Topic Reading-Vol.3497/11/7/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why mandatory vaccination is nothing new

Ever since cowpox was found to be effective to develop immunity against smallpox in China in the 17^th century, and Edward Jenner developed a smallpox vaccine in Britain in 1796, vaccination has prevented many deaths. Because of the proven efficacy, mandatory vaccination was implemented in today’s Italy as early as during the Napoleon era. Several kinds of vaccination are being mandated in many countries, such as hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, poliovirus, tetanus, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. However effective and necessary it is, not everyone agrees to be vaccinated because of their beliefs, lifestyles, and uncertainties about the vaccines. Does the vaccine include the prohibited ingredients in their religion? Was it produced in a way their religion permits? Does it contain any animal product? Recently, a medical facility in the US that achieved a 95% Covid-19 vaccination rate had been taking a very careful and sensible approach toward vaccination such as the flu to its staff. The medical center found that it is essential to motivate the staff to get vaccinated through communication, interaction, and education. Indeed, sharing the goal with participating members is the key to success for any business.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about how mandatory vaccination works.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211029-why-mandatory-vaccination-is-nothing-new

Topic Reading-Vol.3496/11/6/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Climate change: Human activity makes forests emit carbon

You may think forests have been acting as carbon sinks and harboring biodiversity. However, a recent study revealed that even the most protected forests in UNESCO World Heritage sites have emitted more carbon than having absorbed in the last two decades. These forests include the tropical rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia, the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras, and Yosemite National Park, US. What is alarming is that even these most protected forests are under threat of human pressures, such as agricultural encroachment and illegal logging. Also, substantial space of forests was lost due to wildfires, hurricanes and typhoons, and other extreme weather conditions, most of which were caused by global warming. It seems like a vicious cycle. The more carbon is emitted, the more wildfires occur, and then more carbon is emitted.

Will human ingenuity stop this downward spiral before it’s too late?

Enjoy reading the article to learn about this shocking research result.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59065127

Topic Reading-Vol.3495/11/5/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The metaverse: What is it and how soon will it work?

Facebook announced that it will change its name to Metaverse, where the company’s premium SNS platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will all become parts of the new domain. Metaverse is a compound of “universe” meaning reality and ”meta“ meaning virtual reality, and abstraction refers to a third-dimensional virtual reality where the boundary between reality and virtual reality disappeared. It is a way to use the Internet through virtual reality (VR). Once you wear a VR headset, you can do all interactive activities in the virtual universe, including meeting with friends, attending a conference, watching and listening to a concert, doing shopping, and playing games. You’ll be able to take part in such activities with your avatar or without. Since no metaverse has been realized yet, only the potentials and opportunities are seen at the moment. But for Facebook, it is worth repositioning its business domain and changing its corporate name.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about this new universe that might soon be realized on the Internet.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/58981876

Topic Reading-Vol.3494/11/4/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The Taliban’s secretive war against IS

The Taliban, or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a political movement and military organization that now rules Afghanistan. It is estimated that they have about 75,000 members in a country whose population is about 40 million. Their ideology is a combination of Sharia Islamic law and militant Islamism. They claim the war against foreign powers is over and they have brought peace and security to Afghanistan. Now, the militants-turned ruling body is facing attacks by insurgents, called the Islamic States, locally called Daesh, a militant Sunni Islamist group that spread in Syria, Iraq, and surrounding countries. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations. Even the Taliban, ex-militant, accuses IS of heretical extremists. They became active in Afghanistan especially after the Taliban took control with notorious acts including assassination, bombing, and beheading. For outsiders, the fight between the Taliban and IS sounds like an inter-factional conflict. But for the Taliban, IS is now an extreme insurgent that is posing a threat to their country.  

Read the article and learn about the Taliban vs. IS conflict.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59080871

Topic Reading-Vol.3493/11/3/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Covid: Double vaccinated can still spread virus at home

The good news is that those who are double-vaccinated for Coronavirus have a lower risk of getting infected by the highly infectious Delta variant. Also, even if they are infected, the symptoms are milder and lighter than those who aren’t vaccinated. The bad news is that they appear to be as infectious as unvaccinated people. So, if there are people who have been vaccinated and who have not been in a house or dormitory, those unvaccinated have a high risk of infection. That’s why the Delta variant is spreading violently even in countries where vaccination rates are high, like the UK. Another problem is that the point where we achieve herd immunity varies from disease to disease and variant to variant. It was originally thought 70% would achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus, but it was later found that the coverage needs be higher against new variants. It seems that social and health measures, such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and testing, remain essential even in vaccinated people at least for some time.

Read the article and learn about the efficacy and limitation of double vaccination.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59077036

Topic Reading-Vol.3492/11/2/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Life at 50C: Surviving in Kuwait's 'unbearable' heat

Kuwait is a small gulf country situated on the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, sandwiched by Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. Of the 4.7 million population, approximately 3.2 million are foreign nationals. Summer in Kuwait is one of the hottest on earth. The temperature reached 54°C in July 2016, which still is the highest temperature recorded in Asia. Indeed, like other places in the Middle East, where average temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average, Kuwait is warming faster than ever before. When the temperature reaches 50°C, the ground temperature exceeds 70°C. So, what is life like in a desert country where the temperature regularly reaches 50°C? You don’t want to go out in the daytime. Air conditioning becomes one of the essentials after water and food. But how long can they keep cooling the inside while heating outside?

Enjoy watching the video and learn about life at 50°C.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-59054893

Topic Reading-Vol.3491/11/1/2021

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why giant turbines are pushing the limits of possibility

Offshore wind power is the development of wind farms sited in water where higher wind power is available to turn the wind turbines. The UK, China, and Germany are the top three countries that generate offshore wind power energy. One advantage of offshore wind power over inland is the wind speed, which is much higher due to the absence of obstacles and smoother surfaces. Therefore, offshore is more suitable for larger wind turbines. The larger the blades are, the more power is generated. These days, a single turn of wind turbines could generate as much as 10 megawatts, enough to provide electricity to thousands of homes in the UK. Now, the race to put up larger wind turbines is heating up. Indeed, it is theoretically more efficient to install and maintain one giant wind turbine instead of two smaller ones. However, that is depending on how far the wind turbines are from the shore and users. Still, larger wind turbines, which could generate 15 megawatts in a single turn, are being engineered. Imagine an offshore powerplant where each turbine has a rotor diameter of 235 meters, longer than the height of a 60-story building. The size seems to matter for wind power turbines.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about giant wind turbines.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58704792