The moon’s gravity constantly pulls at the Earth. Its pull on the ocean is undeniable but some scientists have been studying less visible effects, which may be able to trigger some earthquakes, if the time is right. With the appearance of bigger and more complete dataset, this effect of the moon has started to show from the data. And it seems that in some cases, the moon did help trigger earthquakes around the world. With these huge databasets, they started to get some small but significant correlation. Chris Scholtz, a geologist and professor at Columbia Climate School, said, one place where the moon’s impact is seen clearly is in underwater earthquakes. That makes sense, given the moon’s pull on the oceans.

Scholtz and his team set out to study how the moon could be using its power on the earthquakes on the Axial Volcano. Earthquakes here are about tenfold more likely to happen when the tide has gone out. Their study found an explanation for the link between the moon and earthquakes. It showed they were caused by the weight of the ocean pressing down on a volcano’s magma chamber. Then when the tide is low, less water presses down on the chamber. This, in turn, puts more pressure on the fault-line, making it more likely to move and create an earthquake.

It’s not just in the oceans where the moon is causing disaster. The moon also causes tiny, but important, tides in rocks. “While fluids can flow, rocks can just slightly change their shape by the tidal force which promotes stress accumulation,” said Scholtz. If rocks are already over-stressed, even a small stress — the pull of the moon — can create a crack in the rock. “If surrounding rocks are also unstable, the fracture can speed up to involve large fault patches. The final outcome is an earthquake,” said Scholtz. Of course, this only happens in very specific circumstances, for instance, when the pressure from the moon’s gravitation al pull lines up perfectly with the fault-line of the earthquakes.

There are excellent reasons for anyone to seek out the optimistic. Optimists experience better health outcomes, live longer and are more satisfied with their relationships. Optimism enables people to hold on in the face of difficulty, while pessimism leaves them depressed and even expecting failure.

I want that hopeful, optimistic outlook for my children. But many times we may feel pessimistic. The result of negativity makes me worry that my kids’ future will be uncertain. Fortunately, research suggests ways to help our children grow up with an optimistic attitude and maintain a happier outlook ourselves.

Humanity has improved by many measures, but that success has become the water in which we swim, and like fish, we take the water for granted. While we fail to notice the positive, our brains naturally emphasize on the negative. With practice, we can help our brains to give the good stuff equal weight. Dr. Hanson’s advice: when you hear a great story or achieve something in your own life, deliberately rest your mind on that experience and stay with it. Sink into that feeling as it sinks into you. Describe what you’re doing to your kids, and encourage them to dwell on their joys and pleasures as well.

Following the "big scary" news can leave us feeling helpless. Find something in your area that makes you feel hopeful, and make it a part of your family life. Researchers found that when people with a pessimistic outlook use positive language to describe situations they find upsetting, their feelings about the situation become more positive. That’s something we can try at home.

Raising optimistic kids is hard because it demands that parents abandon the pessimistic perspective that’s the easiest response to pessimistic times. Put your energy into making sure you and your family are a part of the world around you. That might mean simply joining and being part of local clubs that feed our natural human need for connection( not of the digital kind).

Everyone dreams. If you’ve ever tried to understand the meaning of a strange dream, you’re not alone. Humans have been trying to make sense of dreams since recorded history. 【小题1】 Here are some of the findings.

【小题2】 People with great creativity are more likely to dream about unusual settings and about blocks in the natural world, such as a log or a rock they can’t get around.

You’ve got a heart problem. People who have frequent nightmares may be more likely to suffer from an irregular heartbeat or chest pain. If you have those problems, it’s more difficult for you to breathe at night. 【小题3】

You’re avoiding something. Do you dream about being followed by a stranger, a snake, or a giant earthquake? This could indicate that you’re afraid to deal with something in your daily life. 【小题4】

You’ll have a good result in a test. Students whose performance improved were those who had dreamed about the maze (迷宫) during the sleep. 【小题5】 This improves learning and problem-solving skills.

Despite the fact that technology has vastly expanded our understanding of dreaming, much of what occurs when we’re asleep remains as it has always been: a mystery.