To solve old problems, study new species

Nature is wonderfully abundant, diverse and mysterious- but biological research today tends to focus on only 7 species, including rats, chickens, fruit flies and us. We're studying an astonishingly narrow silver of life, says biologist Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, and hoping it'll be enough to solve the oldest, most challenging problems, like cancer. Im this visually captivating talk, the author calls on us to interrogate the unknown and show us the remarkable discoveries that surface when we do.

https://www.ted.com/talks/alejandro_sanchez_alvarado_to_solve_old_problems_study_new_species

VOCABULARY:

SLIVER- a thin piece of something larger



There were slivers of glass on the floor.
I saw a sliver of cake in the fridge.

TRANSPARENT- when material is transparent you can see through it.



This glass is transparent, you can see through it.
That is why it needs to be transparent.



VISTA- a view, especially from a high place.



It was one of the most scenic vistas that she had ever seen.
There are also some beautiful vistas from the top floor.

VANTAGE POINT- the way you think about something when you are in a particular situation.



From my vintage point, this task is difficult.
He retuned to his vantage point with binoculars.

DISPARAGE- to say that you thing something or someone is bad



She is often disparaged by the critics.
I didn't want to disparage people in any way.

The world does not need more nuclear weapons

Let's strart with a definition of a nuclear weapon.

Nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter.



Ok, so lets see which countries have the biggest nuclear arsenals.



Today nine nations collectively control more than 15 000 nuclear weapons, each hundreds of times more powerful than those dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. According to Erika Gregory, we don't need more nuclear weapons but we need a new generation to face the unfinished challenge of disarmament stated decades ago. Nuclear reformer Erika Gregory calls on today's risig leaders- those born in a time without Cold War fears and duck-and-cover training- to pursue an ambitious goal: ridding the world of nuclear weapons by 2045.


https://www.ted.com/talks/erika_gregory_the_world_doesn_t_need_more_nuclear_weapons

Vocabulary:

Bummer- something upleasant or annoying.



His first exam was a real bummer.
It is a huge bummer, I don't want to see him again.

Gear- the equipment or clothes used for particular purpose.



Sports gear is really important if you want to participate in competition.
She needs a new swimming gear.

Trigger- to initiate something.



Her arrest triggered the people to protest against the government. 
The scientists have found allergens that triggered the asthma attacks.

Retaliate- to do something bad to someone because they have done something harmful to you.

We will retaliate for every attack on our people.
If you use this weapon on the Americans, they will retaliate.



Audacious- showing too much confidence in a way that other people find rude or shocking.



It seems abudacious, but in fact it is a natural thing.
We shouldn't continue the audacious game here.

Abundance- a lot of something.



We have an abundance of flowers.
The real problem is the abundance of weapons in our country.

Additional materials:

♪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVI9-WBnnN4

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrvgsk8eX24

- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-nine-countries-that-have-nuclear-weapons-a6798756.html

- http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/23/world/nuclear-weapon-countries.html?_r=0

- http://www.icanw.org/the-facts/nuclear-arsenals/

Why you should talk to strangers?

What is you attitude toward strangers?

OR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3CHi_9sxj0

OR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSbSKNk9f0

Kio Stark says that "When you talk to strangers, you're making a beautiful interruptions into the expected narrative of your daily life". In this fantastic talk, Stark explores the overlooked benefints of pushing past our default discomfort when it comes to strangers and embracing those fleeting but profoundly beautiful moments of genuine connection.

https://www.ted.com/talks/kio_stark_why_you_should_talk_to_strangers

Vocabulary:

Profound- extreme, strong.

You should give her a profound proof of your love.
He had a profound influence on his children.



Liberate- to help something or someone to be free.

He died before troops liberated the city.
He was liberated in 1945.

 

Uneasy- worried, anxious because something bad might happen.

She fells a bit uneasy about her future plans.
The look on her face makes me uneasy.



Averse- harmful; things that cause danger or problems.

She didn't know about adverse weather conditions.
Smog has an adverse effect on health.




Disclosure- the act of revealing a secret information.

They didn't expect this disclosure.
After the disclosure we were shocked.

Which country does the most good for the world?

Which features should have the country that does the most good for the world?

1. Prosperity & Equality

2. Culture

3. Peace & Security

4. Science & Technology

5. Health & Wellbeing

6. Planet & Climate

7. World Order

It's an unexpected side effect of globalization: problems that once would have stayed local- say, a bank lending out too much money- now have consequences worldwide. But still, countries operate independently, as if alone on the planet. Policy advisor Simon Anholt has dreamed up an unusual scale to get governments thinking outwardly: The Good Counntry Index. In a riveting and funny talk, he answers the question, 

"Which country does the most good?" 

The answer may surprise you.

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_anholt_which_country_does_the_most_good_for_the_world?language=en&utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=global-social%20issues

The award goes to...

IRELAND!

Vocabulary:

Persist- to continue to do something despite opposition or difficulty.

The snow persisted throughout the day.
John persisted on his idea, so they gave up.



Fuss about- to complain about something.

You shouldn't fuss about so much.
She is fussing about her career.



Leap of faith- an act of accepting or believing in something that is unprovable, or without empirical evidence.

Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith to understand the world.
It is impossible to avoid the leap of faith.


Staggered- surprised or shocked.

She was staggered that he didn't find the burglar.
He was staggered to read that she bought a car.



Drift off (to sleep)- to gradually start to sleep.

Unfortunately I drift off during the lesson.
She drifted off every night with a smile on her face.




Additional materials:
https://goodcountry.org/index/overall-rankings