Topic Reading-Vol.1433-3/14/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Greece's 'warehouse of souls:' Refugees stuck in old stadiums, derelict airport

A stadium is a place where people gather to enjoy seeing sport games or music concerts. But here people gathered only to see others like them being stranded.

An airport is a place where people depart for or arrive from other places. But here people only arrive from the same place and go nowhere.

That’s the situation the refugees from Syria and some other countries are facing in abundant facilities in Greece. They left their homeland in danger and in a hope to get to a place where they can live in peace and get a job. However, because of the unsustainable number of such refugees, once-praised Schengen Agreement to guarantee free movement within participating EU countries is on the brink of collapse. In fact, some boarders are closed physically having been installed unpenetrable fences to block incoming refugees.

And they the life of the refugees is safer but their hope is fading away.

Read and watch the videos to learn what the lives of those stranded refugees are like.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/09/europe/greece-refugees-olympic-park-airport/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1432-3/13/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

South Korea tackles youth mobile-phone addiction

How much is too much? That is the question having been asked to the parent whose children are obsessed by TV, video games, the Internet and smartphone. Today, the most addictive device is no doubt the smartphone which can be held nearly all day. Once children are addicted, it’s hard to de-addict them from the obsessed gadget. There aren’t so many options their parents can take but to watch them in a hope that they will get bored someday.

In South Korea, where most of the population are highly skilled net users, the government is setting up a treatment center to de-addict those who can’t get away from their smartphones. There, children spend a few weeks without smartphones or PCs. Instead, they do what children used to do; read books, play games and talk with others.

Enjoy reading and seeing the video and think if you should be in the center for some time.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/south-korea-tackles-youth-mobile-phone-addiction-160306174609316.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1431-3/12/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Love is better than food, if you’re a pair of great tit.

Is it really love? Researchers in the UK found that these tiny birds prefer staying together rather than looking for food alone. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it?

In fact, they seem to be very smart and insightful. Getting food is of course essential to live for any animal or bird, but that could be just immediate or short-term benefit. However, staying together is essential for this species to raise their offspring, which could be viewed as longer-term benefit.

So they may be smarter and more patient than just being romantic.

Enjoy reading and thinking if staying together is romance or benefit.

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151114-when-love-is-better-than-food

Topic Reading-Vol.1430-3/11/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Peanut allergy theory backed up by new research

Peanut allergy causes an overreaction of the immune system and is recognized as one of the most severe food allergies. Unfortunately, there is no proven treatment to prevent or cure allergic reactions to peanuts. Thus, the only and the best way to avoid this allergic reaction is simply to avoid taking peanuts.

A recent study found that having babies eat peanuts in their very early lives seems to help avoid the risk of getting allergy. That sounds contradictory especially for babies who are already diagnosed to prone to peanut allergy.

Enjoy reading about this new experiment that could possibly same many children become peanut allergy.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35727244

Topic Reading-Vol.1429-3/10/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why “bowl of food” might be tricking your brain?

Human perception doesn’t seem so accurate. When the same amount of fried rice is served on a large plate and in a small bowl, which one will you feel more satisfied before and after eating? Interestingly, the relative size often matters more than the actual size of food. It’s visual illusion. But that’s not it. You may actually feel more satisfied by the taste of the same food when it’s served in a bowl rather than on a plate. Is that still illusion or the perception mechanism?

There are all kinds of bowl food in Asia where rice is the main part of a meal. A variety of toppings are put on a bowl of rice. It is especially popular for lunch and among busy people. Now there are people even in western cultures who find it easier more satisfactory to eat an everything-mixed bowl meal than a typical dish.

Is that because people tend to eat more often on the desk than on the table? Or is that because people use only one hand to eat while use the other to touch their smartphone?

Enjoy reading and learning about this phenomena.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160226-why-bowl-food-might-be-tricking-your-brain

Topic Reading-Vol.1428-3/9/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Can 5,300-year-old mummy finally get its voice?

Otzi the Iceman. He’s a 5,300-year-old mummy. Unlike the royal mummies in Egypt, he was found alone in one of the glaciers in Alps, up 3,000 meters high in 1991. He is estimated to have been 45 when he was murdered by someone and then was unintendedly mummified by nature.

Now researchers are trying to bring his voice back. They are hopeful to recreate his vowel sounds and possibly some consonant sounds, as well. But just the voice, not words because they have no idea what kind of language he was speaking back then.

How will that be possible?

Enjoy reading and leaning what today’s archology and medical science can reveal or recreate from a mummy. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/02/europe/italian-researchers-give-mummy-voice/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1427-3/8/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why it’s so good to scratch an itch?

What’s the difference between an itch and a pain? They both are stimuli to the spinal cord and brain, one is caused by a weak stimuli and the other is by a strong one. Also, while one can be healed or eased by scratching, the other is certainly not.

Itches can be caused by an insect bite, dry air, skin disease, or other mental or physical disorders. And no matter what the cause is, scratching an itch always brings one immediate pleasurable sensation or relief.

Are you getting itchy or do you feel like scratching some part of your body? That may be because itches are often contagious, like yawning.

Enjoy reading and learning what an itch is about and why people scratch it.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160226-why-its-feels-so-good-to-scratch-an-itch