Antibiotics，which can destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and cure infections,are vital to modern medicine. Their ability to kill bacteria without harming the patient has saved billions of lives and made surgical procedures much safer. But after decades of overuse, their powers are fading.Some bacteria have evolved resistance, creating a growing army of superbugs, against which there is little effective treatment．Antimicrobial（抗菌的）resistance，expected to kill 10 million people a year by 2050 up from around 1 million in 2019, has been seen as a crisis by many.

It would be unwise to rely on new antibiotics to solve the problem.The rate at which resistance emerges is increasing.Some new drugs last only two years before bacteria develop resistance.When new antibiotics do arrive, doctors often store them,using them only reluctantly and for short periods when faced with the most persistent infections.That limits sales, making new antibiotics an unappealing idea for most drug firms.

Governments have been trying to fix the problem bychanneling cash into research in drug firms.That has produced only limited improvements. But there is a phenomenon worth a look. Microbiologists have known for decades that disease-causing bacteria can suffer from illnesses of their own.They are supersensitive to attacks by phages,specialized viruses that infect bacteria and often kill them. Phages are considered a promising alternative to antibiotics.

Using one disease-causing virus to fight bacteria has several advantages. Like antibiotics, phages only tend to choose particular targets, leaving human cells alone as they infect and destroy bacterial ones. Unlike antibiotics, phages can evolve just as readily as bacteria can, meaning that even if bacteria do develop resistance, phages may be able to evolve around them in turn.

That, at least, is the theory. The trouble with phages is that comparatively little is known about them. After the discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic, in 1928, they were largely ignored in the West. Given the severity of the antibiotic-resistance problem, it would be a good idea to find out more about them.

The first step is to run more clinical trials. Interest from Western firms is growing. But it is being held back by the fact that phages are an even less appealing investment than antibiotics. Since they are natural living things, there may be trouble patenting them, making it hard to recover any investment.

Governments can help fun d basic research into phage treatment and clarify the law around exactly what is and is not patentable. In time they can set up phage banks so as to make production cheaper. And they can spread awareness of the risks of overusing antibiotics, and the potential benefits of phages.

Devon—A three-year-old labradoodle named Digby has been praised after he saved a woman who was thinking of taking her own life on a bridge.

Digby is an Australian labradoodle, a type of dog, whose hypoallergenic (低致敏性的) coat is less likely to start allergic reactions in those he communicates with. He was hired by the fire service in 2018 not for his ability to remove bombs but to relieve stress and anxiety among firefighters who had attended unpleasant call-outs. He also works with vulnerable (脆弱的) people in the community as part of a "pets for therapy" programme.

So when the emergency services were called to a vulnerable woman on a motorway bridge, a firefighter had the bright idea to take Digby along.

"We were at the incident as part of a multi-agency response. Police negotiators were speaking with the woman but the situation was becoming increasingly worrying. When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately swung her head round to look, and smiled," said a spokesman for Devon and Somerset fire service. "This got a conversation started. The woman was asked if she would like to come and meet Digby if she came back over the railings (金属栏杆), which we are pleased to say she did. It was Digby who eventually got her out of harm's way."

"The use of therapy dogs has been scientifically proven to help people who are exposed to challenging situations in their lives such as ill health or learning disability," the spokesman added.

Digby has also been trained to go into schools and hospitals for Pets As Therapy charity. Other services have also started adopting therapy dogs to assist in various situations.

As a newly-added Olympic sport, surfing is attracting more attention than ever before. Here is a selection of the top surfing destinations across America.

Delaware

Coastal Delaware offers plenty of fun waves along the shore of several cute towns. Due to the waves crashing close to the shore, Dewey beach is also a global skim boarding hotspot and happens to be the east coast capital for the sport. If you're planning a visit, check out the popular "Summer Vibes" festival for some beach fun.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

When world-famous surfer and Olympic Gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku, often referred to as "the father of surfing," visited the mainland United States in the early 1900s, he rode his longboard off the coast of Atlantic City. The beaches here are wide and beautiful—and locals catch waves year-round.

The Rockaways, New York

Located a short distance from Manhattan, The Rockaways attracts new and experienced surfers from across the globe. Be sure to come prepared in winter with a wet suit, while summer brings much warmer water temperatures. Afterwards, explore the town as there's plenty of cafes, boutiques, and restaurants steps from the sand.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Situated about 45 minutes from Orlando, Cocoa Beach is a renowned surf town that's home to two of the world's best surfers (Caroline Marks and Kelly Slater) and a favorite for surfers of all levels. This family-friendly town has lots of activities for everyone. When you're not in the water, you can stroll the Historic Cocoa Village and its shops, cafes, and galleries.