Peptide Power

Hello everybody!  It is almost the middle of the March.  This year is flying by so quickly.  Very soon, we will be surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms.  Spring is on its way, so hold on for just a few more weeks!

Today, we wanted to present some interesting new information related to the human body.  Scientists have found a new part of our immune system that helps protect us from diseases. This discovery could be important for fighting infections. Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel say this new system might help our bodies make natural antibiotics. Professor Yifat Merbl told the BBC that their finding could lead to new ways to treat infections. The team wrote in the journal Nature that their work could help create better ways to diagnose and treat diseases.

The scientists studied tiny compounds called peptides, which are made of amino acids. Peptides help our immune system by stopping bacteria from growing and making us sick. The researchers discovered that our body naturally creates many different chemicals that can kill bacteria and viruses. Professor Merbl said this defense system works in all of our cells and could lead to new medicines in the future.

This is an exciting discovery which will help humans in the years to come.  Are there any discoveries, inventions, or new ideas that you have learned about recently?  If so, please share your story with us when you visit Bridge.  Take care and happy studying!

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A Tribute to Gene Hackman

Hello students of English!  How are you?  Yesterday was Hinamatsuri, so did you eat chirashizushi or decorate your house with Hina dolls for the holiday?  If you are like me, you completely forgot about it.  Well, maybe next year, I will celebrate the fun holiday. 

Unfortunately, there was sad news from Hollywood recently.  The legendary actor Gene Hackman passed away at the age of 95.  You might not recognize his name, but it is possible that you have seen one of his movies.  He acted in many popular films from 1961-2004 and always provided amazing performances.  

Hackman is most remembered for the The French Connection, the original Superman film series, the westerns Unforgiven and Wyatt Earp, and the Royal Tenenbaums.  Personally, my favorite film from the late actor is Hoosiers.  It is a 1986 film about a basketball team in my home state of Indiana!  

In the movie, Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, a once-disgraced college basketball coach who gets a second chance leading a small-town high school team in Indiana. Dale arrives in the town of Hickory with a strict coaching style that both players and townspeople dislike at first. However, he sticks to his principles, emphasizing teamwork and fundamentals.  Hackman's character recruits the town drunk as an assistant coach and encourages the star player to return to the team after he quits earlier in the story.  He is able to transform the underdog team into state championship contenders, and it is an inspiring film that everyone can relate to. 

If you get the chance, I highly recommend watching this movie.  It is a great way to learn about basketball culture in America while paying respect to the late great Gene Hackman. 

What actors do you like?  Are there any good sports movies which do a good job of showing Japanese culture?  If you have any ideas, please discuss them with your teachers at BRIDGE!

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Using Fog to Get Water

Hello everybody!  It is March already, and spring is on its way.  I can't wait for the warm weather. 

Nevertheless, today, we will discuss a new but simple way that people are surviving in very dry climates around the world.

Some places in the world get very little rain, making it hard for people to find water. Scientists have discovered a way to collect water from fog, which could help many dry towns and cities. In Chile, researchers are studying a method called fog harvesting. It works by using large mesh screens that catch tiny water droplets from fog. The water then drips into pipes and is stored in tanks. This method is simple, cheap, and could help people in dry areas get clean water.

Scientists from a university in Santiago are testing fog harvesting in a desert town called Alto Hospicio, where it barely rains. Many people there rely on water delivered by trucks. Researcher Dr. Virginia Carter Gamberini believes fog harvesting could be a big change for the town. She says it could help cities deal with climate change while making sure more people have access to clean water.

Thanks for reading, and next time you come to BRIDGE, please share any new ideas to survive in difficult places that you have learned about.  

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