger capacity battery. However, it adds more weight and cost. Another way is to reduce the weight of the vehicle, which improves the efficiency of battery use. There are many parts and devices in a car, such as cables, audio speakers, and the battery itself, and car manufacturers and their suppliers are working on making those things lighter to drive the car longer. But what about the weight of the driver and the passengers? While the seating capacity is set by the car manufacturer, the total weight in the vehicle differs so much by the driver, family, and nationality.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about how light-weighting works for EVs.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240108-electric-vehicles-can-lightweighting-combat-range-anxiety

Topic Reading-Vol.4283-1/15/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

AI in 2024: Five trends workers need to know

This is going to be the second full year of AI expansion. AI has already been placed and used in many workplaces. While workers who try to upskill or have an attitude to learning and adapting AI are going to benefit from AI more, those who just worry about job security and stick to their accustomed practices seem to be left behind. The same is true for employers. If they don’t upscale the use of AI, they’ll lose their competitive edge. For example, AI is a powerful tool that helps and benefits visually and hearing-impaired people with its speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools. It also helps employers hire, retain, reposition, and train workers better. In the meantime, regulators need to catch up with the pace of AI expansion to set appropriate boundaries and guidelines before it causes problems with copyrights and human rights. Indeed, AI is so powerful and helpful that workers, employers, and people will all enjoy the benefits more this year.

Read the article and learn about how AI is going to affect our jobs, workplaces, and daily lives this year.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240104-ai-in-2024-five-trends-workers-need-to-know

Topic Reading-Vol.4282-1/14/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What's the best time of the day to exercise?

Whether you run or work out for competition, muscles, or health, when you do it makes a difference to the physical performance and metabolic outcomes, according to studies. That’s because our bodies perform and respond to exercise circadian rhythms, the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle. Light and dark have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, but food intake, stress, physical activity, social environment, and temperature affect them, too. Also, early birds have peak performance in the morning but night owls do best at night. Whichever the type might be, if you can take advantage of the daily rhythms, you’ll maximize your physical performance or the health benefits of the exercise. It is critical for competitive athletes who practice and perform to maximize their performance in competition. Also, it helps those who have metabolic diseases like obesity or type-2 diabetes and want to take advantage of the outcome of the exercise.

Read the article and learn about how your body clocks and muscle clocks work for you.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240105-whats-the-best-time-of-the-day-to-exercise

Topic Reading-Vol.4281-1/13/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Seaweed: Should we be eating more of it?

Seaweed is a popular food in coastal regions like Japan, Korea, and China. There are over 140 edible seaweed species but only several of them are produced commercially, such as nori, wakame, dulse, and kelp. Dried nori is mainly used for sushi and rice balls, and wakame, dulse, and kelp are often used in soups and salads. Seawood is considered a superfood because of its nutritious benefits and sustainability. It contains protein, fiber, polyphenols, and iodine, which could reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and blood pressure. Unlike meat or bread, seaweed isn’t eaten as the main part of the meal but is served to complement the dishes. If it is consumed moderately, you can make the dishes more palatable while enjoying health benefits.

Read the article and learn about what seaweed does to your health and meals.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240103-seaweed-should-we-be-eating-more-of-it

Topic Reading-Vol.4280-1/12/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Here’s what you need to know about BYD, the Chinese EV giant that just overtook Tesla
The world’s top two electric vehicle companies are not conventional automakers but start-up EV manufacturers born after the millennium. Tesla, an American automotive and clean energy company founded and led by Elon Musk, had been the top runner until the fall of last year. BYD Auto, a subsidiary of the Chinese battery maker BYD, took the leading position late last year. BYD was founded by a Chinese engineer in Shenzhen in 1997. It became the world’s largest nickel-cadmium battery, a popular battery used in mobile phones in 2003. Then in 2008, BYD received a huge investment (and endorsement) from Warren Buffett and launched its first plug-in hybrid car. BYD sold around three million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles last year, which represents over 20% market share in the world. The major advantage of BYD is the price and battery. It makes batteries for its own vehicles and for other EV makers, including Tesla. As EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles become more popular among consumers and businesses, the landscape of the auto industry is changing rapidly. In fact, Tesla now is at the top of the automotive industry by market capitalization followed by Toyota and BYD. Where are Mercedes, BMW, and General Motors?
Read the article and learn about the largest EV maker in the world.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/03/cars/china-byd-explainer-tesla-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4279-1/11/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Mickey Mouse horror film unveiled as copyright ends

Mickey Mouse is an iconic cartoon character and mascot of The Walt Disney Company. He's known for his optimism, adventurous spirit, and a mischievous glint in his eye. The modern version of Mickey Mouse wears red shorts, white gloves, and large yellow shoes, which is under Disney’s copyright protection. As of January 1, Disney’s copyright of the original “Steamboat Willie” version of Mickey Mouse that debuted in the 1928 short film expired and entered the public domain in the US. Unlike the modern version, this Mickey is characterized by his simpler design, lack of gloves, oversized shoes, and black oval eyes. Now, the friendly character of the 1928 version could be used for any purpose by anyone. In fact, horror movies and games were already shown on the Internet. Mickey Mouse is going to appear more than ever this year. What the most popular Halloween costume might be this year?

Read the article and learn about what could happen when copyright protection expires.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67861538

Topic Reading-Vol.4278-1/10/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,　

This 'dancing lemur' baby is one of the world's rarest primates

Lemurs are a type of primates that share a resemblance with other primates but evolved independently from monkeys and apes as their ancestors moved to Madagascar from Africa about 60 million years ago. In the wild, they live only in Madagascar and are considered the world’s most endangered group of mammals. The diet of lemurs varies among species but they are mostly vegetarians. Recently, a baby Lemur was born in a large zoo in Chester, England. As this particular species loves jumping, it is known as the dancing lemur. The baby is important not only to its parents but to the world as the species is classified as critically endangered.

Watch the video and enjoy how this rare primate species jumps as if they are dancing.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/01/02/dancing-lemur-uk-zoo-no-cprog-orig.cnn

Topic Reading-Vol.4277-1/9/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why reclining seats are vanishing from airplanes
While more upper-class seats have extra reclining or full-flat seats, economy-class seats have been squeezed to pack more passengers in the cabin, especially among low-cost carriers. Nowadays, the standard seat pitch in economy class for short-haul flights is between 28 to 31 inches or 71 to 78 centimeters, not a pitch most passengers feel they have comfortable legroom. The narrower the seat pitch is, the more economical for the airlines but the less comfortable for the passengers. Then it is annoying when a passenger in front of you suddenly reclines his or her seat while you’re having a drink or meal. Also, reclining seats cost more to produce and maintain, weigh heavier, and take up more space for the airline. So, some airlines have introduced so-called pre-reclined seats, which don’t have reclining functions and mechanisms, to reduce costs, weight, and the number of unhappy passengers on their short-haul flights. It means no extra comfort but no Which seat type do you prefer, fixed, reclining, or being reclined? Or, do you care about the price the most? At least, you can check the seat pitch along with the price when you look up flights on Google flight search.
Read the article and learn about another trend
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/09/travel/reclining-seats-airplanes/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4276-1/8/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How to improve your life in 2024 according to science

Regardless of the age or birthday, a new year began for those who follow the Gregorian calendar. Many people make a New Year’s resolution that is often abandoned or forgotten after a few days or weeks. It might be too ambitious or demanding to commit to doing something that you couldn’t or didn’t do in previous years, such as getting up or going to bed an hour earlier or jogging every morning. The same is true for giving up something that you tried before, like smoking, drinking, or eating dessert after each meal. However, there are much easier things that you can try to improve your health and well-being this year without rigorous commitment. For example, sleeping and eating well, doing any sort of exercise, communicating and interacting with others, or enjoying a hobby makes your body and brain healthier. One thing you might want to quit is gazing at your smartphone before going to bed, which hampers your eyesight and a good night’s sleep.

Enjoy reading the article to learn how to improve your life especially if you’ve already given up or forgotten a New Year’s resolution.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231229-how-to-improve-your-life-in-2024-according-to-science

Topic Reading-Vol.4275-1/7/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

More than a billion people will head to the polls across South Asia in 2024

Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan were ruled by the British Empire for 100 years until after the end of World War II. The combined population of these four democratic states exceeds 1.8 billion, accounting for over 22% of the world’s population. This year, these four South Asian countries have general elections.

Below is the year of independence and the first general elections, the population and the number of voters, and the % of the major religions of these democratic countries.

Bangladesh: ind. (1947->) 1971,  ele. 1973, pop. 171 mil, vot. 130 mil, 90% Muslims

Pakistan: ind. 1947, ele. 1947, pop. 234 mil, vot. 140 million, 96% Muslims

India: ind. 1947, ele. 1951, pop. 1.4 billion, vot. 1 billion, 80% Hindis

Sri Lanka: ind. 1948, ele. 1947, pop. 22 million, vot. 16 million, 70% Buddhists

Even though democracy has been in place, none of these countries has been free from undemocratic leadership displacement by military coups, assassinations, and forced resignations. Also, democracy is often ruled by the majority of interests and supporters. How do religions influence democracy in a country where a certain religion dominates the majority of the population?

Read the article and learn about what this year’s election means to four South Asian countries.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/31/asia/india-pakistan-bangladesh-srilanka-elections-2024-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4274-1/6/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The worshippers caught between China and Taiwan

During elections, it is essential for Taiwanese politicians to visit local temples and participate in religious events because two-thirds of the population follow folk religions, Buddhism, and Taoism. For example, President Tsai Ing-wen visited as many as 43 temples in a month during the last presidential election. In Chinese mythology, Mazu is the goddess of the sea. She is the patron goddess of sailors, fishermen, and travelers and is especially popular in Southern Chinese coastal communities, like Fujian and Macau, as well as overseas Chinese communities, including Taiwan. It is estimated that around 60% of Taiwanese are followers of the Mazu, and many of them visit the mainland to worship the goddess. Interestingly, those Taiwanese visitors for religious purposes are welcomed by the Chinese government even though Mazu isn’t one of the five religions recognized by the government. In the meanwhile, the Taiwanese government is worried about the influence of China-oriented religions. Why?

Read the article and learn about what religions could influence the cross-strait issue.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67779220

Topic Reading-Vol.4273-1/5/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Panic and possibility: What workers learned about AI in 2023

Are there any jobs that are vulnerable to AI replacement? Ever since AI became a common tool in workplaces, it has been assisting and augmenting many human jobs. Many workers are already utilizing ChatGPT as a personal assistant to find information, draft messages, estimate costs, and even create artwork. Also, AI is taking over some knowledge-based tasks, like computer programming and data analysis. As AI keeps evolving at the speed of light, it could replace jobs that have been occupied by experienced or skilled humans at any time, such as digital artists, sound engineers, and market researchers. Will there be any “safe” jobs? Well, it seems that those who have an attitude towards learning new skills, working with new intelligence, and coping with new environments have a better chance to live and work with AI. As AI keeps learning, we humans must keep learning, too. So, there seems to be no so-called safe job any longer if you simply try to do it in the way you’ve been accustomed to.

Enjoy reading the article and learn how to live and work with AI.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231219-panic-and-possibility-what-workers-learned-about-ai-in-2023

Topic Reading-Vol.4272-1/4/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China to increase curbs on video gaming industry

China is the world’s largest market for online gaming. In 2021, the government ruled online gamers under 18 years old can play only an hour on Fridays, weekends, and holidays. Also, no gameplay is allowed after 10 pm, and violence, gambling, and other potentially harmful elements are prohibited on game content. It was a heavy blow to the game creators and providers. They had to manage their business model by incentivizing gamers to spend more money in shorter game time. Now, Beijing is going to make online game providers limit the amount of money people can spend while playing games. If the regulation is enforced, the whole industry must drastically change the game design and financial strategies. Will they charge people to play games or show advertisements? Will online game content become part of other online subscription services? Since online games are so addictive especially to the young, countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran also have strict regulations on online gaming.

Read the article and learn about another game restriction in China.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67801091

Topic Reading-Vol.4271-1/3/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Afghan couples marry in mass ceremony in bid to cut costs

To arrange a marriage in Afghan culture, the first contact between a couple is typically made by the male’s family. The female’s family rarely approaches a male’s family to avoid being perceived as “too desperate”. Once the prospective wife’s family has agreed, the two households will then negotiate the finances of the couple and the dowry, money brought by the bride to her husband’s home. The groom's family pays for the wedding celebration. It frequently lasts a night, a day, or sometimes a few days. During this time, the marriage contract is signed. The bride will then move into her husband's place of residence (which is sometimes with his whole family). It is not only a traditional and religious event but also a financial contract and burden to both families. However, after decades of political and military conflicts, many Afghans can’t afford such costly traditional wedding expenses, especially the ceremony. So, some low-income Afghan couples chose to be part of a mass wedding ceremony with other 50 couples, which cost them just about half of a traditional ceremony. In any event, no dancing or music is allowed under the Taliban regime.

Read the article and learn about what marriage means and costs to Afghans.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67821162

Topic Reading-Vol.4270-1/2/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Alabama mother with rare double womb gives birth to two babies in two days

Identical twins are formed when one fertilized egg splits and develops two babies with exactly the same genetic information. They are the same sex and look identical. Fraternal twins result from the fertilization of two separate eggs with two different sperm during the same pregnancy. They share half their genomes, just like any other siblings and could be of different sex or appearance. In both cases, babies are developed in the uterus, the organ of a woman in which a baby develops. However, 0.3% of women have two uteri, or wombs, and very rarely, such women become pregnant in both of the uteri, like developing two babies in two different compartments at the same time. This is what happened to a 32-year-old woman in Alabama, USA, who delivered twins from the two uteri over a 20-hour labor last December. The first baby girl was born vaginally and the second girl was taken out by a Cesarean section about 10 hours later. Having two wombs, developing two babies at the same time, and delivering them in one day. Now she has to raise her two children for years. What a miracle mother!

Enjoy reading the article and learning about a mother with double wombs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67810645

Topic Reading-Vol.4269-1/1/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Festive China: Spring Festival

Happy New Year to those who follow the Roman calendar. (Those who suffer from a hangover after the New Year’s Eve party, check Vol.4261) But not everyone is celebrating the new year today. For example, Chinese New Year, commonly referred to as the Spring Festival, is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 10, the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, and Chinese families gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also a tradition for every family to thoroughly clean their house, to sweep away any ill fortune, and to make way for incoming good luck. Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets for good fortune, happiness, wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red envelopes.

Enjoy watching the video and learning about what another kind of New Year is about.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202312/23/WS61f71878a310cdd39bc84521.html