Like most people, I was brought up to look upon life as a process of getting. It was not until in my late thirties that I made this important discovery: giving away makes life much more exciting. You need not worry if you lack money.

    This is how I experimented with giving away. If an idea for improving the window display of a neighborhood store flashes to me, I step in and make the suggestion to the storekeeper. One discovery I made about giving away is that it is almost impossible to give away anything in this world without getting something back, though the return often comes in an unexpected form.

    One Sunday morning, the local post office delivered an important special delivery letter to my home, though it was addressed to me at my office. I wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation. More than a year later I needed a post office box for a new business I was starting. I was told at the window that there were no boxes left, and that my name would have to go on a long waiting list. As I was about to leave, the postmaster appeared in the doorway. He had overheard(无意中听到) our conversation. “Wasn't it you that wrote us that letter a year ago about delivering a special delivery to your home？” I said yes. “Well, you certainly are going to have a box in this post office if we have to make one for you. You don't know what a letter like that means to us. We usually get nothing but complaints.”

    I was driving home from the gym with my children. It was approaching bed time.

    “My legs hurt, I can't walk to the car.” said my son, William. Then be sat on the ground regardless of whatever we said.

    “Maybe you just need a banana? They're good for tired bones.” his sister, Meredith, persuaded him in a wise way.

This was the first time I had heard of the banana's miracle(神奇的) cure for achy bones. It distracted(使分心) William and we were able to make it to the car. His wish for bone relief brought him energy and he persisted(坚持) the entire ride home. Upon arrival, he struggled out of the car and slowly went up 3 steps into the house. While he took his ”medicine”, we arrived on a suitable diagnosis (诊断) for his “illness” —a serious case of Banana Bone. He was probably just over—tired. He had a long day and played hard in the Adventure Room at the gym. Thankfully we kept some bananas in the fridge, and hugs and kisses were given as a booster (辅助药剂) , which gave him the courage to walk upstairs to sleep.

    Banana Bone sounds like something I've had before. The aching hasn't been in my bones so much as in my head and my heart. I think it's a condition related to stress, lack of rest and stretching of one's abilities. Perhaps you're experienced it too. It is about long days facing challenges or pressing against the edges of your own ability without any hope.

    That's when you realize Banana Bone doesn't have to be a physical illness. It can be mental. It can drive emotion. It means you can choose it or you can choose against it. It's not real. It' s your reaction to what's real. I know, it' s still not easy. But it' s part of “growing up”. We must have the courage to overcome it and I believe we can make it﹗

    My advice to you? Eat a banana and go to bed. You'll feel a lot better and be your fresh self in the morning.

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    I'm a strong believer that learning different languages makes you look incredibly good when you're in a foreign country and can understand and speak the language. The list below is 4 apps that will help you learn a foreign language! You can download them for free.

    Babbel – Learn Languages

    Babbel is an excellent language tool to help you progress step by step with learning a new language. It helps you learn grammar along the way as you work your way through the tasks and assignments. The downside is that for full access to everything you need to pay a monthly subscription, but this will still be cheaper than taking physical lessons with a tutor!

    Duolingo: Learn Languages Free

    The app has many languages to choose from and will work through the basics all the way to advanced words and sentences. It's all completely free too! It's incredibly well designed, looks great and will help you learn, remember and progress with just a little bit of time every day.

    Tandem: Language Exchange

    Rather than have you work through tasks and memorize different things, the app lets you match with people who share your interests but speak the language you want to learn. You can then have text, voice and video conversations with people who want to learn your native language, and in return you learn theirs, all by simply communicating with each other. It's a great way to learn with only $1 a day.

    Learn English – busuu

    This app is perfect if you want to learn English. There are all sorts of audio and visual learning aids. You'll find yourself working through interactive tests and learning tools for vocabulary and dialogue.

You might think people all over the United States have Wi-Fi—wireless Internet service—and mobile phones. But there is no such service in Green Bank, West Virginia, a tiny town four hours from the U.S. capital, Washington D.C. Fewer than 150 people live in Green Bank, which has two churches, an elementary school and a public library. It is also home to the largest radio telescope in the world.

    There is a ban on Wi-Fi in Green Bank, along with anything else that can create electromagnetic(电磁的)waves. Officials say the waves could disturb the signals the telescope receives.

For many Americans, a visit to Green Bank is a little like returning to the 1950s. To get there, you must read road signs—because there is no GPS service in the town. People can connect with the Internet through telephones, but wireless service is not allowed.

    The observatory(天文台)is one of the largest employers in the area. The federal National Science Foundation(NSF) spends about ＄8.2 million a year to operate the observatory, telescope and educational center.

    Jonah Bauserman is a technician. If he supposes there is signal that is not allowed in the zone, he drives to the house where the signal is coming from and checks it. But once a week, when the device is cleaned, some banned devices are allowed near it.

    People in the town respect the work of the scientists. And they say they are happy to live without Wi-Fi and mobile phones. “You know, instead of sitting here on our phones and other devices we're out fishing and hunting and going to each other's houses.” Everyone knows each other and communication is almost always face-to-face.

                                                  Printable Tags Turn Everyday Objects into Smart Devices

    Engineers have developed printable metal tags (标签)that could be attached to everyday objects and turn them into smart Internet of Things devices.

    The metal tags are made from copper foil (铜箔) printed onto thin, flexible, paper-like materials to reflect WiFi signals. The tags work essentially like "mirrors" that reflect radio signals from a WiFi router(路由器). When a user's finger touches these "mirrors", it disturbs the reflected WiFi signals in such a way that can be remotely sensed by a WiFi receiver like a smartphone.

    The tags can be nailed onto objects that people touch every day, like water bottles, walls or doors. These objects then become smart and connected devices that can signal a WiFi device whenever a user interacts with them. The tags can also be shaped into thin keypads or smart home control panels that can be used to remotely operate WiFi-connected speakers and other Internet of Things devices.

    Xinyu Zhang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, named the technology LiveTag. He pictures people using LiveTag technology to track human interaction with everyday objects. For example, LiveTag could potentially be used to assess the recovery of patients who have suffered from stroke (中风). "When patients return home, they could use this technology to provide data based on how they interact with everyday objects at home, whether they are opening or closing doors in a normal way, or if they are able to pick up bottles of water, for example. The amount, intensity and frequency of their activities could be recorded and sent to their doctors to evaluate their recovery," said Zhang. "And this can all be done in the comfort of their own homes rather than having to keep going back to the clinic for frequent testing," he added.

    The researchers note several limitations of the technology. LiveTag currently cannot work with a WiFi receiver further than one meter away, so researchers are working on improving the tag sensitivity and detection range. Ultimately, the team aims to develop a way to make the tags using normal paper and ink printing, which would make them cheaper to mass produce.

Benefits and Problems of Genetic Engineering

    Plant breeding is the science of changing the characteristics of plants in order to produce desired ones. Genes in a plant are what determine what type of characteristics it will have. Plant breeders try to create a specific outcome of plants and potentially new plant varieties by changing the genes of the plants through breeding, which is making new plants from parents of different varieties or species.

    Actually, plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years, since near the beginning of human civilization. It is practiced worldwide by individuals such as gardeners and farmers and by professional plant breeders employed by organizations such as government institutions, universities, crop-specific industry associations or research centers. They have crossbred plants to create the new types of plants that are, for example, bigger, stronger, or more attractive.

    Crossbreeding can take such a long time, however, and it is inaccurate. Now, we can change exact sections of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), so the process is more accurate and faster. But people all over the world are arguing about its benefits and disadvantages. Some people use the technology to produce desired characteristics of plants and animals. Other people are concerned that the genetically engineered plants may harm the environment and worried that they may be dangerous for people to eat.

    There are many reasons for changing plants in this way. International development agencies believe that breeding new crops is important for ensuring food security by developing new varieties that are higher yielding(高产的), disease resistant, drought tolerant or regionally adapted to different environments and growing conditions. For example, some genetically engineered plants can live through frost or draught. As a result, famers can make more profit because fewer plants will die.

    Some genetically engineered plants are more nutritious. They have less fat, taste better or stay fresher than non-genetically engineered plants. This will allow people to buy better-quality fruit and vegetables.

    Some genetically engineered plants can resist natural pests such as viruses or insects. This reduces the amount of chemical needed to kill pests, which is helpful to the environment.

    However, genetically engineered plants can cause unexpected problems. Genetically engineered plants that resist pests may pass on that characteristic to a wild relative. This may cause the wild plant to spread fast, because pests are not naturally killing it.

    Genetically engineered plants can also harm animals. A type of corn has been developed which kills a species of insect that destroys it. The pollen (花粉) from this corn, however, can also kill monarch butterflies—the most beautiful of all butterflies, which do not harm the corn.

    To ensure the most adapted varieties are identified, advocates of organic breeding now promote the use of direct selection for many desired characteristics.

    Genetic engineering is a very new science and we have a lot to learn about the good it can do and the damage it can cause. The main concern is that not enough tests are being done to ensure it is safe.