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To study the behavior of wild animals, scientists routinely tag them with GPS location trackers. But such devices' battery capacity limits how long they operate, often bringing an early end to significant conservation work. Solar-powered trackers are also a poor choice for they break easily and don't work for night creatures.

So biologist Rasmus W. H. of the University of Copenhagen and his colleagues turned to another abundant power source. After some trial and error, they finally came up with a tiny generator powered by a pendulum (摆锤) inside a closed device. As the tagged animal moves, the swinging pendulum forces a ring to slide across a copper coil, generating current which is then used to power the sensors for GPS unit. The tracker, which could theoretically survive for the entire life span of an active animal, was recently tested on domestic dogs, a wild pony and a European bison. The dogs and bison in the study were active enough to create the energy for one GPS transmission cycle per day for 14 days and 17 days, respectively. One of the wild pony's-trackers lasted at least 146 days but didn't produce enough power for daily transmissions, the researchers reported in Plos One.

The limited power generated by the animals' movements means the new tracker isn't ready for prime time just yet, says ecologist Emily Studd of British Columbia's Thompson Rivers University, who wasn't involved in the study. When researchers want to keep close track of animals, they often need GPS fixes more than once a day. But Studd says that with a bit more development, this could be a game changer for wild-life animal research and monitoring.

Rasmus and his colleagues hope conservation workers can one day use this technology to track species such as tigers, leopards and wolves, which can easily destroy solar-powered trackers and which hunt and travel at night.

"By removing needless details in pursuit of perfection, Van Den followed in the footsteps of many great artists, writers, composers, and painters."

Juhani Murros made an unexpected discovery during his visits to art galleries when he worked for an organization in Ho Chi Minh City in 1990. A small still life in an unnoticeable gallery commanded the Finnish physician's attention. "It was not an eye-catching oil painting, yet its dark, mysterious colors and the emotional tension of its disciplined composition set it apart." Thus began a long journey of discovering the art and life of Van Den, a Buddhist of mixed Chinese and Vietnamese ancestry who studied in Paris for less than two years during the first French Indochina War.

Murros' biography is, by necessity, brief because there is limited knowledge of the artist, mostly in oral way by family and friends. Many of his paintings did not survive the damp Southeast Asian climate nor the political chaos of his lifetime. However, the author's research appears to be extensive, as much a years-long spiritual examination of Van Den as a historical one. The artist's love for country life is apparent in his work, and it is said by those who knew him that he preferred to paint countryside scenes close to his heart and worked as an outsider. He is uninterested in the more elegant work of academically recognized painters. Despite these limitations, Van Den won Vietnam's most honorable art award in 1960.

Murros gives an in-depth look into the life of this little-known unsung master. The book introduces the readers to Van Den's art with photographs of his paintings, accompanied by short stories behind them. The book is as quiet as the artist's work, but it is a satisfying read. Each stroke of words in the book connects to the readers; the narrative awakens the artistic spirit in each one of us, encouraging us to follow our heart.

MUSICAL HERITAGES FROM ANCIENT CHINA

Since remote antiquity, Chinese people have used music to record their lives and describe the ideals in their hearts. Catchy tunes are not only played on precious instruments, but also visualized in carvings, paintings, and buildings. Feel free to explore here!

Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220)

This period marked the significant development of the manufacturing of gugin and its music. The example unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tomb in Changsha, Hunan province, proves that gugin had developed into the form known today during that period. It shows 7 strings and 13 markers indicating the pressing positions of overtone series. 

Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)

Buddhism and its musical culture spread extensively during this period. Buddhist temples provided places for musical activities, which were recorded in. many of the-existing stone carvings. Located in Gongyi, Henan province, the Grotlo Temple is-famous for its reliefs representing musical events. They are precious historical materials reflecting the music characteristics of the dynasty. 

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

With economic development, a variety of musical cultures emerged to meet the entertainment needs of different social classes. Part of the painting Life along the Bian River al the Pure Brightness Festival vividly reveals a storytelling performance. The painter adopted delicate techniques to truly record a street performer, whose superb skills are reflected by each listener's show of appreciation.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

At this time, traditional Chinese operas developed rapidly, promoting the formation of many singing styles. People began to enjoy operas and drama stages were built. Covering a construction area of more than 160 square meters, the Fancun village drama stage in Shanxi province provides rich materials for the study of the local folk culture.

When Mary entered the South Pole Penguin Research Lab, she saw her friend Tom gently stroking (轻抚) a penguin in his arms. As children of the lab scientists, Mary and Tom often observed the emperor penguins that were studied to understand how they adapted to extreme temperatures一insights that could aid human survival.

"We're thirteen, Tom. It's time to grow up and stop playing with the lab penguins," said Mary as she started cleaning. "They're research animals, not pets." 

"But the birds listen to me!" insisted Tom, his breath forming at cloud in the freezing air. "You're just trying to be a penguin whisperer again," Mary replied, shaking her head with a gentle smile. The penguins seemed playful, as they walked , dove, swam and chased their live fish for sport before eating.

Suddenly, an alarm rang out and red lights flashed, signaling a problem. The kids rushied over to look into it. "I's colder than before- there's ice forming on the water, " noted Tom. Though always cold, Mary had never seen ice here before. She checked the habitat monitor and found that the temperature had gone down a lot. "The heater must be broken!"

Mary quickly sent a message to their parents' research team; who were conducting outdoor studies. With the adults away, the kids would have to deal with the freezing conditions until help arrived.

Time dragged as Mary and Tom anxiously waited. The increasing cold caused them to shake. "I wonder what emperor penguins do in extreme cold, since they stay in the Pole all winter instead of going, somewhere warmer," asked Mary. "They huddle (挤作一团)," Tom answered. "They huddle together tightly so that the birds in the middle will be warm enough." "What about the ones on the edge?" Mary asked. "They push their way towards the center, and then move back out to the edge, and struggle back again. Scientists in the early 21st century recorded it." He replied as he stared at the large crowd of the penguins in the lab.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右;

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

"I have an idea to stay warm!" Tom shouted excitedly.

Two and a half hours later, the parents returned with help.

1.活动介绍;

2.观看时间、方式;

3.你的期待。

注意：

1.写作词数应为80左右;

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Hans,

Yours,

Li Hua

Born into an ethnic Miao family in rural Guizhou Province, Zhang was exposed from a young age to the rich tradition of Miao embroidery (刺绣)一 cultural craft that has been passed down through generations. She spent countless hours as a child  (observe) her mother and grandmother stitching fancy patterns onto fabrics by hand. In 2003, hoping to modermize and share this heritage, she opened her first clothing shop in the provincial capital. 

A decade, later, Zhang (establish) her own clothing brand fooused on combining traditional Chinese-style qipao dresses with colorful customized embroidery patterns. "We have trained hundreds of local Miao women in the ancient needlework techniques," Zhang (proud) remarked. "The clothing line celebrates the breathtaking handiwork, I hope advances my home village's revitalization."

Her  (commit) to cultural preservation and rural development was recognized in 2019, when the China W omen's Handicraft Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition  (hold) and Zhang's innovative design collection won top honors. I an interview afterwards, she reflected on both preserving traditional skills through new media,  expanding economic opportunities for artisans. "We attach equal importance cultural inheritance and market expansion," Zhang stated. "In the future, we'll continue innovating designs  (display) Miao embroidery's beauty and diversity.

Summer Claylon may not have children in real life, but he's a "proud dad" to 2.8 million people on the Internet.

Every week, he sits down to dinner and has a1 chat with his "kids". He looks into the camera and asks about their day. He2 them how to shave, and reminds them it's OK to be3 when life hurls. To some, his one-way conversations may seem4 But his efforts have struck a chord (引起共鸣) among people who 5 a father figure—or just someone who listens lo their 6 in the daily life.

Clayton is a civilian fitness trainer in real life. He started 7 on the Internet in late 2020 with- inspirational and how-to videos, and 8 jokingly called him "dad" His first video to go viral was a shaving how-10-a 9 to someone who sent him a message asking, "hey Dad, can you teach me how to shave?" The video 10 , earning him lens of thousands of new fans within hours.

Clayton's extended family comes in all11  . Many of his "kids" are old enough to be his parents. Clayton's12  doesn't seem to bother his fans. Al 58 , Sarah D'Imperio may not seem like Claylon's large audience, but she believes that it's a (n) 13  —idea , especially for youngsters who may not have a paternal (父亲的) role model that listens or has14  to listen. "It's just heartwarming to see someone, trying to 15  a small part of that role for anyone," she says.

Getting older means greater maturity and wisdom. In a society that is aging fast, it has become crucial to find ways to prevent related mental and emotional disorders. Music emerges as a promising look for promoting well-being of the elderly.

Music has a great power to cause strong emotions and intense pleasure.Singing and dancing to music with others is not only fun but also improves mood. Musical activities are great ways to reduce stress because they take our minds off problems. They also help us feel less lonely and more connected with other people.

A song may become a soundtrack for a particular time, such as a delightful party with friends that you had a long time ago. Listening to that song allows you to remember all the happy memories from that time.

Finally, music contributes to keeping our thinking skills sharp. It makes our brains work hard in unique ways to understand the rhythm and melody. For example, exposure to background music , particularly classical music, during cognilive ( 认知的) tasks is shown lo improve older people's cognitive processes, such as processing speed and working memory . In conclusion, music is a powerful look lo fight against aging-related emotional and cognitive problems. It is an enjoyable and social activily, available to anyone regardless of their background or previous musical experience.

A. Music can also open forgotten doors lo our memories.

B. Recalling happy memories can lift our mood on a bad day.

C. Even passive music listening can help elderly adults think better.

D. This helps people feel better when they are depressed or anxious.

E. However, it often involves a series of physical and mental challenges.

F. The ability to form new memories is essential for processing information.

G. Thus, this accessible intervention should become a major policy priority for healthy aging.

We learn about the world through the knowledge accumulated (积累) over  thousands of years. Standing on the shoulders of great men, we don't have to experience endless trial and error, just as the wheels do not have to be reinvented each time to run a car. But where does our ability to learn from others come from?

A study led by Markus Paulus, professor at Loyola Marymount University, shows that the ability has its roots in earliest childhood. "I's generally assumed that children's ability to imitate (模仿) is in born, but according to our observation, children imitate because they themselves are imitated by caregivers. This interaction enables a cultural transfer of knowledge, which, through generations' efforts, consequently leads to the development of human beings," says Markus Paulus.

In this research, Paulus recorded the interaction between mother and child over several months. The babies came into the lab for the first time at the age of 6 months, while their final visit was when they were 18 months old. As they engaged in various play situations, the interactions and imitations of mother and child were analyzed. The long-term study showed what the more sensitive a mother was in her interactions with her six-month-old child and the more often she imitated the baby, the greater the child's overall ability was at the age of 18 months.

Paulus' research shows that mutual imitation is the keystone of knowledge transfer, through which children successfully learn various skills, such as how to use objects, waving and acquisition of language. "This interaction is the nucleus of learning and, finally, gives rise to evolutionary success of human," says Paulus.

"Culural learning is an essential part of human evolution, and it is rooted in the imitation of others, particularly oun caregivers during our earliest childhood," says Paulus. "Through this, we learn from each other and pass on knowledge to the next generation, so certain actions or techniques do not have to be constantly invented again."

If you've noticed you're getting less while your bill almost stays the same, it's not just you."Shrinkflation"—reducing a product's size or quantity while keeping its price stable is showing up in shops around the world.

As the global economy struggles with inflation (通货膨胀), rising material costs and higher human cost, consumers are bearing the increasing production prices. "Consumers are more likely to notice how their purchases are affecting their wallets than the amount of product lost' when sizes decrease," says Mark Stiving, the chief pricing educator at Impact Pricing. As a result, companies use shrinkflation to make consumers "less painful"

Yet even as shrinkflation comes with inflation, the problem doesn't end after inflation does. Once the new sizes are on the shelf, they are likely to stay that way. "Shoppers don't have a choice. They have to adapt themselves to the changes," adds Stiving. There are rare exceptions, but companies generally take the opportunity to get more profits.

For many companies, shrinkflation seems to be unavoidable. In food industry, for example, where customers are highly sensitive to price, lifting prices might make customers jump ship to another brand. But facing the continuous inflation, the companies have to do something to maintain their profits. Introducing small reduction in the size of their goods should enable them to improve profits while keeping their prices competitive.

But once customers notice the change, they might feel fooled, leading to a loss of trust and confidence.

Some grocers are using stickers to remind shoppers of shrinkflation, but still, it's a tough hit to the bottom line一especially because the price of products generally doesn't fall as inflation does. Consumers may need to examine both price and size sensibly as they shop, and make sure they don't fall into the trap of that supersize on the shelf.

A Letter from Willa Cather to President TomaS Masaryk

Honored Sir, 

Your letter, sent to me through your Legation at Washington, confers upon me great honor and gives me great pleasure. I am glad to have carried a message from the Bohemian (波希米亚) neighbors, whom I grew up with, to their home country of the

Czech Republic.

I have just returned to New York, where I had the pleasure of taking Annie Pavelka, the living "Antonia" in my book My Antonia, and six of her children to the first screening of A Lost Lady. I have the good fortune to proserve relations with most of my characters. "Antonia" and her splendid children are flesh and blood realities. Every time I go back to them, I feel how much more interesting and lovable they are than my picture of them. I wish I could present them to you in person.

I regret that I cannot satisfactorily meet your kind request for biographical (传记的) material. I avoid biographers, asking them to wait until I get my work further along. My first novel was published in 1912, and a period of twelve years is hardly long enough for a writer to find the form best suited for writing. I was not young when I began to write, and though living is a good preparation for writing, I do need more time to acquire a simple and modest way of presenting my work, however well I know what I wish to present.

I am able to send you a very good photograph taken recently. I enclose a short biographical account which my publishers use for publicity purposes, and some casual reviews. Biographies usually begin to come along just about the time a writer has no more to say, and I do not feel that time has yet come to me.

I beg you, President Masaryk, to believe in my grateful appreciation of your letter.

Respectfully yours,

Willa Cather

Welcome to WSU Libraries! In this guide, we'll unlock the mysteries of call numbers and location prefixes. Knowing these helps you quickly locate and access your desired

Call Numbers

Books and material are arranged on our shelves according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. These call numbers uniquely identify and organize items near other material on the same or similar subjects. Consider the call number: LB2395 C65 1991.

●LB defines the subject area. The call letters are typically arranged in alphabetical (字母的) order, starting from A and continuing through the alphabet. Knowing the letter(s) for your subject area gives you a place to start browsing the shelves. For example: A—Special request General Works; B—Special request Special request Philosophy, Psychology, Religion; D—Special request World History; G—Geography; H—Special request Social Sciences; J—Special request Political Science; K—Special request Law; L—Special request Education; M—Special request Music; N—Special request Arts; P—Special request Language and Literature; Q—Special request Science...For more, click here.

●2395 is the classification number, which further distinguishes the subject matter. Read as a whole number: 1, 2, 3, 45, 100, 2430...

●C65 is the Cutter number and usually represents the author's last name. Find C, then 

65. Read the number as a decimal (小数).

●1991 is the year of publication.

Location Prefixes

Some call numbers have a location prefix. I ocation prefixes mean that the book or material is shelved in a special place, and may have loan restrictions. WSU uses the following prefixes:

"You're fired!" Andrew Chilton wasn't joking. At that moment, the high school junior wanted his personal care attendant, Christy Chachere, out of his life forever. Gone. He didn't want her telling him, he didn't need help using the computer, and he could write his own term papers. Enough already.

"You're fired!" He said it again for extra emphasis. Christy didn't flinch (畏缩) . She needed this job. Huricane Katrina had destroyed her savings along with her house. But the retired PE teacher wasn't frightened. "I'm a tough nut," she says today. "You know, I've taught middle schoolers." And Andrew's outburst? It was music to her ears. Progress. She'd gotten through to him.

When Andrew was diagnosed with autism (自闭症) , at age eight, people told his mom, Cindy, to "get him on the list" for an attendant to provide after-school care. Someone to drive him to places and see that he was safe. In New Orleans, Louisiana, the wait can be years; the need is much more than the supply. Cindy chose a program through Volunteers of America, a national faith-based organization.

Even so, it was eight years before they were matched with Christy. In the meantime, Andrew's family did their best to shelter him from life's hardships. "I worried about him," Cindy says, "I tended to hover a lot."

There was a lot to worry about. Doctors and school officials predicted that Andrew might not even graduate from high school. Other questions were approaching. Would he ever have a job? Live independently? Cindy would do anything for her son.

Christy saw the problem right away. "Andrew wouldn't take a step without his mother's permission," she remembers. "You have to let him fail," she told the family, "It's the only way he's going to learn. To be able to do things on his own."

No longer would Cindy write Andrew's papers for him. His younger brother wouldn't help him navigate the computer. Christy wouldn't be helping him with homework either. It was a little scary to step back. Andrew complained. Loudly at times.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

But then things began to change.

With the company of Christy for six years, Andrew has been developing well.

1.难忘的瞬间；

2.你的感想。

注意：

1.写作词数应为80词左右；

2.标题已给出，不计入总词数；

3.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

An Unforgettable Moment of the Sports Meet

Ar Horqin Grassland Nomadic System in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, listed on the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems by the United Nations,  (demonstrate) the wisdom of herdsmen to work in harmony with nature.

The  (season) movement of herds among different pastures (牧场) plays an important role in maintaining the self-renewal and recovery  (capable) of the grasslands. While keeping soil fertility from degrading, the nomadic lifestyle can protect vegetation and make good use of water resources, the growing population of people and livestock, still puts much pressure the grassland resources. Locals have, therefore, come up with ways to avoid overgrazing. With ancestral wisdom  (root) in a time of relatively small societies, it may be unable to solve issues today. This is modern planning can help with.

For example, since 2015, under the guidance of the local government of Ar Horqin Banner, the number of sheep and goats in the nomadic system  (reduce) from 390,000 to 190,000, while the number of cattle has been increased from 40,000 to 81,000 head. No more than 100,000 sheep are allowed to migrate to the summer camps every year. With  (scientific) designed grazing patterns ensuring sustainable development of the grasslands, herdsmen can maintain more balanced relationship with nature.

With the Statue of Liberty positioned perfectly behind me, I turned my attention to my husband, Mark, holding the camera. "Ready?" I called out. "One, two, three, Go!" he shouted. At his1 , I started doing star jumps, as he held the shutter button down to2 the moment.

It was 2013, and Mark and I loved to travel around the world and3 silly photos with our friends and family back home. It was the first time I'd tried this4 and when I posted it on Facebook later that day, it was5 popular. I was amazed by dozens of likes and comments.

When I got home, it was all my friends could talk about. "Your star jumps really6 me up," one said over a cup of tea. It made me happy knowing I'd helped others7 a smile at my expense. Years went by, and the pose became a (n) 8 part of my travels, from France, the Greek Islands and Italy to Bali and New Zealand.

Then in June, I saw a (n) 9 advertised online searching for Australia's happiest person. "We're10 four stays at Oaks hotels and all we want to see is your happy face," it11 . "That sounds like me," I thought, so I posted the12 . A couple of months later, I got a phone call announcing I was the13 . I was excited at the news and raced to tell Mark.

Now, here's our plan: First, we'll14 to Sydney for the Vivid Festival and climb the Harbour Bridge. After that, we might go to Kingscliff in northern New South Wales and even Darwin.

Life's all about chasing happiness. And for anyone searching for15 in their lives, my advice would be to smile.

Tips for Maximizing Savings at Your Local Clearance (清仓) Food Store

Shopping for groceries can be expensive, especially in this global economic climate. If you are catering to a large family or on a tight budget, the battle to save on groceries becomes twice as hard. ? These tips may help you.

●Create a Shopping List

List what you need before heading to your local clearance food store. It should help avoid unnecessary purchases and ensure you only buy what you need.

●Look for Deals

, so take advantage of them. Typically, these items are priced much lower than regular-priced ones, and you can find some great deals. Check out the clearance section to find the best deals. This area is often located at the back or side of the store.

●Buy in Quantity

Buying in quantity can save you more money at clearance food stores. A safer bet would be deals on buying items in large amounts, such as canned goods, pasta, or rice. .

●Compare Shops

Just like with regular grocery stores, you should always compare prices at different clearance food stores. Some stores will offer better deals, so it pays to shop around. .

●Look for Coupons

Check for coupons that you can use at your local clearance food store. . With them, you can get a chunk off your total groceries bill, saving you more money.

In conclusion, shopping at a local clearance food store can be your savings hub if you're armed with the right information. So, what are you waiting for?

A. Different stores may have a wide range of goods

B. Cheap food stores often offer weekly and monthly deals

C. These items have a longer shelf life meaning longer storage

D. But how to save when you shop at your local clearance food store

E. Check for stores that are offering discounts, and settle for the best deal

F. So why not visit your local clearance food store where you can save more

G. These can be in local newspapers or magazines, or search for them online

For the last five years, Seoyun Matthew Lee has pricked his fingertips at least once a day to test a drop of blood. If the amount of glucose, a simple sugar, is too high, he must get a shot of insulin (胰岛素) to lower it. These daily finger pricks are "really lifestyle-hampering and invasive," Matthew says. So he developed an alternative—a wearable patch. It turns yellow when glucose levels are too high.

The body normally makes insulin to even out blood-sugar levels. But having type 1 diabetes, Mathew cannot make this hormone. That's important because highly elevated blood sugar can put someone's life in danger. After seeing younger kids struggle to interpret their blood-sugar levels, he thought a color-changing device might be easier to understand. "As a diabetic," he explains, "what I recognize is that the precise blood glucose number is not really important to us." Instead, he notes, people with this disease must simply know when throughout the day they will need a shot of insulin.

The body releases chemicals through many routes. The new single-use patch works by detecting glucose in one of them: sweat. Past research shows that you can estimate blood-sugar levels based on how much glucose sweat has.

Two sheets of hydrogel—a jiggly, water-based gel—make up Matthew's small patch. It's only 1 centimeter (about 0.4 inch) square. The layer closest to the skin contains a chemical that reacts with glucose. This interaction produces a second chemical called hydrogen peroxide. The more sugar there is, the more hydrogen peroxide will be made. Hydrogen peroxide triggers a reaction in the patch's upper layer. It causes a protein called papain—to react with a color-changing chemical. The more glucose in sweat, the yellower the patch will become.

Matthew's patch is painless and easy to understand. And it shouldn't be very costly. Material costs of his patch are just one-fifth as much as those of existing glucose-measuring devices, because current gadgets require electrical components but Matthew's patch relies on far less expensive chemicals.

In the hot summer, many people rely on ice cream to keep them going. Among the dizzying array of ice cream, there's always a place for ice cream cones. When you enjoy the ice cream cone, have you ever thought about the seemingly humble cone?

The ice cream cone is never the star of the show. Its role is clear: Keep the scoop upright, don't leak and don't upstage the main player, the ice cream. But being that supporting takes work, which is why David George believes that the cone deserves more respect.

George is the third-generation president of Joy Baking Group, the largest manufacturer of ice cream cones in North America. You may not know Joy by name, but you've probably tasted its cones. As the kingdom of ice cream has expanded, the cone world has only grown smaller. Joy has cornered the cone market by betting on a basic premise: When it comes to the cone, people don't want creativity. They want familiarity.

Joy's flagship factory in western Pennsylvania produced 15 to 20 million cones a day during its busiest season. They include squeaky cake cones; cookie-like sugar cones; and caramel-scented waffle cones. These are cones designed to taste like childhood summers. They're as comforting as a slice of pie, as delightful as cotton candy.

"The thing about ice cream is that for nearly everyone, it is so tied to nostalgia," said Susan Soorenko, the owner of Moorenko's, an ice cream shop in the Washington area. "It is what you remember about your grandma taking you out." For many Americans, those moments are linked to Joy cones. Even if another worthy competitor arises, "It doesn't matter," she said, "because it is competing with a memory."

Regarded as the "loneliest tree in the world", the Sitka spruce (云杉) on uninhabited Campbell Island lately has kept good company with a team of New Zealand researchers who believe it could help unlock secrets of climate changes.

The nine-meter-tall spruce holds the Guinness World Record title for the "remotest tree" on the planet. It is the sole tree on the shrubby, windswept island, 700 kilometres south of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean. It's the only tree for 222km around; its nearest neighbour grows on the Auckland Islands.

Although classified as an invasive species, for radiocarbon science leader at GNS Science, Dr Jocelyn Turnbull, the tree could be a valuable tool to understand what is happening with the uptake of CO₂ in the Southern Ocean. In order to measure CO₂ concentrations, taking samples of the atmosphere is the best method, and can be complemented with radiocarbon dating samples of deep water. But it comes with limitations. "You can't collect air that was there 30 years ago, because it is not there anymore," Turmbull said, "So we came up with this idea of using tree rings. Plants, when they grow, take CO, out of the air by photosynthesis (光合作用) and they use that to grow their structures and the carbon from the air ends up in the tree rings."

This is helpful when there is an abundance of established trees, but those are a rarity in the Southern Ocean. Enter the Sitka spruce—the southernmost tree, and the team could find it would offer up good data. "It's grown a lot faster than anything else in that region and the rings are bigger and easier to separate out and get a record from."

As for the tree's lonely status: the description may be in the eye of the beholder. "To get to the tree you have to walk through elephant seals and sea lions, penguins and albatross," Turnbull said. "The tree doesn't look lonely...it looks quite content actually."