UK Experts Debate the Importance of Saving Pandas

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. habitat (n.) – the place where an animal or plant lives

Example: The jungle is a habitat for wild cats.

2. biodiversity (n.) – the different plants and animals found in an environment

Example: The biodiversity of Brazil’s forests should be protected.

3. greenwash (n.) – a way of saying something is good for the environment when it really does not do much to protect or help the environment

Example:  They said the product is “made from natural and environment-friendly ingredients,” but it may just be greenwash.

4. unparalleled (adj.) – not equaled by another

Example: He wants to capture the unparalleled beauty of nature in his painting.

5. detractor (n.) –a person who opposes or argues against someone or something

Example: The government’s detractors argued against the expensive lifestyles of public officials.

Article
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The UK’s Society of Biology recently held a forum in London on the topic “Do we need pandas? Choosing which species to save.” At the forum, speakers talked about whether saving pandas and their habitats is good for the environment. The topic comes as some detractors say that saving pandas is a kind of Chinese greenwash. They believe people’s money and focus should be directed to more important environmental issues. Biologist Simon Watt, who was part of the panel discussion, said conservation projects should be studied carefully. According to him, panda habitats deserve to be protected, but other animal homes should be prioritized. He recommended focusing on lesser-known projects, such as the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador. The location is home to 2,200 tree species, and the area has much biodiversity in need of protection. Iain Valentine, animal conservation director at Edinburgh Z0o in Scotland, on the other hand, argued that saving pandas is not a form of greenwash. Valentine was responsible for bringing two pandas to the Scotland zoo last year after making a deal with China. Valentine said pandas have an unparalleled charm that makes them popular. He added that profits gained because of pandas go directly to panda conservation, and panda conservation does not use or take away the budget of other projects. Furthermore, protecting pandas helps protect other species living in the same habitats. Valentine mentioned China’s Wolong as an example, which is a well-known panda reserve and UNESCO site. He said the area’s biodiversity has been better cared for because pandas live there.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Why do you think pandas get more attention than other endangered plants or animals?

·         What other animal or plant do you think is worth protecting? Why do you think so?

Discussion B

·         Is giving money to save endangered species a good idea? Please explain your answer.

·         What conservation projects would you most likely support? Why do you choose this?

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Scientists Study How Bee Brains Can Improve Flying Robots

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. navigate (v.) [nav-i-geyt] – to travel through or find the correct way to get to a desired place

Example: The man’s wife helped him navigate through the confusing city streets.

2. sensory system (n.) [sen-suh-ree] [sis-tuhm] – the part of the body that interprets information received from the body’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin

Example: The body’s sensory system lets a person taste, smell, hear, and see things around him.

3. reproduce (v.) [ree-pruh-doos, -dyoos] – to make something that is like something else; to create a copy of something

Example: In the film Jurassic Park, scientists successfully reproduced dinosaurs.

4. equip (v.) [ih-kwip] – to add something to an object or person

Example: Honda equipped their new ASIMO robot with legs that can walk on unstable surfaces.

5. mindlessly (adv.) [mahynd-lis-ly] – without thinking

Example: Some factory workers have been replaced by robots because the jobs can be done mindlessly.

Article
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Scientists from the Universities of Sheffield and Sussex in the UK are studying bees and how they sense and navigate through their environments. The scientists are hoping to copy the bees’ sensory systems for use in flying robots. In the past, scientists have tried reproducing the brains of mice, monkeys, and humans in silicon.  However, it is only recently that scientists have become interested in the brains of social insects such as bees. Dr. James Marshall, a computer scientist from the University of Sheffield, says the thinking abilities of simple organisms like social insects are surprisingly advanced. Bees have been known to have excellent ability in finding their way home. When flying, they adjust their route depending on the position of the sun. Bees’ brains are also smaller and easier for scientists to recreate artificially. Instead of traditional supercomputers, graphics cards will be used for the project, as graphics cards are smaller and much cheaper. The completed artificial bee brain will be equipped to a flying robot. The robot will go through several tests for scientists to see whether it can respond and adjust to a changing environment, just as real bees do. Scientists hope that with the new brain, the robot will no longer complete programmed tasks mindlessly, but will be able to make decisions based on what it senses in the environment. If successful, the £1-million ($1.6-million) bee brain project could make robots capable of helping find and rescue people in danger. The robots could also help farmers by mechanically spreading pollen on crops.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Do you agree that a robot should be able to think for itself or make its own decisions? Please explain your answer.

·         What actions or work would you like future robots to do?

Discussion B

·         Why is it important for us to continue studying nature?

·         What animal skill or natural phenomenon would like to know more about? What makes that skill or phenomenon interesting?

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East African Farmers Try New Techniques to Adapt to Climate Change

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. comprise (v.) [kuh m-prahyz] – to consist of or to be composed of

Example: The entrance exam comprised questions about math, science and language.

2. cycle (n.) [sahy-kuh l] – a series of events that is repeated  over a certain time period

Example: The cycle of seasons—spring, summer, autumn and winter--is repeated every year.

3. erosion (n.) [ih-roh-zhuh n] –  the gradual or slow loss of soil, rock and other land surface materials

Example: No houses were built near the mountains because of possible erosion in the rainy season.

4. plot (n.) [plot] – a small piece of soil or land

Example: He placed seeds in the garden plots.

5. agricultural (adj.) [ag-ri-kuhl-cher-al] – relating to the planting of crops or raising of animals for food or other products

Example:  Agricultural techniques can help farmers produce a great amount of fruits and vegetables.

Article
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New farming techniques being done by East African farmers may not only help them secure food supplies for their families, but also to fight against the effects of the worsening climate change. A survey was conducted by CGIAR’s Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, asking farmers about their techniques without directly asking them how they adapt to the climate change. The survey comprised questions about their crops and farm animals, their management of water, soil and trees on their farms. The survey asked about changes the farmers have made, and why they did those changes. The survey results said that more than half of the farmers apply different techniques in farming such as planting crops with shorter growth cycles, as well as crops that can better adapt to long periods without rain and increased heat. The farmers also plant more trees to prevent erosion during heavy rains and to improve water and soil quality.  Intercropping, or alternating different crops in the same plot, is also a common technique among farmers to produce more vegetables in just one space. According to Patti Kristjanson [KRIS-chuhn-suhn], an agricultural economist, while the farmers may be taking more risks in planting crops so they can make more sales on the market, the techniques eventually help them prepare for climate changes. Kristjanson says farmers can still try many more techniques to improve the quality of soil. She says farmers can also keep agricultural and household water, which can help them when unexpected dry seasons happen. Currently, farmers are learning new farming techniques from programs provided to their cellphones, radio and TV.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you think your country is able to produce enough food supply? What happens when there is not enough food supply?

·         Do you think agricultural problems caused by climate change can be solved? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         How important is it to innovate or try something new when doing a particular task?

·         What recent innovations have you seen in your country, company or community? Do you think these changes are good?

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More Habitable Planets May Exist than Previously Believed

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. habitable (adj.) [hab-i-tuh-buh l] – (in science) able to support or maintain life; can be lived in

Example: Scientists are looking for habitable planets just like Earth.

2. liquid (n.) [lik-wid] – something that flows

Example: Water, milk, and juice are common liquids.

3. surface (n.) [sur-fis] – outer part or uppermost part of something

Example: The surface of the moon is not smooth because it has many craters.

4. evaporation (n.) [ih-vap-uh-rey-shuh n] – a process wherein liquid turns to gas

Example: Sea water undergoes evaporation because of heat from the sun.

5. internal (adj.) [in-tur-nl] – found on the inside, coming from the inside

Example: The internal structure of a planet contains rocks.

Article
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According to British researchers, the number of habitable planets may be greater than what scientists have estimated in the past.  Water is the source of life, and scientists believe a planet is considered habitable if it contains liquid water. For many years, scientists have theorized that for life to exist on a planet, the planet’s surface water had to be liquid. In order for water to be liquid, it had to be in what scientists call the “Goldilocks” zone, an area that is “not too hot and not too cold.” Planets too near their sun are too hot and lose their surface water due to evaporation. Planets that are far away from their sun are too cold and have frozen surface water. In the old theory, these kinds of planets were not considered habitable. However, Mr. McMahon, a researcher from Aberdeen University, says the Goldilocks theory is too simple. A planet’s heat does not only come from the sun, he explains. A planet also has its own internal heat. If a planet is big enough, it may be producing enough internal heat to keep water in liquid form. The planet’s surface water may be frozen, but underneath it, the water may be liquid and full of living things. Even on Earth, many living things are found deep under the surface. Researchers have also built new computer models to identify whether a planet may have liquid water underneath its frozen surfaces. Aberdeen’s team of researchers is hoping these models can help scientists discover which far away planets can possibly support life.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Do you think it is important for scientists to look for habitable planets? Please explain your answer.

·         If scientists discover life on other planets, what would that mean for us? How would that discovery affect us?

Discussion B

·         Knowledge often changes whenever scientists discover or learn something new. How do you feel when you learn about something new or very different from what you already know?

·         Can you give one scientific fact or theory that interests you? Why do you find this information interesting?

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Astronauts Train in Caves for Spaceflights

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. astronaut (n.) [as-truh-nawt, -not] – a pilot a crew member on a spacecraft

Example: He dreams of becoming an astronaut and exploring the space.

2. simulation (n.) [sim-yuh-ley-shuhn] – anything that is made to look like, act like or feel like something else

Example: Military simulations help soldiers practice for actual war scenarios.

3. orbiting (adj.) [awr-bit-ing] – moving around something else

Example: The orbiting moons around the planets were discovered many years ago.

4. seclude (v.) [si-klood] – to keep apart from others

Example: The children’s room is secluded from the adults’ area.


5. survey (v.) [ser-vey] – to make a detailed study or check of something

Example: The engineer surveyed the area for any damages.

Article
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Astronauts from different international space agencies went deep into the caves of Sardinia in Italy for survival training and preparation for their next spaceflight. This training is part of the CAVES project, which stands for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills. The project allows astronauts to work together and help each other through problems and challenging situations. Caves provide a good simulation of the environment in an orbiting spacecraft, since caves are dark and secluded from the world. In caves, astronauts can experience the discomfort and lack of privacy that they will also likely experience in space. The team includes astronauts from NASA, European Space Agency, Russia, Japan and Canada. Three of the team’s members already have spaceflight experiences. The astronauts went down the cave last September 6 and stayed for six days. They tested safety routines and communication systems similar to what they would use in outer space. Aside from exploring the cave, they also surveyed life forms in the cave, as astronauts would do if they were to go to other planets. Test courses for the CAVES project began in 2008. In 2011, five astronauts from NASA, ESA, Russian and Japanese agencies participated in the project. Aside from CAVES, several other space simulation programs exist to train astronauts for difficult space conditions. NASA, for example, is operating its own undersea training mission called NEEMO or NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations Program.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Why should astronauts have a lot of practice at helping each other solve problems?

·         Have you ever helped or worked with others to get through a difficult situation? How did it go?

Discussion B

·         Have you tried practicing or preparing very hard for something? What did you do?

·         Why is training and preparation important?