Topic Reading-Vol.4785-5/31/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Shrinking Nemo': Smaller clownfish sound alarm on ocean heat

Finding Nemo is a 2003 animated comedy-adventure movie by Disney about a tropical clownfish that lives in the Great Barrier Reef. He embarks on a dangerous journey to find his son after his son, Nemo, was captured by a diver and taken to Sydney. 20 years after the movie production, ocean temperatures heated up and caused a severe and widespread coral bleaching event. Recetnly, new research found that clownfish living on coral reefs became shorter by several millimeters during the heatwave while keeping the same weight. The researcher thinks the clownfish made themselves smaller to survive with less food and oxygen. The surprising finding could help explain the declining size of other fish in the world’s oceans. Since clownfish live only for several years to ten years in the wild, provided that they aren’t eaten by a larger fish, they seem to adjust themselves to the changes in their environment quite fast.

Read the article and learn about shrinking clownfish in coral reefs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c629z4y762xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4784-5/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Denmark raises retirement age to 70 — the highest in Europe

Retirement age is the age at which people usually retire from work and become eligible for social security or a pension. With better health and longer life expectancy, more people are able to and want to keep working in their 60s or even 70s. This is good and needed for aging societies whose pension budget has been squeezed due to rising pension costs, underfunded funds, and poorer investment returns on pension fund assets. Recently, the retirement age has been increased in many developed countries whose society is aging rapidly: 67 in Australia, 65 in Canada and Japan, 63 in China (men), 62 in the USA, and 60 in Turkey (men). In Europe, the pension eligibility age is 62 in France and Italy, 63 in Germany, 66 in the UK, and 67 in Sweden and Denmark. This month, Denmark’s parliament has voted to raise the retirement age to 70, the oldest in the world, in order to maintain its welfare for future generations. In fact, more people continue working while receiving a pension nowadays, thanks to their health and more accommodating work conditions. In the meantime, it may be a stretch for those who work for physically demanding jobs like construction or teaching. How old is too old to work seems to depend on the individual’s health condition, mental motivation, and the type of job.

Read the article and learn about the highest retirement age in the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/business/denmark-retirement-age-rise-70-intl-scli

Topic Reading-Vol.4783-5/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What you eat can hurt your sleep. What to eat insteadYou know that regular exercise helps you sleep better. You might also know that you should avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, sugary, or spicy food before going to bed. Then what kinds of food promote your sleep? What regulates your sleep and wake cycles is a hormone called Melatonin, which is produced by an amino acid, tryptophan. Foods that are rich in this amino acid are basically low in saturated fats and healthy, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds. Also, in order to establish a regular sleep cycle, you want to eat these foods not just once a day but regularly. It seems that no one particular thing can promote a good night’s sleep, but regular exercise and a healthy diet do. 

Read the article and learn how to sleep better.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/health/sleep-nutrition-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4782-5/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

India’s caste system is controversial and discriminatory. So why is it being included in the next census?

Originating as far back as 1500 BCE, India's caste system is one of the oldest forms of social stratification in the world. The Varna system consists of four divisions: Brahmins (priests and scholars),  Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and landowners), and Shudras (laborers and service providers). The Dalits, formally known as “Untouchables”, were considered below the Varna system. Over time, the Varna became rigid and birth-based, and this social division persisted in India’s society until it was banned in 1950 under the new constitution. However, this segregatory stratification persists in today’s India, the world’s most populous country. For example, only about 5% of marriages are inter-caste, and there are gaps in wealth, health, and educational attainment between different castes. The national and local governments have been offering affirmative action quotas and benefits for jobs and educational opportunities for people in marginalized castes, but without knowing exactly who and how many in a specific caste. In order to better aid and allocate resources to those who need the most, Modi’s administration recently announced that caste will be included in the next national census, which was last surveyed in 1930 during the colonial period. India is the world's most diverse country, with a variety of languages, religions, ethnicities, customs, and social structures, and different regions boast unique blends of traditions and cultures. Will the census results be published?

Read the article and learn what caste is and does to India’s society even today.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/16/india/india-census-caste-counting-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4781-5/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nine out of Gaza doctor’s 10 children killed in Israeli airstrike

Dr. Alaa Najjar, 38, is a Palestinian pediatrician and the mother of her ten children in southern Gaza. While she was working in the emergency room at the medical complex on May 23, a missile fired by Israeli aircraft struck her house. Nine of her ten children were killed at the site. Charred remains of the seven children were taken to the hospital in white plastic bags, where she was working, but the other two bodies were charred on the site. The only surviving child, 11-year-old Adam, was severely injured and taken to the same hospital. Also, when her husband returned home after having dropped her at the hospital and gone to grab food for their children, he found that his house was on fire. He then immediately rushed inside to rescue his children, but he was struck by another missile. He was critically injured and taken to the hospital, where his wife was at work. There, Dr. Alaa Najjar was met by the seven bodies of her children, the only surviving child, and her husband in the hospital, and was notified of what had happened to the other children. Yet, she continued her work to look after other patients while checking her injured son and husband from time to time. Can the killing of civilians help return the hostages?

Read the article and learn what happened to a family of 12 in southern Gaza.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/24/middleeast/gaza-doctor-children-bodies-hospital-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.4780-5/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A crucial system of ocean currents is slowing. It’s already supercharging sea level rise in the US.

It’s not just melting ice sheets from Antarctica and Greenland that cause sea level extremes, but storm surges, tides, waves, and the expansion of seawater itself all affect sea levels. Ocean currents also affect sea levels. When a current weakens, water becomes less dense and expands. For example, flooding on the US Northeast coast has risen substantially as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakens. In addition, weakened AMOC seems to have affected the flow of the Gulf Stream and caused water to flow back onto the Northeast coast. According to a new study, up to half of the flooding events along the northeastern coast in the last two decades were driven by a weaker AMOC, which could have been interconnected with warming sea temperatures. We now know better why some coastal regions are experiencing higher sea level rise than others.

Read the article and learn how ocean currents affect sea level rise.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/16/climate/ocean-currents-sea-level-rise-northeast

Topic Reading-Vol.4779-5/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enroll international students

Founded in 1636, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher education in the US. It is one of the eight Ivy League schools and is regarded for high academic standards, social prestige, and selectivity in admissions, with a less than 4% acceptance rate. JFK, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, John Roberts (Chief Justice), and scores of Nobel laureates are all Harvard graduates, to name a few. Also, Harvard is known for its student and faculty diversity. In the last academic year, about 27% of its enrollment was from other countries. However, the Trump administration has accused Harvard of antisemitism and DEI (diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, frozen and cut federal grants and aid, and threatened to strip tax-exempt status. Now, it has announced to revoke the university’s ability to enroll international students. The decision also affects existing foreign students, who now have to be transferred to other institutions or lose their legal status.

Read the article and think what could justify threatening the integrity and continuation of the six-century-old higher education institution.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05768jmm11o

Topic Reading-Vol.4778-5/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

31 million tons of supercharged seaweed is creeping toward beaches in Florida and around the Caribbean

Sargassum is a brown seaweed that typically floats on the surface of warm, nutrient-rich waters. While it provides vital habitat and food for various marine species, including fish, crabs, shrimp, sea turtles, and birds, it could create "brown tides" that smother coastal flora and fauna, including coral reefs, when it blooms. Also, when it rots on shore, it emits harmful gases and stinks. This year’s bloom of sargassum in the Caribbean region, the Gulf, and the South Florida region is estimated to be 31 million tons, about 40% more than the previous record in 2022. Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming is the first to blame. Also, runoff of the nitrogen-rich agricultural fertilizers from the Mississippi and Amazon rivers supercharges the brown seaweed. Sargassum’s impacts on the ocean ecosystem, fisheries, tourism industry, and health of coastal residents are substantial. But just like other environmental disasters and catastrophes that are triggered by human-caused global warming, sargassum may bloom even more in the coming years.

Read the article and learn about the brown seaweed that is showing the record-high blooming off the coast of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (America).

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/15/climate/seaweed-bloom-florida-atlantic-ocean-climate

Topic Reading-Vol.4777-5/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The top baby names of 2024 may look familiar

What names are popular for newborn babies in the US? About three decades ago, in the 1990s, when their parents were likely born, Jessica, Ashley, and Emily were the top three names for girls, and Michael, Christopher, and Matthew were the top three names for boys. When their parents were likely born in the 1960s, Lia, Mary, and Susan were the most popular girls’ names, and Michael, David, and John were the top three names for boys. Last year, Olivia, Emma, and Amelia were the top three girls’ names, and Liam, Noah, and Oliver were the top three boys’ names. You can see that none of these names are seen in other generations. Interestingly, the popularity of these names has been consistent. Olivia for girls and Liam for boys have been at the top of the list for the last five years, and other top names have been on the top list, too. As a matter of fact, the most popular girls’ name by sound is Sophia/Sofia, which were ranked number 6^th and 10^th, respectively. Combined, Sophia/Sofia outnumbers Olivia by a substantial margin.

Read the article and check America’s top 10 popular names list to learn which names are popular for newborns.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/13/us/top-baby-names-2024-cec

Topic Reading-Vol.4776-5/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. Where do other countries stand?

In many countries in Asia and Europe, have the right of blood principle, where children legally inherit their nationality from their parents, regardless of their birthplace. In contrast, around 30 or so countries, including the USA, grant citizenship to anyone born in the country, called birthright citizenship. However, as illegal immigrants and birth tourism, where foreign women visit a country to give birth, increase, some countries that once granted birthright citizenship have revised the policy, such as India, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic. Now, the Trump administration is trying to terminate the US birthright citizenship policy that was established by the Constitution about 160 years ago to address the legal status of freed slaves. It is part of the move to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or on temporary visas, including birth tourism. Will the US just end the 160-year-old birthright citizenship policy or even revoke already-granted citizenship of the children of illegal or non-permanent residents? 

Read the article and learn about citizenship laws in the USA and the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983g6zpz28o

Topic Reading-Vol.4775-5/21/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Super-sized cruise ships are becoming the norm. Is there an end in sight?

One way to enjoy your vacation is to get on a cruise ship. Over 37 million passengers are expected to cruise this year alone, about the same number of foreign visitors to Japan last year, and the number is expected to grow in the coming years. Also, more and more mega cruise ships have been and will be added to the cruise market, which accommodate thousands of passengers at a time. Some of them have more than 3,000 cabins and a capacity of 8,000 guests. Those mega cruisers are larger than mega resort hotels on land, and are almost like resort destinations by themselves. To accommodate passengers of different generations, companions, preferences, and expectations, those ships have neighborhoods or districts in addition to various dining options, shows, shops, swimming pools, playgrounds, and other entertainment facilities. Typically, cruise ships visit popular tourist destinations or tropical islands, but nowadays, some cruise vacations offer an integrated experience in a private island or destination with water parks or beaches. But what about the environmental impact (Vol.4774) of increasing floating cities on the oceans?

Read the article and learn what mega cruise ships are like these days.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/07/travel/mega-cruise-ships-coming-soon

Topic Reading-Vol.4774-5/20/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

8 ways to travel more sustainably in 2025

When you travel to a popular tourist destination in high season, you’ll pay high prices for everything and wait in lines to visit or take photos at hotspots. Also, as overtourism is negatively impacting local communities, residents, and the environment, travelers to popular destinations like Barcelona, Venice, and Kyoto aren’t so welcome any longer. In addition, when you fly, drive, and stay, you’ll leave substantial carbon footprints. Isn’t it time to rethink how to plan your travels? Instead of heading for travel hotspots at peak times, you could choose less crowded or popular places in the off-season and experience local cultures. You may take a train rather than flying so that you can enjoy the scenery along the way instead of gazing at your smartphone in a tiny seat on the flight. Also, there is an increasing number of environmentally friendly, sustainable accommodations. How about dedicating some time of your stay to an environmental, cultural, or social activity, such as beach cleanups or habitat restoration? There are many ways to enjoy your travel with less impact on society and the environment. 

Read the article and learn a few tips to travel more sustainably.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250509-8-ways-to-travel-more-sustainably-in-2025

Topic Reading-Vol.4773-5/19/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Can AI care for your loved ones?

A baby monitor has an audio or visual monitor that allows the carer to remotely listen to or observe the baby from a different place. Such monitors are also used to monitor pets, patients, or elderly people. They may be programmed to send an alert if an unusual pattern is monitored, such as excessive noise or sudden movement. When AI technologies are embedded in such monitors, they will learn the normal noise or movement patterns of the individual, so that they can alarm the carer when attention is required. This could eliminate, or at least reduce, routine checks or constant monitoring of the carer in hospitals or nursing homes. As many developed societies like the UK and Japan are aging fast, more people will need care 24/7 while having fewer carers. Machines with learning capabilities may help care for those in need of help better.

Read the article and learn how AI could be used to care for people.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62z5yl2l1lo

Topic Reading-Vol.4772-5/18/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer

Visual images are impactful, and sometimes more appealing and convincing than written statements or evidence to the audience. The family members of a victim of a road rage incident in Arizona, USA, used AI to recreate the victim to speak in the courtroom. It was played not as evidence but to give the deceased family member the chance to express forgiveness to the defendant during the sentencing hearing. They trained AI software platforms with photos and videos of the victim to create a video replica to speak what he would have said to the shooter. The defendant's lawyer indicated that the use of the video in a courtroom might become an issue when the case is appealed, even though it was not used as evidence. Nowadays, you can use AI software to create a video of a dead person, which could be played to remember the person or deliver messages. Indeed, avatars and AI-created yourself can speak for you even after your death.

Read the article and learn about a remarkable use of AI-created video.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/09/tech/ai-courtroom-victim-impact-statement-arizona

Topic Reading-Vol.4771-5/17/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Global sea levels are rising faster and faster. It spells catastrophe for coastal towns and cities

We know why and how much sea levels are rising, yet we aren’t certain how fast sea levels will be rising in the future. Sea levels are rising because of global warming caused by human activities, particularly by burning fossil fuels. Oceans expand as water heats up, and as a result, sea levels rise. Also, sea levels rise as ice sheets melt in Greenland and Antarctica. It is unclear how fast the ice sheets melt as the temperatures increase, whether they’ll melt gradually or rapidly collapse. In fact, the rate of sea level rise has doubled in the last three decades, by about 10 centimeters. Some areas experience higher sea level rise because of regional currents, erosion, tectonic plate movements, and groundwater extraction, like Louisiana in the US. Also, low-lying Pacific islands, such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji, are directly affected by sea level rise, and some communities have been forced to relocate. Global sea level rise is a clear and present danger, and it is accelerating. 

Read the article and learn again how fast sea levels are and will be rising.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/09/climate/sea-level-rise-melting-ice-sheets

Topic Reading-Vol.4770-5/16/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Yawning may be more dangerous than you think, experts say

People often yawn when they become sleepy, get bored, or wake up. Also, stress, mild anxiety, or a change in altitude could trigger yawning. However, if you regularly yawn and tend to fall asleep during the day, say sitting after lunch, reading in a quiet space, or sitting in a car, it might indicate insufficient sleep or even sleep deprivation. With continued sleepiness, the brain might take microsleeps for seconds, which could lead to physical danger or serious mistakes. Also, sleepiness or sleep disorders could be caused by health problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and chronic pain conditions. So, if you yawn, it might not be caused just by boredom, but it might be a warning sign of underlying physical or medical issues. 

Read the article and learn what yawning or sleepiness could mean to your health.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/14/health/sleepiness-dangers-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4769-5/15/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Disney announces a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first new resort in a generation

There are six Disney theme parks and resorts around the world. 

1. Disneyland Resort (California) opened in 1955 

2. Walt Disney World (Florida) Resort in 1971 

3. Tokyo Disney Resort in 1983

4. Disneyland Paris in 1992

5. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in 2005

6. Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016

You can see when and where economic growth was expected. So, where will the next Disney resort be? Disney announced that its 7th theme park will be developed in Abu Dhabi, its first theme park resort in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates with a population of about 3.8 million, about the same as the nearby emirate, Dubai, which is only 140 kilometers away. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have busy international airports. Combined, over 120 million terminal and transit passengers flew in and out of these two airports by Etihad Airways, Emirates, Flydubai (LCC), Air India, and many other airlines. If you take a look at a world map centered on the UAE, you’ll find prosperous Europe, populous South Asia, and growing Africa are all within the reach of non-stop flights. Then what kind of Disney theme park is going to be developed in its first resort in the Islamic emirate? 

Read the article and learn about Disney’s new theme park in the Middle East. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/07/travel/disney-earnings-new-themepark-abu-dhabi

Topic Reading-Vol.4768-5/14/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How to flourish –– even when you aren’t at your happiest, according to research

Both "happy" and "flourishing" relate to well-being. However, while happiness is primarily an emotional state, flourishing involves experiencing a sense of purpose, meaning, and positive relationships, in addition to positive emotions. Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden are often ranked among the happiest countries. Recently, a new study was conducted with 200,000 people in over 20 countries in a broadly inclusive understanding of what it means to flourish: living in a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are going well. It found that Indonesia had the highest flourishing score 8.10, followed by Israel’s 7.87, the Philippines’s 7.71, and Mexico’s 7.64. Japan landed at the bottom of the list with a considerably lower score of 5.87 compared to Turkey’s 6.32, the second lowest. The “Flourish” measure consists of two questions or items from each of six domains: happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, financial and material stability, and close social relationships. Each of the questions is assessed on a scale of 0 -10, 0 being negative or the least agreeable and 10 being positive or the most agreeable. These are the 12 questions that were asked in the research.

1. Overall, how satisfied are you with life as a whole these days?

2. In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?

3. In general, how would you rate your physical health?

4. How would you rate your overall mental health?

5. Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

6. I understand my purpose in life.

7. I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in difficult and challenging situations.

8. I am always able to give up some happiness now for greater happiness later.

9. I am content with my friendships and relationships.

10. My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be.

11. How often do you worry about being able to meet normal monthly living expenses?

12. How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing?

The report also found that flourishing tends to increase with age. What is your score?

Read the article and learn how flourishing people feel around the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/30/health/global-flourishing-study-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4767-5/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Americans still don’t know how and when to wash their hands

When do you usually wash your hands, and how long? While we all know that routine and proper handwashing reduces the risk of infecting or spreading infectious diseases like the flu, COVID-19, or norovirus, we tend to forget or ignore the practice. A survey of nearly 3,600 adults in the USA found that people most often wash their hands when using the bathroom, handling waste, and handling food. However, only 30% said they wash their hands after sneezing or coughing, when respiratory diseases like the flu can spread. Also, older adults tend to wash their hands more regularly after using the bathroom or when handling food. That may be because they are more health-conscious or they have developed the habit throughout their lives. It is evident that timely and proper handwashing can prevent infectious diseases much more efficiently than going to the doctor and sleeping for days when infected. We’d better keep or revive the habit that we got accustomed to during the pandemic for our health.

Read the article and learn how essential it is to wash your hands timely and properly. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/05/health/handwashing-habits-survey-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4766-5/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

After 50 years, Thailand finally strikes down strict rules on students’ hair lengths

In 1975, Thailand's Ministry of Education issued a directive that heavily restricted students' hairstyles and makeup to promote a more disciplined and uniform appearance among students. The directive required male students to keep their hair short and forbade mustaches, while female students were restricted to ear-length bobs and prohibited from wearing makeup. It reflects Thailand’s conservative, hierarchical Buddhist society under years of authoritarian rule, as well as the influence of the military that staged coups over ten times in the last 100 years. Schools regularly checked students’ appearances and hair lengths, enforced the rules, and deducted academic points from the students who didn’t comply with the rules. However, things began to change after the nationwide student protests in 2020, and in March this year, the highest administrative court announced that the 50-year-old directive was unconstitutional and revoked it. Even though it is unclear how soon and how much the hairstyle and appearance regulations will be loosened in schools across the country, the change has begun. 

Read the article and learn about Thailand’s half-century-old school rules.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/03/style/thailand-hairstyle-dress-code-students-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4765-5/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Oscar-winning director reveals the secret lives of pangolins

Pangolins are solitary, nocturnal mammals that live in South Asia and Africa. There are nine existing species that range in size from 30 to 100 centimeters. Pangolins have a long, toothless muzzle, and their legs are short with sharp claws for digging to eat ants and termites. They have large, protective keratin scales, similar in material to fingernails and toenails, covering their skin. When threatened, they can curl up into a tight ball for protection. Like rhinoceroses and elephants, pangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals for their meat and scales used in traditional medicine and folk remedies, especially in China and Vietnam. Protection and rescue efforts to save these scaly anteaters have been made, but it is challenging. For example, when in captivity, they don’t eat at all. So, in order to feed a pangolin, the carer has to walk wth the pangolin for hours. Recently, Netflix created a documentary of a rescued pangolin called “Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey.” It hopes to raise awareness of this fragile, scaled mammal for conservation. 

Read the article and learn about this unique endangered mammal species. 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/pippa-ehrlich-pangolins-kulus-journey-cte-hnk-spc

Topic Reading-Vol.4764-5/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

When the world’s tallest dog met the world’s tiniest

Originating from Mexico, the Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds, with a height ranging from 15 to 23 centimeters and weighing between 1.4 and 2.7 kilograms. Known for their large personalities and loyalty, Chihuahuas are a popular companion animal, often kept as city pets due to their compact size. In contrast, the Great Dane is a large working dog breed originally from Germany. Males typically stand between 76 and 81 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh between 54 and 79 kilograms. As they are friendly, gentle, and loyal family dogs, they are often referred to as the Apollo of dogs. The world’s shortest living dog is Peral, a 9.14-centimeter-tall female Chihuahua in Florida. She traveled to Idaho with her owner to meet the world’s tallest living dog, Reggie, a meter-tall male Great Dane. What happened to them?

Read the article and see the video to find out how they got along with each other.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/30/us/worlds-biggest-tiniest-dogs-meet-intl-scli/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4763-5/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

AI turns old photos of the Borders into 'motion pictures'

An AI video generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to automatically create video content from various inputs like text descriptions, images, photos, or existing videos. AI video generators automate tasks like script creation, visual generation, voiceover, music addition, and even stock footage licensing by utilizing advanced machine learning. Recently, a young Scottish man created a moving montage from old still shots of the town where his grandparents lived long ago by using an AI video generator. It greatly pleased his grandparents and also others in the wider community, so he created similar videos of neighboring towns. Now, those videos are not only enjoyed by older people’s social groups but also used in history classes in local schools. There are so many still photos taken in the last century. We can turn them into montages to revive the scenes and memories in just a few minutes. 

Read the article and watch the videos of old towns revived by an AI video generator. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cq5wx27gne1o

Topic Reading-Vol.4762-5/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What you need to know about US Real ID

In order to establish more stringent security standards for identification documents like driver’s licenses, the US citizens and residents aged 18 and older are required to present a REAL ID-compliant document or other TSA-accepted ID, such as passports, to board domestic flights and access secure federal facilities starting May 7.  A REAL ID is a federally compliant driver’s license or non-driver ID that is more difficult to forge. The document is indicated by a star in the upper right-hand corner of the ID. If an American traveller cannot present a REAL ID, they will be asked to complete an identity verification process by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, which would take extra time and create longer lines at airport security checkpoints. So, air travelers in the USA, whether US citizens or visitors, are advised to arrive early for their flights. 

Read the article and learn about a new, tighter security policy implemented recently in the USA.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250505-real-id-the-big-change-affecting-us-air-travel

Topic Reading-Vol.4761-5/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Five things you need in case of a power outage

There was a nationwide power outage in Spain and Portugal on April 29. Whatever the cause was, nearly the entire peninsula was without power for almost 24 hours. How prepared are you for a power blackout that might last for hours, if not days? Unless your house is self-powered by solar, battery, or generator, lights, A/C, fridge and freezer, TV, and other appliances are of no use. If you live in a tall apartment or work in a building, you’ll have no choice but to walk down the stairs to get out or walk up to get home. Also, internet connections, card or phone payment systems, cashiers, and even traffic lights might be unusable. So, how did people in the peninsula manage the recent power outage? Overall, if you wind the clock back by a century, you might find what is needed to spend a day or days without power, such as cash, candles, a radio, and canned food. Also, it would be helpful if you have a power bank or solar charger. Indeed, a power outage reminds us of how dependent we are on electricity. 

Read the article and learn what it took to survive a day without power in Spain and Portugal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy6d0987r0o

Topic Reading-Vol.4760-5/6/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Ultra-processed foods may be linked to early death

A new study of ultra-processed food (UPF) raises concerns about the risk of early death. Ultra-processed foods often contain many additives and chemicals that aren’t found in the home kitchen, including preservatives, emulsifiers, colorings and dyes, and flavor enhancers. In addition to these artificial ingredients, UPFs are often high in sugar, salt, and fat, which could increase the risk of chronic health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. The study found that people in the US and UK take more than half of their calorie intake from ultra-processed foods while those in Colombia and Brazil take less than 20%. It also estimates that 14% of early deaths in the US and UK could be linked to UPFs while only 4% of premature deaths were linked to UPFs in Colombia and Brazil. If you regularly consume a lot of UPFs like cakes, pastries, biscuits, chips, sausages, instant soups and noodles, margarine, spreads, and some breakfast cereals (Vol.4754),  you may want to reorganize your diet because they are highly processed and contain a lot more artificial ingredients than you think. 

Read the article and learn how ultra-processed foods could affect your health.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm30kwvv17o

Topic Reading-Vol.4759-5/5/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The US island with no cars and one horse for every person

Mackinac Island is an 11 km2  small island in Lake Huron in Michigan, an upper Midwestern state in the USA, whose capital city, Detroit, is known for its iconic automotive industry. In the late 19th century, Mackinac Island became a popular tourist attraction and summer colony. Many of the structures on the island have undergone extensive historical preservation and restoration. Because of its historic significance, the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark in the US. Only 600 or so residents live on this tiny island, along with roughly the same number of horses, and 1,500 bicycles for hire, but no automobiles whatsoever. Those horses keep things running, including transportation and garbage collection. Still, there are over 1,600 rooms in hotels, resorts, B&Bs, condominiums, cottages, and homes to accommodate over a million visitors annually, but no chain hotels. If you’re interested in a historic American town without motor vehicles, Mackinac Island is the place to visit. It only takes a 20-minute ferry ride from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. 

Read the article and learn about this car-free island in Michigan.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250425-the-us-island-where-cars-are-banned

Topic Reading-Vol.4758-5/4/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Chimpanzees more empathetic than assumed – study

Bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit distinct physical and behavioral differences. Chimpanzees are typically larger and more robust, with a more muscular build, while bonobos are smaller and leaner, with proportionally longer limbs. Bonobos are known for their relatively peaceful social structure while chimpanzees have a more hierarchical and aggressive social structure, with male dominance and frequent aggression. It had been thought that chimps were not as empathetic to each other as bonobos, but a new study found that chimpanzees do comfort each other when in distress, just like bonobos do. The study compared the behaviors of 40 bonobos in D.R. Congho and 50 chimpanzees in Zambia when in distress, such as a fight, and found that both species consoled each other by embracing, hand-holding, and touching like humans. Also, the younger the apes were, the more empathetic they were to each other, which suggests emotional sensitivity is developed in their early stage. After all, both bonobos and chimpanzees share over 98% of their DNA with humans. 

Read the article and learn how empathetic to each other our close relatives are. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y45ylrv0xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4757-5/3/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump deep sea mining order violates law, China says

In the US, an executive order is a written directive, signed by the president, that orders the government to take specific actions, With an executive order, the President can order the federal government to take any steps that are within the scope of the constitutional authority of the executive branch, and do not violate any federal law. Since January, US President Trump has signed 140 or so executive orders, including the withdrawal process from the World Health Organization and Paris Agreement, rolled back federal recognition of gender identity, pardoned over 1,500 January 6 rioters, and declared a national emergency on the southern border. Also, he signed a series of executive orders on trade and reciprocal tariffs that confused the world trade orders, supply chains, and stock market. Now, he has signed another controversial order to step up deep-sea mining within the US and in international waters to establish the US as a global leader in seabed mineral exploration. The move is critically accused not only by environmentalists but also by other countries, including China, for violating international law. Mining in international waters is supposedly negotiated at the UN, and other countries issue mining permits after agreeing on a framework for how resources could be shared. While the economy may just experience short-term fluctuations, the environment and ecology could be affected permanently by insensible acts. What leadership is the USA going to take on?

Read the article and think whether these executive orders represent what the US citizens want.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2v37z333lo

Topic Reading-Vol.4756-5/2/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Who will win the race to develop a humanoid robot?

For decades, robotic arms and robots have been widely used in factories and warehouses, assembling parts, putting chips and parts on electric circuit boards, painting car bodies, and putting merchandise into boxes. Under a controlled environment, robots can perform specific tasks automatically and reliably 24/7, save for maintenance. Nowadays, robots are also used to service customers in controlled environments, such as restaurants, hotels, and airports, delivering food, answering questions, and helping customers. Also, some cars are assisted or even driven by AI-powered driving systems. You can see robots are now performing tasks more autonomously than just automatically. The next breakthrough seems to be how robots perform day-to-day tasks such as dish washing, laundry, house cleaning, and human assistance. To perform like humans, robots need to be more autonomous, flexible, and mobile, ideally with two legs to do tasks safely in a day-to-day environment. Recently, a two-legged humanoid robot ran a half-marathon race in Beijing (Vol.4749), but more advanced AI and mass-produced parts are essential to produce reliable and affordable humanoid robots. Who can develop such autonomous robots and where? 

Read the article and learn how and where humanoid robots can be produced.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62jxdxng7do

Topic Reading-Vol.4755-5/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Say goodbye to the $5 T-shirt

Always, lower-income households are the ones that are affected the most when the prices for basic necessities like food, housing, and energy increase. For the last several years, US households have had to endure rising prices on these necessities due to chronic inflation. People also need clothes and shoes, which are mostly imported from China and other Asian countries. Now, because of the Trump administration’s 10% across-the-board and reciprocal tariffs, prices for mostly imported basic apparel and footwear like T-shirts, pants, and sneakers are going to increase substantially. In addition, those who have been enjoying duty-exempted direct imports of fashion and commodity items from Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu will soon have to pay import duties, though they aren’t as high as the recent reciprocal tariffs. Inflation and tariffs certainly hit the lower to middle socioeconomic tiers the hardest, who have little room to save or fewer options to choose from when prices for basic necessities increase. No wonder the administration is pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower the interest rate while it is raising tariffs sharply across the board. 

Read the article and learn what is about to happen to US households soon.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/business/clothing-t-shirts-tariffs/index.html