A file photo of the Oscar Statue [Photo/VCG]
>Host-less 2019 Oscars? 奥斯卡考虑不设主持人 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is still figuring out the next steps after Kevin Hart's abrupt departure from the show. According to Variety, the comedian's decision to step down from hosting the Oscars after his old homophobic tweets resurfaced - instead of apologizing and weathering the storm - has left the Academy in a tight spot, as there was no contingency plan for a situation like this. As a result, the Academy is exploring a number of options, ranging from opening the show with a stunty group monologue to having no host at all. The 2019 Academy Awards are scheduled for Feb 24. 凯文•哈特突然退出奥斯卡后，美国电影艺术与科学学院还在寻找对策。据《综艺》报道，这名喜剧演员过去发布的恐同推文近日再次浮出水面，他没有选择致歉并挺过风暴，而是决定退出奥斯卡主持工作，这让学院陷入窘境，因为他们没有为这种情况制定应急方案。因此，学院正在研究以巧妙的集体独白作开场或者索性根本不设主持人等多种方案。2019年奥斯卡颁奖礼将于2月24日举行。
Festive lights decorate the Gucci store on New Bond Street as shoppers do Christmas shopping in central London, Britain, December 16, 2018. [Photo/VCG]
>Cheap clothes last long 便宜衣服比名牌更耐穿 If you've been shelling out for designer clothing in the hopes that it will be more durable than cheaper options, you might want to reconsider. A new study from The University of Leeds suggests that low-cost clothing might actually outlast pricier pieces. The study was led by Mark Sumner, a lecturer in fashion and sustainability. Using samples of T-shirts and jeans from a variety of brands and price points, researchers measured factors such as seam strength, colorfastness, and how long it took for the fabric of each piece to develop rips or tears. Despite the popular notion that designer clothes are more sturdily constructed than off-the-rack items, the study found that fast-fashion T-shirts and jeans usually out-performed their luxury counterparts. "Some of the garments performed very well across a wide range of tests - more often than not, the best products were 'fast-fashion' products," Sumner told The Telegraph. According to Sumner, designer label T-shirts were "the worst performing" in all of the tests. 如果你一直花大价钱买名牌衣服，指望它们比平价衣服更耐穿，你可能需要重新考虑一下了。利兹大学的一项新研究指出，廉价的衣服事实上可能比昂贵的衣服更耐穿。带头开展这项研究的马克•萨姆纳是时尚与可持续性专业的讲师。研究人员以多个品牌和价位的T恤和牛仔裤为样本，测定接缝强力、色牢度等因素，以及每件衣服的面料多长时间会出现裂口。尽管大众普遍认为，名牌衣服比成衣制作得更结实，但该研究发现，快时尚品牌的T恤和牛仔裤通常都比名牌衣服更耐穿。萨姆纳向《每日电讯报》表示："其中一些衣服在多项测试中表现很出色——表现最好的产品多半是快时尚产品。"萨姆纳称，名牌T恤在所有测试中的表现都是最差的。
The durians Wang Congcong tasted in Malaysia. [Photo/China Daily]
>Genetic link to durian stink 科学破解榴莲难闻之谜 One of nature's smelliest secrets may have been revealed, thanks to a dedicated team of durian-loving scientists in Singapore, who have a complete genetic map of the fruit. Researchers have found an odor gene which gives the thorny fruit its notoriously pungent scent. The discovery meant the possibility of creating "odorless or milder-tasting" fruits in future, the scientists said. It has sparked mixed feelings from durian aficionados, who worship its signature rank smell. "A durian without its smell is nothing but an empty shell with no essence," wrote Singaporean Richie Liang on Facebook, who also compared "a durian without its unique smell" to "a human being who has lost his or her soul". 拜新加坡一个喜爱榴莲的科学家团队的潜心研究所赐，大自然中一种最难闻气味的奥秘可能已被揭开，该团队已绘制出了完整的榴莲基因图谱。研究人员发现了一个使这种多刺水果散发出其众所周知的刺鼻气味的气味基因。科学家们表示，这一发现意味着将来有可能培育出"无气味或口味较温和"的榴莲。这令榴莲爱好者心情复杂，这些人钟爱榴莲标志性的臭味。新加坡人里奇•梁(音)在脸书上写道："失去其气味的榴莲只是一个没有实质内容的空壳。"他还把"失去独特气味的榴莲"比作"失去灵魂的人"。
Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Facebook logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. [Photo/VCG]
>Mood contagious among pals 情绪会在朋友圈里传染 A good mood or bad mood could be spread among friends, according to a study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal. The research, however, found that the effect is not enough to lead to depression. The study measured social and mood changes over time, providing evidence that mood can spread over social networks in what scientists called "social contagion." Those with friends who suffer from bad moods were more likely to have bad moods themselves and were subsequently less likely to have improved. Conversely, people with more happy friends were more likely to have improved moods over time. "The good news from our work is that following the evidence-based advice for improving mood, like exercise, sleeping well, and managing stress, can help your friends too," said Robert Eyre, the study's lead author and doctoral student at the University of Warwick's Center for Complexity Science. 一项发表在《皇家学会开放科学》期刊上的研究显示，情绪无论好坏都会在朋友圈里传播。不过，这项研究发现其影响尚不足以致人抑郁。该研究通过测算随着时间的推移社会及情绪的变化，为科学家所谓的"社会传染"，即情绪会在社交网络中传播提供了证据。朋友心情不好的人自己也更可能会情绪不佳，且之后也不太可能使情绪得到改善。反之，有更快乐朋友的人一段时间后更可能拥有更好的心情。该研究的第一作者、沃里克大学复杂性科学中心博士生罗伯特•艾尔称："我们的研究得出的好消息是，遵循言之有据的改善情绪的建议，如运动、睡好觉、调节压力，也对你的朋友有益。" Find more audio news on the China Daily app.