Learning a second language is tricky at any age and it only gets tougher the longer you wait to open that dusty French book. Now, in a new study, scientists have pinpointed the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a second language seem to plummet: 10.

The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it’s “nearly impossible” for language learners to reach native-level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after 10. But that doesn’t seem to be because language skills go downhill. “It turns out you're still learning fast. It’s just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old ,” says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College.

Kids may also be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children’s brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they’re better able to adapt and respond to new information. “All learning involves the brain changing,” Hartshorne says, “and children’s brains seem to be a lot more skilled at changing.”

Kids may also be more willing to try new things (and to potentially look foolish in the process) than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults , who tend to default to the rules and patterns of their first language , kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank slate.

These findings may seem discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than they previously thought. Some scientists believed that the brief window closes shortly after birth, while others stretched it only to early adolescence. compared to those estimates, 17 or 18—when language learning ability starts to drop off— seems relatively old.

“People fared better when they learned by immersion, rather than simply in a classroom. And moving to a place where your desired language is spoken is the best way to learn as an adult. If that’s not an option, you can mimic an immersive environment by finding ways to have conversations with native speakers in their own communities,” Hartshorne says. By doing so, it’s possible to become conversationally proficient—even without the advantage of a child’s brain.

Have you ever thought that music can have an effect on animals? Dr. Fisher has put music in over 1,100 animal shelters, saying that it makes dogs and cats quiet and even cuts down on barking. Fisher asked artists around the world to share dog-and-cat friendly music. She gives it free to animal shelters.

One fan was Tina. Winter temperatures at the rural shelter for six dogs and six cats usually ran below zero and the wind blew nearly every day. To calm the animals, Tina tried the radio. Besides poor reception, the news and sports had people shouting and crying loudly. “The difference is great. ” she said. So she and her husband had to buy a second player for the cats. “When we play songs they like, they go and sit by the speakers. ” Tina said.

No one has studied the impact of Fisher’s music idea. But others have looked at how music and noise in general affected animals. A study found that animals were more likely to sleep and less likely to bark when Mozart, Beethoven and other similar music were playing, but not when heavy metal and other sounds were.

A survey of more than 500 shelters guided by Fisher validated her idea, finding barking reduced by half and animals more relaxed. It just destresses them.

Beyond the music, the shelter staff do what they can to reduce stress for the dogs, including toys, food and spending time with them. “Reducing their stress helps them show off their personalities and they can get adapted more quickly,” said Fisher. “The music also helps relax staff members and that benefits the animals too.”

“Half the park is after dark” is more than a clever saying; it’s a way of life — especially for Tyler Nordgren. He’s an artist, astronomer and national park lover who invented   the expression and illustrated (加插图) the accompanying poster (海报) series for the national parks. The printed pictures show the midnight blue sky with the vastness (浩瀚) of the Milky Way. They usually picture a star-lit silhouette (轮廓) of one of the park’s driving attractions, and most posters will mention “See the Milky Way” or “Half the Park Is After Dark.”

Unfortunately, the night sky, or the actual night sky, isn’t something most people get to experience fully. According to a recent study, over 80 percent of the world cannot see the whole night sky because of light pollution. From streetlights to buildings to giant advertisements — think Time Square in New York— artificial light illuminates (照亮) the night sky, stealing the stars from us. This is why Nordgren encourages us to get away from light pollution and experience the true starry sky in a national park.

“Think about all the history and all the people who ever looked up at the stars and wondered about the universe. That’s something that we no longer have today,” says Nordgren. “Get out into nature, and see the universe beyond our own atmosphere. And when you see that, you feel awe (敬畏),” says Nordgren. According to a 2018 study, experiencing awe can increase feelings of humility (谦逊) — making one kinder, more modest and more positive. One can feel this sense of awe after hiking a mountain or seeing the Milky Way.

Imagine experiencing a national park after dark. As the sun goes down, the park empties. Many park visitors return to their campsites or hotels, and now the park is quiet and peaceful. ”This is a great time to experience some of the park’s best features,“ Nordgren says. ”Your eyes will most likely adjust, but bringing a flashlight is always a good idea. It’s always wise to make sure you’re not hiking near cliffs (峭壁) in the dark and be aware of what sort of wildlife may be in the park.”