Applying high-frequency electrical noise to the brain can boost math skills up to six months later, say Oxford University researchers.
A small study in Current Biology suggests the brain stimulation technique makes neurons function more efficiently.
It could help those suffering with neurodegenerative illness, stroke or learning difficulties.
Glossary:
high-frequency – de alta frequência
noise – barulho
brain – cérebro
boost – melhorar, elevar
math skills – habilidades matemáticas
up to – até
later – mais tarde
researchers – pesquisadores
small – pequeno
suffering – sofrendo
illness – doença
stroke – derrame
learning – aprendizado
Click here to read more US politicians are seeking reassurances from Google that its smart spectacles will respect personal privacy.
A letter has been sent to Google signed by eight members of a Congressional caucus seeking answers about Google Glass.
The letter poses eight questions for Google about the data the gadget will collect about users and non-users.
The group said it was "uncertain" about the privacy protections Google plans to build in to the device.
Glossary:
politicians – politicos
seeking – buscando
reassurances – garantias
spectacles – óculos
privacy – privacidade
letter – carta
sent – enviada
signed – assinada
Congressional caucus – conclave do congresso
poses – apresenta
data – dados
gadget – dispositivo
uncertain – incerto
build in – incluir
device – aparelho eletrônico
Click here to read more Scientists say they have found a way to provide faster and more accurate early warning systems for tsunamis.
A German team says GPS satellite-based positioning could offer detailed information about the events within minutes of an earthquake occurring.
They believe the technology could have improved alerts issued when the devastating tsunami hit Japan in 2011.
Glossary:
have found – encontraram
way – forma, maneira
provide – oferecer
faster – mais rápidos
accurate – precisos
warning – advertência, aviso
team – equipe
satellite-based positioning – posicionamento com base em satellite
within – dentro de
earthquake – terremoto
improved – melhorado
issued – emitidos
devastating – devastador
hit – atingiu
Click here to read more Being under stress at work is tied to a higher risk of heart problems, new research confirms - but putting down the beer bottle and going for a walk may help.
Researchers found that job strain - defined as having a lot of demands at work, but little control - was tied at a 25 percent higher chance of having a heart attack or dying of heart problems.
But heart risks were cut in half among people - stressed or not - who maintained a healthy lifestyle compared to those who drank, smoked or were obese.
Glossary:
tied – ligado
higher risk – maior risco
research – pesquisa
putting down – larger
beer bottle – garrafa de cerveja
walk – caminhada
researchers – pesquisadores
job strain – tensões do trabalho
demands – exigências
heart attack – ataque cardiac
dying – morrer
cut in half – reduzidos à metade
among – entre
healthy lifestyle – estilo de vida saudável
drank – bebiam
smoked – fumavam
Click here to read more The Brazilian government will add two new rules to attract skilled foreign workers making it easier for companies looking for professionals: it will reduce the amount of visa required documents and allow"internships" for graduate students.
The changes approved this week by the National Immigration Council reduce visa applications bureaucracy for temporary and permanent work.
Glossary:
rules – regras
skilled – qualificados
foreign – estrangeiro
easier– mais fácil
looking for - procurando
amount – quantidade
visa – visto
required – exigidos
allow – permitir
internships – estágios
graduate – formados
changes – mudanças
Click here to read more "Brazil is leading the world with its Internet Civil Mark, so for me it is an honor to be here at this historic moment, supporting those who are doing it."
That was how the Englishman Tim Berners-Lee, 57, the creator of the World Wide Web, expressed his support for the Brazilian law that aims to be the "Constitution of the internet."
The project provides for net neutrality (equal service packs for all customers, and the same speed of access to all sites), the privacy to its users and freedom of expression online.
Glossary:
is leading – está liderando
honor – honra
supporting – apoiando
law – lei
aims – visa
provides – prevê
packs – pacotes
customers – clientes
privacy – privacidade
freedom – liberdade
Click here to read more A study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) shows that Brazilian companies need to work more than their counterparts around the world to pay their taxes. A middle-sized company has to work 2,600 hours to be able to afford its contributions to the government. On average, companies in Latin America and the Caribbean work 503 hours to pay their taxes. This is significantly less than in Brazil.
Glossary:
development – desenvolvimento
counterparts – parceiros
pay – pagar
taxes – impostos
middle-sized – porte médio
be able to afford – poder pagar
on average – em média
less than – menos de
Click here to read more São Paulo will host the tenth edition of Virada Cultural between May 18 and 19. Inspired by the Parisian “Nuit Blanche”, the event brings 24 hours of music, theater, films and other cultural events to the biggest Brazilian city, and best of all, everything is for free. For 2013, the highlight is the return of the greatest Brazilian rap group, Racionais MC’s. The last time this group appeared at the event, there were delays and confrontations between the audience and the police.
Glossary:
will host – sediará
between – entre
brings – traz
best of all – melhor de tudo
free – graça
highlight – destaque
greatest – maior
last – última
delays – atrasos
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The world's greatest footballer Pelé is embarking on a search to find a youthful version of himself. He wants a 15-year-old who can replicate his teenage skills for a big-screen movie about his life.
‘It’s not the Pelé who scored goals or the Pelé who was a champion. This is a young Pelé.’ ‘He has to know good ball control and I have to travel to find him.’
Glossary:
greatest – maior
search – busca
youthful – jovem
himself – ele mesmo
skills – abilidades
scored – marcou
champion – campeão
travel – viajar
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A government survey says the number of Brazilians using the Internet and cell phones has soared more than 100 percent since 2005.The IBGE statistics agency says that between 2005 and 2011, the number of people aged 10 or more with access to the Internet increased 144 percent. The number of cell phone users increased 107 percent.
Survey coordinator Cimar Azeredo attributes the rise in Internet and cell phone users to "increased purchasing power, easier access to credit and lower prices."
Glossary:
survey – pesquisa
has soared – aumentou
between – entre
increased – cresceu
rise – aumento
purchasing power – poder de compra
lower – mais baixos
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