A family’s socioeconomic status (SES) affects more than just their lifestyle , and it can also impact the intellectual development of children as early as 18 months old . Researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley identified what they call “ The 30 Million Word Gap ” , which shows that children in higher income families will hear approximately 30 million more words than children in families on welfare by the time they are three years old . The researchers found that these discrepaneies are even visible in children’s brain scans . And this gap doesn’t just disappear after age three : hearing additional words so early in life leads to higher IQs and more academic success later . More recently , the result has been reconfirmed by the LENA Foundation , a non-profit organization .

Todd Risely , co-author of the study , emphasized that being born into a low SES family does NOT prevent a child from realizing his or her full potential or from competing with children from higher socioeconomic status families , especially if a parent or caregiver , such as a grandparent , engages in daily and frequent intelligent interaction with the child during the critical first three years of life ; being born into a high ESE does NOT assure that a child will realize his or her full potential , especially if child-raising is outsourced to a nanny who does not have active interaction with the child during the first three years .

“ Language is like nutrition for your brain . The more words you hear , the more your brain develops , ” Betty Hart said . “ If you don’t have language , you can’t progress . Language is the key . ” Based on the research , several pilot programs designed to help parents get into the habit of talking with their babies , a practice that scientists say can do wonders for a child’s future literacy are being set up .

“That one looks just like a sheep! And look over there. That one looks like a horse!” Do you remember lying on your back in a grassy field on a summer afternoon, discovering the soft shapes in the clouds in the sky? Those were the good old days when you could see anything and everything in the clouds.

But now people look at the sky and see clouds in the shape of a motor company’s advertising logo (商标), or a message inviting them to go out and buy a certain brand (品牌) of beer. These cloud pictures are not products of their imaginations. Instead, they are produced by a machine. These new floating advertisements are called Flogos; the name stands for “floating logos. “They” are made from a mixture of soapy foam (泡沫) and a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, and they can be made into different sizes and shapes depending on the advertisement.

Flogos can last up to an hour if weather conditions are good, and they can fly several kilometers high. Advertisers can rent a Flogo machine for $2,500 a day. The set-up is normally performed within 1 to 2 hours, and it will release four Flogos per minute. Advertisers can fill the air with any shape or message they want.

Some people are worried that the Flogos might not be pollution-free. However the Flogo’s inventor insists that the soap he uses is natural, and that a Flogo just dissipates in the air, leaving nothing behind. Though it may be true that Flogos are environmentally friendly, some people believe that the natural clouds in our memory may be replaced by man-made ones. They are afraid that soon there will be nowhere left where their imaginations can float freely.

Wu Xiaotian (pseudonym), aged 32, had been dealing with depression that didn’t respond to treatment for 16 years. He tried various treatments, but the constant “black dog” of depression wouldn’t leave him. It was only when he became the first person in the world to have a brain-computer interface (BCI) device implanted that his life finally began to improve.

The BCI, which creates a direct link between the human brain and external devices, offered him a ray of hope. Before the surgery, Wu Xiaotian underwent thorough checks. Although the process was extremely painful, he woke up feeling a glimmer of optimism. However, the recovery wasn’t immediate.

Because people are different, each patient needs regular adjustments to find the best approach. Wu went through a three-month adjustment period. Many times, he didn’t feel well in the “work mode” and worried that the “black dog” of depression, symbolized by the phrase “good times don’t last,” had returned. During this time, Wu experienced unusual feelings, like feeling betrayed by a friend during a hospital session even though he had never experienced betrayal before, or the joy of winning a big prize.

After consulting with his doctor, they settled on a daytime “work” mode and a nighttime “rest” mode. Currently, he is the only patient in the group who can switch modes independently. Finding the right setting was like a sudden realization. Wu can’t explain the reason or trigger; it was just a sudden surge of emotion, unlike anything he had felt before.

Wu Xiaotian’s battle with depression had deep roots, possibly stemming from past bullying experiences. Despite the pain and despair, he held on to a sliver of hope, longing to return to normal life. He firmly believes that the brain-computer interface is not a tool to control him but a partner to help him rediscover himself. He hasn’t experienced any physical side effects; instead, he feels healthier and more energetic. Looking ahead, Wu Xiaotian is filled with confidence and anticipation for the future.