繽紛前沿

World's Largest Vertical Garden

世界上最大的垂直花園

A shopping center in the Italian town of Rozanno has recently claimed a rather unusual Guinness record： world's biggest vertical garden. Growing on the walls of Rozanno's shopping center， the unique garden covers an area of 1263 m2 and is made up of about 44，000 plants. The vertical garden is definitely a magnificent sight to see， but its purpose extends beyond aesthetics （美學）. The plant life growing on the walls of the building helps regulate the temperature inside， and by reducing direct sunlight， it helps keep energy consumption to a minimum. This man-made wonder also absorbs carbon dioxide and keeps ambient （周圍的） noise to a minimum.

雖然造價不菲，但既美觀又環保，也算物有所值啦！

Levitate Water Harry Potter Style

像哈利·波特那樣讓水珠懸浮！

Scientists have been inspired by J. K. Rowling's vivid imagination in the series of books Harry Potter. First there is the ongoing quest to create an invisibility cloak （斗篷） and now， levitating water droplets！ Physicist Chris Benmore at the U.S. Department of Energy's （DOE） Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois gets the water droplets to float around in the air with the help of sound waves. Their reason for creating the levitating liquid is to help pharmaceutical （制藥的） companies make more effective drugs with fewer side effects. The scientists are hoping that with further research and improvement in technique， making drugs by levitating liquids Harry Potter style may become a reality！

沒想到J. K. 羅琳的想象力與科學家的創造力相互碰撞，竟能有如此發現呢！

Sarah Brightman Books Flight to Space Station

歌手莎拉·布萊曼即將飛向太空

Sarah Brightman's voice rocketed to fame more than two decades ago as the heroine of The Phantom of the Opera （《歌劇魅影》）. Now she is heading to outer space. Brightman had booked a trip to the International Space Station. She will become the first recording artist in space. \"I think of myself not just as a dreamer， but as a dream chaser，\" she said. Brightman， a UNESCO （聯合國教科文組織） ambassador， said the trip would also serve as a way to promote the UN agency's message， by encouraging women's education in the sciences and environmental awareness. She hinted （暗示） at the possibility of doing a promotional \"space concert\".

莎拉·布萊曼因在2008年北京奧運會開幕式上與劉歡合唱一曲“You and Me”為我們所知。如今她計劃在2015年去太空旅行。讓我們一起期待她太空演唱會的到來吧！