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[ana(효정)]

Sunscreen pill could be available soon

Scientists say they are close to producing a pill that would protect us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Researchers have located the chemicals coral uses to protect itself and can use these to produce a synthetic sun-shield compound. A sunscreen pill could be available by the year 2016. This is good news for sun-lovers as they would only need to take a pill once a week, instead of slapping sunscreen on every few hours. A sunbather on Sydney’s Bondi Beach welcomed this news, saying: “Bring it on. No more sunscreen. No more sunburn. Now we can stay out in the sun all day long.” However, some scientists warned the pill could be harmful as too much sun protection can lead to vitamin D deficiency, resulting in weak bones.

The research team analysed coral samples from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to find out how coral can survive under the sun without suffering any damage. They discovered that algae provide the coral with the chemicals it needs to shield itself from UV rays. Lead scientist Dr Paul Long said: "What we have found is that the algae living within the coral makes a compound that we think is transported to the coral, which then modifies it into a sunscreen for the benefit of both the coral and the algae.” He added: “If we can determine how this compound is created and passed on, we could biosynthetically develop it in a laboratory to create a sunscreen for human use.” He said testing on humans could take place in the next two years.

Discussion

Do you like to sit in the sun?

What’s the best thing for sunburn?

What do you do to avoid harmful UV rays?

Would you agree to be tested?

What happens if the coral disappears?

Do you think we can end all disease and pain if we unlock nature’s secrets?

What other features of nature would you like scientists to allow us to have?

Do you think synthetic medicines are better than natural ones?

How healthy and unhealthy is the sun?

Suicides in South Korea have more than doubled in 10 years, according to new figures from the government.

South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and pressure has been growing for the government to do more to stop the problem spiralling.

The new figures show that in 2009 more than 40 people killed themselves each day in South Korea.

This is more than twice the number who did so a decade earlier and five times as many as in 1989.

The question is why more South Koreans are killing themselves?

The economy has been growing by an average of 7% since the Asian crisis a decade ago and despite a rapid rise in household debts, the country has not seen the mass lay-offs and economic stagnation which were blamed for suicide rates in neighbouring Japan.

Some analysts here say there has been a move towards suicides among younger age groups, with some young people using internet sites to form suicide groups.

Earlier this year the South Korean parliament passed a new law giving the government more responsibility for preventing suicides.

Since then several new initiatives have been launched including the installation of emergency phones on bridges and, according to local media, plans for a nationwide series of suicide prevention centres.

Discussion Questions

1. Were you shocked by this article?

2.  Do you think the government is doing enough to prevent suicides?

3. What should be done to prevent suicides?

4. Why do you think South Koreans have starting committing suicide more?

5. Do you think committing suicide is a part of Korean culture?

6. Do you think it more likely that a man or a woman will commit suicide?

7. Do you think the internet has helped increased the suicide rate?

Top 10 Suicide Nations

1. Ukraine                                                                   

2. Russian Federation                                            

3. Guyana                                                                

4. Kazakhstan                                                          

5. South Korea                                                          

6. Belarus                                                                    

7. Sri Lanka                                                                 

8. Hungary                                                                  

9. Lithuania                                                                

10. Japan                                                                     

[Teddy(斗熙)]

참참참 정참~ ^^

[Bosun]

외국인 친구들.. 안동 국제탈춤축제이나 부산영화제 간다고..불참일것 같아요 ㅠㅠ 저도 BIFF가볼려구용 ㅋ "불참"입니당ㅋ

[Gina(진아)]

결혼식갔다가 정참!!

[jaguar]

영어하는 날이당..^^

[miranda]

어제 정참했어요^^