Little brother sees life through red-tinted glasses

Having lived the privileged life of an American expat in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, Ben Ross wanted to know what life was like on the other side. So, the 27-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, took an entry-level job at a local barbershop last month.

Face off

In a sprawling office-turned-showroom in downtown Guangzhou, auburn-haired Eloisa parades in front of a group of fashion directors and production assistants striking a variety of poses before exiting the room. Carol, another long-legged Brazilian, shows off another of the Ecico fashion company's designs.

Life Travel

Getting there

Sanganer Airport is 10 kilometers from the city and is well connected to all other tourist and business centers, such as Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. There are international flights to and from Dubai.

Sweeping views a stone's throw from Broome

Western Australia: The Kimberley, in the north-eastern part of the state of Western Australia, is remote and still largely unknown to travelers. Tourists who venture to the region will find a wild and tropical land full of surprises.

Pillars of the past

Jaipur is a bustling business center with all the trappings of a modern metropolis. But it's flavored with an ancient charm that never fails to surprise. Located 260 kilometers from Delhi, capital of India, and 240 kilometers from Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, Jaipur is one of the brightest shining golden triangles of tourism in the country.

On a downward spiral

Looking for an inspiring travel experience, but not so keen on the searing summer heat? Venture underground to the geological splendor and cool expanse of Yishui County's caves, in Shandong Province.

Life Science

Standards spread, so does algae

In 1985, China issued its first standard for drinking water. In 2005, the Ministry of Construction supplemented this standard with another one for water supplies in cities.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Wuxi, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province that recently experienced a serious drinking water crisis, has two contradictory examples of water treatment. The bad example is the heavily polluted Taihu Lake; the good one is the Lihu Lake, an inland body of water connected with the Taihu Lake.

Enough to make you sick

Almost overnight, blue-green algae went from a little-known laboratory research topic to a national concern. The organism first bloomed last month, spoiling drinking water in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province, creating a serious local health threat.

Our decisive dilemmas fly in the face of scientific logic

Hesitate, evaluate and decide - the seemingly simple process of making a choice may sometimes take just two or three seconds. But it is a more complicated job for our brains, as well as for the scientists who are interested in finding out how we arrive at a decision.