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As the planet gets hotter, the need for cool living environments is becoming more urgent. But air conditioning is not always recommended for use since units produce massive greenhouse gases and use lots of energy. Now, researchers have found in a new study an inexpensive, sustainable choice to replace mechanical cooling with refrigerants (制冷剂) in hot and dry climates, and a way to mitigate the dangers of heat waves during electricity blackouts.

The researchers set out to answer how to achieve a new benchmark (基准) for passive cooling inside naturally conditioned buildings in hot climates such as Southern California. They examined the use of roof materials that radiate (辐射) heat into the cold universe, even under direct sunlight, and how to connect them with temperature-driven air exchanges (that is, air can enter buildings and circulate freely). These cool radiator materials and coatings are often used to stop roofs overheating. Researchers have also used them to improve heat rejection from coolers. But there is untapped potential for mixing them with architectural design more fully, so they can not only reject indoor heat in a passive way, but also drive regular and healthy air changes.

"We found we could keep air temperatures several degrees below the ordinary temperature and several degrees more below the reference ‘gold standard' for passive cooling," said Remy Fortin, lead author and PhD candidate at the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture. "We did this without abandoning a healthy airing." This was never a piece of cake, considering air exchanges are a source of heat when the aim is to keep a room cooler than the outside.

The researchers hope the findings will be used to positively impact communities suffering from dangerous climate heating and heat waves. "We hope that materials scientists, architects, and engineers will be interested in these results, and that our work will inspire more thorough thinking about how to connect breakthroughs in radiative cooling materials with simple but effective architectural solutions," said Salmaan Craig, main investigator for the project and assistant professor at the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.

Do you find yourself checking social media sites as soon as you wake up? Do you answer e-mails on your phone while surfing the Web? Actually, we've lived a life in which we're all connected, all the time. Whether or not this is a good thing is the subject of Hamlet's BlackBerry, a non-fiction book by William Powers based on an essay he penned.

Early in the work, Powers questions the way we use devices, but certainly he doesn't criticize it. He does, however, recognize the downside of constantly being overstimulated—or what he calls the "problem of connectedness". Among the things disturbed by the problem, Powers says, are the ways in which people are connected and deal with each other. "Constantly switching among people on social media platforms, texts and all the new ways of connecting all day, we never have a sustained connection." His intention of writing Hamlet's BlackBerry is to help teach people how to connect more wisely. Powers looked to the past, where he found several precedents(先例)for both the current information age and the anxiety that has come with it.

One major figure Powers examines actually developed his own strategies for dealing with overstimulation. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet is informed his father is murdered by his uncle and too shocked by the news to think calmly, so he pulls out his "tables" from the pocket, an object Powers describes as a so rt of original electronic planner. In the Elizabethan age, tables were a kind of new device designed to help people bring order to their lives despite massive news. You could write notes during the day and wipe(擦掉) them away at night.

But how do we deal with the same problem? Powers has one suggestion that's child's play: just disconnect. His family, for example, takes an "Internet Rest Day" every weekend. "We don't have smart phones. Therefore we can't check our inboxes and do Web surfing that day. We really enter another zone and it's wonderful. Even when we're connected to the Internet again, we feel benefits of having been disconnected days before," he says. "It's just about that simple word—balance."

Hiking is tricky when you're carrying a threatened species. Ally Whitbread carefully walked through the wilds while carrying a cooler full of small, rare snails (蜗牛)— the Chittenango ovate amber snails.

"I feel like I've got 500 babies to take care of — just like a very crazy mother hen," she said. Whitbread is part of a team transporting a lab-grown population to a new, remote home. The snails are facing extinction — only dozens are estimated to remain at one waterfall in upstate New York. "Such a recovery process can take years to decades. There are several things remaining to be unlocked during the process — what the action is going to bring, what role that species might play, and whether they might live well. We are just racing to better understand our planet's biodiversity before the species die out."

It took the scientists years to raise this population in the lab. The hike to a hidden waterfall is a chance to examine what makes them grow well in the wild, or what doesn't. The snails don't have any known unique features critical to humans, and it's been a long journey just to attempt to save them. These efforts could figure out their hidden benefits.

Specialist Cody Gilbertson said the drive to save them can go deeper, not just the love for science. The creatures are no bigger than a fingertip and look up at their caregivers. "You know their big eyes are staring at you, like — there's no way that you're not going to kind of fall in love," Gilbertson said.

Dropping them off at their new waterfall home wasn't even the end — it'll be another 5 years before the team knows whether the snails can survive there They'll go for a hike twice a month to track their progress.

At the Canadian Museum of Nature, getting involved is only natural! Inspire visitors and school groups with special exhibitions, permanent exhibitions, movies and galleries in the museum. Join our team of Nature Volunteers to learn about and protect natural history.

What We Look for in a Volunteer

√Although some volunteers have a specialized knowledge of natural history, a willingness to learn is more important than qualifications.

√Volunteers must attend training to review information relevant to professional knowledge about their position.

√A security clearance must also be successfully completed.

√We ask volunteers to commit a half day a week for three to four months, minimum. Commitment to the schedule is beneficial for all.

√The museum operates in English and French. We are always looking for volunteers speaking both languages, but this is not a requirement for most positions.

Benefits of Volunteering

☆Visit all parts of the museum without any charge.

☆Attend lectures and workshops （if space allows）.

☆Make connections to people with similar natural history, museum and community service interests.

☆Develop job-related customer service, teamwork, interpersonal and administrative skills.

☆Get discounts on gifts at the Nature Boutique!

Volunteer Opportunities

I hadn't got exercise lately and felt a bit dizzy. I was a little1 . One of my friends invited me to show up to see a2 that they said would help me feel better. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.

They introduced a young3 , Mr Patrick Henry Hughes. He was4 onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers5 across the keys as he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason,6 , I knew that I was seeing something special. Ten minutes later, someone came on the stage and7 a video of Patrick Henry Hughes.

Patrick was born with no eyes and a tightening of the joints which left him8 for life. Before his first birthday, he9 the piano. On his second birthday, he asked to play it. His father was10 . "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together. "

Today, Patrick is a11 at university. His father attends classes with him and he has made nearly all "A" s. He is also a trumpet player of a band. He and his father do it together — they12 all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands of people.

But even more than his13 musical talent, it was Patrick's attitude to gratitude that touched me. I will never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that14 attitude to gratitude. Gratitude can change your attitude,15 your life forever.

When talking about classical music, what can you think of? Is it a big orchestra with an old guy in a black suit waves a stick in front? You are(part) right. But there is a lot more about it. Classical music can be as simple as just one singer singing a song. It can also mean orchestra with hundreds of musicians. Classical music can express an idea, explore a theme or convey emotions. It has its roots in the traditions of(Europe) art and concert music with a history of more than 1,000 years. Classical music is usually(serious) than other types of music. Listeners are supposed(stay) quiet and still.

Nowadays, more and more students are crazy about classical music(composer), such as Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven. They think their music can make them calm down, sleep well become smarter. They can perform better in tests as well. Besides, according to(they) musical preference, it is possible to tell the types of their personality. Professionals like teachers can use the personality information to determine whether they have a particular talent for music, which they never(know) before.

giving a general introduction to computers, the course also provides hands-on opportunities.

→, we continued our journey.

→, the boy cried.

→, we will do it better.

It was a lot of hard work, but it was.

→, ice will be changed into water.

Her parents died she was still at school.

I think we can a very strong case for the defence.

II was kicked in the teeth every day.

→, Susan was sent back to the campus.