Topic Reading-Vol.4907-9/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Oxford gives students access to AI platform

Established in 1096, the University of Oxford is the oldest higher educational institution in the English-speaking world. It now comprises 39 colleges and six religious-based institutions, where over 26,000 graduate and undergraduate students study. The university recently announced that it now offers access to ChatGPT Edu, the education version of ChatGPT, to all of Oxford's students, faculty members, and staff. ChatGPT Edu offers enhanced privacy and security by allowing only the user institution to retain data. The university hopes the use of this new educational tool will enrich and personalize students’ learning, as well as open up new opportunities to explore and create. With the upgraded functions of the ChatGPT agent, the historic university is trying to enrich AI literacy among its learners, teachers, and researchers.

Read the article and learn about Oxford’s new initiative to use AI tools even more proficiently and responsibly.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvl0lr387xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4906-9/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Recognising Palestinian statehood opens another question - who would lead it?
Palestine is a state recognized by over 150 UN member states, including all five permanent members of the UN Security Council, but the USA. Its territories include Israel-occupied the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem, and also Israeli-destroyed Gaza. Since 2007, Gaza has been ruled by Hamas, and the West Bank by the Palestinian Authority or PA. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, which triggered Israel’s brutal aggression against Gaza. The Israeli military has destroyed the entire area and killed thousands of civilians with bombs and starvation. Why is Palestine still not recognized by all UN member states, even though it has a permanent population and has its own representatives to the UN? So far, Palestine hasn’t agreed on final borders. Also, the lack of a functioning government makes it difficult to be recognized. Even among the G7 members, the UK, France, and Canada have recently recognized Palestine, but the USA, Japan, Germany, and Italy have not. In the meantime, the US administration plans to sell six billion dollars in weapons to Israel.
Read the article and learn about the historical background of recognizing Palestine as a state.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c930dlxnee4o

Topic Reading-Vol.4905-9/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,　

The lonely life and death of Delhi's only African elephant

In October 2024, the membership of the National Zoological Park in Delhi was suspended by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums because of concerns about the living conditions of a male African elephant, Shankar. There were talks and plans, but no concrete action had been taken to improve the conditions. Then, on the 17^th of this month, the 24-year-old elephant suddenly refused food, collapsed, and died. The cause of his early death is still being investigated. Usually, African elephants live for 70 years. He came to the Delhi zoo from Zimbabwe in 1998 with a female companion, which died in 2001. Since elephants are highly social animals, the zoo tried to lodge Shanker with Asian elephants in the zoo, but no success. After all, the male African elephant spent 24 years alone. Elephants use various forms of communication, display complex emotions like empathy and grief, and cooperate within their social structures to care for young and ensure the group's survival. They seem too intelligent, social, and delicate to live only by food and water.

Read the article and learn about this lonely African elephant that died too early.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nlevy2gpo

Topic Reading-Vol.4904-9/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Harnessing the superpowers of the most resilient life form on Earth

Tardigrades are half a millimeter long, eight-legged invertebrates, animals without a backbone, like butterflies, bees, ants, and snails. They have chubby, segmented bodies with four pairs of stout, clawed legs, and live almost anywhere across the globe, including mountaintops, tropical forests, the Antarctic, and the deep sea. They primarily feed on plant cells, algae, and other microorganisms. What is amazing about this tiny creature is its survivability. Tardigrades can endure extreme temperatures, from nearly absolute zero to above the boiling point, survive without oxygen or water, and withstand substantial radiation in space or high acid in hot springs. One of the tricks of their extreme survivability in dry conditions is suspended animation, which slows their metabolism down to 0.01% of its normal rate for as long as decades until they have contact with water. Tardigrades are thought to outlive humans, mice, and cockroaches and survive even on Doomsday.

Read the article and learn about the most survivable creature on Earth.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250917-harnessing-the-superpowers-of-the-most-resilient-life-form-on-earth

Topic Reading-Vol.4903-9/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Chinese airline launches 29-hour ‘direct flight’ – but there’s a catch

The longest nonstop flight is Singapore Airlines’ Singapore-New York JFK route, which covers 15,349 km in about 18 hours. Now, China Eastern Airlines has launched ticket sales for the world’s longest direct flight between Shanghai and Buenos Aires, Argentina, starting December 4. The flight time is 25.5 hours to Buenos Aires and 29 hours to Shanghai. It leaves at 2:00 am on Monday and arrives at Buenos Aires at 4:30 pm on the same day. The return flight leaves Buenos Aires at 2:00 am and arrives at Shanghai at 6:00 pm the next day.  To your relief or disappointment, the flight time includes a two-hour layover at Auckland, New Zealand. The airline boasts that this new route is going to be the world’s first commercial flight connecting two antipodal cities, on opposite sides of the earth. It also regards it as a key initiative in building an Air Silk Road between the Asia-Pacific and South Africa. The challenges for stable operation are significant for the airline to arrange maintenance and resource support, transoceanic operations, long duty shifts for crew members, and market development in South America. Also, passengers will have to endure two consecutive 10-hour-plus flights with a two-hour break. How many meals, drinks, dramas, movies, games, and chapters will entertain the passengers during the long flight? WiFi connections might not be enough, but bike machines or treadmills might be of some help. 

Read the article and learn about the world’s longest direct flight from China to Argentina.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/17/travel/china-eastern-29-hour-flight-shanghai-buenos-aires-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4902-9/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Rising seas will threaten 1.5 million Australians by 2050 – report

Australia is an isolated continent surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern oceans. It is known for its diverse landscapes, such as the outback and rainforests, unique wildlife like koalas and kangaroos, and beautiful coastlines and coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef. Even though overall greenhouse gas emissions are declining, Australia still emits more greenhouse gases per capita than most other countries due to its high dependency on fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation. According to the recently published national climate risk assessment, Australia is predicted to face more severe and frequent extreme weather events, such as floods, cyclones, heatwaves, droughts, and bushfires. Average temperatures in Australia have already exceeded 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. If the warming continues, the report warns of a significant increase in heat-related deaths, a decline in water quality, a rise in sea levels, and a higher risk of biodiversity loss in coral reefs. The government is now trying to coordinate efforts by federal, state, and local governments to cope with the accelerating impacts of climate change. It seems like a survival race.

Read the article and learn about how Australia may suffer from a warming climate.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c930454e77xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4901-9/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Will farming under solar panels take off?

Can farmland be double-used? One way to utilize farmland for dual purposes is Agrivoltaics, growing crops or raising animals underneath elevated solar panels. It allows farmers to keep farming on their land while getting additional income from solar energy production. In India, over half of the population makes their living by farming, which is vulnerable to climate and extreme weather conditions. For such farmers, a steady additional income from solar panels will improve their living significantly. There are challenges, though. Farmers need to grow the right crops under solar panels, which reduce the sunlight by 15% to 30%. Also, solar panel investors have to bear 20% to 30% higher costs to install solar panels than on regular solar farms because they need to be elevated a few meters off the ground. Still, growing agricultural products while generating clean electricity sounds like a viable approach to tackle the increasing needs for food and electricity.

Read the article and learn how agrivoltaics work.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2en1yyp4d9o

Topic Reading-Vol.4900-9/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

More of the world’s children are now obese than underweight, UNICEF warns 

The good news is that the percentage of underweight children aged 5-19 has declined to 9.2% from 13% in the last 25 years, according to recent data from over 190 countries by the UNICEF, the UN children’s agency. In the meantime, the number of overweight children increased by nearly 200 million to 391 million. Also found was that obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions but sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the poorest regions. The study also found that in low-income countries, children of wealthy families are more likely to be overweight, but in high-income countries, more overweight children are found in poor households because they often grow up with more processed, unhealthy diets. It seems that as highly processed foods, like snacks and packaged meals, and sugary drinks become easily accessible and affordable, children tend to become overweight. In fact, overnutrition is a form of malnutrition. Childhood obesity is a serious health issue that increases a child's risk of developing adult-onset chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. As children spend more time gazing at smartphones at home and spend less time exercising outside, proper nutrition and diet are now more essential for their healthy growth.

Read the article and learn about how children are becoming overweight around the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/10/health/childhood-obesity-unicef-intl-scli

Topic Reading-Vol.4899-9/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

When you go overboard on protein, this is what can happen in your body

Protein is one of the main macronutrients of our diet, along with carbohydrates and fat. It helps build and preserve muscle, makes hormones, boosts the immune system, and maintains healthy hair, skin, and nails. It is often recommended that we take 0.8 to 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For example, if you weigh 60 kilograms, you should consume 50 to 60 grams of protein per day, which is roughly equivalent to 10 eggs. Then what if you take more protein than the recommended amount? Excessive intake of any healthy nutrient outbalances your diet. You want to balance your diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats like olive or canola oil, and lean proteins, including fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and eggs. And please be reminded that protein itself won’t build or strengthen your muscles, but exercise does with the help of protein. Yes, a healthy diet and moderate exercise are the key to your health.

Read the article and learn about what protein does to your body and health.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/12/health/protein-fiber-explainer-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4898-9/21/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

North Korea executing more people for watching foreign films and TV, UN finds

In 2011, Kim Jong Un, a grandson of the founder Kim Il-sung, became North Korea’s Supreme Leader. He promised to grow the economy and further develop its nuclear weapons. However, according to the interviews by the UN with escapees from North Korea, food is scarce, and the death penalty is being used more often, including for those who just watched or shared foreign media content, such as movies or TV dramas. Once sentenced to death, violators of the prohibitive law are shot to death by firing squads in public. Also, more people from poor families are recruited into physically demanding and dangerous labor tasks, such as construction or mining projects. If they die in an accident, their death is honored as a sacrifice to the supreme leader and the nation. Nowadays, fighting for Russia in Ukraine is another likely option to earn glory. Even if the task is dangerous and life-threatening, some people might prefer working in a factory, mine, or battlefield to being starved or shot to death in their hometown. In order to bring this case to the International Criminal Court, it needs to be referred by the UN Security Council, but Russia and China, two of the five permanent members of the council, are unlikely to support such a move. 

Read the article and learn about how prohibitive North Korea is of Western media.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgqdz17ye3o

Topic Reading-Vol.4897-9/20/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

World's first AI minister will eliminate corruption, says Albania's PM

With a population of 2.7 million, Albania is a small country that lies in Southeastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula. Unlike its eastern neighbor, Christian-dominated Greece, about half of Albanians are muslims. Recently, the Prime Minister Edi Rama appointed not a minister of AI but a new AI minister. The new minister is called just Diella, meaning sun in Albanian, whose role is to ensure the country will become free from corruption in public procurement. In fact, Diella has already helped over a million applications on the e-Albania platform. Now, the PM expects her to become responsible for examining and administering online applications for government procurements and contracts, not just as a symbolic gesture of his administration. Though Diella doesn’t really qualify as a real member of the cabinet, as she is neither 18 years old nor a human citizen, she may outperform a human minister or administrator because she works 24/7 without taking a rest or any graft but only with electricity. Will she attend the cabinet meetings?

Read the article and learn about the world’s first AI minister in Albania.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2znzgwj3xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4896-9/19/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Japan sets record of nearly 100,000 people aged over 100

Japan’s life expectancy is one of the longest in the world, 87 for women and 81 for men. While the number of Japanese nationals shrank by over 900,000, or 0.75%, to 120 million last year, the number of Japanese aged 65 or older increased to over 36 million, around 30% of the population, thanks to the healthy lifestyle and universal healthcare system. Furthermore, there are nearly 100,000 centenarians in Japan as of this month, 88% of whom are women. The number grew significantly in the last five decades, as there were only around 1,000 centenarians in 1981 and about 10,000 by 1998. This year, around 52,000 people turned 100, and each received a silver cup from the government on September 15, Respect for the Aged Day. However, it is suspected that not all the centenarians on record are still alive because some of the dead persons might not have been reported by the remaining family for financial reasons.

Read the article and learn about a country with 100,000 centenarians.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd07nljlyv0o

Topic Reading-Vol.4895-9/18/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Feeling stressed? Here's five ways to manage it better

When you’re in stressful situations, like being attacked, in danger, or under pressure, the stress hormone called Cortisol is released. It helps the body manage stress by increasing blood sugar and enhancing the brain’s use of glucose. Also, it regulates metabolism, blood pressure, immune function, and the sleep-wake cycle. So, feeling stressed could help you regulate physical and mental conditions for a short time. However, when stress continues, it can lead to physical health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system. Also, chronic stress could cause or worsen anxiety, depression, fatigue, and irritability. Indeed, managing stress is essential for your performance and health. You should accept stress, do any exercise, go to bed earlier, talk to others, and try not to worry about it too much. Hope these tips won’t add any stress to you!

Read the article and learn about what stress does to you and how you should manage it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg42zq7nqxwo

Topic Reading-Vol.4894-9/17/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,　

Who are the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation?

Qatar had been hosting truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and was about to close a ceasefire deal for Gaza. But on September 9, Israel attacked a Hamas office in Qatar’s capital, Doha, killing five Hamas negotiation members and one Qatari personnel. In fact, in just three days between September 8 and 10, Israel carried out strikes in six countries, including Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and Qatar. Now, leaders of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, gathered at an emergency summit in Doha this week. Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, the League of Arab States is an intergovernmental organization of 22 Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa. Its primary mission is to strengthen relations, coordinate policies, and foster cooperation among its member states on security, economic, and political issues. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is a political and diplomatic forum for 57 Muslim countries, including Arab League nations and populous countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The total population of the OIC exceeds two billion people, representing over 25% of the world's population. Many of the Arab League states are close allies of the USA, and some are even hosting US military bases, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. If US-backed Israel keeps attacking sites and people in these states for the sake of self-defense, there may be a change in geopolitics in the Middle East.

Read the article and learn about the Arab League and OIC.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/15/who-are-the-57-members-of-the-organisation-of-islamic-cooperation

Topic Reading-Vol.4893-9/16/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Wuxi school introduces reclining chairs for student naps

Students tend to feel sleepy after lunch. Some primary schools in China have their students take a nap at their desks after lunch to increase their attentiveness for afternoon classes. They found that after-lunch naps seem to improve concentration during afternoon classes. Now, an experimental school in Eastern China has introduced ergonomic recliners and desks for a better nap, which look like some airlines’ premier economy class seats. The school says this ergonomic setting has improved students’ academic performance. Indeed, a short nap of ten to 20 minutes makes you feel refreshed and restores cognitive function to improve academic or work performance. But if you simply take a nap at the desk, you may hurt your back and neck. So, if you do the right thing, you’d better do it right, but be careful not to oversleep!

Read the article and learn about ergonomically designed desk-napping desks and chairs.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202509/09/WS68bfefaaa3108622abc9fcc7_1.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4892-9/15/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Whey to go: Is cheese the new reason to travel? 

Cheese is made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, or water buffalo, separating the curds from whey. The curds are then drained, salted, and aged to develop a wide variety of flavors, textures, tastes, and forms. Besides the animals’ species, what they eat and where they are grown make significant differences to the final product, not to mention the production process and aging. France boasts over 1,000 cheese varieties, including creamy Brie and Camembert, firm Comté and Cantal, strong blue-veined Roquefort, and various goat's milk chèvres. Just like wines, many French cheeses are guaranteed their authenticity by the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. So, just like wineries, visiting local cheese museums, cheese producers, and meadows where cows and goats are raised would make you feel and appreciate the art of cheese more. Also, there is a newly opened cheese museum in Paris near the Notre-Dame Cathedral, where you can learn the science and traditions behind cheese production and shop for various kinds of French cheeses. Touring France for cheese!

Read the article and learn about another way to enjoy traveling in France.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250905-is-cheese-the-new-reason-to-travel

Topic Reading-Vol.4891-9/14/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The asteroid that will spare Earth might hit the moon instead. What happens if it does?

It was about 66 million years ago when an asteroid ten kilometers long struck Earth, created a huge crater of 200 km in diameter, and caused the mass extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. Last year, astronomers discovered an asteroid that is around 60 meters in diameter and named it YR4. It passed by Earth at a distance of only 828,000 km, or 2.16 lunar distances. Fortunately, astronomers predict a near-zero chance of this asteroid striking our planet, but a 4.3% chance of hitting the Moon next time it comes back in late 2032. If that happened, the impact would splash fine-grained lunar sands and rocks that could reach our planet. Though most of them would be burned in the atmosphere, they could hit satellites and space stations orbiting our planet. Since space infrastructure is essential for our daily lives, including the Internet, navigation, and weather monitoring, our lives would be significantly affected. Also, by then, humans might have installed bases on the Moon. Such projects may need to be revised if astronomers recalculate the asteroid’s trajectory when the asteroid returns to view from Earth in 2028. What about the next-to-next encounter in 2036?

Read the article and learn about this potentially life-threatening asteroid.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/25/science/asteroid-2024-yr4-potential-lunar-impact

Topic Reading-Vol.4890-9/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Visiting the US is about to get more expensive for foreign travelers

Visitors to the USA are required to pay higher fees from next month. Citizens of 42 countries listed on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are eligible for entry to the US without a visa, including most EU nations, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Israel, and Qatar. On September 30, the VWP fee will increase from USD21 to $40. Also, visitors arriving through a land border will see a steep hike in the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record price from $6 to $30. Now, travelers from non-VWP countries for business or tourism are required to apply for a B1 or B2 visa, which costs $185. In addition, Chinese travelers will have to pay a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee in addition to their visa application fees. Because of the current administration’s unfriendly foreign policies, or even hostile in some cases, the US is predicted to lose a substantial amount of international tourism spending this year. Is that what the USA is aiming for?

Read the article and learn how economically restrictive the USA is going to be.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/06/travel/travel-news-us-visa-fees-foreign-travelers

Topic Reading-Vol.4889-9/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

McSpaghetti to McAloo Tikki: Inside the world's local McDonald's

McDonald’s operates over 40,000 outlets in more than 100 countries around the world, including 13,500 outlets in the USA, nearly 7,000 in China, around 3,000 in Japan, and one in Samoa. Every day, they serve 65 million people around the world. Do they all eat the same burgers and fries? In fact, McDonald’s menus are very diverse, reflecting local tastes, traditions, and religious restrictions. For example, in India, you’ll find a plentiful vegetarian menu and Mararaja Mac instead of Big Mac. Other variations are: Mc Baguette in France, Mc Iberica in Spain, McSpaghetti in the Philippines, and Entrecote Burger in Israel, to name a few. After all, McDonald’s restaurants aren’t just places that serve food and drinks, but they also provide quality, service, safety, cleanliness, bright atmosphere, and a smile.

See the photos and read the article to learn how adaptable the world’s largest restaurant chain is.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250904-inside-the-worlds-local-mcdonalds

Topic Reading-Vol.4888-9/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Energy drinks to be banned for under 16s

Caffeine enhances wakefulness, energy levels, concentration, attention, and even physical performance. In the meantime, it often triggers nervousness, prevents sleep, elevates blood pressure, or increases urination. How much caffeine is too much depends on the individual’s age, sensitivity, health conditions, and the time of day, but in general, up to 400 milligrams a day is regarded ok for most adults. For example, a can of cola contains 40 mg and a mug of coffee 100 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Monster, contain as much caffeine as a mug of coffee, but they are sugary and sold in larger cans than mug cups. Consuming such drinks in large amounts could cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, damage to teeth, and obesity. These drinks are geared towards young people, associated with sports, gaming, and music. Young people’s bodies and brains are still developing, and they are more sensitive to caffeine than adults. If they consume sports drinks like water or tea regularly, their health, mental, and emotional health might be affected. Now, the government in England is planning to prevent young people under the age of 16 from buying energy drinks.

Read the article and learn why energy drinks are going to be banned for young people in England.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707074qdnko

Topic Reading-Vol.4887-9/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The pandemic generation: How Covid-19 lockdowns is having a long-lasting effect on children

All of a sudden, schools, offices, and commercial and public facilities in many places were closed in March 2020 for months when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. It appears to have a profound impact, especially on young children whose mental, physical, academic, and social developments are yet to mature and are in a critical phase. Even after schools began to open and restrictions were eased, children were told to wear masks, keep distance from others, avoid interactions and conversations with others, and stay at home. Children then missed the chance to feel, smell, and engage with the social environment. They end up spending a lot of time on their smartphone or game machines by themselves. In many schools, as classes were held online for months or even longer, many students didn’t seem to have learned as well as they were supposed to in actual classes. How are they doing now? 

Read the article and learn about the effects are teachers and experts are finding among the COVID-affected children, a few years after the social distraction

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250605-the-pandemic-generation-how-covid-19-has-left-a-long-term-mark-on-children

Topic Reading-Vol.4886-9/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Is a low-salt diet as unhealthy as having too much?

It is recommended that we take no more than 5 grams of salt per day to reduce the risk of heart disease. That is about 2000 milligrams, or two grams, of sodium, which is usually stated on food labels. The WHO estimates that the average salt intake per day is a little over 10 grams globally, only a quarter of which comes from salt we add to food ourselves. In fact, most of the salt we eat is already included in the food before we prepare or serve it. For example, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes contain over 200 mg of sodium per serving (42g), and a slice of cheddar cheese contains between 150 and 200 mg. You probably know that high salt consumption causes high blood pressure, which could lead to strokes and heart disease. Is it then true that the lower the salt intake, the lower the risk of heart disease will be? No. Salt is essential for nerve and muscle function, fluid balance, and nutrient transport. How can we balance salt intake when we consume more prepared or packaged food?

Read the article and learn what salt, or sodium, does to your body and health.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181029-eating-less-salt-benefits

Topic Reading-Vol.4885-9/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Sunscreen myths: The real science behind sun protection

The summer is about to phase out in the northern hemisphere. However, you aren’t free from the harmful effects of sunlight. The ultraviolet index (UV index) is a measurement of the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn and even cancer to our skin. When the UV index is three or higher, you want to protect yourself with a hat and clothing, or stay indoors or in shade. But if you still need to or want to be out under the sun, you should put sunscreen on your face, neck, hands, and any other exposed skin to prevent sun damage. Then what level of skin protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreen is enough to protect you on the beach? Do you need to put on sunscreen under a cloudy sky? Are you safe outside once you put sunscreen on, and how long does the effect of sunscreen last?

Read the article and learn how and when you should use sunscreen.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250829-the-real-science-behind-sun-protection

Topic Reading-Vol.4884-9/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

India’s growing lion population should be cause for celebration, but it’s also a deadly problem

India, the world’s most populous country, is trying to be a global leader in feline conservation, including tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars. Wild lions in India were once hunted to the brink of extinction, but after the state of Gujarat, a western coastal state north of Mumbai, banned the killing, the state’s lion population has increased by 30% to 891 in the last five years. Instead of conserving the species in a protected area, Gujarat communities coexist with lions. In fact, lions help bring more tourists to the state. Also, lions prey on abandoned old cattle and unwanted wild pigs or antelopes. However, as the lion population increases, so do the chances of lion attacks on humans and cattle. In the year ending June this year, as many as seven people were killed by lions. Should they keep living with wild lions, relocate them to a wildlife sanctuary, or isolate them from human habitats?

Read the article and learn about how an Indian state is trying to live with lions.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/31/world/india-lion-human-conflict-intl-dst-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4883-9/6/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Five of the world's safest countries for 2025It seems that small, isolated countries are safer than others, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), which measures trends in peace, economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies. Its three domains include the level of social safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization. This year, three island nations, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand, and two landlocked mountain countries, Austria and Switzerland, are found to be at the top of the list, followed by Singapore. Among the European nations, Iceland is a member of NATO, but Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland are not. New Zealand has a small but capable military, and Singapore maintains one of the highest levels of military expenditure per capita. While compulsory military service applies in Austria, Switzerland, and Singapore, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand rely on voluntary military service. What makes a nation more peaceful than others?

Read the article and learn about the countries that are regarded as the world’s safest.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250822-five-of-the-worlds-safest-countries-for-2025

Topic Reading-Vol.4882-9/5/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

150 job applications, rescinded offers: Computer science grads are struggling to find work

Big tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, and IBM, are cutting jobs, programs, and investment because of economic uncertainty, a post-pandemic slowdown, and the increasing adoption of AI. In the US, software development job postings have plummeted to below pre-pandemic times, especially after AI coding tools began taking junior engineer jobs. Indeed, with AI, many companies can now automate some parts of the coding and software development process and have reduced their human workforce, especially in entry-level roles. As a result, entry-level job opportunities for new graduates with computer science or engineering degrees have become scarce. To live and work with AI, human workers are required to understand how systems work, develop critical thinking, and become creative. However, the number of such job opportunities may not be as many as they used to be. Some universities are evolving for the AI era by allowing students to use generative AI or rolling out AI-assisted software development courses. AI and robots are very helpful and productive, but they are taking over many human job opportunities. The time might have come for humans to evolve to live and work with AI and robots. 

Read the article and think about what the job opportunities will be like in the future.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/28/tech/computer-science-graduates-job-hunt-ai

Topic Reading-Vol.4881-9/4/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How Russia’s drone attacks have reshaped the war in Ukraine: An illustrated guide

On August 28, Russia attacked Ukraine with over 30 missiles and nearly 600 strike drones, killing more than 20 people and wounding dozens. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, both countries have been using drones extensively. In the military, aerial drones are being used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and direct attacks. While smaller drones are portable and deployed for low-altitude, short-range operations, larger drones can fly at higher altitudes and longer distances, deploy smaller drones, and carry heavier explosives. Many of the attack drones are disposable, designed to be destroyed upon hitting their targets with payloads, called kamikaze or suicide drones. They are very economical because they can be produced cheaply on a massive scale and programmed instantly and remotely. Also, they require no training, accommodation, or compensation like human soldiers. So, what kind of drones are used in today’s warfare?

Read the article and learn about Russia’s attack drones.

https://edition.cnn.com/world/russia-drone-attacks-ukraine-war-intl-vis?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc&recs_exp=up-next-article-end&tenant_id=related.en

Topic Reading-Vol.4880-9/3/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

One million stray dogs in India’s capital regain the right to roam after legal battle with nation’s top court

In India, people pay an ingrained cultural respect for animals. It is estimated that over 60 million stray dogs roam the streets, neighborhoods, slums, and villages in the country, and many of those live in harmony with humans. Even though there are cases of dog attacks on humans, it is illegal to euthanize healthy stray dogs. The latest ruling by the nation’s supreme court states that stray dogs should be picked up, neutered, and vaccinated before being released. However, there are just too many of them to properly care for and feed. In fact, due to the limited funding and veterinary capacities, the dogs’ breeding cycle outpaces sterilization rates. The ruling sounds humane and respectful to India’s tradition, but the nation still needs more funding, infrastructure, and manpower to put the ruling into practice and keep the streets and neighborhoods safe and livable for both humans and dogs. Also, what about the safety of little children? It is never easy to plan or control the population.

Read the article and learn about the stray dogs in the world’s most populous country.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/22/india/india-stray-dogs-supreme-court-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4879-9/2/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Sitting up straight isn't the only secret to good posture - here are three more tips

Good posture is not about being stiff or holding yourself upright all day, but about balanced, efficient movement that protects your body from strain and damage. It includes keeping your back straight, shoulders relaxed, head centered, and your abdomen pulled in. To keep good posture, whatever your position is at a desk or on a sofa, you definitely do not want to stay locked in one position for a long time. Instead, stand, move, and stretch your body from time to time to release tension. Also, exercise regularly to build a stronger core and back. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, your emotional and physical health does affect your posture. If you’re stressed or pressured, your posture tends to deteriorate. Posture seems to reflect the person’s mindset, physical conditions, exercise level, and tension. 

Read the article and learn about what could improve your posture.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250703-the-body-parts-evolution-still-cant-explain

Topic Reading-Vol.4878-9/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Your subway wasn’t built for this world 

The first subway, the London Underground, opened in 1863, using gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives, and the first electrified underground line opened in 1890 in the same city. Then in 1967, the first air-conditioned subway cars were introduced in New York, and the first air-conditioned subway system began its service in Hong Kong in 1979. Now, most subway lines are air-conditioned, except for many of the legendary London Underground lines that were built ages ago. However, even though susways have become heat-resistant, they are vulnerable to torrential rainfall events, which occur more often recently due to global warming. Flooded water rushes down to the platforms and railways from the entrances and grates, suspending the service and even causing damage to the operation system. It seems that human-engineered underground mass transportation systems need another innovation to cope with human-caused climate events.

Read the article and learn what problems modern subways are facing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/climate/subway-cities-infrastructure-flooding