LOVE IS IN THE AIR

So Carolina, where did you first meet Enrico?

Well, it's funny really because we first met when we were just four or five but we don't
remember. We both lived in the same apartment block until Enrico's family moved to the
north of Italy, when I guess we were about seven.

So, did you keep in touch?

No, not at all. we didn't really know each other so there was no reason to. He was just the
quiet, funny looking boy that nobody ever really spoke to.

OK, so how did you meet for the second time?

Well, it was about five years ago. I went to university in Milan to study European languages
and although I worked very hard during the day, at night I liked to go out and enjoy myself.
Anyway, one night I was in a salsa bar with some friends when I noticed at the next table
this good-looking guy who was sitting alone and chatting on his mobile. I didn't realize I was
staring at him, but after what seemed like hours he looked at me and gave me a really
friendly smile. I felt really embarrassed, I don't know why, so I just looked away and spoke
to my friends.

What happened then?

Nothing. I mean, I felt a bit silly so I tried to ignore him but I just couldn't stop looking over
at his table. Every time I did he smiled. That gorgeous smile! For some reason, he seemed
really familiar but I didn't remember seeing him on any of my language courses, and I
certainly didn't know anyone who lived in Milan. I was trying so hard to remember his face,
but when I looked over again he was gone.

Oh no! what did you do then?

But then there he was, standing behind our table. I just sat there and looked at him like I
was some kind of idiot. I didn't know what to say.

Who spoke first?

He did

What did he say?

He said "hello stranger. I haven't seen you since we moved away. You look wonderful. What
are you doing here?" I didn't know what to say because I didn't know what he was talking
about. Then he explained about how we'd lived in the same apartment block etc. etc. I just
couldn't believe that he'd recognised me.

But were you happy?

Oh yeah, I mean, he was gorgeous. I just felt a bit bad that I hadn't remembered him but
that he'd remembered me.

So, what happened in the end?

We swapped phone numbers and he promised to call me the following week to go out for a
pizza. It's not very original, I know, but I didn't care to be honest. I just wanted to see him
again. What in fact happened was that he called me the next morning and said that he
couldn't wait a whole week to see me, so we met that afternoon and had a beautiful walk
in the local park and talked about everything and nothing. It was so romantic. That day we
fell in love and have been happy ever since. Our daughter, Sabelle, was born 6 months ago
and we're getting married next summer.

Sabelle?! Who chose that name?

We both did.
THE ROOM-MATES

Jim: Hi, Sasha, how was work today?

Sasha: Oh good evening Jim. Oh boy, it was a really hard day today. I never thought the end
of this day was going to come!

Jim: I'm sorry about that. However, I need to have a chat with you.

Sasha: Uh oh! What's the problem?

Jim: I was really happy when I invited you to stay with me in this apartment. I knew you had
a problem with that girl you lived with before.

Sasha: Oh yeah, she was terrible. I couldn't move without her complaining at me.

Jim: Yes, well maybe I understand why she found living with you difficult.

Sasha: What? What do you mean? What problems have I caused for you in the apartment?

Jim: Where do I start? Let's talk about the television first. How do you switch it off?

Sasha: I switch it off every evening. I don't think I've ever forgotten.

Jim: I know that, but I want to know how you switch it off. You take the lead out of the
power point, don't you?

Sasha: Yes, I do. Shouldn't I do that?

Jim: No, you should always use the remote control to turn the TV off. And how about the
lights? You shouldn't switch them off, ever!

Sasha: Why not? What a waste of electricity! My parents taught me that you should always
turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Jim: Yes, that's fine but you should leave the lights on at night because we have an
automatic system which turns the lights on and off. It's so that people always think there's
someone at home. I told you about it when you first arrived.

Sasha: OK, sorry, I kind of forgot about that.

Jim: Now, the bathroom. You should clean it twice a week. Remember that's your
responsibility. And you should use the shower cleaner I suggested you buy. The one you are
using now is leaving a horrible mark on the floor of the shower. Haven't you seen it?

Sasha: Yes, I have. I was going to change it when I finished this bottle.

Jim: No, you should change it immediately. I don't want to leave marks in the shower.

Sasha: OK, that's easy enough. I can go to the store tomorrow and get another shower
cleaner.

Jim: Right, the last thing is about your music.

Sasha: You don't like my music? Surely you don't want me to start listening to Frank Sinatra
the way you do?

Jim: Haha! No, don't worry. But I've had a few complaints about the volume. You shouldn't
play any loud music after about eleven o'clock.

Sasha: It's that old man across the street who complains, isn't it?

Jim: Yes, I'm afraid so. If you listen to music any time in the evening, you should close the
windows so he can't hear it.

Sasha: OK, I'll try to remember Jim. Is there anything else?

Jim: No, that's everything. Oh no, one more thing...

Sasha: I was afraid so! What is it?

Jim: You're cooking tonight!

THE CHARITY SHOW

Ben: Kathy, we need some help for the charity show on Saturday. Do you think you can
help?

Kathy: Sure, what do you want me to do? I can do some of the cooking if you need.

Ben: No, the cooking is taken care of.

Kathy: OK, what about the clearing up? I can pick up the litter off the floor. There's going to
be a lot of people around and the park will get pretty messy I think.

Ben: John and Lindsay have volunteered to do all of that.

Kathy: So what do you want my help for?

Ben: The talent contest?

Kathy: I'm sorry?

Ben: Yeah, you know. The talent contest we are doing. The problem is - we don't think
many people will volunteer to take part unless there are some people already signed up, so
I want you to put your name down now to do something.

Kathy: But I can't do anything!

Ben: Sure you can!

Kathy: No, seriously Ben. I am the last person you want for a talent show. I don't have any.

Ben: You don't have any what?

Kathy: Talent!!

Ben: Look, I asked Graham and he said he would tell a few jokes to begin the show.

Kathy: Have you heard any of Graham's jokes? He can't tell jokes Ben! Who else do you
have?

Ben: Your mother agreed to play a piece of music on the clarinet. Something from a film.
Kathy: Oh, that will be nice. She can play well.

Ben: Alright! So now we need you to do something. What can you do really well?

Kathy: I can cook!

Ben: I don't think people are going to want to watch you cook, Kathy!

Kathy: I can do some card tricks. That could be a nice idea.

Ben: Do they always work?

Kathy: I can practice! They usually work!

Ben: Hmm! Is there anything else you can do?

Kathy: Well, I can't dance and I can't juggle....

Ben: What about singing? Can you sing?

Kathy: My voice isn't too terrible! I can sing the national anthem quite well.

Ben: Hey that's great. It will only take a couple of minutes and with three volunteers
already, I think other people will be less shy to sign up.

Kathy: What time does the talent show start?

Ben: Around 3 in the afternoon

Kathy: Oh no! I'm on Susan's cookery stall until 4!

Ben: Can you escape for just 5 minutes?

Kathy: Not really but if you want, I can sing my song at the end of the show instead of the
beginning.

Ben: Yeah, that sounds perfect. We will finish up at about 5pm.

Kathy: OK, agreed. Put me down as the last act in the talent show.

Ben: Thanks a lot Kathy, I really appreciate it.

Kathy: Sure, no problem!

Just like atmospheric conditions can affect weather on the ground, experts say the sun is
responsible for weather in outer space.

They say the Sun's atmosphere emits high energy solar winds that bathe the Earth
continuously with electromagnetic energy.

Nicola Fox is with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel,
Maryland.

"You could really think of it as us living in the atmosphere of the Sun," Fox explained. "So,
if the Sun changes, the Earth will feel its effects. So, if the Sun sneezes , the Earth will
catch a cold."

But until now, space scientists have been unable to pinpoint the source of energy
releases in the earth's atmosphere that are responsible for the spectacular light show,
aurora borealis, in the extreme northern and southern latitudes.

The same energy releases are responsible for dangerous sub-storms that disrupt
ground-based power grids and communications systems.

Scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles discovered the source of the
space blasts using five satellites of the U.S. space agency's THEMIS program.

The researchers explain that the Sun's and Earth's electromagnetic fields normally glide
past one another in many different directions.

But when enough energy builds between the two fields, they snap and right themselves
in a process scientists call reconnection.

David Sibek is THEMIS project scientist with the U.S. space agency NASA.

He says reconnection releases a huge amount of electrical current into the

magnetosphere that surrounds the planet.

"When reconnection occurs, that current is broken and it flows down to the Earth so
you have like a short-circuit out in the Earth's magnetic field," explained Sibek. "And it's
that current that's going to power the aurora and dump into the Earth's ionosphere and
cause power line disruption in Canada for example by blowing out transformers."

Scientists say it is important to know about sub-storms in order to take measures to

protect valuable technical equipment , and possibly the lives of spacewalking
astronauts.

The discovery of the mechanism behind sub-storms is reported in the journal Science.
Los compaeros de cuarto

Jim: Hola, Sasha, cmo estuvo el trabajo hoy?

Sasha: Oh buenas noches Jim. Oh chico, hoy ha sido un da muy duro. Nunca pens que el
final de este da iba a venir!

Jim: Lo siento por eso. Sin embargo, necesito tener una charla con usted.

Sasha: Uh oh! Cul es el problema?

Jim: Estaba muy feliz cuando te invit a quedarte conmigo en este apartamento. Saba que
tenas un problema con esa chica con la que vivas antes.

Sasha: Oh s, ella era terrible. No poda moverme sin que ella se quejara de m.

Jim: S, tal vez entiendo por qu encontr que vivir contigo era difcil.

Sasha: Qu? Qu quieres decir? Qu problemas le he causado en el apartamento?

Jim: Por dnde empiezo? Hablemos primero de la televisin. Cmo se apaga?

Sasha: Lo apago todas las noches. No creo haberlo olvidado nunca.

Jim: Lo s, pero quiero saber cmo lo apagas. Tomas el liderazgo del punto de poder, no?

Sasha: S, lo hago. No debera hacer eso?

Jim: No, siempre debe usar el mando a distancia para apagar el televisor. Y qu hay de las
luces? No debes apagarlos nunca!

Sasha: Por qu no? Qu desperdicio de electricidad! Mis padres me ensearon que

siempre debes apagar las luces cuando sales de una habitacin.

Jim: S, est bien, pero debes dejar las luces encendidas por la noche porque tenemos un
sistema automtico que enciende y apaga las luces. Es para que la gente siempre piense
que hay alguien en casa. Te lo dije cuando llegaste.

Sasha: OK, lo siento, me olvid de eso.

Jim: Ahora, el bao. Debe limpiarlo dos veces por semana. Recuerde que esa es su
responsabilidad. Y usted debe utilizar el limpiador de la ducha que le suger comprar. El que
est utilizando ahora es dejar una marca horrible en el suelo de la ducha. No lo has visto?

Sasha: S, lo he hecho. Iba a cambiarlo cuando terminara esta botella.

Jim: No, deberas cambiarlo inmediatamente. No quiero dejar marcas en la ducha.

Sasha: OK, eso es bastante fcil. Puedo ir a la tienda maana y conseguir otro limpiador de
la ducha.

Jim: Bien, lo ltimo es acerca de tu msica.

Sasha: No te gusta mi msica? Seguro que no quieres que empiece a escuchar a Frank
Sinatra como t?

Jim: Jaja! No, no te preocupes. Pero he tenido algunas quejas sobre el volumen. No
deberas tocar msica ruidosa despus de las once.

Sasha: Es ese viejo al otro lado de la calle que se queja, no?

Jim: S, me temo que s. Si escuchas msica en cualquier momento de la noche, debes

cerrar las ventanas para que no pueda orla.

Sasha: OK, voy a tratar de recordar a Jim. Hay algo mas?

Jim: No, eso es todo. Oh no, una cosa ms ...

Sasha: Tena miedo! Qu es?

Jim: Ests cocinando esta noche!

EL ESPECTCULO DE CARIDAD

Ben: Kathy, necesitamos ayuda para el show de caridad el sbado. Crees que puedes
ayudar?

Kathy: Claro, qu quieres que haga? Puedo cocinar algo si lo necesitas.

Ben: No, la cocina es cuidada.

Kathy: OK, qu pasa con el aclaramiento? Puedo levantar la basura del suelo. Va a haber
mucha gente alrededor y el parque se pondr bastante desordenado, creo.

Ben: John y Lindsay se han ofrecido para hacer todo eso.

Kathy: Entonces, para qu quieres mi ayuda?

Ben: El concurso de talentos?

Kathy: Lo siento?

Ben: S, ya sabes. El concurso de talentos que estamos haciendo. El problema es que no

creemos que muchas personas se ofrezcan voluntariamente a participar a menos que haya
algunas personas ya inscritas, as que quiero que pongas tu nombre ahora para hacer algo.

Kathy: Pero no puedo hacer nada!

Ben: Seguro que puedes!

Kathy: No, en serio Ben. Soy la ltima persona que quieres para un show de talentos. No
tengo ninguno.

Ben: No tienes qu?

Kathy: Talento !!

Ben: Mira, le pregunt a Graham y l dijo que le contara algunas bromas para comenzar el
show.

Kathy: Has escuchado alguna de las bromas de Graham? No puede contar chistes Ben! A
quin ms tienes?

Ben: Tu madre accedi a tocar una pieza de msica en el clarinete. Algo de una pelcula.

Kathy: Oh, eso ser bueno. Ella puede jugar bien.

Ben: Bien! As que ahora necesitamos que hagas algo. Qu puede hacer realmente bien?

Kathy: Puedo cocinar!

Ben: No creo que la gente quiera verte cocinar, Kathy!

Kathy: Puedo hacer algunos trucos de cartas. Podra ser una buena idea.

Ben: Siempre trabajan?

Kathy: Puedo practicar! Por lo general, trabajan!

Ben: Hmm! Hay algo ms que puedas hacer?

Kathy: Bueno, no puedo bailar y no puedo hacer malabares ....

Ben: Qu hay de cantar? Puede cantar?

Kathy: Mi voz no es demasiado terrible! Puedo cantar el himno nacional bastante bien.

Ben: Hey, eso es genial. Slo tomar un par de minutos y con tres voluntarios ya, creo que
la gente ser menos tmida para inscribirse.
Kathy: A qu hora comienza el show de talentos?

Ben: Alrededor de las 3 de la tarde

Kathy: Oh, no! Estoy en el puesto de cocina de Susan hasta las 4!

Ben: Puedes escapar por slo 5 minutos?

Kathy: En realidad no, pero si quieres, puedo cantar mi cancin al final del show en vez del
principio.

Ben: S, eso suena perfecto. Terminaremos hacia las 5pm.

Kathy: Est bien, est de acuerdo. Ponme como el ltimo acto en el show de talentos.

Ben: Muchas gracias Kathy, realmente lo aprecio.

Kathy: Claro, no hay problema!

Al igual que las condiciones atmosfricas pueden afectar el clima en el suelo, los expertos
dicen que el sol es responsable de las condiciones meteorolgicas en el espacio
ultraterrestre.

Dicen que la atmsfera del Sol emite vientos solares de alta energa que baan la Tierra
continuamente con energa electromagntica.

Nicola Fox trabaja con el Laboratorio de Fsica Aplicada de la Universidad Johns Hopkins en
Laurel, Maryland.

"Realmente podras pensar en ello como nosotros viviendo en la atmsfera del Sol", explic
Fox. "Entonces, si el Sol cambia, la Tierra sentir sus efectos, as que si el Sol estornuda, la
Tierra se resfriar".

Pero hasta ahora, los cientficos espaciales han sido incapaces de identificar la fuente de
emisiones de energa en la atmsfera terrestre que son responsables del espectacular
espectculo de luz, la aurora boreal, en las latitudes extremas norte y sur.

Los mismos lanzamientos de energa son responsables de peligrosas sub-tormentas que

interrumpen las redes de energa terrestres y los sistemas de comunicaciones.

Cientficos de la Universidad de California en Los Angeles descubrieron la fuente de las

explosiones espaciales usando cinco satlites del programa THEMIS de la agencia espacial
estadounidense.

Los investigadores explican que los campos electromagnticos del Sol y de la Tierra
normalmente se deslizan uno tras otro en muchas direcciones diferentes.

Pero cuando se construye suficiente energa entre los dos campos, se encajan y se
enderezan en un proceso que los cientficos llaman reconexin.
David Sibek es cientfico del proyecto THEMIS con la agencia espacial estadounidense
NASA.

l dice que la reconexin libera una cantidad enorme de corriente elctrica en la

magnetosfera que rodea al planeta.

"Cuando se produce la reconexin, esa corriente se rompe y fluye hacia abajo a la Tierra
para que tengas como un cortocircuito en el campo magntico de la Tierra", explic Sibek.
"Y es esa corriente que va a alimentar la aurora y volcar en la ionosfera de la Tierra y causar
la interrupcin de la lnea elctrica en Canad, por ejemplo, soplando transformadores".

Los cientficos dicen que es importante saber sobre sub-tormentas con el fin de tomar
medidas para proteger valiosos equipos tcnicos, y, posiblemente, la vida de los
astronautas de caminata espacial.

El descubrimiento del mecanismo detrs de las sub-tormentas se informa en la revista

Science.