With heavy winds, thin air and 25 degrees below zero, Qomolangma is one of the hardest mountains to climb. Although there were many difficulties, Chinese researchers successfully reached the top of the mountain on May 4. They also set up the world’s highest automatic meteorological monitoring station (自动气象观测站) at 8,830 meters above sea level.

The new station was the most exciting part of this scientific trip in 2022. It takes the place of Balcony Station, set up by the United States and British scientists, as the highest weather station on the earth. Balcony Station, set up on Qomolangma in 2019, sits at about 8,430 meters above sea level.

Powered by solar panels (太阳能板), the new station can last for two years in bad weather. It has a satellite communication system (卫星通讯系统) that can send information every 12 minutes. For the first time, Chinese scientists can collect information from the top of the world’s highest mountain. Studying the information from Qomolangma will help scientists answer important questions. For example, will the ice cap above 8,000 meters change into water because of global warming? Will that influence the 10 big rivers in Asia that provide water for more than 2.5 billion people? How will air pollution make a difference to the mountain? What is the ecosystem (生态系统) like 8,000 meters above sea level?

During this scientific trip, the researchers also knew about the thickness of ice and snow on the top. They collected some ice and snow. They will examine the changing environments and ecosystems on the mountain, as well as study the influence of human activities in the area.

Do you know face changing? The amazing skill in Sichuan Opera is used to express the changing feelings of characters.

There are over 300 kinds of local operas in China. Among them, Sichuan Opera is one of the oldest. As one of the most important and the most interesting opera forms from Southwestern China, it’s popular in Sichuan, Chongqing and some areas of Yunnan and Guizhou. A large number of Sichuan Opera performers are active around Sichuan, both in the countryside and in cities.

The opera has three special skills: changing faces, spitting (吐) fire, and rolling lights. Face changing is the most famous. It’s an important intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in China. Only several artists have picked up this skill. They know how to change Sichuan Opera masks magically. As they shake their arms and turn their heads, their painted masks change again and again.

Face changing started about 300 years ago. In the beginning, opera artists changed the color of their faces during performances by blowing into a bowl of red, black or gold powder. The powder would stick to their oiled faces quickly. In another way, actors would cover their faces with colored paste (浆糊) hidden in their hands. By the 1920’s, opera artists began using masks made of oiled paper. At present, the artists use full-face painted silk masks.

The early years of life

A newborn baby can see, hear and feel. By the age of five, a child can talk and ride a bike. How does this development happen? We don't really understand the way language and thinking develop in the brain. Now scientists are using new technology to help them with their studies. They are discovering new information about the way a baby's brain develops.

A study in 2018 shows that the experiences a child has in their first few years are important. 【小题1】When children receive more attention, they often have higher IQs. Babies receive information when they see, hear and feel things.This information makes connections between different parts of the brain.

Language is important for child development. Babies can hear language in various ways: listening to television, audio books or the Internet and interacting with people. 【小题4】 Both groups heard Mandarin Chine(普通话) sounds The first group watched videos. In the second group, people spoke the same sounds to the babies. Then they tested the babies. The second group recognized the different sounds . The first group learned nothing. Patrica Kuhl said this result was very surprising. 【小题5】