1.A Green Office

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Puzzles Almost the last word Tom Gauld for Feedback Twisteddoodles
Try our crossword, Much in the universe New Scientist A sick experiment for New Scientist
quick quiz and spins. Does the A cartoonist’s take and snot a Picturing the lighter
logic puzzle p45 universe itself? p46 on the world p47 superpower p48 side of life p48
60-second psychology
A green office
Studies show the unexpected benefits of working outside, from
better concentration to reduced anxiety, says David Robson
AS THE northern hemisphere

enters the summer season, I am
spending more of my working day
in my tiny London garden. It’s not
just a way of coping with the rising
temperatures – though it is
undoubtedly more pleasant to
sit in the fresh air than in a stuffy
office. According to recent
David Robson is an award- research, time spent outdoors
winning science writer and can bring a brain boost.
the author of The Expectation One benefit comes from plant
Effect: How your mindset can life. According to “attention
transform your life restoration theory”, plants
provide an optimum level of
GARY YEOWELL/GETTY IMAGES

visual stimulation to replenish
concentration when we start to
lose focus. This idea is grounded
in our evolution: our brains are
adapted to the environments
we would have encountered in
prehistory, and we therefore find
them more restful and less tiring. building of new brain circuits. to outdoor sunlight – 1 to 2 hours
In line with this idea, multiple Sunlight may also stimulate a day – was associated with a lower
studies have shown that the production of glutamate, risk of Alzheimer’s.
contemplating natural scenes a neurotransmitter directly This must, of course, come with
improves performance on involved in learning and memory. caveats. Given the dangers of too
cognitive tests requiring focused Laboratory mice that had been much UV exposure, we must all
attention. Indeed, simply looking given a low dose of UV light – take the necessary precautions to
at images of nature seems to help equivalent to moderate sunlight protect our skin. And having lived
restore concentration when our exposure – found it easier in a small flat for more than a
attention is waning. People who to differentiate between new decade, I am aware that it can be
spend some of their working day and familiar objects. difficult for many city dwellers
in a natural environment report If the same is true in humans, to find a quiet and clean outdoor
reduced anxiety and greater job you might expect that greater space. But if you do have the
satisfaction too. exposure to sunlight would result chance to do so, taking your
Working outside will also in better overall brain health, work outside or going for a mid-
increase our exposure to natural including reduced risk of morning or mid-afternoon walk
sunlight, which brings its own neurodegeneration – and a few in the park may be an easy way
benefits. Sunlight famously recent papers support the idea. to supercharge your thinking and
60-second psychology stimulates the production of Danish scientists found that make the most of your mind. ❚
appears monthly vitamin D, which appears to people who work outdoors are
influence the production of less likely to develop Parkinson’s These articles are
Next week proteins known as “neurotrophic disease, while a study from China posted each week at
Stargazing at home factors” that are essential for the reported that moderate exposure newscientist.com/maker
44 | New Scientist | 1 July 2023

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VOCABULARY
A) INDIVIDUAL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
replenish (v) – to bring it back to its previous level by replacing what has been used
(be) grounded in/on sth (idm) – (to be) based on sth:

His views are grounded on the assumption that all people are equal.
in line with (idm) – similar to, or at the same level as something:

The company's results are in line with stock market expectations.
contemplate (v) – (=stare at) to look at sb/sth in a careful way for a long time:
He sat there, contemplating his fingernails.
wane (v) – (=decrease, fade) to become gradually weaker or less important:
Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly.
exposure (v) – (=experience) the fact of experiencing something or being affected by it because of
being in a particular situation or place:
You should always limit your exposure to the sun.
famously (adv) – (in a famous way) in a way that is famous or well known:
He's designed dresses for many celebrities, most famously the Queen.
stimulate (v) – to encourage something to grow, develop, or become active:

The government plans to cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy.
(to be) associated with (phr v) – If problems or dangers are associated with a particular thing or
action, they are caused by it:
The cancer risks associated with smoking have been well documented.
caveat (n) – a warning that particular things need to be considered before sth can be done:
Any discussion of legal action must be preceded by a caveat on costs.
(city/town/cave) dweller (n) – a person who lives in a city, town, cave, etc.
B) COLLOCATIONS/PHRASES
to bring a brain boost – miya kuchayishiga olib kelmoq
to provide an optimum level of – ning optimal darajasini ta'minlamoq

to replenish concentration – diqqatni tiklamoq
to lose focus – e’tiborni yo’qotmoq
to improve performance on cognitive tests – aqliy testlarda ishtirokini yaxshilamoq
1
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to require focused attention – diqqatni jamlashni talab qilmoq
to restore concentration – diqqatni tiklamoq
reduced anxiety – ozaygan xavotir
greater job satisfaction – ko'proq ishdan qoniqish
to increase our exposure to natural sunlight – tabiiy quyosh nurini qabul qilishimizni oshirmoq
to bring its own benefits – o’z foydalarini bermoq
to influence the production of – ning mahsuldorligiga ta’sir etmoq
greater exposure to sunlight – quyosh nurini ko’proq qabul qilish
to result in better overall brain health – umumiy miya salomatligi yaxshilanishiga olib kelmoq
to take the necessary precautions – zarur ehtiyot choralarini ko'rmoq
to supercharge your thinking – o’ylashni tez suratda yaxshilamoq
to make the most of your mind – miyangizdan maksimal darajada foydalanmoq

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Edited with the trial version of

Foxit Advanced PDF Editor

The back pages To remove this notice, visit:

AS THE northern hemisphere

GARY YEOWELL/GETTY IMAGES

44 | New Scientist | 1 July 2023

(be) grounded in/on sth (idm) – (to be) based on sth:

in line with (idm) – similar to, or at the same level as something:

stimulate (v) – to encourage something to grow, develop, or become active:

to bring a brain boost – miya kuchayishiga olib kelmoq

to provide an optimum level of – ning optimal darajasini ta'minlamoq

to lose focus – e’tiborni yo’qotmoq

to improve performance on cognitive tests – aqliy testlarda ishtirokini yaxshilamoq

to require focused attention – diqqatni jamlashni talab qilmoq

to restore concentration – diqqatni tiklamoq

reduced anxiety – ozaygan xavotir

greater job satisfaction – ko'proq ishdan qoniqish

to bring its own benefits – o’z foydalarini bermoq

to influence the production of – ning mahsuldorligiga ta’sir etmoq

greater exposure to sunlight – quyosh nurini ko’proq qabul qilish

to take the necessary precautions – zarur ehtiyot choralarini ko'rmoq

to supercharge your thinking – o’ylashni tez suratda yaxshilamoq

to make the most of your mind – miyangizdan maksimal darajada foydalanmoq

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