Reading 1 ⇱
FEMALE SCIENTISTS
Changing The World
In any web search for the world's famous scientists, Marie Curie always receives a mention. Curie, a Polish and naturalised French physicist and chemist, discovered radiation, helped apply it in the field of X-rays and coined the term radioactivity.
Science was man's world in the nineteenth century. And yet, Mary Anning became an expert in fossils and geology. Coming from a poor family, she collected fossils on the beach and sold them to make a little money. She found fossils of complete marine reptiles that became extinct over 100 million years ago. She gained the respect of scientists, but living in an era when women weren't allowed to vote or attend university, she was not allowed to join the Geological Society of London.
A hundred years later, conditions were still difficult for female scientists. Rosalind Franklin, a chemist born in 1920, was part of a team who discovered the molecular structure of DNA. Tragically, she died aged thirty-seven, four years before her fellow scientists, all men, were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962. They made no reference to Franklin in their acceptance speech.
In cases where women's achievements were recognised, we still find evidence of discrimination in the way these were reported in the press. When the brilliant chemist Dorothy Hodgkin was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964 for discovering the molecular structure of penicillin and vitamin B12, the paper headline was Oxford Housewife Wins Nobel. In fact, this housewife was also a professor at Oxford University. The gender gap in science is narrowing, with many female scientists inspiring girls to study it, but full equality remains a goal.
(Adapted from English Discovery 12)
Reading 2 ⇱
Living in the stressful modern era, most of us usually look for sources of relaxation, and it’s no secret that viewing nature and being outdoors can be pleasant and restorative. Spending time in nature is linked to improvements in mental health, mood, emotional well – being, and cognitive benefits. However, the more surprising thing is that, according to new research, viewing water may be a better environment for relaxation than green areas with grass and trees.
In a recent article, Harvard psychologist Adam Grant discussed a remarkable 2024 study that he came across, showing that people who viewed water for less than two minutes had reduced blood pressure compared to people who viewied green areas and trees.
So why are nature’s blue spaces more relaxing than green ones? According to the original authors of the study, the reason might be related to the process of our evolution. For early humans who have to work hard to survive day by day, the lack of water has always been a major challenge, as it posed a direct threat to life, leading to heightened levels of stress, increases in blood pressure and cardiac stress. Therefore, successfully detecting water or simply just looking at it can provide a sense of great relief.
Being in nature can help you re – invigorate your body, mind, and spirit, offering moments of awe, calm, and relaxation. And now we are learning that bodies of water may bring even greater relaxation. So, whether it's a river, lake, or ocean, it might be time to go outside and find the nearest blue space to experience the effects for yourself!
(Adapted from psychologytoday.com)
Reading 3 ⇱
If you’re new to running, or new to marathons, you might be worried about or even fearful of the distance. And these feelings are completely understandable, given the fact that more than 42 kilometres is a very long way. However, more and more people are taking on this challenge every year, and for very good reasons.
Obviously, running such a long distance requires a lot of training, and the more you train, the more your endurance will be enhanced. And of course, as you become more physically active, your heart and muscles will be stronger, your blood circulation will improve, and you will most likely get in shape in no time. Additionally, there are also mental and social benefits such as feeling less stressed and more energized as well as having the chance to meet and establish meaningful relationships with other people.
If you think about it, running a marathon is also a chance for personal development. Everyone has at least one fear or insecurity, and for many people, completing a marathon race can seem like an extremely daunting or even impossible task. Of course, it’s true that this is a big challenge that requires commitment and perseverance. That being said, every time you step outside out of your comfort zone and accomplish something new, you will grow stronger and become more confident.
Sometimes, you can actually help many others when you run a marathon. Many runners now combine their marathon goal with the goal of helping others by participating in races that raise money for charity. Besides, running in such marathon races will most likely give you all the motivation you need to get through the exhausting 42-kilometer run. After all, it’s quite difficult to quit when you know that you are giving help to people in need.
(Adapted from active.com)