There’s No Scientific Basis For Race 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/race-genetics-science-africa
/ 
● Key Words: 
○ DNA 
○ Race 
○ Genome 
○ Adaptation 
○ Diversity 
● Summary: 
○ Even though throughout history there have many studies 
realized during or before the early 19th century stated that there 
was “scientific” proof behind the idea of race and superiority. 
People like Morton, which is known as the father of scientific 
racism, propagated the idea that some races were more 
intelligent and This helped found the racial hierarchy that ruled 
for many years and still impacts us today. However, all of this 
“evidence” is completely untrue, given that there is no 
scientific bases for race, it is simply a social construct humans 
have created.  
 
 
 
The True Story of Kudzu, the Vine That Never 
Truly Ate the South 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/true-story-kudzu-vine-ate-south-180956325/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia&fbclid=IwAR2x6iPp_rLEM97KLcvo6gk5Xp
jpmbcyTgmhdrFMXGm_hHEQgR8zSEMt1ug 
● Key Words: 
○ Invasive 
○ Native 
○ Landscape 
○ Myth 
○ Weed 
● Summary: 
○ The kudzu plant was first brought to America during the end of 
the 18th century and the early 19th century. At first, farmers, 
couldn’t find much use in it, until in 1935, the Soil Conservation 
Service began using the plant as the primary weapon to fight 
soil erosion. It was then that kudzu began to spread throughout 
 the country, and specially the American South. The goal was to 
plant 8 million acres of the plant in that territory. However, 
after some time, the effort by the Soil Conservation Service was 
canceled, given that most farmers were unable to find a way to 
profit from the plant. Thus, they stopped planting it. 
Nevertheless, the myth had already settled in. All around the 
South were intimidating landscapes, in which it seemed like 
Kudzu had consumed everything in its past. This provoked the 
radical conversion of the plant’s reputation, from the South’s 
saver to its devourer. Yet, regardless of this eerie character, 
many people also hold the Kudzu plant as a symbol for the 
South and its identity.  
 
This 8-Year-Old Chess Champion Will Make You 
Smile 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/16/opinion/sunday/chess-champion-8-year-old-ho
meless-refugee-.html
● Key Words: 
○ Adversity 
○ Talent 
○ Refugee 
○ Dedication 
○ Support 
○ Challenges 
○ Patriotism 
○ Immigrants 
○ Opportunity 
● Summary: 
○ Tanitoluwa Adewumi is the recently crowned New York State 
Champion for the kindergarten through 3rd-grade category. 
However, what makes this feat extraordinary is that he only 
learned how to play the game a little over a year ago. His family 
moved from Nigeria about 2 years ago, fleeing from possible 
persecution by the Boko Haram, given their Christian faith. 
They went to America to seek asylum, and have been living in a 
homeless shelter ever since. “Tani”, as he is often called by his 
friends and family, first began interested in chess after a 
part-time teacher gave his class a brief lesson about how it is 
played. Tani then joined the school’s chess club, and proceeded 
to start competing. He started his first tournament with the 
lowest ranking of all players (105), whilst now his ranking is 
 1587 and still continues to rise. He has achieved this against all 
adversity. He competes against children with resources that 
allow them to have private tutors and other help, while he is 
currently living in a homeless shelter and facing the 
bureaucratic and scary process of immigration. By doing so, he 
has become living proof of two things. First, he shows that life’s 
challenges do not define us. Second, he demonstrates that 
immigrants and refugees enrich communities. 
 
Cities of The Future 
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/04/see-sustainable-future-city-designed-for-peop
le-and-nature/
● Key Words: 
○ Future 
○ Architecture 
○ Metropolis 
○ Urban 
○ Architecture 
○ Sustainable 
○ Challenges 
○ Energy 
○ Adaptability 
● Summary 
○ As the world’s population grows, the cities in which most of 
these people live must adapt in order to able to satisfy the needs 
of every citizen as well as conserve the environment. This is the 
concept behind the idea of sustainable cities. Many of us have 
heard of them, but what are the requirements for a city to be 
truly “sustainable”? This article explains the top 10 principles 
behind sustainable architecture and city planning. It explains 
how modern sustainable cities will prioritise the preservation of 
natural ecosystems and the presence of “green areas” inside 
the city, as well as maximize efficiency in the use of resources 
available.