Burkini Ban Reversed in France

  This is What’s Trending Today. Two weeks ago, resort cities in France banned Muslim women from wearing so-called "burkinis" to beaches. A burkini is a swimsuit designed to cover the whole body. The mayor of Cannes in southern France said these swimsuits that obeyed Muslim rules of how women should dress outside the home could create problems. He said the swimsuits showed a person’s religious affiliation in an “ostentatious way.” France is worried after deadly terror attacks in Paris, Nice and other places claimed by the Islamic State group. When the ban was put in place, women wearing burkas and burkinis at the beach were at risk of being fined or asked to remove them. A burka is a full body covering that only has holes for the eyes. Critics said this new rule was evidence of Islamophobia, or excessive fear of Islamic things, in France. On Friday, France’s highest court suspended the ban in the resort town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The ruling is expected to set an example for at least 30 other cities that have announced bans. The decision comes a day after protestors gathered in London outside of the French Embassy to rally against the ban. Protestors at a beach party wore burkinis and held signs saying "Islamophobia is not freedom.” When the news came out, users of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter spoke out. One person in the U.S. state of Vermont wrote: “This whole issue seems crazy to me. … Maybe someone should be questioning the Speedo instead?”  Speedo is the name of a company that makes swimsuits. Another said “banning the burkini didn’t make any sense.”  With the ban on burkinis overturned, another Facebook commenter wondered if that meant human rights activists would now move on to other issues. He mentioned the fact that women in Saudi Arabia cannot drive cars.  And finally, a Twitter user wrote: “Now let them swim in peace … good grief!” And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think of the burkini debate in France? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   affiliation – n. the state of being closely associated with or connected to an organization, company, etc. ostentatious – adj. behaving in a way that is meant to attract attention good grief – n. an expression of surprise or annoyance  

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Obama to Create World's Largest Marine Park

  United States President Barack Obama will add to a national monument near the coast of Hawaii. The Obama administration announced the move Friday. It will create the world's largest marine protected area. The presidential action will add to the size of a monument created by President George W. Bush in 2006. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument now will be increased to about 1.5 million square kilometers. That is more than twice the size of the American state of Texas. The expanded area is considered a sacred place for Native Hawaiians. Obama will travel to the monument next week to bring attention to the need to protect public lands and waters from climate change. The move bans commercial fishing and new mining in the area of the monument. Fishing for recreation may be done with a permit. Scientific research and the removal of fish and other resources for Native Hawaiian cultural practices also will be permitted. Some fishing groups are concerned that an expansion of the marine national monument will hurt their industry. Sean Martin is the president of the Hawaii Longline Association. Hawaii's longline fishing fleet supplies much of the fresh tuna and other fish to Hawaii. Martin has previously estimated the fleet catches about 900,000 kilograms of fish each year from the area proposed for the expanded monument. He said he was "disappointed'' by Hawaiian Governor David Ige's decision to support the expansion. He said the monument's expansion would be based on political and not scientific reasons. The Obama administration has described the expansion as protecting more than 7,000 species of marine life. It also says the move will protect and improve the environment. Shipwrecks and crashed aircraft from the Battle of Midway in World War II are in the expansion area. The battle was fought in June of 1942 and marked a major shift in that war. Obama has now created or expanded 26 national monuments. The administration said Obama has increased national monuments more than any other president. The Obama administration said the expansion is an answer to a proposal by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian leaders. The federal government will give Hawaii's Department of Natural Resources and its Office of Hawaiian Affairs a greater role in supervising the monument. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA News staff wrote this story with adds from the Associated Press. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   monument – n. a building or place that is important because of when it was built or because of something in history that happened there marine – adj. of or relating to the sea or the plants and animals that live in the sea longline – n. a type of deep-sea fishing equipment using a long main line anchored to the bottom to which shorter lines with baited hooks is attached fleet – n. a group of ships or vehicles that move or work together tuna – n. a large fish that lives in the ocean and is eaten as food species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants shipwreck – n. a ruined or destroyed ship

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'Pigs Is Pigs,' by Ellis Parker Butler

Our story today is called "Pigs is Pigs."  It was written by Ellis Parker Butler.  Mike Flannery, the agent of the Interurban Express Company, leaned over the desk in the company's office in Westcote and shook his fist. Mr. Morehouse, angry and red, stood on the other side of the desk shaking with fury. The argument had been long and hot. At last Mr. Morehouse had become speechless. The cause of the trouble lay on the desk between the two men. It was a box with two guinea pigs inside. "Do as you like, then!" shouted Flannery. "Pay for them and take them. Or don't pay for them and leave them here. Rules are rules, Mr. Morehouse. And Mike Flannery is not going to break them." "But you stupid idiot!" shouted Mr. Morehouse, madly shaking a thin book beneath the agent's nose. "Can't you read it here – in your own book of transportation rates? ‘Pets, domestic, Franklin to Westcote, if correctly boxed, twenty-five cents each.'" He threw the book on the desk. "What more do you want? Aren't they pets?  Aren't they domestic? Aren't they correctly boxed? What?" He turned and walked back and forth rapidly, with a furious look on his face.  "Pets," he said. "P-E-T-S! Twenty-five cents each. Two times twenty-five is fifty! Can you understand that? I offer you fifty cents." Flannery reached for the book. He ran his hand through the pages and stopped at page sixty-four. "I don't take fifty cents," he whispered in an unpleasant voice. "Here's the rule for it: ‘When the agent be in any doubt about which two rates should be charged on a shipment, he shall charge the larger. The person receiving the shipment may put in a claim for the overcharge.' In this case, Mr. Morehouse, I be in doubt. Pets them animals may be. And domestic they may be, but pigs I'm sure they do be. And my rule says plain as the nose on your face, ‘Pigs, Franklin to Westcote, thirty cents each.'" Mr. Morehouse shook his head savagely. "Nonsense!" he shouted.  "Confounded nonsense, I tell you!  That rule means common pigs, not guinea pigs!" "Pigs is pigs," Flannery said firmly. Mr. Morehouse bit his lip and then flung his arms out wildly. "Very well!" he shouted. "You shall hear of this! Your president shall hear of this! It is an outrage! I have offered you fifty cents. You refuse it. Keep the pigs until you are ready to take the fifty cents. But, by George, sir, if one hair of those pigs' heads is harmed, I will have the law on you!" He turned and walked out, slamming the door. Flannery carefully lifted the box from the desk and put it in a corner. Mr. Morehouse quickly wrote a letter to the president of the transportation express company. The president answered, informing Mr. Morehouse that all claims for overcharge should be sent to the Claims Department. Mr. Morehouse wrote to the Claims Department. One week later he received an answer. The Claims Department said it had discussed the matter with the agent at Westcote. The agent said Mr. Morehouse had refused to accept the two guinea pigs shipped to him. Therefore, the department said, Mr. Morehouse had no claim against the company and should write to its Tariff Department. Mr. Morehouse wrote to the Tariff Department. He stated his case clearly.  The head of the Tariff Department read Mr. Morehouse's letter. "Huh!  Guinea pigs," he said. "Probably starved to death by this time." He wrote to the agent asking why the shipment was held up. He also wanted to know if the guinea pigs were still in good health. Before answering, agent Flannery wanted to make sure his report was up to date. So he went to the back of the office and looked into the cage. Good Lord!  There were now eight of them! All well and eating like hippopotamuses. He went back to the office and explained to the head of the Tariff Department what the rules said about pigs. And as for the condition of the guinea pigs, said Flannery, they were all well. But there were eight of them now, all good eaters. The head of the Tariff Department laughed when he read Flannery's letter.  He read it again and became serious. "By George!" he said. "Flannery is right. Pigs is pigs. I'll have to get something official on this." He spoke to the president of the company. The president treated the matter lightly. "What is the rate on pigs and on pets?" he asked. "Pigs thirty cents, pets twenty-five," the head of the Tariff Department answered. "Then of course guinea pigs are pigs," the president said. "Yes," the head of the Tariff Department agreed. "I look at it that way too. A thing that can come under two rates is naturally to be charged at the higher one. But are guinea pigs, pigs? Aren't they rabbits?" "Come to think of it," the president said, "I believe they are more like rabbits.  Sort of half-way between pig and rabbit. I think the question is this – are guinea pigs of the domestic pig family? I'll ask Professor Gordon. He is an expert about such things." The president wrote to Professor Gordon. Unfortunately, the professor was in South America collecting zoological samples. His wife forwarded the letter to him. The professor was in the High Andes Mountains. The letter took many months to reach him. In time, the president forgot the guinea pigs. The head of the Tariff Department forgot them. Mr. Morehouse forgot them. But agent Flannery did not. The guinea pigs had increased to thirty-two. He asked the head of the Tariff Department what he should do with them. "Don't sell the pigs," agent Flannery was told. "They are not your property.  Take care of them until the case is settled." The guinea pigs needed more room. Flannery made a large and airy room for them in the back of his office. Some months later he discovered he now had one hundred sixty of them. He was going out of his mind. Not long after this, the president of the express company heard from Professor Gordon. It was a long and scholarly letter. It pointed out that the guinea pig was the cavia aparoea, while the common pig was the genus sus of the family suidae. The president then told the head of the Tariff Department that guinea pigs are not pigs and must be charged only twenty-five cents as domestic pets.  The Tariff Department informed agent Flannery that he should take the one hundred sixty guinea pigs to Mr. Morehouse and collect twenty-five cents for each of them. Agent Flannery wired back. "I've got eight hundred now. Shall I collect for eight hundred or what? How about the sixty-four dollars I paid for cabbages to feed them?" Many letters went back and forth. Flannery was crowded into a few feet at the extreme front of the office. The guinea pigs had all the rest of the room.  Time kept moving on as the letters continued to go back and forth. Flannery now had four thousand sixty-four guinea pigs. He was beginning to lose control of himself. Then, he got a telegram from the company that said: "Error in guinea pig bill. Collect for two guinea pigs -- fifty cents." Flannery ran all the way to Mr. Morehouse's home. But Mr. Morehouse had moved. Flannery searched for him in town but without success. He returned to the express office and found that two hundred six guinea pigs had entered the world since he left the office. At last, he got an urgent telegram from the main office: "Send the pigs to the main office of the company at Franklin." Flannery did so. Soon, came another telegram. "Stop sending pigs. Warehouse full." But he kept sending them. Agent Flannery finally got free of the guinea pigs. "Rules may be rules," he said, "but so long as Flannery runs this express office, pigs is pets and cows is pets and horses is pets and lions and tigers and Rocky Mountain goats is pets. And the rate on them is twenty-five cents." Then he looked around and said cheerfully, "Well, anyhow, it is not as bad as it might have been. What if them guinea pigs had been elephants?"   Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn. Did you ever have an experience with an official who did not understand you? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   interurban - n. between cities or towns guinea pig - n. a small furry animal, or rodent, that is often kept as a pet hippopotamus - n. a large African animal that has an extremely large head and mouth and short legs and that spends most of its time in water genus - n. a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species telegram - n.  a message that is sent by telegraph (an old-fashioned system of sending messages over long distances by using wires and electrical signals) Just for fun, here's a cartoon of the story.

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More Zika in Florida, First Case in Hong Kong

  Health officials in the southern U.S. state of Florida identified several new cases of local transmission of the Zika virus this week.   And internationally, Hong Kong joined the list of areas affected by the widespread virus. Miami outbreak Most of the new Florida cases were in Miami-Dade County. This is where the first case of a person becoming infected with the Zika virus within the U.S. took place earlier this month. Mosquitos mainly spread the virus, which has affected much of Latin America and the Caribbean area. Zika can also be transmitted sexually.  The virus causes mild or no reaction in most people. But it is linked to a severe birth defect called microcephaly in pregnant women. Infected women can give birth to babies born with unusually small heads and underdeveloped brains. Microcephaly can result in mental and physical problems and even death. ​ Health officials have warned pregnant women to avoid parts of Miami and other affected Florida counties. As of Friday, the state’s Department of Health reported a total of 534 travel-related infections. It said the state had 43 local cases. A total of 70 pregnant women in Florida have been infected.  Earlier this month, America’s top expert on infectious diseases said more cases of Zika were likely in Florida, as well as other U.S. Gulf Coast states. Zika to 'hang around' U.S. Speaking to ABC News, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he thinks Texas and Louisiana will be the most vulnerable states to Zika. Fauci heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He said the United States can expect the virus to “hang around” for as long as two more years. He added that U.S. officials need to be prepared for a “broad outbreak,” although he does not think that is likely. “Hopefully, we get to a point to where we could suppress it, so we won't have any risk of it.” New Hong Kong case  In Hong Kong, health officials this week confirmed the first case of Zika. The patient is a 38-year-old woman who developed symptoms August 20. She is being treated in the hospital in good condition. Officials said the Hong Kong resident had recently traveled to the Caribbean area, where she remembered being bitten by mosquitoes. Hong Kong officials urged the public to protect themselves from mosquitoes and warned pregnant women to avoid affected areas. Four Southeast Asian countries have so far reported local Zika outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Affected countries include Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. ​ The WHO said that no cases of Zika have been confirmed in anyone associated with the Rio Olympics. The games ended August 21. The virus was first detected in Brazil in 2015. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been infected there. Clinton's plan to fight Zika In the U.S. presidential campaign, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton discussed the fight against Zika. She proposed a new fund to improve and speed up the way the federal government deals with Zika and other health emergencies. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think governments and organizations are doing enough to prevent further spread of Zika? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transmission – n. the spreading of something from one thing to another mosquito – n. a small flying insect that bites the skin of people and can spreads disease county – n. a regional area that maintains its own government  microcephaly – n. a physical condition that causes birth defects in the brain lobby – v. to try and persuade government legislators to do something  vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or attacked physically or emotionally suppress – v. prevent certain information from being known symptom – n. a physical feeling that indicates someone has a particular illness fund – n. amount of money collected and saved for a certain purpose  

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Dozens of Wildfires Burn US West

  Fires in the western United States have burned thousands of hectares of land. The fires have forced people to leave their homes in California and in the state of Washington. The National Interagency Fire Center reported 32 fires in the western states. Seven new fires were reported by the middle of the week. Hot, dry winds this week have helped spread the fires. The area around the city of Spokane, Washington is the center of firefighting efforts. Firefighter reinforcements have arrived in the area. Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in 20 counties in Washington. The governor linked the latest fires to climate change and dead trees in the area’s forests. Firefighters in California's San Luis Obispo County have controlled a part of the 15,000-hectare fire. That fire is burning in Central California. It was threatening the historic Hearst Castle. The castle was home to William Randolph Hearst, a famous American newspaper publisher in the first half of the Twentieth Century. By Tuesday, officials said the castle was no longer in danger from the fire. A shift in the wind pushed the blaze away from the castle. Investigators in Southern California searched for the cause of a huge fire in San Bernardino County. That fire burned for about one week. The blaze destroyed more than 100 homes and 200 buildings. Officials said the so-called Blue Cut fire was under control Tuesday. Small fires burned in two popular national parks in Wyoming. One fire closed a main road at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Another fire stopped traffic on a 20-kilometer area of a road in Grand Teton National Park. At Grand Teton, people were asked to leave at least one campground because of the threat of fire. I’m Dan Friedell. The staff at VOA News wrote this story. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   firefighting – n. stopping and putting out fires counties – n. areas of a state or country that include several towns and cities blaze – n. an intense and dangerous fire campground – n. a place cleared in the forest for people to put up a tent or park a camper

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English @ the Movies: 'Word Travels'

Our English @ the Movies expression is from the movie "Pete's Dragon." Dragons are not real, but there is one in this movie. It is about a boy who has lived with the dragon in the forest for years. The expression is "word travels." What does that mean? Listen and find out.

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China Plans More Island-Building in South China Sea

  State-controlled media in China recently reported that the government is trying to reach an agreement with other nations on operations in the South China Sea. Such a deal could reduce tensions in the area. However, talks on the agreement have been going on for more than ten years, with little progress.   The official China Daily reported that Chinese diplomats and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached agreement on some issues. The publication said they agreed to create a communications system for sea-based emergencies. It also reported that a temporary agreement on South China Sea operations would be written by the middle of next year. If a final agreement is reached, all the nations that sign it would have to obey international laws. Some experts do not believe a deal will be reached. They note that China has increased its activity in the area since July. At that time, a United Nations-supported court dismissed most of China’s claims that a large part of the Sea is its territory. China has sent large ships close to disputed islands in the South China Sea. Satellite pictures that have been seen by experts show new buildings that can house fighter jets on some of the islands. Harry Kazianis is an expert on defense policy at the Center for the National Interest, in Washington. He recently spoke on VOA’s Asia Weekly podcast. “I think what they're trying to achieve is, is basically just to show their anger with the recent ruling that was in the Court of Arbitration in The Hague. And I think we have to break this down in terms of two sets of reactions: The first set of reactions is basically from what happened, what’s happened from July and basically what’s gonna happen until early September.” That is when the group of nations known as the G20 holds a meeting in China. Kazianis says he believes China will not change its behavior. Greg Poling is an expert on maritime issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington. He says China’s long-term goal is to control the area. Poling says in 2014 China changed its behavior. He said before that time China had been pressuring its neighbors, including Vietnam and the Philippines. But, he says, “in 2014 all of a sudden, we had Chinese artificial islands cropping up where previously there had only been submerged rocks (and) reefs.” Poling says this island-building changed the balance of power in a basic way. The United States does not accept China’s claims to territory in the South China Sea. U.S. planes and ships have been patrolling near the islands, ignoring warnings from Chinese military officials in the area. China says foreign ships are illegally sailing in its waters. But the United States says they are international waters. The U.S. Defense Department says China is making a lot of claims aimed at trying to limit the ability of foreign ships to move freely. Poling says the United States and its allies must decide whether they are willing to challenge China if it continues to try to control large areas of the South China Sea. “If China is absolutely committed to this strategy -- no matter the diplomatic costs -- then it’s hard to see what the international community or those most involved -- like the U. S. and Japan -- can do."  Poling says ideas that could be considered include trying to stop China by force. But he says a longer-term plan might be to tell the world what Beijing is doing in the hope that China’s leaders will understand that their behavior is hurting their own interests. Poling says it is important to understand that the dispute may go on for many years, and that diplomatic pressure may be “the only tool you have.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.  Correspondent Steve Miller reported this story from Washington. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Pete Heinlein and Mario Ritter were the editors. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story maritime – adj. of or relating to sailing on the sea or doing business (such as trading) by sea artificial – adj. not happening or existing naturally; created or caused by people submerged – adj. under water crop up – phrasal verb to come or appear when not expected strategy – n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

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NASA Finds ‘Lost’ Spacecraft

  The American space agency, NASA says it has again made contact with a spacecraft studying the sun and space weather. NASA said it lost contact with the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories, also known as the STEREO-B spacecraft, two years ago. Communications with the spacecraft were lost after NASA attempted to try to prevent overheating of the spaceship’s antenna. The space agency said contact with STEREO-B was restored last week.   NASA has another spacecraft that is nearly identical to STEREO-B called STEREO-A. It also was launched in 2006 to study the sun and space weather. STEREO-A is working normally. NASA said it will now test STEREO-B to see if the spacecraft’s instruments and sensors are operating correctly. Both spacecraft are located on the other side of the sun from earth. NASA says they have added to the understanding of how the sun works. The ships have studied the sun’s gasses, wind, particles and its atmosphere. I’m John Russell. The staff at VOA News wrote this story. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spacecraft – n. a vehicle that is used for travel in outer space overheating – v. becoming too hot antenna – n. a device such as a wire or a metal rod for sending or receiving radio or television signals sensors –n. a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound or motion and then reacts to it in a particular way

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Before-and-After Photos From Earthquake in Italy

  This is What’s Trending Today. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck central Italy on Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the center of the earthquake was near the town of Norcia. Amatrice and Accumoli were hit especially hard. The mayor of Amatrice said “three-quarters of the town is not there anymore.” Hundreds of people died and more were injured in the quake. One woman in Amatrice said “it was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy, and now there’s nothing left.” Many people and news organizations posted photos on Facebook and Twitter comparing how the towns looked before and after the earthquake. CNN used a computer animation called a GIF to show how Amatrice changed from one day to the next. The town’s clock tower was the only building still standing. One person wrote: “Wow! Have mercy, Lord!”  USA Today used both aerial photos and photos from the ground to make a slideshow of before and after images. Some of the images came from Google Maps’ street view.  One person wrote: “my heart goes out to the people.”  Rescue efforts are continuing in Italy. Many were excited to hear the news of a 10-year-old girl being pulled from the rubble after 17 hours. “May they find more survivors,” wrote Rose Horowitz.  Reacting to the news on Facebook, Randy Bettis wondered if “Mother Nature could give us a little break,” after the earthquake in Italy and floods in the U.S. state of Louisiana.  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think the images coming from Italy? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story magnitude – n. a number that shows the power of an earthquake animation – n. a way of making a movie by using a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of objects (such as puppets or models) that are slightly different from one another and that when viewed quickly one after another create the appearance of movement aerial – adj. taken or seen from an airplane

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US Space Agency Prepares for Asteroid Meet-up

  American researchers are making final plans to send a spacecraft into space for a possible meeting with an asteroid. The spaceship is called OSIRIS-Rex. It is six meters long and shaped like a man’s bow tie. The asteroid is called Bennu. It is larger than the Empire State Building in New York City. Bennu weighs about 60 million tons and is traveling at a speed of more than 100,000 kilometers an hour. The huge space rock is getting closer to Earth. It comes as close as 500,000 kilometers to the planet every six years. Researchers want to take a close look at Bennu because it is considered one of the most dangerous asteroids in our solar system. The American space agency, NASA, will start its investigation next month. NASA officials say the launch window for the spacecraft opens Thursday, September 8. That means the space agency can launch OSIRIS-Rex on that date or later. The plan is to put it in orbit around Bennu in about two years. The spacecraft will not land on Bennu, but will make contact with the asteroid briefly -- for about five seconds. At that time, a part of the spacecraft shaped like a container will gather about 60 grams from Bennu's surface. All of that material will return to earth inside a device the researchers are calling the Sample Return Capsule, or SRC. It is expected to land in the Utah desert in September of 2023. NASA researchers are calling Bennu a “primitive” asteroid – meaning it has been in existence for a long time. Rock particles cover the asteroid’s surface. The space agency says some of those particles may "contain the…precursors to the origin of life and the Earth’s oceans." Scientists want to learn as much as possible about Bennu because of the danger it could cause our planet. The asteroid "...has a relatively high probability of impacting the Earth…” in less than 200 years, according to a NASA statement. Another thing that makes Bennu dangerous is its path around the solar system. That path is changing because of something called the Yarkovsky effect. The Yarkovsky effect is what happens when a cold piece of rock gets close enough to the sun to get heated. Scientists want to know how that warmth changes the orbit of asteroids and other space objects. I’m Anne Ball. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the NASA project to study the Bennu asteroid? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spacecraft – n. a vehicle that is used for travel in outer space asteroid – n. any one of thousands of small planets that circle around the sun bow tie – n. a narrow length of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and tied into a bow at the throat precursor – n. something that comes before something else and that often leads to or influences its development solar system – n. our sun and the planets that move around it

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US College Libraries in a Digital Age

  Many U-S colleges and universities are making big changes to their libraries. The schools are finding ways to serve students and to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The days of musty books on shelves, bound journals, card catalogs, long tables and rules governing behavior are gone. Now many campus libraries have cafes, group study areas, where talking is permitted, and sofas designed for taking a short nap. Some are even open 24-hours a day. Julie Garrison is dean of libraries at Western Michigan University. She says the welcoming additions reflect the latest thinking about the millennial generation's learning habits. "We used to think about library design always in terms of the books. We were about first collections, then readers,'' Garrison said. "There is less of a need to protect a print collection in the way we did when it was the only way to get information, and we realized that if we let people bring in food and drink, they would stay longer.'' In place of books, students use laptops and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi. Students can study anywhere. To keep up with the digital age, college libraries are now being equipped with media production labs. They also have high-technology "maker spaces'' where students can use 3-D printers and laser cutters, and data visualization walls where they can present projects. On many campuses, information technology professionals work next to librarians. Katherine Bergeron is president of Connecticut College in New London. She says there really has been a complete shift in the idea of what a library is doing on a campus. She says the shift is from having a place where knowledge is preserved to a space for creation and collaboration. However, Christopher Stewart says new technologies expand rather than replace traditional libraries.  The assistant professor at Dominican University in Illinois says technology continues to change the way the world works and libraries are no exception. But, he adds that students still need quiet space to just sit and think.  The library has been and will continue to be that place. I’m Marsha James We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. Her story also has information from an Associated Press report. Mario Ritter was the editor. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story musty – adj. having a bad smell because of old age or lack of fresh air cafe – n. a small restaurant where you can get simple meals and drinks (such as coffee) millennial generation – n. term used to refer to the generation born from 1980 onward, brought up using digital technology and mass media habit – n. something that a person does often in a regular way 3-D printers –n. a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file laser cutters –n. a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses, and hobbyists

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