Does stress cause gray hair? Many people believe that tension and stress can cause your hair to lose its color. In fact, it is an old-wives' tale that being upset all the time can result in premature graying. Here is a closer look at this situation and why some believe that this old wives' tale could be true.

    As one ages, the hairs on the head also age. In fact, just about everything on the human body begins to show signs of wear and tear (磨损) after a while. The joints wear and become stiff and skin wears and becomes wrinkled. Hairs on the head grow and eventually die. They are replaced, but in the process something else happens.

    When new hairs are replacing the old ones, the color or pigment (色素) is also added to them. However, as one ages, this pigment becomes less and less available. At first, hairs will have a limited amount of pigment and they will appear to be grayish in color. In time, they will lose all of their pigment and will be white. Many things are known to cause graying, and genetics is a very powerful factor. If one of your parents turns gray at an early age, there is a good chance that you will too. Some people begin the graying process in high school, while others may be over the age of forty.

    Constant worry and tension can have many harmful effects on the human body. It is a known fact that stressful times can cause one to suffer hair loss. It would make sense that if it can cause these problems, perhaps it also may contribute to graying. However, there is no sound evidence to support this.

    On the other hand, many medical professionals believe that there may be a link between graying and a constant state of anxiety or tension. Does stress cause gray hair? There is no scientific evidence to support the theory, but it is best to avoid stressful situations.

    ⒈Part of northern California had become an inferno(火海) in the latest big fire. A nearby town, Paradise, was reduced to ash. Nearly 50 people are confirmed dead and over 200 missing. Six of the ten most destructive fires in California's history have occurred in the past decade. Last year was the most destructive year on record, until this year. Why is the Golden State so flammable?

    ⒉There are three reasons why California has been surrounded by flames. First, the climate is becoming warmer. This has led to snow melting earlier, drier landscapes and a longer season when fires are likely to occur.

    ⒊A second reason is that more people live in flammable places. Since the 1990s 60% of new homes in California, Washington and Oregon have been built in spaces next to nature. These areas, which environmentalists call the "wildland-urban interface", are at higher risk of wildfire.

    ⒋A third reason is that there is more fuel. Before western settlers arrived, fires used to happen often and naturally, which made less fuel available for future fires. For the past century fires have been controlled well. This has led to a build-up of dry brush, and makes the average wildfire much likelier to turn into a big one.

    ⒌Putting out the flame is the most immediate task for California, but not the last. Many survivors will want to rebuild their homes exactly where they were. Californians will also want to ensure that utility companies(公用事业公司) are acting and investing responsibly. Investigations into what caused the fire are still going on, but some reports suggest it may have begun with sparks (火花) from lines owned by an electricity company.

    Vinegar makes salad, fries and dumplings taste better, and you can even use it to clean your windows. And now, according to scientists, it may even the planet's population survive climate change.

    Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science （CSRS） in Japan found that growing plants in vinegar makes them more resistant to droughts. This could mean that in the future, worries about climate change affecting the world's supply of food will be much lower. The discovery was made after the researchers studied the Arabidopsis, a plant known for its ability to survive in dry weather. It was found that when the plant was placed in drought﹣like conditions, it produced a chemical called acetate（醋酸盐）﹣the main component of vinegar.

    After discovering this, the scientists experimented further by adding acetate to the soil of other plants, before they stopped giving them water completely. After leaving the plants for 14days, they found that the ones treated with acetate had survived, while the untreated plants had dried up and died.

    It's hoped that this simple method of survival could soon be used to help farmers in dry countries keep their crops alive. "In the experiment, we targeted the staple foods of the world﹣rice, wheat and maize﹣and the basic plant of breeding species, rapeseed（油菜籽）," Jong Myong Kim, co﹣author of the study, told Popular Science magazine.

    Kim also told the magazine he's already been in touch with people all over the world who are interested in trying this simple and cost﹣effective method out for themselves from flower growing companies to amateur gardeners. Although at this point keeping thirsty plants alive isn't as easy as just pouring vinegar over them, Kim said he and his team are working on making the process as simple as possible. "Now we are trying to cooperate with some farmers, and also some companies, to make a method to apply this system, "he said. And for those of us who always forget to ask our neighbors to water our plants when we go away, hopefully this means the end of returning home from a trip to find our favorite flowers have died.

Welcome to Cengiz Tours

    If you are looking to have a relaxing and unforgettable vacation, sailing on the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey, you are at the right place!

Cengiz Tours offers blue cruises starting from June until the end of October each year, in the Gulf of Gokova, located on the Mediterranean Sea.

    You are encouraged to make reservations one-month ahead of time. The blue cruise usually starts from Bod rum, in the Gulf of Gokova, and takes you along the beautiful shores within the Mediterranean Sea. Cengiz Tours offers trips based on your desired destinations. Mr. Cengiz Tozluklu, a licensed captain, a skilled cook and a tour guide, has been sailing for almost 40 years, and will make sure that you have an unforgettable time during your vacation on his boat. He offers a pick-up and drop-off service at the Bodrum Airport. Three meals are included per day and so is moderate alcohol.

    Please make sure that you inform us of any allergies or medical conditions you might have. Sleeping is quite comfortable on the sailboat and you are also certainly invited to sleep on the deck of the boat, under the stars.

    Mr. Tozluklu is a very friendly tour guide, so expect your vacation to be extremely pleasing and a little surprising. The Mediterranean beaches, visiting beautiful Turkish countryside, watching the sunset and sunrise, the moon and the stars, swimming, fishing and enjoying the quiet coves within the Gulf of Gokova will be a vacation hard to forget.

    Call for reservations. You are encouraged to make reservations one-month ahead of time.

    Please note that there is a one-week minimum stay per tour.

    Cellphone (Turkey): + 90-533-923-3222

    Monthly Talks at London Canal Museum

    Our monthly talks start at 19:30 on the first Thursday of each month except August. Admission is at normal charges and you don't need to book. They end around 21:00.

    November 7th

    The Canal Pioneers, by Chris Lewis. James Brindley is recognized as one of the leading early canal engineers. He was also a major player in training others in the art of canal planning and building. Chris Lewis will explain how Brindley made such a positive contribution to the education of that group of early "civil engineers".

    December 5th

    Ice for the Metropolis, by Malcolm Tucker. Well before the arrival of freezers, there was a demand for ice for food preservation and catering, Malcolm will explain the history of importing natural ice and the technology of building ice wells, and how London's ice trade grew.

    February 6th

    An Update on the Cotsword Canals, by Liz Payne. The Stroudwater Canal is moving towards reopening. The Thames and Severn Canal will take a little longer. We will have a report on the present state of play.

    March 6th

    Eyots and Aits-Thames Islands, by Miranda Vickers. The Thames had many islands. Miranda has undertaken a review of all of them. She will tell us about those of greatest interest.

    Online bookings:www.canalmuseum.org.uk/book

    More into:www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson

    London Canal Museum

    12-13 New Wharf Road, London NI 9RT

    www.canalmuseum.org.uk   www.canalmuseum.mobi

    Tel: 020 77130836

    It is the ideal way for traveler to ensure they wake up with the perfect view — a portable Eco-capsule that can be set up anywhere in the world. The egg-shaped pod (独立舱) ensures travelers can camp in the most extreme corners with all the luxury of a hotel room.

    Looking like something in a sci-fi movie, the pod is equipped with solar panels, which guarantee solar energy as its power. In this way the tiny home can let you live comfortably wherever you travel. It even has its own shower and toilet, sleeping area for two, and a small kitchen. The 3,306 ib pods can be transported in a sea-container, meaning the possibilities are endless.

    Bratislava-based Nice Architects are behind the extraordinary Eco-capsules and said they initially designed them for people who stay in the nature for a long time. However, it quickly became apparent that they could be opened up to the wider public and even used in urban areas to fight against high rent and placed on roofs for studio space or living quarters. The Eco-capsule can serve as a cottage, a pop-up hotel or even as a charging station for electric cars.

The Eco-capsules could even be quickly imported for housing for emergency teams who have been quickly arranged to help with natural disasters. Described by the website as a "Swiss Army knife" — it packs everything you need, the self-contained unit can sustain long periods of time without external resources.

    The 86 sqft pods are able to sleep two people for up to year and for those worried about a cold night's sleep, the Eco-capsule has a thick layer which significantly reduce heat loss.

    The pod is designed to cope with extreme weather conditions due to its innovative (创新的) design and materials used. No wonder the Nice Architects are so confident about its future and the producers are receiving heavy orders.