Food storing is common in members of the crow（乌鸦）family. A new study tested the birds outside this naturally occurring behaviour, which may have evolved（进化）specifically because it gives crows a survival advantage. Some crow species are known to naturally use tools to recover food. So the researchers tested whether the birds could store and recover a tool so they could get it at their food after a gap of 17 hours—something we wouldn't expect them to do naturally. But they were able to instantly select the tool out of a number of unnecessary items.

    In another experiment, the researchers taught crows to select a token （礼品券）from a number of items so that they could then exchange for food. Again, the birds then showed that they could plan for the future using this new behaviour. This is different from all of the previous studies in future planning, which have focused on naturally occurring behaviour. For example, we know that chimpanzees select, transport and save appropriate tools for future needs.

    These studies have shown that animals can plan for the future—but they left an important question open for debate. Are animals only able to plan to use abilities that have evolved to give them a specific advantage, or can they flexibly and intelligently apply planning behaviour across various actions? Most critics would say the former, as the animals were tested in naturally occurring behaviours.

    But the new research provides the first evidence that animal species can plan for the future using behaviour that doesn't typically occur in nature. This supports the view that at least some recognitive abilities in animals don't evolve just in response to specific problems. Instead, it suggests that animals can apply these behaviours flexibly across problems in a similar way to humans. We need to investigate how flexible behaviour evolved. Then we might be able to see how crows' ability to plan for the future fits in with their broader cognitive powers.

    What do you think of cats? Some people think very lovely. But not all people love cats. Compared with dogs, cats seem to be very lazy and unfriendly. Besides, cats are not known for acts of selflessness (无私). But maybe we're wrong about them. Don't believe it? Then meet Pippa, a very unusual cat.

    The black-and-white cat was left in a box outside a shop and taken by the British RSPCA to the Jansa family in Whitstable, Kent. They really loved her character (性格) and decided to adopt (收养) it，but they never guessed she'd become a lifesaver.

    Eight-year-old Mia Jansa had diabetes and had become good at testing her blood during the day, as well as having something to eat or drink to bring her blood sugar levels back. But the danger was at night. Mia could easily experience hypoglycemic (低血糖症的) situations when she was asleep, which could cause even death.

    Soon after she was adopted, Pippa went into Mia's bedroom in the middle of the night and woke her up. When the child tested her blood sugar levels, she found they were dangerously low. Ever since, Pippa always visits Mia at night. If she can't get her to wake up, she raises the alarm.

    “Pippa does this of her own accord,” says Mia's mother Laura. “We don't make a request for caring because we don't want to encourage wrong alarms. She gets plenty of hugs. It gives me peace of mind and I know someone else is keeping an eye on Mia.”

    Now the family is so happy that they've chosen to adopt it in the first place.

    For years, decades in fact, I've puzzled over the response most people have when I tell them I mostly travel alone.

    "You're so brave!"

    Why is it that a woman travelling alone, as I have often done for months at a time, is perceived to be "brave", whereas men who travel alone are entirely unremarkable?

You are only brave when you are afraid of something but still do it anyway. I have never been afraid of travelling alone.

    The first time I travelled alone was when I was 19. I was due to travel in Europe with a friend at the end of the summer. She announced by letter two days before our departure that she would be leaving me halfway at Vienna. It was too late by then to rope in another friend, so it was either to go home after Vienna, or keep going by myself. I kept going. I got on trains by myself, checked into hostels by myself and found my way around by myself. It was weird at first, but later I stopped worrying about it.

    When I got back to Ireland after that trip, I felt proud of myself. I had done something I had assumed would be hard, and it had turned out to be not hard at all.

    That was three decades ago, and since then I have travelled all over the world, usually on my own. I still do what I did then, which is to keep a diary. The greatest gift of solo travel has been those I've met along the way. I may have set off alone each time but I've encountered many people who became important to me. I met my husband in Kathmandu, Nepal. I met lifelong friends in Australia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, India, Indonesia and many other places.

Need a Job This Summer?

    The provincial government and its partners offer many programs to help students find summer jobs. The deadlines and what you need to apply depend on the program.

    Not a student? Go to the government website to learn about programs and online tools available to help people under 30 build skills, find a job or start businesses all year round.

    Jobs for Youth

    If you are a teenager living in certain parts of the province, you could be eligible(符合条件)for this program. Which provides eight weeks of paid employment along with training.

    Who is eligible: Youth 15-18 years old in select communities(社区).

    Summer Company

    Summer Company provides students with hands-on business training and awards of up to $3,000 to start and run their own summer businesses.

    Who is eligible: Students aged 15-29, returning to school in the fall.

    Stewardship Youth Ranger Program

    You could apply to be a Stewardship Youth Ranger and work on local natural resource management projects for eight weeks this summer.

    Who is eligible: Students aged 16 or 17 at time of hire, but not turning 18 before December 31 this year.

    Summer Employment Opportunities(机会)

    Through the Summer Employment Opportunities program, students are hired each year in a variety of summer positions across the Provincial Public Service, its related agencies and community groups.

    Who is eligible: Students aged 15 or older. Some positions require students to be 15 to 24 or up to 29 for persons with a disability.

I didn't go to Santiago, Chile to look for friendship. In fact, Chile was not even on my wish list.

A mid-life crisis woman, I got a chance to study abroad. I only wanted to learn about global business, taste South American cuisine, and check "study abroad" off my wish list.

On the fifth day, I joined a group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty (扶贫) organization. Our tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. Upon arrival, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a horrible film. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such terrible living conditions. As advised, I showed no signs of the motional battle going on inside me.

Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help Nadia, a local resident who volunteered to cook for us. I raised my hand to help because I wanted spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.

Nadia had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. Even without speaking each other's language we started to learn about one another. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, shared picture of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate in the other's language, and laugh many times.

After we fed everybody and the dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness heart I would encounter, and it was moving.

As we were waiting for the car to pick us up, Nadia showed me her plants that are well-maintains. I could see that despite the hard conditions she was passionate about life. She made me long to be stronger person. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.