In December, 2019, scientists found Dogor in Siberia near Yakutsk. As the world became warm, some things hiding in the ice came out.

Scientists carefully cleaned Dogor after they found it. Its head is still very much like it was when it died.

Scientists from Sweden have taken small samples(样本) from Dogor for testing(检测). Their tests showed Dogor lived 18,000 years ago, it was a boy, and it was about two months old when it died.

The scientists also ran DNA tests. Although the scientists ran two DNA tests, they couldn’t be sure what Dogor was. Was it a dog or a wolf? The scientists now plan to run a third DNA test.

The results give Dogor’s name a special meaning. Scientists choose the name “Dogor” because it means “friend” in a language spoken in that part of Siberia. But in English, it also means “Dog or…”

The scientists are excited about the results of the tests. They will teach scientists a lot about the history of dogs and when the wolves began to become dogs. “We can’t wait to get results from further tests,” said Sergey Fedorov.

So far, the earliest dog ever found was a dog from around 14000 years ago. People found it in Germany in 1910. If Dogor is a dog, then he will set a new record(纪录).

Did you know that almost 8 million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year? There are many factors that contribute to this pollution, including microfibers. They have been found in shorelines, seafloors, and even snow. In addition, microfibers can also be found in human waste. Studies show that we are constantly exposed to microplastic through our food, our water, and even the air we breathe.

Microfibers are tiny synthetic fibers that are created from small bits of plastic. They make up materials such as polyester, rayon, nylon, and acrylic and are the most common type of microplastic found in the environment.

The growing popularity of this material dates back to the early 1990s. Swedish manufacturers produced a variety of these materials, making it one of the most popular in Europe. By the early2000s, items made of microfiber became popular worldwide. The material was-and sill is-cheap, highly durable (耐用的), and water-resistant. Because of these features, it is used for a variety of reasons, such as cleaning, homeware, clothes, and accessories.

Unluckily, when these synthetic items are washed, they release microfibers. Washing one load of synthetic clothes can release millions of fibers. Although wastewater treatment factories catch most of these fibers, some pass through because of their small size, entering our waterways and polluting the environment. They are also difficult to collect and clean, so it is important to prevent them from entering the environment in the first place.

How Can We Help?

Fortunately, prevention starts right at home! Research has concluded that there are many ways to reduce the spread of microfibers. Some include the following:

● Reducing the washing of synthetic material

● Air-drying clothes also saves energy and reduces water consumption

● Avoiding half-loads of laundry

● Using a front-loading washing machine

It’s a common misunderstanding that wearing cotton instead of synthetic material is environmentally friendly. Researchers claim that cotton clothes often release (释放) chemicals, which is another cause of harm to the environment. Ultimately, scientists theorize that developing better materials is the best solution.

Although these solutions prevent the spread of microfibers, they do not completely get rid of the ones already in the environment. Luckily, companies in the apparel industry as well as NGOs and researchers are actively trying to develop technology to clean our oceans and the environment. For now, we all can take small steps to do our part in restoring our beautiful planet.

Have you ever wanted to sing on stage with Taylor Swift, or go to Mars? With the rise of virtual reality (虚拟现实), you might be able to do these things without even leaving your home. Unlike real reality, virtual reality means completely imaginary worlds, using high-performance computers and special glasses and gloves.

Virtual Reality (VR) has been with us for many years – at least as an idea. Although it’s hard to tell the father of this amazing technology, history suggests that it could have been the fruit of not one but five key people. First, Morton Heilig introduced users to 3D films. Then, there’s Jaron Lanier, the first person to use the term “Visual Reality”. Douglas Engelbart invented the computer mouse. Ivan Sutherland is the inventor of the first HMD and Myron Krueger, the audio wiz. Thanks to these inventors, the technology has now come of age. Users can virtually experience things they could only dream of. Virtual reality is changing the way we communicate experiences in the same way the Internet has changed the way we communicate information. Indeed, VR has become a worldwide reality, with different types of applications ( 应 用 ) from computer games to medicine, engineering, scientific research, and so on. For example, medical learners are able to train through VR in order to deal with all kinds of injuries. Designers can check every corner of their buildings and make preparations. And if you are heading to Mars, a trip in virtual reality can help you “see” what you will find before you get there.

One recent example was a doctor who practiced an operation on a little baby’s heart. This enabled him to plan out his surgery ahead of time, and helped to save the baby.

VR will make the world even smaller than it is now. It’s definitely going to bring us closer together. Like any technology, however, virtual reality has its negative effects. The first big danger is disconnection from the real world. Apart from this, too much use of VR equipment can create obvious physical and even mental (精神的) dangers. Loss of one’s sense of direction and position, sea sickness and headaches are among the signs of illness some experience after using virtual-reality equipment for long periods.

This is an ongoing topic that people are arguing about.