More than four decades ago British scientist Robert Edwards first witnessed the miracle of human life growing inside a test tube at his Cambridge lab. Since that ground-breaking moment, more than four million babies have been born through IVF and in 2010 his great contribution to science was finally recognized as he was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.

    The prize for Dr. Edwards, who was given a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in 2008, includes a £900,000 check. The Nobel Assembly described IVF as a “milestone in modern medicine”.

    With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, the Manchester-born physiologist developed IVF — leading to the birth of the world's first test tube baby. Dr. Steptoe died 10 years later but their work has transformed fertility treatment and given hope to millions of couples.

    It was a scientific breakthrough that transformed the lives of millions of couples. They said: “His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a disease which makes human unable to have a baby. This condition has been afflicting a large percentage of mankind including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.”

    Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby, made international headlines when she was born in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, in 1978 to parents Lesley and John who had been fruitlessly trying for a baby since 1969.

    Ivf-in-vitro fertilization is the process whereby egg cells are fertilized outside the body before being implanted in the womb. After a cycle of IVF, the probability of a couple with infertility problems having a baby is one in five—the same as healthy couples who conceive naturally.

    Professor Edwards, who has five daughters and 11 grandchildren, began his research at Cambridge University in 1963, after receiving his PhD in 1955. He once said: “The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child.” With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, Prof. Edwards founded the Bourn Hall clinic in Cambridge shire, which now treats more than 900 women a year. Each year, more than 30,000 women in Britain now undergo IVF and 11,000 babies are born as a result of the treatment.

    But his work attracted widespread criticism from some scientists and the Catholic Church who said it was “unethical and immoral”.

    Martin Johnson, professor of reproductive sciences at the University of Cambridge, said the award was “long overdue”. He said: “We couldn't understand why the Nobel has come so late but he is delighted — this is the cherry on the cake for him.”

    Professor Edwards was too ill to give interviews but a statement released by his family said he was “thrilled and delighted”.

    If you make a list of the world's top ten most challenging jobs,chances are that being a teacher will not make the cut.But think about the discouraging task millions of educators face each day as they try to shape a group of often bad-tempered,wild kids into intelligent,well-rounder individuals.That surely has to be the toughest job in the world, especially given that there is no promotion or bonus awaiting them even if they are wildly successful!

    What if there all-important individuals that we often take for granted（想当然）disappear from our lives?That was what Project Ed and Participant Media's Teach campaign asked filmmakers of all ages to imagine in their recently-held competition.Entitled "A World Without Teachers",its purpose was to inspire more young people to become teachers.However,the 62 amazing video submissions also serve as a reminder of how horrible things would be if we didn't have these selfless individuals guiding us through life.What was interesting is that even the youngest participants did not appear to be happy at the idea of not having anybody telling them what to do.

    High-school student Savannah Wakefield reflected if art as we know it today would have been different without teachers.Would Monet have discovered his talent for impressionism?Los Angeles-based Miles Horst,who won the 1000 USD prize for the best adult submission imagines a world where teachers are replaced by a “brain box” in his fun lively entry.

    Youth category winner Marina Barham's video represents a fact we all know but often forget.Teachers don't just teach,they inspire something that no electronic device,no matter how smart,can do!So the next time you think your teacher is being "mean" for trying to channel you in the right direction,imagine a life without him/her.We have a feeling it will not appear as rosy!

    More than 135,000 UK drinkers will die from cancer caused by alcohol（酒精）by the year 2035, researchers say. A study by Sheffield University and Cancer Research UK shows that alcohol will cost the NHS (National Health Service)￡53 billion over the next ten years including ￡2 billion on cancer.

    Although alcohol is known to cause many types of cancer including breast and throat, most people don't realize the relation between alcohol and cancer. A survey of 2,100 Britons by the researchers earlier this year found nine in ten did not connect drinking with cancer. The researchers used a computer model to work out the numbers of alcohol-related cancer deaths, hospital admissions（入院）and total costs to NHS over the next 20 years.

    The study shows that a fifth of men and 1 in 10 women have alcohol every day—many of these are middle-aged and middle class. Researchers are very worried about this group as they believe cancer may be caused by drinking over long periods. The study shows that even if the cost stays as it is, alcohol-related cancer deaths will rise from 6,299 in 2015 to 7,097 in 2034. Alcohol will lead to 891,299 hospital admissions, up from 802,118 in 2015, and 65,005 will be caused by cancer.

    Earlier this year Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies studied carefully the alcohol guidance（指导）for the first time in thirty years. She told people there was no safe level of drinking and advised them to drink no more than 14 units a week. But researchers say this guidance isn't enough and want the government to increase a little price per unit of alcohol.

    Dublin City Guide

    Delightful and full of surprises, Dublin packs a blow that, delivered correctly, will leave you a shock. Dublin, locals will tell you, has personality, which is much more important than good looks and will last far longer. That's big talk for a small capital in true Irish style.

    About Dublin City Guide

    One Dublin author, over 500 hours of research, and over 300 shopping, eating and drinking recommendations.

    Insights into city life, from a local fashion designer's shopping tips to a food expert's top restaurant picks.

    Explore the living places that inspired Dublin's literary greats—Swift, Yeats, Beckett and Joyce.

    Book (USD $21.99)

    What you get:

    1 printed book

    Pages: 276 pages, 12 color pages, 29 maps

    Size: 128mm×197mm

    Weight: 0.31kg/0.68lb

    About books only purchase: We'll send you the physical printed book but you won't be given access to our e-book downloads. Select “Book + E-Book” and you would also like to download a digital version of this book.

    E-Book (USD $ 15.39)

    “Contents”, “Getting Started” and “Index” are all free.

    “Background”, “Neighborhoods”, “Eating &Drinking” and “Sleeping” are $4.95 each.

Book and E-Book (USD $28.59)

    Including: 1 printed book and all PDF chapters—8 PDF files.

    About book + E-book: We'll send you the physical printed book and while that's on the way you can download our e-books.

    The new president of Harvard University is the son of an Eastern European refugee and Auschwitz (奥斯威辛) survivor—Lawrence S. Bacow. His father worked full time while attending a state college in Detroit at night to earn his degree.

    Bacow, the former president of Tufts University, has taken over Harvard at a time when higher education is under attack for being financially out of reach to many Americans. But Bacow said his family's journey had reflected the power of college education to transform generations and the opportunities that have historically been available in the United States.

    "My parents came to this country with almost nothing," Bacow said. "I wouldn't be here if this country had not been open to people like my parents at that time. Nor would I if my father hadn't had the opportunity to get the college education."

    Bacow grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. His father's family fled anti-Jewish (反犹太的) violence in Minsk, then part of the Soviet Union, before the start of World War II and went to the United States. His mother arrived in Brooklyn at age 19, having survived Auschwitz concentration camp. She was the only Jew from her town to have survived the war. Yet Bacow, who is married with two sons, said that while growing up in Michigan, he had a happy childhood, entering science fairs as a child and building radios like his dad.

    Bacow has spent most of his professional career at MIT, Harvard and Tufts. He was a professor of environmental studies at MIT, and later a principal at the university. He led Tufts from 2001 to 2011. At Tufts, Bacow earned a reputation for shaking up a sleepy university that was being overshadowed by its peers in Boston. He is also credited with leading it through both 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis.

    As the Tufts president, Bacow traveled around the country, reaching out to alumni (校友), and he urged his faculty and deans to do the same, in an effort to boost donations to finance Tufts' academic ambitions. He raised more than $20 million for faculty recruitment, attracting up-and-coming professors by offering junior faculty perks (福利), such as long academic leaves that they couldn't get elsewhere.

    Under Bacow's leadership, Tufts spent millions on labs and libraries. He also made addresses nationally about the need to make higher education more accessible and affordable to low-income students.

Music

    Opera at Music Hall: 1243 Elm Street. The season runs June through August, with additional performances in March and September. The Opera honors enjoy the Arts membership discounts. Phone: 723­1182.

    Chamber Orchestra: The Orchestra plays at Memorial Hall at 106 Elm Street, which offers several concerts from March through June. Call 241­2742 for more information.

    Symphony Orchestra: At Music Hall and Riverbend. For ticket sales, call 381­3300. Regular season runs September through May at Music Hall and in summer at Riverbend.

    College Conservatory of Music (CCM): Performances are on the main campus (校园) of the university, usually at Patricia Cobbett Theater. CCM organizes a variety of events, including performances by the well­known LaSalle Quartet, CCM's Philharmonic Orchestra, and various groups of musicians presenting Baroque through modern music. Students with I.D. cards can attend the events for free. A free schedule of events for each term is available by calling the box office at 556­4183.

    Riverbend Music Theater: 6295 Kellogg Ave. Large outdoor theater with the closest seats under cover (price difference) .Big name shows all summer long! Phone: 232­6220.