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Welcome to Learning English,

a daily 30 minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

This program is designed for English learners.

So we speak a little slower and we use words and phrases,

especially written for people learning

English.

Today, Bryan Lynn has a report on

how artificial intelligence may help improve weather predictions.

Anna Matteo presents this week's

Health and Lifestyle report,

and we close the show with the lesson of the day.

But first.

Weather researchers

are using artificial intelligence AI systems

to improve existing weather prediction methods.

But experts say the AI tools

currently face limitations and should be used

along with traditional prediction methods,

to be most effective.

AI systems trained to predict

or forecast weather events are now being used

by many government agencies and organizations worldwide.

Such systems aim to produce

weather predictions faster and at a lower cost

than traditional forecasting methods.

One weather predicting system that has shown promise

is the Google financed graph cast method.

This machine learning based

system trains directly on weather data

that has already been collected, and examine.

Such methods have demonstrated an ability

to outperform traditional forecasting systems.

The system works by combining past weather

predictions with modern forecasting models

to provide the most complete picture

of weather and climate.

In Europe, the European Center for Medium

Range Weather forecasts ECM.

ORF has been using AI prediction

tools since January.

The organization provides detailed weather forecasts

four times per day to nations across Europe.

The ECM ORF technology is called

the Artificial Intelligence Integrated Forecasting System.

AI FS.

The group describes the system

as a data driven forecasting model.

It is designed to make many prediction lines quickly,

including for extreme events involving

powerful storms and heat waves.

I supported data from the ECM.

WEF correctly predicted intense rains last month

across parts of Europe that resulted in widespread flooding.

But while the predictions were right,

destruction caused by the flooding could not be avoided.

Experts told Reuters

this is largely because it is still difficult

to gather and fully utilize

some collected weather data.

In addition, there is a need to strengthen

and improve current AI models

used to predict weather.

Andrew Charlton Perez

is a professor of meteorology.

The scientific study of weather processes

at the University of Redding in Britain.

He told Reuters.

In some cases, and for some variables,

AI models can beat physics based models,

but in other cases vice versa.

Charlton Perez said one problem

is that the effectiveness of an AI model

is based on the information it is given.

Weather disasters can be harder to predict

if there is too little data to enter into AI systems.

This can also be true if extreme events happen repeatedly

at different times of the year or in different areas.

Charlton Perez said he thinks the best

use of AI based weather forecasts

would be to use them in combination

with traditional weather predicting tools.

This, he noted, could utilize

AI data to produce weather predictions

based on large sets of information

collected from multiple sources.

Thomas Vos style is with the weather observatory

Geosphere in Austria.

He told Reuters his group's models correctly predicted

300 to 400mm of local rains in September,

and records show that same amount

actually fell in the storms.

But scientists say

even in cases where predictions are correct,

effective communication is needed

to get the information out to communities and local officials

so they can effectively prepare.

Shruti Nath is a research

assistant in weather prediction and climate

at Britain's Oxford University.

She told Reuters I think

what happened with the recent floods is that it's so rare

a 1 in 100 and 50 to 200 year

event that even if the weather models capture it,

there's a reasonable degree of uncertain ante.

Nath said I supported forecasts

need to be clearly communicated to the public in a way that warns

of the severity and possible destruction of extreme events.

This way, people might see

the importance of taking action before severe weather happens

in order to prevent costly cleanup

and recovery efforts.

I'm Bryan Linn.

From VOA Learning English.

This is the Health and lifestyle report.

A rare look inside the human brain

might help to explain how it clears away waste.

Scientists say the failure to clear away

such waste can lead to Alzheimer's disease.

And other brain disorders.

Brain cells use a lot of nutrients.

This means they produce a lot of waste.

Scientists believe the brain has special structures

to take out this cellular trash,

especially during sleep.

They have reported observing this process

happening in mice,

but they had no clear evidence

that this happens in humans.

Recently published research

appears to have identified a system

or network of very small waste

clearing channels in the brains of living humans.

The researchers used a special kind

of imaging technology to study the network.

One of the researchers

was Doctor Juan Teno of Oregon Health

and Science University.

Patino said the new research

was important evidence.

We needed this piece to say this happens in humans, too.

He said

his team recently published its findings

in proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The brain is very active during sleep,

during sleeping hours.

The brain appears to clean itself.

That idea has gotten

the attention of researchers.

Losing a good night's sleep can cause people's

thinking to be unclear,

but a continuous lack of sleep

is believed to increase the risk of the brain disorder.

Dementia.

How does the brain clean itself?

Over 12 years ago,

scientists at the University of Rochester

first reported finding a network

they named the lymphatic system

fluid from the brain,

called cerebrospinal fluid travels

through channels surrounding blood vessels

to carry waste out of the brain.

Beta amyloid

are substances linked to problems in the brain,

including Alzheimer's disease.

When scientists injected mice

with beta amyloid, the substance left the brain faster.

When the animals were sleeping.

It is not clear

exactly how the system works.

However, some research has shown

that the movement of blood vessels might help move the waste.

Clearing fluid where it needs to go.

Finding the system in humans is not easy.

Regular MRI scans

can show some of the fluid filled channels.

But Patino said the scans

do not show their purpose.

To find out more, his team

at Oregon Health and Science University injected

a substance called a tracer into five patients.

The tracer lit up during MRI scans

24 to 48 hours later.

The tracer material was seen moving

through the brain using the channels.

As in the earlier research on mice,

Rochester's doctor

Megan Nader Garde predicts that the study will increase interest

in how brain waste clearance connects to people's health.

But to test if better sleep or other treatments

might really increase waste clearance and improve health,

researchers have to be able to measure lymphatic function in people,

said Doctor Jeff Iliff.

He is with the University of Washington

and has helped lead waist clearance research.

The question is whether the new study

might point to ways of measuring the process.

Sleep is not the only question.

For example, animal studies

show that a blood pressure drug now used to treat the stress

disorder called PTSD might improve lymphatic clearing.

I live and Doctor Alan Peskin

plan to study this drug in a group of patients.

Larger studies in healthy

people are also needed.

In addition, Patino,

who used tracer chemicals in people,

wants to find an easier, noninvasive passive test

to follow the waste clearance.

We cannot study all the questions

by injecting people, he said.

And that's the health and lifestyle report.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo is here now

to talk more about this week's health and lifestyle report.

Hi, Anna. Thank you for being here.

Thank you for inviting me, Ashley.

I am glad to be here.

This week's report centered on our brains and sleep.

I was wondering, could you explain, for our listeners

just what happens with our brains as we sleep?

As it turns

out, while we sleep, our brains are hard at work.

Researchers have found that while we sleep,

the brain may be busy cleaning out built up waste.

They have observed the sleep time cleaning process in mice,

but not in humans.

New research may prove that

it happens in us as well.

Researchers appear to have found

small waste cleaning networks in our brains,

and they seem to be most active when we sleep.

So it sounds like more research might be needed.

Yes. One of the researchers in the study

said that their findings will lead to more studies.

And when we talk about cleaning waste from the brain,

what kind of waste are we talking about?

The researchers explained that brain

cells use a lot of nutrients.

So this means they produce a lot of waste.

Scientists call it cellular trash.

Why is this important?

What effects can a lack of sleep have on us?

Oh, it affects us in so many ways.

Losing a good night's sleep can cause our thinking to be unclear.

It can affect our emotions, but a continuous lack of sleep

is believed to increase the risk of the brain disorder.

Dementia.

So it sounds like a good night's sleep is extremely important.

I will be sure to remind my two young children

that their parents need good sleep.

And so do they.

Yes. Tell your children you need your sleep.

Thanks for joining me today on A and

I wish you many good nights of sleep.

Thanks for having me.

And I'll keep you updated on future research.

VOA Learning

English has launched a new program for children.

It is called Let's Learn English with Anna.

The new course aims to teach children American English

through asking and answering questions

and experiencing fun situations.

For more information, visit our website.

Learning English. VOA News.com.

One. In 1982, the U.S.

Supreme Court voted that it is unconstitutional to deny children

an immigration based on their immigration status.

Conservative politicians in several American states

have been questioning whether immigrants without legal residency

should have the right to a public education.

Jill Robbins brings us a report on that issue tomorrow.

Listen to tomorrow's podcast or visit our website.

Learning English.

VOA News.com.

Hello.

My name is Anna Matteo.

And I'm Andrew Smith.

And my name is Jill Robbins.

You're listening to The Lesson of the day on the Learning English podcast.

Welcome to the part of the show where we help you do more with our series.

Let's learn English.

The series shows Anna Matteo in her work

and life in Washington, D.C..

In lesson 38,

we meet Anna's best friend from her hometown.

Penelope

comes to visit Anna in Washington, D.C..

Let's listen.

Hello.

I have great news.

My best friend from my hometown

is coming here to Washington, D.C..

I can't wait to catch up with her.

Oh, I got to go.

Her train arrives in ten minutes.

Penelope. Penelope.

Oh, no.

I am really happy to see you. Me too.

How was your trip?

I was fine.

Let me help you with your bags.

I'm really excited to be in Washington, D.C..

I can't wait to hear about everything.

Penelope, I have so much to tell you.

Let's go to my apartment.

We can talk over a hot cup of tea.

Anna says she can't wait to catch up with Penelope.

That's a phrasal verb that means to learn what someone has been

doing in the recent past.

Andrew,

when was the last time you met an old friend?

And what did you do?

Well, by coincidence,

just six days ago this last weekend,

I met with an old friend with whom I used to teach.

And this friend loves Washington, D.C.

and all the museums.

So we went to the wonderful East

Wing of the National Gallery of Art, and we walked around.

And then we had wonderful Mexican food.

It was a great day.

I went to a high school reunion last year.

I met some of my classmates I haven't seen in 50 years.

I brought my yearbook and we looked at our old photos

and caught up with what we've been doing since graduation.

Indeed, it is fun to catch up.

Now let's listen and find out what Anna tells her friend

about her new life in Washington, D.C..

I love your apartment building, Anna.

To rent expensive.

Well, I have a roommate, so we split the rent.

Oh. That's right. Is your roommate nice?

Marcia is the nicest person I know in this city.

Sometimes she worries too much,

and she says I'm the messiest cook.

She knows.

But we are great roommates.

So, Anna, is it hard to make friends in D.C.?

At first it was hard.

But now Marcia is a good friend.

And there's Pete.

Of all the people I know in D.C., Pete

is the most serious and also the silliest.

He sounds interesting.

Jonathan and Ashley are two other good friends of mine in the city.

They are the friendliest people I know.

They always help me when I need it.

Your friends sound great.

So tell me about your job.

Anna has made some good friends, hasn't she?

We hear some superlatives here.

Nicest, friendliest, messiest and silliest.

You are listening to the Lesson of the day

on the Learning English podcast from Voice of America.

We've talked about superlative

adjectives in an earlier podcast,

but in this lesson there are some words that change their spelling.

When we add the suffix e, ST1 is messy,

which means not neat or tidy.

The final letter y changes to IE

when we add the s t,

right?

And the same thing happens with the words friendly and silly.

Let's listen to more of the story.

What do you think Anna will tell Penelope about her job?

I love my work.

I make a children's show called the Time Traveling Tree House.

Anna, that is the best job for you.

Do you remember when we were little?

We played. In that old tree house.

Behind my family's house for hours.

It is really good to talk to you.

New friends are good, but

old friends are the best.

Now we know where that idea came from.

Anna's childhood games.

Jill, do you remember that old expression?

Make new friends, but keep the old.

Yes, I do.

I think it's a song.

One is silver and the other gold.

That means friends are valuable.

Whether they're new friends or old friends.

You know, at the end of this lesson,

we get a hint of what may be coming

in the next Let's Learn English series.

Anna invites Penelope to come and live

in Washington, D.C..

I know

our hometown isn't the same now.

You are not there.

No crying,

no crying.

Penelope, why don't you move here

and live with me and Marsha?

Anna, I can't leave our hometown.

You forget.

I love my job too.

I didn't forget

you are the most famous turkey farmer I know.

Thanks, Anna.

Come on, let's go eat dinner

at one of DC's most famous restaurants.

Awesome.

I have a great apartment.

I love my work, and I have awesome friends.

I am the luckiest woman in Washington, DC.

Until next time.

I noticed another kind of superlative there,

but in this kind we do not add the suffix iest.

Instead we use the most.

As in you are the most famous turkey farmer I know.

Wow. You know, my nephew and his wife are turkey farmers.

Since this podcast is coming out around the holiday

of Thanksgiving, when we eat a lot of turkey,

let's give a shout out to turkey farmers and the hard work they do.

Okay, we'll do that.

And a shout out means we'll just call attention to them.

Jill, I was trying to explain why some adjectives

don't add este for the superlative.

Oh, sorry.

Just make that little rewind sound, Andrew, and we can replay

what I said in podcast 27. You.

When the adjective is longer, usually two or more syllables.

We just put the two words the most

or the least before it.

Thanks, Jill.

One exception to the rule.

Sorry listeners, you should know by now that English

grammar rules have a lot of exceptions.

One exception is the word friendly.

It is two syllables,

but it can still add the s t

to make the superlative friendliest.

Some other superlative adjectives that take

the most are dangerous and difficult.

For example, raising turkeys is the most difficult job.

Ministers.

I think that's enough about turkeys, doctor.

Jill.

Let's get our listeners involved here.

When was the last time you caught up with an old friend?

What did you do together?

How long had it been since you last saw each other?

Please write to us at Learning English

at VOA News.com

or in the comments on our YouTube video.

Remember, you can find us on Facebook,

YouTube, Instagram or our website.

Learning English that VOA News.com.

We hope you have enjoyed the lesson of the day on the Learning English podcast.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Doctor Jill and I'm going to make some pies now

for our Thanksgiving dinner tonight.

And that turkey is going to be so yummy.

Well, save some for me, Jill.

I'm Andrew Smith.

And that's our program for today.

Join us again tomorrow to keep learning

English through stories from around the world.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

You.

Please choose the correct answer for each question below: