Daily Podcast #27

Source 🎧

The Future of Books - CNN 10

Sentences ✍️

1. You see these indentations on my head?
   • indentation: A small hollow or depression in a surface, often caused by pressure or impact.
   • New sentence: The car left an indentation in the parking lot.
2. The forecast in some parts of Pakistan are blistering areas in the southwest part of the country, which could see temperatures reach 49 degrees celsius, that’s 120 Fahrenheit.
   • blistering: Extremely hot in temperature; intense and harsh.
   • New sentence: I can really feel the effects of the climate crisis through this blistering heat.
3. Western India crossed the 45-degree threshold Tuesday, and southwestern Pakistan threatens to reach 49-degree Celsius, numbers that rival summer temperatures in North America’s Death Valley, infamously the hottest place on earth.
   • infamously: In a way that is well known for being bad or undesirable.
   • New sentence: That spot in the park is infamously known for being dirty.
     
     

Summarization 👀

An early and intense heat wave has struck India and Pakistan, with temperatures reaching up to 49°C (120°F), far above seasonal averages. This extreme heat is affecting hundreds of millions of people, putting strain on energy systems, agriculture, and public health. Schools have closed, trains have stopped, and power outages are common as electricity demand skyrockets. Climate experts warn that by 2050, some regions in South Asia may reach temperatures beyond human survivability.

In the midst of this crisis, locals are turning to traditional cooling methods, like scarves, umbrellas, and finding shade, though these are only temporary solutions. The situation raises concern about what the coming summer months of May, June, and July will bring.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., Barnes & Noble is experiencing a comeback after years of decline. The bookstore chain has focused on selling actual books, curating local selections, and creating welcoming, social spaces. CEO James Daunt explains that readers—especially younger ones—are embracing both trendy fiction and timeless classics.

Finally, scientists have created the first-ever 3D map of a mammal’s brain, using a mouse that watched The Matrix while running on a treadmill. The resulting map revealed the structure and function of 84,000 neurons and half a billion synapses in a speck of brain the size of a grain of sand.