Doctors worry about post-antibiotic future

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US, Japan, S. Korea Denounce Latest North Korean Missile Test

  North Korea launched four missiles early Monday. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three of the missiles came down in his country’s waters. He said they landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone about 350 kilometers from the Japanese mainland.  “The launches are clearly in violation of (United Nations) Security Council resolutions. It is an extremely dangerous action,” Abe said during questioning in parliament. Also reacting, the United States said North Korea’s provocations “only serve to increase the international community’s resolve...Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan…remains ironclad,” said State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner. Toner added, “We also call on the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to refrain from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric that threaten international peace and stability, and to make the strategic choice to fulfill its international obligations and commitments and return to serious talks.”     The North Korean missiles traveled about 1,000 kilometers from where they were launched, in the northwestern part of the country. Their flight path suggests that they were not long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), however. On New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would soon test an ICBM. Launch protests military exercises, may pressure China The launches took place as South Korea and the United States are holding joint military exercises. The North Korean government says the exercises are reason for North Koreans to prepare for an invasion. Last year, North Korea launched missiles during the joint South Korean-U.S. exercises. The missile launches on Monday were not unexpected. Bruce Bennett of the RAND Corporation research group told VOA that the most recent launches may have been an attempt to pressure China. “This was a launch that was intended to defy the United States and South Korea for doing the ongoing exercises, but it was also clearly pointed at China." Last month, China said it would suspend coal imports from North Korea. Coal exports are an important way for the North Korean government to earn money. Experts said China’s move was to punish the North for the apparent killing of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Malaysian officials say Kim Jong Nam died after being attacked by two women at the Kuala Lumpur international airport last month. They have blamed the banned nerve agent VX for his death. Malaysia is seeking several North Koreans for questioning and has refused to release the body to North Korean officials. Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and North Korea also have worsened. North Korea has said Malaysia has not carried out a fair investigation. Malaysia has expelled the North Korean ambassador and has ordered its top diplomat in North Korea to return home. North Korean missile activity has increased North Korea has increased activities in both its nuclear and missile programs since the start of 2016. It has tested more than 25 missiles during that time. In February 2016, the North launched a satellite into space using ballistic missile technology banned by United Nations resolutions. In reaction, the South Korean government approved deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in the country. The costly defense system is designed to protect South Korea from the North Korean missile threat. However, China opposes the placement of the missile system near its borders. Russia also has voiced concerns. South Korea denounces latest test, political crisis continues South Korean Prime Minister and acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn strongly denounced the latest missile tests by the North. “Our government strongly condemns that North Korea fired ballistic missiles once again ignoring continuous warnings from South Korea and the international community,” Hwang said. He added, “It is a challenge against the international community and a grave act of provocation.” South Korea remains in a political crisis. President Park Geun-hye has been critical of North Korea’s banned nuclear and missile activities during her term in office. She has pushed for the THAAD missile system and closed the Kaesong economic area jointly operated with the North. But she is fighting impeachment on corruption charges. The country’s constitutional court is now considering the case against her. If Park is removed from office, the country will be required to hold its presidential election earlier this year than planned. I’m Mario Ritter. Smita Nordwall, Fern Robinson, Brian Padden and Victor Beattie reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   exclusive – adj. available to only one person or group provocative – adj. causing discussion or argument ironclad –adj. very strong and secure, too strong to change inflammatory – adj. causing anger obligations – n. things that are required to be done by a rule or law ballistic missile – n. a weapon able to travel great distances defy – v. to refuse to obey challenge – n. the act of questioning authority or some action grave – adj. very serious impeachment – n. the action of charging a public official with crimes while in office

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March 6, 2017

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Can Burnt Toast Give You Cancer?

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Many Americans have toasted bread first thing in the morning. For some, the morning meal also includes hash browned potatoes. Or later in the day, they might enjoy potato chips or crispy French fries. But if you like any of these foods cooked until they are dark brown in color, you might want to limit how much of them you eat. That is the finding of a British government agency. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is urging people to avoid eating burnt or very well toasted bread and deeply browned potatoes.   The danger, the agency says, is when starchy foods are cooked until they are very firm or even burnt. The concern is a chemical called acrylamide. Acrylamide is produced naturally in food during cooking at high temperatures. It has been identified as a possible cancer-causing substance. New Scientist magazine reports that high levels of acrylamide are present in starchy foods, like potatoes, when they are cooked at temperatures over 120 degrees Celsius. British researchers note that acrylamide can also be present in breakfast cereals, cookies and coffee. Steve Wearne is the Director of Policy at the FSA. He says most people do not know that the chemical exists or that it could create a health hazard. The FSA launched a study to identify acrylamide exposure in the British population. Researchers found that most people are exposed to too much of the chemical. They said this contact could increase their overall risk of getting cancer. How to avoid the risk The agency even created an expression to help people remember. The FSA suggests people should "Go for the Gold!" when they prepare starchy foods. Heating bread or potatoes to a golden brown, they claim, is healthier than over-cooking them or burning them. Wearne says the agency is not saying that people should worry “about the occasional meal that’s a bit overcooked.” He said these suggestions are about controlling risk during one’s lifetime. The agency is also urging people to eat fewer high-calorie foods like potato chips, French fries and cookies -- all of which have acrylamides.   There are other things you can do to limit your exposure to acrylamides. Experts at New Scientist suggest that you not keep potatoes in the refrigerator. They explain that “at low temperatures, an enzyme breaks down” the sugars in the potato. These sugars can form acrylamide during cooking. They add that frozen foods don’t have this risk. Sugars, like sucrose, do not break down at low temperatures. Another cooking tip is you can also blanch potatoes before frying. Blanching is heating food briefly in water. This will remove the potato skin and half the sugar, resulting in lower levels of acrylamide. Scientists have launched other studies to better understand how acrylamide forms in some overcooked foods and how cooking traditions may affect people. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Jessica Berman reported this story from Washington, D.C. for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   crispy – adj. appealingly crunchy starch – n. a substance that is found in certain foods (such as bread, rice, and potatoes) : starchy – adj. containing, consisting of, or resembling starch acrylamide – n. an amide C3H5NO that is derived from acrylic acid, that polymerizes readily, and that is used in the manufacture of synthetic textile fibers exposure – n. the condition of being subject to some effect or influence : expose – v. to cause (someone) to experience something or to be influenced or affected by something occasional – adj. happening or done sometimes but not often : not happening or done in a regular or frequent way calorie – n. a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body hazard – n. a source of danger

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Trump Signs Order for New Travel Restrictions

President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Monday that bars travelers from six Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States. The temporary ban removes Iraq from the list of countries covered in a previous order announced January 27. The new order bars travelers from Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya for 90 days. It also prevents all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days. U.S. officials said Iraq was removed from the list after Iraqi officials promised to increase cooperation with U.S. officials on vetting procedures. The new restrictions will take effect March 16. They will not affect legal permanent residents - those with green cards - or travelers who already had valid visas as of January 27. The new order comes after a federal judge in the state of Washington blocked the earlier ban in a ruling last month. Trump signed the order Monday in private. The order was announced jointly by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Kelly said the order is meant to prevent enemies from using American freedoms and generosity to cause harm to U.S. citizens. “Today’s executive order - which president Trump signed this morning - will make America more secure, and address long overdue concerns about the security of our immigration system.” The original travel ban caused confusion at many U.S. airports when Homeland Security officials attempted to interpret how it should be carried out. Some travelers were detained before being sent back overseas or blocked from getting on airplanes abroad. The order quickly became the subject of several legal challenges. ​ Monday’s order left out an earlier requirement indefinitely barring Syrian refugees. Language giving preference to "religious minorities" was also removed. Critics of the original order questioned whether the Muslim-majority countries were targeted for religious reasons. A senior official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied this on Monday. "This is not a Muslim ban in any way, shape or form,” the official said. President Donald Trump has called for stronger vetting procedures to keep out dangerous individuals and terrorists. His administration has said some refugees - as well as immigrants and travelers from certain countries - could pose a security risk to the U.S. ​ The White House released information Monday saying "terrorism related investigations" were currently underway by the FBI involving at least 300 individuals who came to the U.S. as refugees. When pushed for details, the senior DHS official did not comment further, but said the cases were "truly an alarming number.” With the latest order, the Trump administration is aiming to survive new court challenges. Attorney General Sessions said his department was committed to defending the order, which he called “a lawful and proper exercise of presidential authority.” “This Department of Justice will defend and enforce lawful orders of the president, consistent with the core principles of our constitution.” Groups opposed to the first order are likely to object to the new order as well. In a statement Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the revised restrictions have “the same fatal flaws as the original.” U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, criticized the new travel order, calling it a “watered down” ban. “Despite the administration’s changes, this dangerous executive order makes us less safe, not more, it is mean-spirited, and un-American. It must be repealed,” Schumer said. I’m Bryan Lynn.   William Gallo and Victoria Macchi reported on this story for VOA. Bryan Lynn adapted the story for Learning English, with additional material from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on the latest government travel restrictions for U.S. visitors? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vetting – n. investigating someone’s background thoroughly generosity – n. quality of being kind, not selfish confusion – n. state in which people do not understand what is going on indefinitely – adv. for a period of time that does not end alarming – adj. causing a feeling or sense of concern or danger core – adj. more important or basic principle – n. rule or belief that guides one’s behavior flaw – n. a small fault or weakness repeal – v. officially eliminate a law

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Google Doodle Celebrates Indonesia’s Komodo Dragons

This is What’s Trending Today…. The internet search company Google celebrated the 37th anniversary of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park with its latest ‘Google Doodle.’ ‘Google Doodles’ are special, short-term changes of the Google homepage that mark special events, holidays, or people. On Monday, Google’s homepage featured an animated drawing of the komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard species.      Komodo dragons are two to three meters long, and can weigh over 100 kilograms. The Google Doodle included a true-or-false quiz about the huge and scaly creatures. For example, users learn that komodo dragons eat more than half of their own body weight in just one meal. And they can smell a possible “meal” from as many as 10 kilometers away. Google users can click the Doodle to read more about the species as well as the Indonesian park that protects them. Komodo National Park is within Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. It was formed in March of 1980, and is home to more than 5,000 komodo dragons. They have lived in this harsh part of Indonesia for millions of years. Today, Indonesia is the only place in the world where komodo dragons exist in the wild. Along with the huge lizard species, Komodo National Park is also home to more than 70 kinds of birds, Google reports. Its waters are filled with sea turtles, dolphins and thousands of kinds of fish. And, many Timor deer also live within the park. They are a main source of food for the komodo dragons. And that’s What’s Trending Today… I’m Ashley Thompson.   Ashley Thompson wrote this report. Caty Weaver was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   doodle - n. a kind of drawing homepage - n. the part of a Web site that is seen first and that usually contains links to other parts of the site animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another lizard - n. a type of reptile that has four legs and a long body and tail species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants harsh - adj. unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience

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UN Diplomats Meet With Displaced People in Nigeria

  Representatives of United Nations Security Council member countries visited a target of Boko Haram militants on Sunday. The diplomats traveled to Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State. They met there with women at a camp for displaced persons. The diplomats have been on a four-day-long trip to the Lake Chad Basin. They went to Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria before going to Niger on Monday. On Sunday, the ambassadors arrived in Maiduguri under heavy security. Two days earlier, three bombers died in a suicide attack near a fuel station. No civilians were hurt in the explosions. The diplomats met with the women in a camp where about 7,000 people live. They heard the women tell about their husbands being killed. The women also said they had been abused by Boko Haram. The militant group has been fighting against the Nigerian government and its forces since 2009. Deputy United States Ambassador Michelle Sisson was the only woman in the U.N. group. She has expressed support for women and girls in the Lake Chad Basin. “…I’m hearing stories not only of these families, and these women who have been victimized, their children victimized, by Boko Haram, but then the protection needs especially of women and girls, not only inside the camp, but also if they have to go outside, either for firewood or to seek some sort of income-generating activity.” U.N. officials say aid workers have yet to reach about 700,000 people in eight local government areas. Officials say more than five million people in northeastern Nigeria are in need of food. At the camp for displaced persons, many people said they are not given enough aid to feed their large families. “We are suffering from food, we are suffering from hunger. Our children are dying from that. Sometimes at the end of the month, sometimes I don’t have food, I will manage to go and beg small (amounts).” The United Nations has warned that about two million people in parts of the northeast could face famine conditions in the coming months if donors do not intervene. Peter Lundberg is the U.N. Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for northeast Nigeria. “There is no famine right now in the northeast, but we are really, really playing with a fire unless we continue to ensure that these people are getting steady assistance on a regular basis, and it is a struggle. Right now the food operations here cost $1 million per day.” Lundberg added that countries must keep the promises they made at a humanitarian conference in Norway last month. Delegates there promised more than $450 million in aid to help people in the Lake Chad Basin this year. I’m Caty Weaver.   VOA United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer reported this story from Maiduguri, Nigeria. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow 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   income-generating – adj. producing money famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat steady – adj. happening or developing in a continuous and usually gradual way

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Study: Improved Housing Helps Fight Malaria

A new study shows that improving housing conditions may help in the fight against malaria at a time when other efforts be may slowing. The World Health Organization reports that more than 400,000 people died of malaria in 2015. Most of them were children in Africa. Study organizers note that African countries south of the Saharan desert are developing faster than many in other areas. They think architects and city planners can help in the fight against the disease. Insecticide products have been extremely effective in limiting the spread of malaria. They have chemicals that target mosquitoes -- the insects that pass the disease to humans. Insecticide-treated bed nets and use of the products inside buildings have helped reduce malaria death rates by 40 percent since 2000. But experts say mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides and new tools are needed to fight the disease. Lucy Tusting of the University of Oxford is an expert on the spread and control of disease. She says public health experts should use the move away from traditional mud-and-thatch homes to help fight malaria. “We do have an opportunity to tap into the changes that are ongoing in many parts of Africa in order to build healthier housing.” Tusting and other researchers wondered if the change in housing they had noticed could help in the fight. “What we’re seeing in many parts of Africa is a subtle transition from more traditional housing -- which might have thatched roofs and mud walls -- towards metal, tiled-roof housing with concrete walls.” That should help because the mosquitoes mostly bite people in and around their home at night. Better design of homes, with fewer holes in the walls, could help keep the insects out. But until recently there has not been much research on the subject. Tusting and her team examined health and population surveys from 21 countries. They found that children living in modern buildings were 9-to-14 percent less likely to have malaria than those who lived in traditional housing. That is about the same level of protection given by insecticide-treated bed nets. “What this suggests is that housing could be an important tool in tackling malaria.” This is not a new idea. Tusting notes that screened windows and doors were the first effective method used in the fight against malaria in the early 20th century. She says a lot of new housing will be built in Africa over the next several years. She believes those changes can be used to help further reduce malaria infections and deaths. “We can leverage those changes. But to do so, it’s important that health specialists reach beyond the health sector and work closely with architects, urban policy makers and national governments.” She says malaria prevention should become an important part of planning as African cities continue to grow. I’m John Russell.   VOA Science and Agriculture Correspondent Steve Baragona reported this story from Washington. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow 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   architect – n. a person who designs buildings bed net – n. a device that is used for catching or holding things or for keeping things out of a space and that is made of pieces of string, rope, wire, etc., woven together with spaces in between and is used to cover a bed while someone sleeps so mosquitoes do not bite them thatch – adj. dried plant material (such as straw or leaves) that is used to make the roof of a building tap into – phrasal verb take part in; influence subtle – adj. hard to notice or see; not obvious; slow transition – n. a change from one state or condition to another survey – n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something tackle – v. to deal with (something difficult) screened – adj. covered by a sheet that is made of very small wire or plastic strings which are woven together and that is set in a frame in a window, door, etc., to let air in but keep insects out sector – n. an area of an economy; a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs

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Lesson 47: How Can I Help?

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Thomas Jefferson: A Complex Character

VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. Today we are talking about Thomas Jefferson. Although he took office in 1801, he is still one of the country’s best-known and most popular presidents. You can see a memorial honoring him in Washington, DC. Jefferson is often linked to the country’s history of self-government, separation of church and state, and public education. Over time, Jefferson’s name also became linked to the continuation of slavery until the Civil War, and to the loss of land for Native Americans. Founding father Jefferson was born in 1743 and grew up in the hills and low mountains of Virginia. His family’s wealth enabled him to get an excellent education. Jefferson also learned to ride horses, dance and explore the natural world. In the 1770s, Jefferson supported the American Revolution against Britain. He is probably most famous for being the lead writer of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson went on to hold many positions in the country’s new state and national governments. He served as governor of Virginia, a minister to France, secretary of state for President George Washington, and the vice president under President John Adams. Virginia planter and slave owner Jefferson played an important part in the creation of the U.S. But he often wrote to friends about how he most wanted to retire from public service and return to his home in Virginia. In the 1760s, he designed a house there that he called Monticello – the word means “little mountain” in Italian. About 130 slaves lived on Monticello’s grounds at any time. They worked in Jefferson’s home, farms, and on special projects, such as making cabinets and nails. Jefferson owned about 600 slaves during his life. Yet he said he disliked slavery. He believed God would judge slave owners severely. And, of course, Jefferson himself wrote in the Declaration of Independence “all men are created equal” and have the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yet Jefferson did not use his political power to end slavery. He expected future generations would permit slavery to end slowly across the country. Jefferson’s words and actions on slavery are contradictory. This conflict is especially evident because Jefferson likely had a long relationship with a slave at Monticello. Her name was Sally Hemings. Evidence suggests that Jefferson was the father of her six children of record. Third U.S. president In 1801, Thomas Jefferson left Monticello to become the third U.S. president. His inauguration was the first held in Washington, DC. Jefferson’s government was a break from the earlier administrations. The first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, supported a strong federal government. Jefferson, on the other hand, wanted to limit federal government. As president, Jefferson cut the national debt. He reduced the military. He disliked the power of the Supreme Court over the laws Congress made. And he rejected appearances that made the U.S. president look like a European king. One of the lasting images of Jefferson is of him receiving guests in old clothes and slippers. But as president, Jefferson also appeared strong and powerful when dealing with foreign nations. Jefferson increased American naval forces in the Mediterranean to guard against threats to American ships. And he permitted U.S. officials to buy a huge piece of land from France, even though the Louisiana Purchase added to the national debt and exceeded the power the Constitution gave the president. In general, historians consider Jefferson’s first term as president a success. Voters did, too, because he easily won a second term. But those last four years were difficult. Jefferson’s popularity suffered, especially when he stopped all American trade with Europe. Jefferson aimed to limit U.S. involvement in a war between Britain and France. Instead, critics say he ruined the American economy. Legacy Critics also attacked both Jefferson’s political ideas and his personal qualities. George Washington worried that Jefferson would weaken the strong federal government he had worked hard to create. And even friends suggested in their letters that Jefferson was too idealistic. Jefferson’s opponents also accused him of not being a Christian, although he said he was. However, he did not believe the government should make rules about religion. He wrote that the government should worry only about acts that hurt other people. He said it does not harm him if his neighbor says “there are 20 gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Jefferson’s thinking on the separation of church and state remains important – and, in general, popular – in the U.S. today. However, Jefferson is linked to problems faced by Native Americans. He tried to get Indian nations to enter into treaties that ultimately took away their land. He wanted Native Americans to become more like European-Americans. His policies made them depend on the federal government. And Jefferson took no major action to end slavery, either in his personal life or as a public official. At the end of his life, Jefferson wrote proudly about his accomplishments. He said he wanted to be remembered for three things: writing the Declaration of Independence, supporting religious freedom, and creating the University of Virginia. For the most part, he is. Jefferson also supported free public education, especially for those who could not pay for school. But his time at Monticello had many sorrows. His wife, Martha, had died in 1782 after difficulty in childbirth. Most of his children also died before him. In addition, the cost of improving and caring for Monticello, as well as the money he spent on fine wine and good food, had ruined him financially. Eventually, one of his daughters had to sell her father’s beloved Monticello and the slaves who lived there to pay his debts. Jefferson died in his bed at the age of 83. The last detail of his life – which Americans love to tell – is that he passed away on America’s birthday, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story. Caty Weaver and George Grow were the editors. Did you enjoy learning about America's founders? Give us your suggestions in the Comments and on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contradictory – adj. involving or having information that disagrees with other information significant ­– adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect slippers – n. light, soft shoes easily put on and taken off and worn indoors picks my pocket – v. steals Test your understanding of the story and develop your listening skills by taking this listening quiz.

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California Study Finds Moon is 4.51 Billion Years Old

For almost as long as people have walked on Earth, they have looked up at the moon and wondered: How did the moon get there? How long has it been there? Scientists have studied these questions.  And now, a group of researchers from California have an answer. Based on their studies, they think the moon is 4.51 billion years old. For years, researchers have been studying the many rocks American astronauts brought back from the moon between 1969 and 1972. The early rock studies led many scientists to think the moon was formed long ago -- about 4.3 billion years ago. Scientists believe the moon was created when a huge rocky object about the size of Mars struck a very young Earth. Then some of the pieces from that violent crash came together in space to form the moon. But that estimated age, 4.3 billion years, created a problem for scientists. That is because it does not leave much time for life to get started and develop on planet Earth. Melanie Barboni is a researcher in the Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "Here at UCLA, there has been this study that has found that life could have appeared as early as 4.1 billion years old. So now if you believe the giant impact occurred at 4.3, it doesn't leave you a long time between the impact and basically the Earth being half destroyed and then the Earth acquiring all the conditions you need for life." Zircon’s answer Barboni and other researchers at UCLA wanted a better, more exact estimate of when the moon was formed. They found their answer by studying a moon rock brought back to Earth in 1971. Barboni says they looked closely for signs of a mineral called zircon. "And we found out that the moon is actually older. The moon didn't form at 4.3 billion years old, but it formed at minimum and that is a minimum age - it could even be slightly older, it formed at minimum 4.51 billion years old..."  She says saving those extra years solves the problem of life on Earth. And this solution gives scientists a better understanding of how life formed here and how it might form on other planets. "... you have much more time to cool down your Earth to like start having your plate tectonics things again, generate the atmosphere, generate the water and then finally having all the conditions met for life.” The new information means the moon was orbiting Earth just 60 million years after the birth of our solar system. Noah Petro works as a researcher for NASA, the American space agency. He studies the moon at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Petro is a geologist: someone with an expertise in rocks. He points out that the UCLA researchers were using a single rock to estimate the age of the moon’s surface. He believes that the moon “is in the range of 4.5 billion years old.” Petro adds that “understanding the age of the moon is very important to understanding the solar system.” Knowing when the moon was formed can tell scientists about when other events happened. The gift that keeps giving Lunar rocks have been studied on Earth since American astronauts first landed on the moon. They brought back more than 20 kilograms of rocks in July 1969. The last American astronauts on the moon brought back more than 100 kilograms of rocks in 1972. There are still rocks that have yet to be studied almost 45 years later. “Lunar samples are the gift that keeps on giving,” Petro says. “We will be studying them 45 years from now and 45 years after that.” But Petro says, “as much as we use rocks, it isn’t set in stone what happened.” That is because technology is always changing and new methods become available, providing new information from the rocks. Also, answers can be different, depending on what kinds of assumptions scientists make and how the information is processed. “The rocks contain truth in them, it is up to us to understand what they are telling us,” Petro explains. Theia’s impact Scientists agree that a huge object they named Theia crashed into the young Earth to create the moon. But Petro says some evidence “does not really fit the model” of an impact — like the fact there is water inside the moon. Water should not be there if the moon resulted from a huge object striking Earth. This means the model needs to be “revisited,” Petro says. And that means scientists will continue to study the moon to find more answers. Currently, Petro is busy with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project. Since June 2009, the space agency has been gathering information from the orbiter, which is circling the moon. Scientists have seen new impact areas that show where meteorites or other objects have struck the surface. Mission to the far side?                                     Scientists have also learned that the far side of the moon —  the side facing away from Earth — does appear to be different than the side we see from here. Petro says there is less volcanic activity on the far side and there is a large crater, or impact area, there. He hopes NASA will be able to send a probe to the crater to find out why that side is so different. Sending a probe to the far side of the moon will require a special satellite because the spacecraft will not have a straight line to communicate with Earth. China also wants to explore the far side of the moon. In December 2016, the Chinese space agency announced its five-year plan for space exploration. It includes sending a probe to the far side of the moon. One expert says there are suggestions that China may also send humans there eventually. So humans are far from finished looking up at that bright round object in the sky, and wondering, what is up there? I’m Anne Ball.   Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA News. Anne Ball wrote this story with additional reporting for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Find us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   impact – n. the act or force of one thing hitting another acquire – v. to get something plate tectonics – n. the geology theory that Earth’s surface is made of very large sections or plates that move very slowly generate – v. to produce something or cause something to be produced solar system – n. a group of planets and objects that orbit around a star assumption – n. something that is believed to be true or probably true but that is not known to be true : something that is assumed meteorite – n. a piece of rock or metal that has fallen to the ground from outer space probe – n. a long thin scientific object used to measure or get information See how well you understand the story by taking this quiz.

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