As global temperatures continue to rise, more “extreme rain” events—intense, cats-and-dogs down pours—can be expected, said the study, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. And that, scientists said, means an increased flood risk, particularly for the world's driest areas. The study challenges the idea that global warming is causing dry areas to become drier and wet areas wetter.

    “In both wet and dry regions, we see these great increases in heavy precipitation（冰雹）,” lead author Markus Donat, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, told Nature.

    Donat and his team collected data from 1951 to 2010 on extreme precipitation events from 11, 000 weather stations around the world, Nature reported.

     In that time, the number of days with“extreme precipitation” increased 1 percent to 2 percent per decade.

  “We found a strong relationship between global warming and an increase in rainfall, particularly in areas outside of the tropics,” Donat said in a statement.

  “Importantly, this research suggests we will see these extreme rainfall events increases at regional levels in dry areas, not just as an average across the globe,” Donat added.

    Peter Stott, a senior climate scientistat Met Office, told Climate Central that the study's findings are important, because more violent rainfall and flooding will “challenge our capability toadapt to a rapidly changing climate.”

    As Nature reported, the researchaligns（结盟）with a 2015 study that found global warming has led to a sharp increase in record-breaking precipitation events. Donat told Nature that his study should come as a warning to world governments.

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. "I was a clothes addict(有瘾的人)," he jokes. "I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me, so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled(有褶皱的)." Today David wears casual clothes (便装) to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. "I am working harder than ever." David says, "and I need to feel comfortable."

More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday. This became known as "casual Friday". "What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing." said business consultant Maisly Jones.

Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? "One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code." "A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work," says Owen Black, the owner of a software company, "so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative (保守的) dress code." Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale (心境, 士气). Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative influence on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. "Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day," one person said. "For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes."

    At least five wolves, including one female, have returned to Denmark for the first time in two centuries, a zoologist who has obtained DNA evidence said on Thursday.

    The wolves came from Germany to settle in western Denmark's agricultural region, the least densely populated in the Scandinavian country. Peter Sunde, a scientist at the University of Aarhus, told AFP the wolves must have walked more than 500km. "We think these are young wolves rejected by their families who are looking for new hunting grounds," the researcher added. Scientists have established a genetic profile from the faeces(f粪便) of five wolves - four males and one female - but there could be more. Sunde said researchers had suspected since 2012 that wolves had entered Denmark. "Now we have evidence [including] that there's one female," signalling the possibility of giving birth this spring, he said.

    Proof was also established through the wolves' fingerprints and video surveillance(监视,监督) showed their location, which scientists refuse to reveal out of fear that it will attract hunters."We're following that. The wolf is an animal we're not allowed to hunt so we must protect it," said Henrik Hagen Olesen, spokesperson at the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.Exterminated by hunters, wolves had been completely extinct in Denmark since the beginning of the nineteenth century.

    In other Nordic countries with a higher wolf population, culling(选择性宰杀) the species, protected by the Bern Convention, is under a fierce debate between inhabitants, farmers, hunters, the government, the European Union and wildlife activists.

    Five weeks ago I had a total hip replacement surgery (髋关节置换手术). In Canada, we have great healthcare system. That means we get our new hips for free.

    My hip had been hurting me for years before I went to the doctor. Of course, it was free. She referred me to a surgeon, but the earliest appointment was in 10 months. That is what being free gets you. Ten months later, after some free X-rays, the surgeon told me I needed a surgery, which was about an 18-month wait, for some senior citizens had been on the operation list. Another 18 months! I dragged myself out of the surgeon, s office.

    Walking through the hospital, I thought about the situation. As the breadwinner of a large family, I couldn't wait that long, so I had to get to the front line. I was fully aware of what a Canadian should be like (Canadians are usually considered gentle and caring), but this time I really needed to fight for myself. At that very moment, in the shop window of the hospital, I saw a sign which read, “Volunteers Needed.” Suddenly, an idea occurred to me — I would get the job. Fortunately, they signed me up immediately because the average age of the volunteers at the shop was 75. They were desperate for some young blood.

    Every Friday morning, I was at the shop. While seeing the hospital staff, I'd casually ask, “What do you do?” Then I'd tell them, “Well, I'm getting my hip replaced — in 18 months.

    It's going to be so great when the pain stops.” Soon, all the staff got to know me. Naturally, in my next appointment, the surgeon recognized me. Moments later, I had a surgery date just weeks away.

    I had to say it was actually my volunteering that got me to the front of the line. And I'm not ashamed of it, for I intend to stick with the volunteering. Also, even when I cheated the system, I did it in a way that benefits society.

    It's 5:00 in the morning when the alarm rings in my ears. I roll out of bed and walk blindly through the dark into the bathroom. I turn on the light and put on my glasses. The house is still as I walk downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully. Usually I go for a long run, but today I choose my favorite exercise DVD. Insanity. Sweat pours down my face and into my eyes. My heart races as I face my body to finish each movement. As I near the end of the exercise, I feel extremely tired, but a smile is on my face. It's not a smile because the DVD is over, but a smile of success from pushing my body to its extreme limit.

    Some people enjoy shopping, smoking, food, work, or even chocolate. But I need exercise to get through each day. Some shake heads when they see me run through the town. Others get hurt when I refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother's chocolate cake. They raise their eyebrows, surprised by my “no thank you,” or by my choice to have a salad. Over the years , I have learned it's okay to just say “no.” I shouldn't feel sorry for refusing food that I don't want to eat.

    So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 a.m.? What gives me the reason to just say no to ice cream? Commitment. A commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety, increases self –confidence and energy, extends life and above all improves my body shape. This is the point where a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now fit just right. It's through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and out.

    Last year, when our three-year-old great-granddaughter Kylie was taken to see Santa Claus, she made sure to give him her wish list of toys. A week later, she ran into a different Santa in a mall. He stopped to ask what she wanted for Christmas. Kylie was surprised and let him know: "If you can't remember what I told you last week, how are you going to remember on Christmas Eve?!"

(Mary Paul, Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

    As my son Mike and I drove to the mall, we passed a Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell. "Mike," I said, "there's Santa!" He shook his head. "That's just some guy in a Santa suit," he said. It saddened me to think that maybe my son no longer believed in Santa, and we drove the rest of the way in silence. At the mall, we spotted another Santa greeting young believers. Suddenly, Mike took off toward him. Turning back to me, he shouted. "Now, there's the real Santa!"

(Michael E. Fahey, Huntley, Illinois)

    We immigrated to America from China when I was six. Because I was shy and didn't speak English, I had few friends. My days were spent at home with my brother. Sometimes we'd help our neighbor Mr. Mueller pull weeds. One Christmas Day, there was a knock at the door. Grandma opened it, and there stood a big fellow in red with a snow-white beard, laughing, "Ho, ho, ho!" He handed out presents and made us laugh. I had so much fun. It was years later when I learned that our special Santa was our neighbor Mr. Mueller.

(Joanne Tang, Litchfield Park, Arizona)