For years, scientist and others concerned about climate change have been talking about the need for carbon capture and storage(CCS).

    That is the term for removing carbon dioxide from, say, a coal-burning power plant's smokestack and pumping it deep underground to keep it out of the atmosphere, where it would otherwise contribute to global warming.

    However, currently, only one power plant in Canada captures and stores carbon on a commercial scale (and it has been having problems). Among the concerns about storage is that carbon dioxide in gaseous or liquid form that is pumped underground might escape back to the atmosphere. So storage sites would have to be monitored, potentially for decades or centuries.

    But scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University and other institutions have come up with a different way to store CO₂ reacts with the rock to form a mineral call calcite(方解石). By turning the gas into stone, scientists can lock it away permanently. Volcanic rocks called basalts(玄武岩) are excellent for his process, because they are rich in calcium, magnesium and iron, which react with CO₂.

    The project called CarbFix started in Iceland, 2012, when the scientists pumped about 250 tons of carbon dioxide, mixed with water, about 1,500 feet down into porous basalt. Early sings were encouraging: The scientists found that about 95 percent of the carbon dioxide was changed into calcite. And even more importantly, they wrote, the change happened relatively quickly—in less than two years.

    “It's beyond all our expectations,” said Edda Aradottir, who manages the project. Rapid change of the CO₂ means that a project would probably have to be monitored for a far shorter time than a more conventional storage site.

    There are still concerns about whether the technology will prove useful in the fight against global warming. For one thing, it would have to be scaled up enormously. For another, a lot of water is needed—25 tons of it for every ton of CO₂—along with the right kind of rock.

    But the researchers say that there is enough porous basaltic rock in Iceland, including in the ocean floors and along the margins of continents. And sitting a storage project in or near the ocean could potentially solve the water problem at the same time, as the researchers say seawater would work just fine.

    Are you scared about moving up to senior high school?It can be a new experience,but you shouldn't worry.We've put together a guide on how to survive the first week.

    You're not alone

    Remember everybody else in your year is in the same boat.They may not realize it,but they're just as nervous as you are.Moving to senior high is an opportunity,not a problem.Things are different and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.

    Teachers are ready to help!

    If you're unsure what to do or are worried about anything then you had better ask for help.Teachers are probably the best people to turn to as they're experienced in helping new students.Some senior high schools also have a “friends system”.If your school has this,then you will be paired with an older student.They will look out for you and help you if you have any problems or questions.

    All change

    There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school.You'll have a homework diary or a student planner.You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms.You will have homework for different subjects on different days,so make sure you get organized.Make sure you have a copy of your school timetable written down so you know which rooms your classes are in and on which days you will have your different subjects.

Other points

    If you've got an older brother or sister at the school then ask them for advice.

    Be yourself! It sounds simple,but people will know you much better if you just act naturally.

    Having early nights makes a difference and you'll find it easier to get up in the morning!

    Papa was a ranger. He worked with horses. He always wore clean clothes with a hat even when he worked. His hat was always the same kind of a cowboy hat—large black hat of heavy wool. He wore his hat full and high. I think he wanted to look taller than he really was.

    Mama was proud of the way he looked when he wore his hat and his best clothes. But in some way she got the idea that papa would lose his hair if he kept wearing a heavy wool cowboy hat in the hot weather. She began to talk about his hat.

    "Papa, "she said one day, "why don't you get a nice cool straw hat? That heavy wool cowboy hat may cause losing hair!" Papa laughed at her and explained that the horses wouldn't recognize him if he changed the hat. But she didn't believe him.

    Mama talked and talked about the hat all summer long. At last papa answered, a little angry, "It would not the cowboy hat but a wife's talking about the hat that makes me lose my hair."

    Mama had a very serious look on her face. She went straight out and later came home with a straw hat. It was a bad year for ranger and we didn't have much money. She thought that if she spent the money for a straw hat, papa would wear it. When papa saw the hat, his face got red. Without a word, he pulled the straw hat down over his head until it hid his eyes and went on to train the horses.

    He was a good ranger and gentle to his horses. But as papa got close to the horses this time, they jumped high into the air, raising their front feet. All of them ran around in the rounded field and then raced toward the barn. Papa began to shout "Woo boys. Steady boys, steady." But there was nothing equal to.

    Papa walked back straight to the stove in the kitchen, pushed the straw hat deep down into the fire then turned to mama, in a way that even frightened me. "Now listen to me, mama. Understand this I will never wear a straw hat or any other kind of hat my horses do not like. "Then he put on his wool cowboy hat and walked out of the house.

    I never heard mama talk any more about hats. Perhaps, that is why when papa died many years later, there was a round spot on the top of his head where there was no hair.

    Your mobile phone vibrates in your pocket. 'Need to see you,' reads the screen. Nothing new, considering that texting is currently the most common form of long-distance communication. But how were messages conveyed in the past?

    One of the first methods was the smoke signal. This practice was used by Chinese soldiers guarding the Great Wall to warn of the enemy's approach. The Greeks invented a whole alphabet of smoke signals for sending messages. But it was Native Americans who made the system mobile by carrying small bunches of dried grasses around with them. These could be lit quickly from any place at any time.

    Moving on to messages transmitted by sound, an early technique was the drum. Drums are still used today in the rainforests of Africa, Papua New Guinea and Central and South America for broadcasting news. The instrument is made from a piece of wood, which is empty inside, and this is hit with a stick. On receiving the message, each village passes it on to the next, which means that news can travel at up to 150 km an hour.

    In some parts of the world, humans are able to convey messages over long distances without using instruments. On La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, people use Silbo, or the 'whistling language' to communicate across the valleys. The language involves the use of the tongue, lips and hands to make sounds, which can travel up to 5 km. To ensure its continuation, Silbo is currently a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools on the island.

    A look at long-distance communication would not be complete without mentioning the art of yodelling. This is a form of singing, in which the voice changes sound levels very quickly, making it easily heard over long distances. It is believed that the technique was developed in the Swiss Alps, but it is also found in other places such as Central Africa. At one time, yodelling was popular in theatres and music halls, but this is no longer so.

All Aboard for a Family Trip by Train

    If you're looking for a family vacation idea, look no further. Explore America with Amtrak. On the train, your family will have plenty of room to spread out and relax.

    Once on board, the family can take in the scenery from the Sightseer Lounge（观景车厢）. Plus, most of our overnight trains feature Dining cars that serve three meals a day, with full menus and table service. If you're looking for lighter fare, grab a bite to eat or a drink in the Café car. You can also reserve Sleeping car accommodations and let the gentle rhythms of the train sway you to sleep. It's the best way to arrive at your destination rested and ready to go.

    Learn More about the Onboard Experience on www.amtrak.com

    A Dining Experience like No Other

    From full sit-down meals to more informal food service, many trains have one or more option for onboard dining. If you're not hungry, you might start to hear your stomach rumbling（腹鸣） after looking at our menus. We provide you with more dining choices, onboard dining reservations and the different types of dining cars, like long distance dinning car, lounge car and café car.

    Sleeping Accommodations

    Sleeping accommodations are available on most long-distance routes. Amtrak trains traveling on long-distance routes typically use either two-level Superliner or one-level Viewliner train car equipment, each of which include bedrooms arranged in various configurations and private and public bathrooms and showers.

    Seating Accommodations

    On most Amtrak trains, you have three options for seating accommodations. The availability of these options varies depending on your route and the type of train equipment in use:

    Coach Class: Designed for You to Relax.

    Business Class: More Amenities. More Comfort.

    First Class: Exclusively on Acela Express.

    Do you know the term "tweenager"? It's a slang word being used in the UK to describe children 10-13 years old. They are between junior and the teenage years. Why are they suddenly referred to in this way?

    Tweenagers now have more money, freedom and influence upon their parents than they've ever had before. More and more companies are creating products and services for tweenagers. You can get everything from branded lunchboxes and mobile phone covers, to monthly fan magazines and clothing-it's all about sales.

    Most children in the UK today get more pocket money than kids did a decade ago. It is because parents are having fewer children on average than in the past. In addition, the divorce rate in the UK is continually rising and parents spend less time with their children than they used to. So, many parents try to compensate(补偿) by buying presents for them.

    And do tweenagers have more freedom? Well, UK children today are very familiar with media and computer. Many have a television, if not a computer, in their bedrooms. They have access to much more information about the world.

    They may have experienced a lot in life as well, since 24% of UK kids live in single-parent families. People now say that "Kids are getting older younger". With such sophistication (世故) at such a young age, they are much more fashion conscious and concerned about their image.

    In a world of TV programs that promise overnight success and fame at a young age, some people think it's extremely important to look fashionable. Surely none of the above is a good thing, is it? Can it really be healthy for us to encourage kids to be like adults at such a young age? Are we stealing childhoods in return for profit?

    The UK government is certainly concerned, and for that reason has strict laws preventing companies from marketing their products and services at children. So, is there a happy ending to this story?

    Companies have just worked out that the older tweenage audience is now looking for something darker and more rebellious. As a result, films such as Twilight are being produced for this older tweenage audience.