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- (4/11) Men sleep better than women, study finds
- AUDIO(Slow) AUDIO(Normal) Men sleep better than women, study finds A new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, sleep disorders experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more common among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our body clock. Women's circadian cycles are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time in which to rest. Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal strains and burdens on mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brain was half-listening out for their children in the middle of the night, in case they needed something." People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a good night's rest. The stress and pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get forty winks. It is estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation. This is having adverse effects on our health. A lack of sleep can lead to detrimental and often life-threatening health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our powers to concentrate, and lead to a deterioration in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and insomnia." - Chat Talk about these words from the article. study / researchers / sleep disorders / insomnia / circadian rhythms / burden / brain / stress / getting forty winks / diabetes / heart disease / concentrate / mental health - Discussion 1) What did you think when you read the headline? 2) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sleep'? 3) How are your sleeping patterns? 4) Do you think men sleep better than women? 5) Do you ever have problems sleeping? 6) What can people do to get to sleep? 7) What do you know about our body clock? 8) What things can stop us from sleeping? 9) What different stresses do men and women have? 10) How do you deal with stress?
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- (4/10) Chimpanzees use medicinal plants when sick
- AUDIO(Slow) AUDIO(Normal) Chimpanzees use medicinal plants when sick Humans have been using medicinal plants since prehistoric times. They are still used around the world in traditional medicine. For the first time, scientists have discovered that chimpanzees also seek out the fruits of the forest to heal themselves when sick. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK conducted a study of chimpanzee behaviour at the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in Uganda. The researchers tracked a male chimp with an injured hand looking for the leaves of a fern. The fern had properties that may have reduced the swelling in the ape's hand. Another chimpanzee with a parasitic infection sought out the bark of a cat-thorn tree. This may have helped to alleviate the animal's condition. The research team said there was a strong correlation between the chimpanzees' ailments and injuries and the healing properties in the flora they consumed. The researchers tested plant extracts that were not a normal part of a chimpanzee's diet. They found that 88 per cent of the extracts contained anti-bacterial properties, while 33 per cent of them had anti-inflammatory qualities. Researcher and anthropologist Dr Elodie Freymann said: "Pharmacological results suggest that Budongo chimpanzees consume several species with potent medicinal properties." She said her team's investigations into the primates' behaviour may pave the way for a greater use of natural remedies in our lives. - Chat Talk about these words from the article. humans / medicinal plants / traditional / chimpanzees / sick / behaviour / fern / bark / ailments / injuries / flora / plant extracts / anti-bacterial / diet / primates / our lives - Discussion 1) What did you think when you read the headline? 2) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'plant'? 3) What do you know about medicinal plants? 4) Which are better – medicinal plants or manufactured drugs? 5) How intelligent are chimpanzees? 6) What plants do you know of with healing properties? 7) What do you do when part of your body is swollen? 8) What do you know about ferns? 9) Would you like to study chimpanzee behaviour? 10) How much do you rely on medicine?
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- (4/9) Scientists say the egg came before the chicken
- AUDIO(Slow) AUDIO(Normal) Scientists say the egg came before the chicken One of life's greatest mysteries may finally have been solved. Scientists believe they have unlocked the conundrum of the age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. This problem has baffled great minds for centuries. However, researchers from the University of Geneva believe they have cracked this philosophical mystery. They suggest the egg came first. The scientists studied a tiny marine organism called Chromosphaera perkinsii. This single-celled species dates back over a billion years. The researchers found it can form multicellular structures which are similar to animal embryos. This means there was no need for a prehistoric chicken to lay an egg. Researcher Marine Olivetta told "Nature Journal" that Chromosphaera perkinskii was first discovered in 2017 off the coast of Hawaii. She said it has offered many insights into ancient life forms. She said: "It's fascinating that a species discovered so recently allows us to go back in time a billion years." The researcher suggested that the genetics behind egg fertilization and embryonic development were present before animal life existed. This means nature could have created eggs long before evolution "invented chickens". A more straightforward answer to the chicken and egg problem is that chickens came into existence 10,000 years ago, whereas eggs have existed for millions of years. - Chat Talk about these words from the article. life / mystery / conundrum / age-old questions / chicken / egg / philosophical /species coast / insights / ancient life / genetics / embryonic development / animal / evolution - Discussion 1) What did you think when you read the headline? 2) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'chicken'? 3) What are the arguments for the chicken coming first? 4) What other great mysteries are there in life? 5) What do you think of chickens? 6) What do you think of eggs? 7) Do you think the chicken or the egg came first? 8) What questions would you like to ask the researchers? 9) What was animal life like in prehistory? 10) Would you like to see a prehistoric chicken?
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- [4/7] 山野春鲜入馔来 浙江“吃春”背后的传统与新意
- 中新网嘉兴3月21日电(黄彦君)春分已至，万物生发。循着春日时令，浙江各地街巷田间春菜鲜嫩、糕点飘香，一抹绿意跃上餐桌，勾勒出独属于江南的韵味。 “春天里的仪式感，一定少不了尝尝加了春笋、咸菜、鲜肉的青团！”在嘉兴市月河历史街区，不少市民游客在各家点心店前排队等候尝鲜。刚出炉的青团冒着热气，软糯与清香交织。 “依照往年惯例，前期每天大概能售出300个青团，临近清明节时，青团一天的销售量能达到1000个左右。”嘉兴市南湖区一家糕点门店负责人方勤萍介绍道。 近年来，市面上青团口味愈发多元、新颖。该门店每年都会推出新口味，适应消费者需求。“我们今年还打算上新一个核桃芝麻口味，目前还在调试中，希望大家会喜欢。”方勤萍说。 走进嘉兴秀洲区新塍镇上一家百年老字号点心铺，浓郁的艾草香气扑面而来，蒸架上热气腾腾的手工青团即将出炉。 店铺负责人路晶晶说，为抓住年轻人味蕾，今年该店也新增了黑芝麻核桃馅和芋泥肉松馅青团，“芋泥口味很受年轻人喜爱，我们把芋泥和海苔肉松包裹在一起，相当于一个青团可以吃到两种不同的馅料，口感也更丰富。” 从传统滋味到新潮口味，“吃春”的文化底色愈发醇厚。其中，不仅藏着民众对自然时序的敬畏，更衍生出新的消费场景与文旅活力。 春笋、蚕豆、土鸡、土灶……除却食用各色春菜、糕点，烧“野米饭”是浙江多地流行的春日户外野炊。旧时，人们结伴到田间地头，用土灶或就地挖坑搭锅，采集当季新鲜食材煮饭，象征辞旧迎新、祈福丰收。 眼下，民众自发烧制野米饭已被农家乐、露营地等推出的个性化服务代替。在平湖，不少商家推出特色“野米饭套餐”，带动乡村游增长。 “感觉挺有意思的，我们小时候就会烧‘野米饭’，找到了一种童年的趣味。”气温回暖，游客胡燕跟家人一起来到平湖一处生态农场，亲手烧制“野米饭”，感受乡间野趣。 该生态农场负责人介绍，“野米饭”套餐人气持续走高，高峰时段每月销售额预计突破70万元人民币。 数据显示，2025年春季，仅两个月时间，平湖就接待“野米饭”游客约40万人次，带动旅游综合收入显著增长。 放眼望去，一桌桌时令美味持续带动乡村经济活力，更印证了守好民俗根脉、盘活乡土资源的发展思路。 浙西南群山中，丽水庆元依山傍水、物产丰饶，造就崇尚自然的饮食习惯。连日来，羊肚菌、鼠曲草、蕨菜、苦益菜等山野菜陆续上桌，一场场山间“春宴”鲜香开席。 “一方水土养一方人，也养一方食物。”庆元民俗文化研究者鲍世东说，庆元山多地少，过去庆元人的饭桌，很大程度上是靠山里的野菜撑起来的。遇到收成不好的年头，野菜甚至就是主食。为把这些“救命草”做得可口些，山民们把野菜研究出了百般花样。 如今生活好了，民众餐桌越来越丰富，但野菜却从昔日“救命草”变成了“舌尖上的乡愁”——吃野菜，感受的是顺应自然的生存智慧、田间地头的乡愁记忆、亲友团聚的人间烟火气。
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- [4/6] 新疆和田迎来踏青“赏花季”
- 中新网新疆和田3月21日电 (张家伟 辛瑾)新疆和田地区洛浦县阿其克乡千山河谷景区20日迎来人潮涌动的赏花盛宴。 当天，和田地区2026年花季游启动仪式暨洛浦县第二届“相约杏韵 共享洛浦春光”赏花活动在该县阿其克乡举行。活动以绚烂花海为媒介，融合体育健身、特色美食和民俗体验等多元业态，精准激活春日消费潜力，点燃乡村文旅发展新热潮。 洛浦县第二届“相约杏韵 共享洛浦春光”赏花活动举办。胡礼政 摄 3月至4月，和田地区的杏花、桃花、梨花错落开放，形成持续一个月左右的花海盛景。 其中，和田县拉依喀乡的万亩桃园在3月下旬到4月上中旬盛放，素有“桃花源”美誉。墨玉县加汗巴格乡的浅粉色桃花与乡村民居相映成趣，宛如一幅流动的水墨画卷。洛浦县杭桂镇桃花自3月下旬起逐渐绽放，常与杏花同期，适合游客一站式打卡。 梨花开放时节主要集中在4月上旬。墨玉县阔依其乡萨达克村将被白雪般的梨花团簇覆盖，令人陶醉。此外，皮山县固玛镇的桃花从4月中旬开放至5月初，是错峰出游的理想选择。 和田县朗如乡拥有被誉为“杏花村”的排孜瓦提村，杏树种植面积超1100亩，500多棵超过三百年树龄的古树迎来又一场鲜花盛宴。 皮山县桑株镇不仅因满枝杏花吸引游客，也以乌尔其村的神秘岩画闻名，4月初的晴好天气正是踏青探险的好时机。策勒乡则以丰富的历史文化底蕴和黄杏花形成的壮观景象吸引着游客。 民丰县叶亦克乡以杏花著称的同时，还能体验湿地和湖泊等自然风光。于田县阿热勒乡则是远近闻名的玫瑰花之乡，4月底的玫瑰花海色彩绚烂，为游客带来别样的乡村旅游体验。 今年春季花卉盛放期，和田地区结合文化旅游、体育健身等丰富业态，吸引大量游客踏春赏花。随着“‘杏’福漫步”和“‘杏’福骑行”等活动的开展，赏花节不仅是视觉盛宴，更成为助力乡村振兴和文化旅游产业融合发展的重要抓手。
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- [4/3] 广西东兴春茶抢“鲜”采 茶叶铺就兴边富民路
- 中新网防城港3月19日电(李佳欣 张玎 谢芳)眼下，广西防城港东兴市马路镇天八千秋茶园迎来春茶采摘“黄金期”，这里引种的云南大叶种茶长势旺盛。放眼望去，茶园层层叠叠、绿意绵延。茶农们腰挎茶篓，穿梭其间，巧手翻飞，半小时就能采满一筐茶叶。 据了解，天八千秋茶园一年中春、夏、秋三季都能采茶，采茶期内，每日可吸纳数十名周边村民务工。 “从家里到这里只要5分钟，采茶8小时就可以领到130元。”正在采茶的马路镇村民何高源说，采茶是力所能及的工作，既增加了收入，也增添了退休后的乐趣。 在距离天八千秋茶园一公里处的茶叶加工厂，鲜叶刚刚送抵，制茶工人立即开启杀青、揉捻、烘炒、提香等工序，生产线上茶香弥漫。 据了解，近年来，东兴市马路镇立足生态资源优势，大力发展特色种植产业，推动农文旅融合发展，形成了从种植到加工、销售等完整的茶产业链，成为当地兴边富民、助力乡村振兴的特色支柱产业， 东兴市马路镇政府干部许珩表示，下一步将由村集体公司整合资源，统一标准，做大茶叶种植规模，深挖生态种植价值。同时升级厂房、延伸产业链、打响公共品牌，培养主播带货并发展茶园旅游，三产融合提升附加值，“三端联动”发展马路镇茶产业。
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- 「3/27」ことしの主食用米の作付面積発表 大幅増産の去年とほぼ同水準
- 農林水産省は11日、ことしの主食用米の作付面積を発表しました。1月時点の調査で136万ヘクタール余りとコメの価格高騰を受けて大幅な増産となった去年とほぼ同じ水準で、今後の価格への影響が焦点となります。 農林水産省によりますと、ことしの主食用米の作付面積は1月時点の調査で、全国で136万1000ヘクタールとなりました。 コメの価格高騰を受けて大幅な増産となった去年とほぼ同じ水準で、農林水産省は、農家の生産意欲は依然高いとしています。 この作付面積をもとに試算したことしの収穫量の見込みは732万トンで、最大711万トンとした政府の需要見通しを上回っています。 産地別の作付面積は最も大きい新潟県など5つの県が去年の実績より減少したものの、42の都道府県は前年並み、もしくは増加する見通しです。 農林水産省は政府の備蓄米の買い入れがことし産から再開されるため、市場に出回るコメはいくぶん少なくなるとしていますが、今後の価格への影響が焦点となります。
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- 「3/26」運賃値上げ JR東日本社長「安全レベル サービスレベル高める」
- JR東日本は今週土曜日、3月14日に運賃を値上げします。喜勢陽一社長は10日の会見で、「負担をかける以上、安全レベル、サービスレベルを高めていく」と述べ、値上げへの理解を求めました。 JR東日本は今週土曜日、3月14日に消費税の導入や引き上げのタイミングを除き1987年の会社発足以来、初めてとなる運賃の全面的な値上げを実施します。 値上げ幅は平均7.1％で、このうち ▽普通運賃は平均7.8％ ▽通勤定期は平均12％ ▽通学定期は平均4.9％、引き上げます。 10日の定例会見で喜勢社長は「会社発足以来40年間、賃金や物価の上昇などは、経営努力で吸収してきたが、現在のインフレ状況では、安全な鉄道設備、品質の高いサービスをまかなう資金が十分に確保できなくなった」と理由を説明しました。 その上で「お客様にご負担をおかけする以上、安全レベル、サービスレベルを高めていく」と述べ、値上げへの理解を求めました。 また喜勢社長は、値上げ前の定期券の購入について「運賃改定直前の3月12日、13日が買い替えのピークになるのではないかと考えている。会社としてしっかりと対応していきたい」と述べました。 JR東日本では、値上げによる増収を880億円と見込み設備の更新や修繕にあてるとしていますが、ことしに入って大規模な輸送障害が相次ぐ中、安全輸送を確保できるかが課題となります。
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- 「3/25」スマホ決済大手「PayPay」 米 ナスダックに株式を上場
- スマホ決済大手の「PayPay」がアメリカの証券取引所、ナスダックに株式を上場しました。会社としては上場によって調達した資金で海外事業の拡大につなげたい考えです。 PayPayは12日、ハイテク関連の銘柄が多いアメリカのナスダックに株式を上場しました。 この日の取り引きでは前日に決まった株式の売り出し価格である16ドルより13％あまり高い18ドル16セントで取り引きを終え、時価総額はおよそ121億ドル、日本円にして1兆9000億円あまりとなりました。 ソフトバンクグループの傘下で、QRコード決済などを手がけるPayPayは2018年の設立以降、成長を続け、3月時点の日本国内での登録者数は7300万人を超えています。 会社は海外での展開を見据え、クレジットカード大手のVisaと提携し、アメリカでの事業について検討を始めると発表するなど、上場で調達した資金をもとに海外事業の拡大につなげたい考えです。 中山一郎社長は「世界のフィンテック企業としてより競争にもまれながら頑張っていきたい。アメリカ以外もリサーチをして市場進出の機会をうかがっていく」と述べ、各国での事業展開に意欲を示しました。
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