On today's podcast, Ashley Thompson and Dan Novak host the show. Ashley tells listeners what they will hear.

First. John Russell reports on a recently published study about why people are right-handed or left-handed. It says very small changes in genes might influence whether people are right- or left-handed. The genetic change might affect .1 percent of people who are left-handed.

Next, Jill Robbins reads another winning entry from our Ukraine writing contest. Jill reads Nataliia Vasylchenko's essay about Skhidnytsia: A beautiful village in the Carpathia mountains. All who enter this magical pearl of Ukraine will fall in love with its charms, returning time and again, wrapped up in a lifelong affair.

After that, Dan Novak reports on air quality in American schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, officials called for schools to improve their heating and cooling systems with government money. But a study found about half have done nothing. Government money still exists for such efforts but is expected to expire this fall.

Then, Dan and Ashley discuss whether climate change influences air quality in schools or whether better air quality results in better attendance.

There is a promotional message for the VOA Learning English Children's program Let's Learn English with Anna.

Finally, John Russell explains the word "dispersed" on Lesson of the Day. The word appears in a report from Jill Robbins about theories of the spread of early humans. John explains what the word means and how it is used.

Than Ashley and Dan sign off.

Study Aims to Find Out Why Some People Are Left-handed https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a...

Skhidnytsia: My Beloved Retreat https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a...

Officials: Air Quality Is Problem at US Schools https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a...


---------

Learning English is Voice of America’s multimedia source of news and information for millions of English learners worldwide. We help you build vocabulary, strengthen your speaking skills and improve your ability to communicate for work, school and everyday life.

EXPLORE OUR PLAYLISTS:
» Learning English Podcast:    • Learning English Podcast  
» Let's Learn English with Anna! (For children 8-12)    • Let's Learn English with Anna  
» Let's Learn English Level 1    • Let's Learn English  
» Let's Learn English Level 2    • Let's Learn English Level 2  

» VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://learningenglish.voanews.com
» LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:   / voalearningenglish  
» FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:   / voalearningenglish  
» FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:   / voalearnenglish  
» SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST ON ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/v...

Voice of America (VOA) is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 326 million people.