Materials of the Future
A study published in Nature magazine on December 10, 2020 revealed that 2020 marked the point human-made materials outweighed all living things on earth.
Concrete, plastic, and fiber are the most consumed human-made materials, and they all cause heavy environmental pollution. Some scholars hold that solving the mess caused by the artificial materials requires addressing “decoupling wars” that tend to be fought around the balance between economic growth and environmental limits. We should fundamentally change our current way of living and stop measuring happiness in terms of material enjoyment.
Sanlian Life Week
March 1, 2021
The Milk Tea Generation
A beverage with distinct Chinese characteristics, milk tea has already penetrated every corner of Chinese life and taken on new connotations with modern development. It comforts the hearts of indoorsy young people, breaks ice in the office and other social venues, and injects happiness into daily life.
Nowadays, simple Boba milk tea has evolved into a customizable Chinese-style beverage with dozens of options to perfectly meet the varying preferences of customers. Milk tea culture regularly goes viral online, evidencing how tightly the younger generation has embraced it. The beverage has become so mainstream and global that it can be easily found in every major city in the world.
China Newsweek
February 1, 2021
Chinese Familial Love
As of March 10, Chinese movie Hi, Mom had grossed over 5.15 billion yuan (US$785 million) at the box office, becoming one of the 100 highest-grossing films in the world.
The love within Chinese families has always been embedded so deeply that parents and children often hardly express feelings out and loud to each other. In the movie, the mom and the daughter always seek reconciliation after conflicts, which is how most Chinese parents and their children manage to get along. However, the steep development of the times has brought increasing challenges to the Chinese-style parentchild relationship. New avenues to express love may be needed.
Vista
March 8, 2021
Weirdo Times
Times have changed from rejecting weirdoes to embracing them, from avoiding weirdness to seeking it, and from celebrating conservative values to developing open-mindedness. Today, weirdness may refer to a unique style, character, and even great talent, without concern for fitting in. Some even pretend to be weird as a way to seek fame and fortune.
Weird things can become precious social resources. Respecting different characters and passion for creation of anything and supporting any person determined to pursue their own dreams is only good for society.
New Weekly
March 1, 2021